Story: Zakaria Alhassan, Tamale
14/03/08
THE inability of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TAMA) to ensure that car washing bays are properly sited at designated places is causing a lot of disorderliness in the Tamale metropolis.
Not only do car owners, particularly taxi drivers, wash their cars anyhow on the shoulders of the roads at any available spot where they can find water, but their reckless practices are also shortening the lifespan of the beautifully laid roads in the metropolis.
A visit to the Water Works would make any taxpayer weep as bituminous surface on the shoulders of the roads at that particular area is slowly being washed away leaving in its traits bare gravel.
The situation at Vittin, just after the African Touch Restaurant, is not different. Water running from a nearby dam is used in washing cars at a junction on the main road with careless abandon.
And because not much attention is paid to such practices, more car washing bays are springing up along the Kumbungu Road (Filling Point) area and Vittin every day and night.
Another area of concern is the springing up of wayside mechanic shops (fitters) who are also siting their shops and stalls at every available space along the well laid-out roads. They include vehicle, motorbike and bicycle repairs and vulcanising shops.
As a result of the inaction on the part of the assembly, their numbers are increasing daily to the amazement of residents, who also look on unconcerned.
Some of such awful structures are actually sited along the main road leading to the assembly’s own premises at the Agric Ridge.
There is the urgent need for the assembly to find an immediate solution to this problem, which is clearly growing out of proportion.
The most worrisome aspect of the situation is the fact that it exposes motorists and pedestrians to danger due to the manner faulty vehicles are parked and repaired on the shoulders of the roads. Additionally the spillage of oil from the engines are slowly but surely destroying the multi-billion cedi roads.
When one drives through the recently constructed industrial area roads he or she will come across an unpleasant scenario.
Barely three months after completion of work on the road, which is meant to link up motorists to the main Tamale-Kumasi road without passing through the central business area, some mechanics have begun using part of the road as garages, where they repair broken-down vehicles with the attendant spillage of oil on the road.
But for how long must this indiscipline continue while the assembly looks on unperturbed?
Another area of concern is at the Police barracks behind the Giddipass Restaurant where some mechanics and electricians have located their shops.
When one visits the place at any time of the day he or she would see cars parked on one side of the road thus obstructing traffic.
A 21-year-old student, Mary Adams, deplored the apparent lawlessness creeping into the metropolis and ‘‘appealed to the assembly to do something about this indiscipline behaviour now, instead of waiting till the last minute when things have got out of hand”.
Other people the Daily Graphic spoke to also chastised the assembly for its inability to enforce its own by-laws.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Assembly must provide more car washing bays
Story: Zakaria Alhassan, Tamale
14/03/08
THE inability of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TAMA) to ensure that car washing bays are properly sited at designated places is causing a lot of disorderliness in the Tamale metropolis.
Not only do car owners, particularly taxi drivers, wash their cars anyhow on the shoulders of the roads at any available spot where they can find water, but their reckless practices are also shortening the lifespan of the beautifully laid roads in the metropolis.
A visit to the Water Works would make any taxpayer weep as bituminous surface on the shoulders of the roads at that particular area is slowly being washed away leaving in its traits bare gravel.
The situation at Vittin, just after the African Touch Restaurant, is not different. Water running from a nearby dam is used in washing cars at a junction on the main road with careless abandon.
And because not much attention is paid to such practices, more car washing bays are springing up along the Kumbungu Road (Filling Point) area and Vittin every day and night.
Another area of concern is the springing up of wayside mechanic shops (fitters) who are also siting their shops and stalls at every available space along the well laid-out roads. They include vehicle, motorbike and bicycle repairs and vulcanising shops.
As a result of the inaction on the part of the assembly, their numbers are increasing daily to the amazement of residents, who also look on unconcerned.
Some of such awful structures are actually sited along the main road leading to the assembly’s own premises at the Agric Ridge.
There is the urgent need for the assembly to find an immediate solution to this problem, which is clearly growing out of proportion.
The most worrisome aspect of the situation is the fact that it exposes motorists and pedestrians to danger due to the manner faulty vehicles are parked and repaired on the shoulders of the roads. Additionally the spillage of oil from the engines are slowly but surely destroying the multi-billion cedi roads.
When one drives through the recently constructed industrial area roads he or she will come across an unpleasant scenario.
Barely three months after completion of work on the road, which is meant to link up motorists to the main Tamale-Kumasi road without passing through the central business area, some mechanics have begun using part of the road as garages, where they repair broken-down vehicles with the attendant spillage of oil on the road.
But for how long must this indiscipline continue while the assembly looks on unperturbed?
Another area of concern is at the Police barracks behind the Giddipass Restaurant where some mechanics and electricians have located their shops.
When one visits the place at any time of the day he or she would see cars parked on one side of the road thus obstructing traffic.
A 21-year-old student, Mary Adams, deplored the apparent lawlessness creeping into the metropolis and ‘‘appealed to the assembly to do something about this indiscipline behaviour now, instead of waiting till the last minute when things have got out of hand”.
Other people the Daily Graphic spoke to also chastised the assembly for its inability to enforce its own by-laws.
14/03/08
THE inability of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TAMA) to ensure that car washing bays are properly sited at designated places is causing a lot of disorderliness in the Tamale metropolis.
Not only do car owners, particularly taxi drivers, wash their cars anyhow on the shoulders of the roads at any available spot where they can find water, but their reckless practices are also shortening the lifespan of the beautifully laid roads in the metropolis.
A visit to the Water Works would make any taxpayer weep as bituminous surface on the shoulders of the roads at that particular area is slowly being washed away leaving in its traits bare gravel.
The situation at Vittin, just after the African Touch Restaurant, is not different. Water running from a nearby dam is used in washing cars at a junction on the main road with careless abandon.
And because not much attention is paid to such practices, more car washing bays are springing up along the Kumbungu Road (Filling Point) area and Vittin every day and night.
Another area of concern is the springing up of wayside mechanic shops (fitters) who are also siting their shops and stalls at every available space along the well laid-out roads. They include vehicle, motorbike and bicycle repairs and vulcanising shops.
As a result of the inaction on the part of the assembly, their numbers are increasing daily to the amazement of residents, who also look on unconcerned.
Some of such awful structures are actually sited along the main road leading to the assembly’s own premises at the Agric Ridge.
There is the urgent need for the assembly to find an immediate solution to this problem, which is clearly growing out of proportion.
The most worrisome aspect of the situation is the fact that it exposes motorists and pedestrians to danger due to the manner faulty vehicles are parked and repaired on the shoulders of the roads. Additionally the spillage of oil from the engines are slowly but surely destroying the multi-billion cedi roads.
When one drives through the recently constructed industrial area roads he or she will come across an unpleasant scenario.
Barely three months after completion of work on the road, which is meant to link up motorists to the main Tamale-Kumasi road without passing through the central business area, some mechanics have begun using part of the road as garages, where they repair broken-down vehicles with the attendant spillage of oil on the road.
But for how long must this indiscipline continue while the assembly looks on unperturbed?
Another area of concern is at the Police barracks behind the Giddipass Restaurant where some mechanics and electricians have located their shops.
When one visits the place at any time of the day he or she would see cars parked on one side of the road thus obstructing traffic.
A 21-year-old student, Mary Adams, deplored the apparent lawlessness creeping into the metropolis and ‘‘appealed to the assembly to do something about this indiscipline behaviour now, instead of waiting till the last minute when things have got out of hand”.
Other people the Daily Graphic spoke to also chastised the assembly for its inability to enforce its own by-laws.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Northern Regional Police stations get metal detectors
Story: Vincent Adedze, Tamale
07/03/08
THE Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Iddris, has entreated the Ghana Police Service in Tamale to speed up investigations into the recent death of a police officer who was on duty at the residence of the Deputy Regional Police Commander in Tamale.
Alhaji Iddris also stressed the need for the Police Service to find ways of retrieving the weapon stolen from Lance Corporal Kpeglo before his untimely death.
The minister said this at the presentation of six sets of metal detectors to the police administration to be distributed to the six districts including Tamale.
The items included body search hand scanners, super wand, pin pointer, super ground search equipment and other items worth about £5,000.
They were provided by the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) with support from Oxfam Great Britain and the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), all non-governmental organisations.
The other beneficiary districts are the Yendi Municipal, Nanumba North, East Mamprusi, Zabzugu-Tatale and Saboba-Chereponi.
The equipment will help ensure effective policing in the beneficiary districts that are considered flashpoints in terms of occurrences of conflicts in the region.
Alhaji Iddris said the police had all the expertise to expose the perpetrators of that heinous crime and they should not be allowed to get away with it.
“Insecurity and development are not bedfellows and so I urge the people of the region to ensure that they avoid all forms of lawlessness,” he stressed.
He said the equipment had come at the right time and that it would ultimately enhance the operations of the Police Service in the beneficiary districts in particular and the region as a whole.
The Director of FOSDA, Madam Afi Yakubu, said “we have to tackle illegal arms possession because it undermines our fledgling democracy”.
“We have to ensure that all unresolved conflicts are amicably settled without the use of violence and that come December 2008, we would be celebrating yet another victory,” she stressed.
Madam Yakubu further indicated that her outfit would continue to support all efforts to rid the country of illicit small arms and light weapons.
She also entreated civil society groups and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) to support the efforts of the police to enhance community security and democratic governance.
The Regional Police Commander, Mr Ephraim Brakatu, commended FOSDA and its partners for the gesture and gave a pledge of the Police Service’s preparedness to improve on security in the region.
“Ethnic, chieftaincy and land disputes in this region have compelled many people to take to arms; it is very difficult for the police to check the proliferation of arms in the region because of our inability to get the needed logistics,” he pointed out.
The commander urged the police personnel to impart the knowledge they would acquire through the use of the equipment to their colleagues to improve on security in the region.
07/03/08
THE Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Iddris, has entreated the Ghana Police Service in Tamale to speed up investigations into the recent death of a police officer who was on duty at the residence of the Deputy Regional Police Commander in Tamale.
Alhaji Iddris also stressed the need for the Police Service to find ways of retrieving the weapon stolen from Lance Corporal Kpeglo before his untimely death.
The minister said this at the presentation of six sets of metal detectors to the police administration to be distributed to the six districts including Tamale.
The items included body search hand scanners, super wand, pin pointer, super ground search equipment and other items worth about £5,000.
They were provided by the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) with support from Oxfam Great Britain and the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), all non-governmental organisations.
The other beneficiary districts are the Yendi Municipal, Nanumba North, East Mamprusi, Zabzugu-Tatale and Saboba-Chereponi.
The equipment will help ensure effective policing in the beneficiary districts that are considered flashpoints in terms of occurrences of conflicts in the region.
Alhaji Iddris said the police had all the expertise to expose the perpetrators of that heinous crime and they should not be allowed to get away with it.
“Insecurity and development are not bedfellows and so I urge the people of the region to ensure that they avoid all forms of lawlessness,” he stressed.
He said the equipment had come at the right time and that it would ultimately enhance the operations of the Police Service in the beneficiary districts in particular and the region as a whole.
The Director of FOSDA, Madam Afi Yakubu, said “we have to tackle illegal arms possession because it undermines our fledgling democracy”.
“We have to ensure that all unresolved conflicts are amicably settled without the use of violence and that come December 2008, we would be celebrating yet another victory,” she stressed.
Madam Yakubu further indicated that her outfit would continue to support all efforts to rid the country of illicit small arms and light weapons.
She also entreated civil society groups and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) to support the efforts of the police to enhance community security and democratic governance.
The Regional Police Commander, Mr Ephraim Brakatu, commended FOSDA and its partners for the gesture and gave a pledge of the Police Service’s preparedness to improve on security in the region.
“Ethnic, chieftaincy and land disputes in this region have compelled many people to take to arms; it is very difficult for the police to check the proliferation of arms in the region because of our inability to get the needed logistics,” he pointed out.
The commander urged the police personnel to impart the knowledge they would acquire through the use of the equipment to their colleagues to improve on security in the region.
No frequent power outages in Tamale
Story: Vincent Adedze, Tamale
07/03/08
THE Northern Area Manager of the Volta River Authority (VRA)-Northern Electricity Department (NED), Mr Danladi Bukari, has denied that there are frequent power outages as reported earlier by some residents in Tamale.
While conceding that the metropolis recorded some outages sometimes, he explained that “the frequency as earlier reported cannot be the case”.
Mr Bukari was reacting to the concerns raised by some residents on the power outages during an interaction with this reporter in Tamale.
He further stated that two types of outages did occur. They were the planned and unplanned outages.
The manager said in the case of planned outages, there was a co-ordinated programme during which the VRA caused announcements to be made on local FM stations about its intentions to carry out maintenance works on its installations.
“Unplanned outages occur as a result of several activities including the theft of conductors, bushfires and generally any activity that disturbs the VRA’s installations,” he explained.
According to Mr Bukari, stealing of conductors was on the ascendancy in the metropolis especially at Kaladan, Hausa Zongo, Bayanwaya and Education Ridge.
He, however, indicated that a number of arrests had been made and the culprits were being prosecuted.
The manager also said residents of other areas where such cases were reported had given a pledge to help stop such nefarious activities and were co-operating with the VRA.
“We have put in place community outreach programmes where we interact with the chiefs and opinion leaders most of whom have pledged to co-operate with us to take good care of our installations. As a result of this collaboration with the chiefs some residents have confessed and pledged not to engage in such negative acts again,” Mr Bukari said.
The manager, therefore, appealed to residents to co-operate with the VRA in its quest to provide quality services to its customers.
“We are always available for you to make your complaints; our doors are always opened to our customers to express their grievances,” he stressed.
07/03/08
THE Northern Area Manager of the Volta River Authority (VRA)-Northern Electricity Department (NED), Mr Danladi Bukari, has denied that there are frequent power outages as reported earlier by some residents in Tamale.
While conceding that the metropolis recorded some outages sometimes, he explained that “the frequency as earlier reported cannot be the case”.
Mr Bukari was reacting to the concerns raised by some residents on the power outages during an interaction with this reporter in Tamale.
He further stated that two types of outages did occur. They were the planned and unplanned outages.
The manager said in the case of planned outages, there was a co-ordinated programme during which the VRA caused announcements to be made on local FM stations about its intentions to carry out maintenance works on its installations.
“Unplanned outages occur as a result of several activities including the theft of conductors, bushfires and generally any activity that disturbs the VRA’s installations,” he explained.
According to Mr Bukari, stealing of conductors was on the ascendancy in the metropolis especially at Kaladan, Hausa Zongo, Bayanwaya and Education Ridge.
He, however, indicated that a number of arrests had been made and the culprits were being prosecuted.
The manager also said residents of other areas where such cases were reported had given a pledge to help stop such nefarious activities and were co-operating with the VRA.
“We have put in place community outreach programmes where we interact with the chiefs and opinion leaders most of whom have pledged to co-operate with us to take good care of our installations. As a result of this collaboration with the chiefs some residents have confessed and pledged not to engage in such negative acts again,” Mr Bukari said.
The manager, therefore, appealed to residents to co-operate with the VRA in its quest to provide quality services to its customers.
“We are always available for you to make your complaints; our doors are always opened to our customers to express their grievances,” he stressed.
No frequent power outages in Tamale
Story: Vincent Adedze, Tamale
07/03/08
THE Northern Area Manager of the Volta River Authority (VRA)-Northern Electricity Department (NED), Mr Danladi Bukari, has denied that there are frequent power outages as reported earlier by some residents in Tamale.
While conceding that the metropolis recorded some outages sometimes, he explained that “the frequency as earlier reported cannot be the case”.
Mr Bukari was reacting to the concerns raised by some residents on the power outages during an interaction with this reporter in Tamale.
He further stated that two types of outages did occur. They were the planned and unplanned outages.
The manager said in the case of planned outages, there was a co-ordinated programme during which the VRA caused announcements to be made on local FM stations about its intentions to carry out maintenance works on its installations.
“Unplanned outages occur as a result of several activities including the theft of conductors, bushfires and generally any activity that disturbs the VRA’s installations,” he explained.
According to Mr Bukari, stealing of conductors was on the ascendancy in the metropolis especially at Kaladan, Hausa Zongo, Bayanwaya and Education Ridge.
He, however, indicated that a number of arrests had been made and the culprits were being prosecuted.
The manager also said residents of other areas where such cases were reported had given a pledge to help stop such nefarious activities and were co-operating with the VRA.
“We have put in place community outreach programmes where we interact with the chiefs and opinion leaders most of whom have pledged to co-operate with us to take good care of our installations. As a result of this collaboration with the chiefs some residents have confessed and pledged not to engage in such negative acts again,” Mr Bukari said.
The manager, therefore, appealed to residents to co-operate with the VRA in its quest to provide quality services to its customers.
“We are always available for you to make your complaints; our doors are always opened to our customers to express their grievances,” he stressed.
07/03/08
THE Northern Area Manager of the Volta River Authority (VRA)-Northern Electricity Department (NED), Mr Danladi Bukari, has denied that there are frequent power outages as reported earlier by some residents in Tamale.
While conceding that the metropolis recorded some outages sometimes, he explained that “the frequency as earlier reported cannot be the case”.
Mr Bukari was reacting to the concerns raised by some residents on the power outages during an interaction with this reporter in Tamale.
He further stated that two types of outages did occur. They were the planned and unplanned outages.
The manager said in the case of planned outages, there was a co-ordinated programme during which the VRA caused announcements to be made on local FM stations about its intentions to carry out maintenance works on its installations.
“Unplanned outages occur as a result of several activities including the theft of conductors, bushfires and generally any activity that disturbs the VRA’s installations,” he explained.
According to Mr Bukari, stealing of conductors was on the ascendancy in the metropolis especially at Kaladan, Hausa Zongo, Bayanwaya and Education Ridge.
He, however, indicated that a number of arrests had been made and the culprits were being prosecuted.
The manager also said residents of other areas where such cases were reported had given a pledge to help stop such nefarious activities and were co-operating with the VRA.
“We have put in place community outreach programmes where we interact with the chiefs and opinion leaders most of whom have pledged to co-operate with us to take good care of our installations. As a result of this collaboration with the chiefs some residents have confessed and pledged not to engage in such negative acts again,” Mr Bukari said.
The manager, therefore, appealed to residents to co-operate with the VRA in its quest to provide quality services to its customers.
“We are always available for you to make your complaints; our doors are always opened to our customers to express their grievances,” he stressed.
No frequent power outages in Tamale
Story: Vincent Adedze, Tamale
07/03/08
THE Northern Area Manager of the Volta River Authority (VRA)-Northern Electricity Department (NED), Mr Danladi Bukari, has denied that there are frequent power outages as reported earlier by some residents in Tamale.
While conceding that the metropolis recorded some outages sometimes, he explained that “the frequency as earlier reported cannot be the case”.
Mr Bukari was reacting to the concerns raised by some residents on the power outages during an interaction with this reporter in Tamale.
He further stated that two types of outages did occur. They were the planned and unplanned outages.
The manager said in the case of planned outages, there was a co-ordinated programme during which the VRA caused announcements to be made on local FM stations about its intentions to carry out maintenance works on its installations.
“Unplanned outages occur as a result of several activities including the theft of conductors, bushfires and generally any activity that disturbs the VRA’s installations,” he explained.
According to Mr Bukari, stealing of conductors was on the ascendancy in the metropolis especially at Kaladan, Hausa Zongo, Bayanwaya and Education Ridge.
He, however, indicated that a number of arrests had been made and the culprits were being prosecuted.
The manager also said residents of other areas where such cases were reported had given a pledge to help stop such nefarious activities and were co-operating with the VRA.
“We have put in place community outreach programmes where we interact with the chiefs and opinion leaders most of whom have pledged to co-operate with us to take good care of our installations. As a result of this collaboration with the chiefs some residents have confessed and pledged not to engage in such negative acts again,” Mr Bukari said.
The manager, therefore, appealed to residents to co-operate with the VRA in its quest to provide quality services to its customers.
“We are always available for you to make your complaints; our doors are always opened to our customers to express their grievances,” he stressed.
07/03/08
THE Northern Area Manager of the Volta River Authority (VRA)-Northern Electricity Department (NED), Mr Danladi Bukari, has denied that there are frequent power outages as reported earlier by some residents in Tamale.
While conceding that the metropolis recorded some outages sometimes, he explained that “the frequency as earlier reported cannot be the case”.
Mr Bukari was reacting to the concerns raised by some residents on the power outages during an interaction with this reporter in Tamale.
He further stated that two types of outages did occur. They were the planned and unplanned outages.
The manager said in the case of planned outages, there was a co-ordinated programme during which the VRA caused announcements to be made on local FM stations about its intentions to carry out maintenance works on its installations.
“Unplanned outages occur as a result of several activities including the theft of conductors, bushfires and generally any activity that disturbs the VRA’s installations,” he explained.
According to Mr Bukari, stealing of conductors was on the ascendancy in the metropolis especially at Kaladan, Hausa Zongo, Bayanwaya and Education Ridge.
He, however, indicated that a number of arrests had been made and the culprits were being prosecuted.
The manager also said residents of other areas where such cases were reported had given a pledge to help stop such nefarious activities and were co-operating with the VRA.
“We have put in place community outreach programmes where we interact with the chiefs and opinion leaders most of whom have pledged to co-operate with us to take good care of our installations. As a result of this collaboration with the chiefs some residents have confessed and pledged not to engage in such negative acts again,” Mr Bukari said.
The manager, therefore, appealed to residents to co-operate with the VRA in its quest to provide quality services to its customers.
“We are always available for you to make your complaints; our doors are always opened to our customers to express their grievances,” he stressed.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Retain Mumuni as Mills’ running mate — Group
Story: Vincent Adedze, Tamale
THE coalition of National Democratic Congress (NDC) youth groups in Tamale has entreated the leadership of the party to retain Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni as the running mate of the party’s flag bearer, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, for the 2008 general election.
The groups noted that any attempt by the rank and file of the party to reject Alhaji Mumuni would spell more difficulties for the party in this year’s elections.
They further contended that Alhaji Mumuni had massive support in the Zongo communities and his choice as running mate would help brighten the chances of the NDC in its quest to wrest power from the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
A spokesperson for the groups, Mr Hamza Alhassan, stated this at a press conference in Tamale to draw the attention of the leadership of the party to alleged clandestine moves by some leading members of the party in the Northern Region to reject Alhaji Mumuni as the running mate of Prof. Mills.
The groups recounted several meetings that had allegedly been held with some youth in Tamale by some leading members of the party to convince them to reject Alhaji Mumuni and instead go for Mr John Mahama, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bole-Bamboi.
According to the spokesperson, information reaching the groups indicated that some business executives within the party in the region had pledged to donate 80 pick-up vehicles to the party if the rank and file rallied behind Mr Mahama.
Mr Alhassan, however, stressed that the groups were not against the selection of Mr Mahama as running mate but considered Alhaji Mumuni as one who could enhance the chances of the party in the forthcoming elections.
“The choice of a running mate should not be based on ethnicity, money or religious considerations, as any attempt to do that will give the NPP the chance to win power again. We should rather consider the marketability of the candidate, as well as his commitment to the party,” he further pointed out.
THE coalition of National Democratic Congress (NDC) youth groups in Tamale has entreated the leadership of the party to retain Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni as the running mate of the party’s flag bearer, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, for the 2008 general election.
The groups noted that any attempt by the rank and file of the party to reject Alhaji Mumuni would spell more difficulties for the party in this year’s elections.
They further contended that Alhaji Mumuni had massive support in the Zongo communities and his choice as running mate would help brighten the chances of the NDC in its quest to wrest power from the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
A spokesperson for the groups, Mr Hamza Alhassan, stated this at a press conference in Tamale to draw the attention of the leadership of the party to alleged clandestine moves by some leading members of the party in the Northern Region to reject Alhaji Mumuni as the running mate of Prof. Mills.
The groups recounted several meetings that had allegedly been held with some youth in Tamale by some leading members of the party to convince them to reject Alhaji Mumuni and instead go for Mr John Mahama, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bole-Bamboi.
According to the spokesperson, information reaching the groups indicated that some business executives within the party in the region had pledged to donate 80 pick-up vehicles to the party if the rank and file rallied behind Mr Mahama.
Mr Alhassan, however, stressed that the groups were not against the selection of Mr Mahama as running mate but considered Alhaji Mumuni as one who could enhance the chances of the party in the forthcoming elections.
“The choice of a running mate should not be based on ethnicity, money or religious considerations, as any attempt to do that will give the NPP the chance to win power again. We should rather consider the marketability of the candidate, as well as his commitment to the party,” he further pointed out.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
DAPKAM GETS HEALTH PLANNING SERVICES COMPOUND (PAGE 34)
Story: Vincent Adedze, Dapkam
THE people of Dapkam in the Nanumba North District of the Northern Region would no longer travel several kilometres from the town to seek medical attention.
This follows the inauguration of a GH¢45,000 Community-Based Health Planning Services (CHPS) compound in the area.
The initiative was a collaborative effort of the Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (CCFC), World Servants, the Assemblies of God and Relief Services (AGREDS) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
The facility will serve a total of 17 communities in and around Dapkam.
For several years, the people of the area had been travelling from Dapkam to Bimbilla and Salaga to seek medical attention, resulting in the untimely death of some of the patients on the way due to the long distance involved.
World Servants provided funds for the construction of the CHPS block while the CCFC, through its Nanumba Child Development Programme, and AGREDS, supported the initiative with a motorbike, a freezer, an eight-seater KVIP public place of convenience, a bath and urinary.
Other facilities the CCFC and its partners made available included 10 benches, desks, chairs, some internal fittings like doors louvre frames and blades, ceiling fans and beds, estimated at GH¢13,000.
In his inaugural address, the Executive Director of AGREDS, Mr Joseph Wumbee, observed that the facility “stands as a proud landmark shoulder to shoulder with other CHPS compounds in the country.”
According to him, patients who were already visiting the compound would be the first to benefit from the health care facility.
The Communications Manager of the CCFC, Mr Justin Bayor, said the CHPS compound was “a reflection of the fact that partnership and collaboration yielded great dividends to communities, women and children”.
He paid glowing tribute to the people of Dapkam for their communal spirit that made it possible for the various development partners to provide the facility.
Mr Bayor called for greater collaboration among all relevant institutions to help initiate viable projects in deprived communities.
The Nanumba Health District Director of Health Services, Madam Tia, stated that the facility would enable the GHS to deliver quality health care to the people.
She commended the regional health directorate for its immense contribution towards the establishment of the CHPS compound, and advised the people to patronise the facility.
THE people of Dapkam in the Nanumba North District of the Northern Region would no longer travel several kilometres from the town to seek medical attention.
This follows the inauguration of a GH¢45,000 Community-Based Health Planning Services (CHPS) compound in the area.
The initiative was a collaborative effort of the Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (CCFC), World Servants, the Assemblies of God and Relief Services (AGREDS) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
The facility will serve a total of 17 communities in and around Dapkam.
For several years, the people of the area had been travelling from Dapkam to Bimbilla and Salaga to seek medical attention, resulting in the untimely death of some of the patients on the way due to the long distance involved.
World Servants provided funds for the construction of the CHPS block while the CCFC, through its Nanumba Child Development Programme, and AGREDS, supported the initiative with a motorbike, a freezer, an eight-seater KVIP public place of convenience, a bath and urinary.
Other facilities the CCFC and its partners made available included 10 benches, desks, chairs, some internal fittings like doors louvre frames and blades, ceiling fans and beds, estimated at GH¢13,000.
In his inaugural address, the Executive Director of AGREDS, Mr Joseph Wumbee, observed that the facility “stands as a proud landmark shoulder to shoulder with other CHPS compounds in the country.”
According to him, patients who were already visiting the compound would be the first to benefit from the health care facility.
The Communications Manager of the CCFC, Mr Justin Bayor, said the CHPS compound was “a reflection of the fact that partnership and collaboration yielded great dividends to communities, women and children”.
He paid glowing tribute to the people of Dapkam for their communal spirit that made it possible for the various development partners to provide the facility.
Mr Bayor called for greater collaboration among all relevant institutions to help initiate viable projects in deprived communities.
The Nanumba Health District Director of Health Services, Madam Tia, stated that the facility would enable the GHS to deliver quality health care to the people.
She commended the regional health directorate for its immense contribution towards the establishment of the CHPS compound, and advised the people to patronise the facility.
OPEN NEGOTIATIONS FOR LIVING WAGES — AFEDO (PAGE 44)
Story: Vincent Adedze, Tamale
THE Northern Regional Branch of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has asked the government to open negotiations for “living wages” for its members in the face of the high cost of living in the country.
“The outcome of the negotiations will cushion workers against the recent increase in electricity tariffs. We expect the government to put in place measures to cushion teachers against the hardships brought about by escalating utility tariffs and transportation cost and their adverse effects on cost of living,” the association further stressed.
The Northern Regional Chairman of NAGRAT, Mr Lordson Afedo, stated this at a press conference in Tamale held to discuss current happenings on the labour front regarding salary negotiations with the government.
He expressed regret at the government’s “failure to fulfil its own desire of implementing a single spine salary structure for this year”.
The chairman also called on the government to “defreeze our withheld October 2006 salaries. If some teachers who were also on strike at that time had their salaries paid to them, then there is absolutely no justification for holding onto the position taken by the Ghana Education Service Council (GESC)”.
Mr Afedo further alleged that the government had “deliberately shifted the annual incremental jump from September to January to coincide with the beginning of the year”.
“For now, what we take home is a far cry from reality. Our take-home pay cannot take us home; salaries dwindle with each passing month and no teacher at the moment can tell his or her net salary,” he pointed out.
He observed that “sacrifices made by teachers seem to have gone unappreciated, largely because of the perception that the teacher’s reward is in heaven”.
The chairman stressed the need for the government to pay living wages to teachers “to remove the discontent that has come to be associated with teachers in the GES”.
“We also call on the government to tell workers how far it had gone with its pay reform policy and when they should expect the new pay structure to become operational to ease pressure on labour unions by their members,” he further stated.
Mr Afedo expressed concern over the inability of the consultant contracted by the government to look into the salaries of government employees to complete her work on schedule.
The former Regional Chairman of NAGRAT, Mr Mahama Andani, noted that the salaries of graduate teachers had, over the years, appreciated not because of the benevolence of the government but because of the commitment and resilience of the leadership of NAGRAT in championing the cause of its members.
Five former executives of NAGRAT were honoured for their contribution to the growth of the association in the Northern Region.
THE Northern Regional Branch of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has asked the government to open negotiations for “living wages” for its members in the face of the high cost of living in the country.
“The outcome of the negotiations will cushion workers against the recent increase in electricity tariffs. We expect the government to put in place measures to cushion teachers against the hardships brought about by escalating utility tariffs and transportation cost and their adverse effects on cost of living,” the association further stressed.
The Northern Regional Chairman of NAGRAT, Mr Lordson Afedo, stated this at a press conference in Tamale held to discuss current happenings on the labour front regarding salary negotiations with the government.
He expressed regret at the government’s “failure to fulfil its own desire of implementing a single spine salary structure for this year”.
The chairman also called on the government to “defreeze our withheld October 2006 salaries. If some teachers who were also on strike at that time had their salaries paid to them, then there is absolutely no justification for holding onto the position taken by the Ghana Education Service Council (GESC)”.
Mr Afedo further alleged that the government had “deliberately shifted the annual incremental jump from September to January to coincide with the beginning of the year”.
“For now, what we take home is a far cry from reality. Our take-home pay cannot take us home; salaries dwindle with each passing month and no teacher at the moment can tell his or her net salary,” he pointed out.
He observed that “sacrifices made by teachers seem to have gone unappreciated, largely because of the perception that the teacher’s reward is in heaven”.
The chairman stressed the need for the government to pay living wages to teachers “to remove the discontent that has come to be associated with teachers in the GES”.
“We also call on the government to tell workers how far it had gone with its pay reform policy and when they should expect the new pay structure to become operational to ease pressure on labour unions by their members,” he further stated.
Mr Afedo expressed concern over the inability of the consultant contracted by the government to look into the salaries of government employees to complete her work on schedule.
The former Regional Chairman of NAGRAT, Mr Mahama Andani, noted that the salaries of graduate teachers had, over the years, appreciated not because of the benevolence of the government but because of the commitment and resilience of the leadership of NAGRAT in championing the cause of its members.
Five former executives of NAGRAT were honoured for their contribution to the growth of the association in the Northern Region.
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