THE Development Policy Advisor at the Office of the Vice President, Dr Sulley Gariba, has observed that the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) has come to stay.
He stated that the basic components of SADA and its objectives would not be affected by the continuous change in government in the years to come.
Dr Gariba was reacting to concerns from some technical experts in Tamale to the effect that SADA must have a sustainable plan to ensure continuity of the programmes for the benefit of the people in northern Ghana.
He made the observation at a three-day technical roundtable conference on flood mitigation and development programme for Northern Savannah organised under the auspices of SADA.
More than 40 experts drawn from the Water Resources the Commission, the Volta River Authority, the Ghana Institution of Surveyors, Institution of Engineers, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the University for Development Studies, Community Water and Sanitation Agency, district assemblies and regional co-ordinating councils in northern Ghana attended the conference.
Selected media practitioners also participated in the discussion, which was designed to review existing strategies for integrated water resources management and flood control, define long-term strategies for converting flood waters into productive uses.
The conference followed an urgent call from the Vice-President, Mr John Mahama, on technical experts to convene and provide the government with a long-term solution to the flooding in northern Ghana.
Dr Gariba further stated that although the nomenclature of SADA might change from “time to time and from regime to regime, its basic thrust will remain the same”.
He said political commitment towards the successful implementation of SADA “was a tricky matter” but stressed that demands from entire citizenry, particularly those from the northern Ghana, would put governments on their toes in the years ahead.
Touching on funding for SADA implementation, he stated that there were three-pronged approaches, including regular budgetary allocation to the sector, donor and private sector funding and the proposition of a formula for funding under a law that was yet to be promulgated to help charge levies on petroleum products for the SADA funding.
The SADA Technical Team Leader, Dr Charles Jebuni, said the SADA was meant to provide additional funding to supplement the regular budgetary allocations to relevant institutions, including ministries and departments.
“SADA is not meant to reduce these budgetary allocations to the various sectors; it has been given the mandate to facilitate development in northern savannah”, Dr Jebuni stressed.
According to him, SADA was meant to address three main issues, namely, bridging the gap between northern and southern Ghana, long-term adaptation to climate changes and short-term development and security.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
COTTON FIRM TO UNDERGO RESTRUCTURING (PAGE 29, DEC 8, 2010)
THE government is to restructure the Ghana Cotton Company Limited (GCCL) and make it more viable.
As a result, the government is holding consultations with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), to set out modalities for the exercise.
The proposed modalities involve assessing the company’s debt burden, the viability of the restructuring exercise and the nature of ownership agreement, among others.
The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mahama Ayariga, made this known in Tamale during an interaction with management and staff of the company.
The interaction followed recent industrial action by workers of the company to demand the dismissal of management to pave the way for the formation of an interim management to run the distressed company.
Mr Ayariga said it was the government’s target to put in place effective mechanisms to ensure that the nation produced not less than 30,000 metric tonnes of cotton by next year.
“We are confident that this is achievable through teamwork, transparency and dedication,” he pointed out.
He announced that in order to avoid “cheating of cotton farmers” and to fix realistic prices for cotton, a national committee comprising a team of cotton experts, the IFC, World Bank, Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture would be formed.
Mr Ayariga further explained that the country would be divided into four zones, namely the North Eastern, North Western, North Central and Northern Brong Ahafo and Volta Regions.
He said companies would be invited to engage in serious production of cotton in the four zones to help achieve targets in the industry.
He said activities such as land preparation, farmer mobilisation, input supply, and facilities for the evacuation of cotton from the farms to the ginneries would be undertaken by the selected companies.
The minister entreated workers to suspend their strike and work with their management while government resolved the problem.
The workers indicated that they had lost confidence in the management because of the fact that they “supervised operational losses for the past decade and we do not think they have the capacity to turn around the fortunes of the company”.
They, however, expressed appreciation to the government for the cotton support programme, saying “had it not been for your timely intervention, the company would have been on its knees”.
The workers equally appealed to the government to conduct a forensic audit into the operations of the company over the past 10 years.
As a result, the government is holding consultations with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), to set out modalities for the exercise.
The proposed modalities involve assessing the company’s debt burden, the viability of the restructuring exercise and the nature of ownership agreement, among others.
The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mahama Ayariga, made this known in Tamale during an interaction with management and staff of the company.
The interaction followed recent industrial action by workers of the company to demand the dismissal of management to pave the way for the formation of an interim management to run the distressed company.
Mr Ayariga said it was the government’s target to put in place effective mechanisms to ensure that the nation produced not less than 30,000 metric tonnes of cotton by next year.
“We are confident that this is achievable through teamwork, transparency and dedication,” he pointed out.
He announced that in order to avoid “cheating of cotton farmers” and to fix realistic prices for cotton, a national committee comprising a team of cotton experts, the IFC, World Bank, Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture would be formed.
Mr Ayariga further explained that the country would be divided into four zones, namely the North Eastern, North Western, North Central and Northern Brong Ahafo and Volta Regions.
He said companies would be invited to engage in serious production of cotton in the four zones to help achieve targets in the industry.
He said activities such as land preparation, farmer mobilisation, input supply, and facilities for the evacuation of cotton from the farms to the ginneries would be undertaken by the selected companies.
The minister entreated workers to suspend their strike and work with their management while government resolved the problem.
The workers indicated that they had lost confidence in the management because of the fact that they “supervised operational losses for the past decade and we do not think they have the capacity to turn around the fortunes of the company”.
They, however, expressed appreciation to the government for the cotton support programme, saying “had it not been for your timely intervention, the company would have been on its knees”.
The workers equally appealed to the government to conduct a forensic audit into the operations of the company over the past 10 years.
FORUM TO SENSITISE PUBLIC TO POLLS (PAGE 13, DEC 7, 2010)
A day’s regional forum to help sensitise the public to the forthcoming District Assembly Elections has been held in Tamale.
It was on the theme: “Harnessing the resources of the Electoral Commission (EC), National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and Information Services Department (ISD) for improved citizen participation in the 2010 district level elections.”
The EC, in collaboration with KAB Consult, organised it. District Officers of the EC, the NCCE and ISD in the northern region attended the forum.
The officers discussed, among other issues, the mode of collaboration and strategies for disseminating information.
Addressing the participants, the Deputy Commissioner of the EC in charge of Finance and Administration, Mr David Adeenze-Kangah, said the need to get persons with disabilities involved in the elections and make sure that political parties were not allowed to turn the district assembly elections into partisan politics was a major challenge to the EC.
“We must not encounter the kind of rancour that characterises general elections and that is why we are keeping political parties out of it” Mr Adeenze-Kangah pointed out.
According to him, the mounting of platforms to expose the candidates to the electorate was equally critical.
He intimated that there would be only one unit committee member in every electoral area.
The deputy commissioner said the EC started making reforms in the district level elections to ensure that the district assembly structures were more attractive to prospective candidates.
He noted that the attendance at the forum was encouraging, which was a clear manifestation of the commitment of the EC, NCCE and ISD towards a successful election.
The Regional Director of the EC, Mr Sylvester Kanyi, said in spite of concerns being raised about the delays in holding the elections, his outfit would do all it could to make the election successful to justify the delays and to inform people that a lot of preparation were made to make it succeed.
He observed that the forum was aimed at enlightening the participants on the dynamics of the elections and equip them with the requisite skills to effectively engage in information dissemination.
An EC member, Hajia Sa-adatu Maida, stressed the need for more women representation in the assemblies so that they could contribute their quota to the decision making process.
It was on the theme: “Harnessing the resources of the Electoral Commission (EC), National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and Information Services Department (ISD) for improved citizen participation in the 2010 district level elections.”
The EC, in collaboration with KAB Consult, organised it. District Officers of the EC, the NCCE and ISD in the northern region attended the forum.
The officers discussed, among other issues, the mode of collaboration and strategies for disseminating information.
Addressing the participants, the Deputy Commissioner of the EC in charge of Finance and Administration, Mr David Adeenze-Kangah, said the need to get persons with disabilities involved in the elections and make sure that political parties were not allowed to turn the district assembly elections into partisan politics was a major challenge to the EC.
“We must not encounter the kind of rancour that characterises general elections and that is why we are keeping political parties out of it” Mr Adeenze-Kangah pointed out.
According to him, the mounting of platforms to expose the candidates to the electorate was equally critical.
He intimated that there would be only one unit committee member in every electoral area.
The deputy commissioner said the EC started making reforms in the district level elections to ensure that the district assembly structures were more attractive to prospective candidates.
He noted that the attendance at the forum was encouraging, which was a clear manifestation of the commitment of the EC, NCCE and ISD towards a successful election.
The Regional Director of the EC, Mr Sylvester Kanyi, said in spite of concerns being raised about the delays in holding the elections, his outfit would do all it could to make the election successful to justify the delays and to inform people that a lot of preparation were made to make it succeed.
He observed that the forum was aimed at enlightening the participants on the dynamics of the elections and equip them with the requisite skills to effectively engage in information dissemination.
An EC member, Hajia Sa-adatu Maida, stressed the need for more women representation in the assemblies so that they could contribute their quota to the decision making process.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
COTTON FIRM TO UNDERGO RESTRUCTURING (BACK PAGE, DEC 3, 2010)
THE government is to restructure the Ghana Cotton Company Limited (GCCL) and make it more viable.
As a result, the government is holding consultations with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), to set out modalities for the exercise.
The proposed modalities involve assessing the company’s debt burden, the viability of the restructuring exercise and the nature of ownership agreement among others.
The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mahama Ayariga, made this known in Tamale during an interaction with management and staff of the company.
The interaction followed recent industrial action by workers of the company to demand the dismissal of management to pave the way for the formation of an interim management to run the distressed company.
Mr Ayariga said it was the government’s target to put in place effective mechanisms to ensure that the nation produced not less than 30,000 metric tonnes of cotton by next year.
“We are confident that this is achievable through teamwork, transparency and dedication,” he pointed out.
He announced that in order to avoid “cheating of cotton farmers” and to fix realistic prices for cotton, a national committee comprising a team of cotton experts, the IFC, World Bank, Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture would be formed.
Mr Ayariga further explained that the country would be divided into four zones, namely the North Eastern, North Western, North Central and Northern Brong Ahafo and Volta regions.
He said companies would be invited to engage in serious production of cotton in the four zones to help achieve targets in the industry.
He said activities such as land preparation, farmer mobilisation, input supply, and facilities for the evacuation of cotton from the farms to the ginneries would be undertaken by the selected companies.
The minister entreated workers to suspend their strike and work with their management while government resolved the problem.
The workers indicated that they had lost confidence in the management because of the fact that they “supervised operational losses for the past one decade and we do not think they have the capacity to turn around the fortunes of the company”.
They, however, expressed appreciation to the government for the cotton support programme, saying “had it not been for your timely intervention, the company would have been on its knees”.
The workers equally appealed to the government to conduct a forensic audit into the operations of the company over the past 10 years.
As a result, the government is holding consultations with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), to set out modalities for the exercise.
The proposed modalities involve assessing the company’s debt burden, the viability of the restructuring exercise and the nature of ownership agreement among others.
The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mahama Ayariga, made this known in Tamale during an interaction with management and staff of the company.
The interaction followed recent industrial action by workers of the company to demand the dismissal of management to pave the way for the formation of an interim management to run the distressed company.
Mr Ayariga said it was the government’s target to put in place effective mechanisms to ensure that the nation produced not less than 30,000 metric tonnes of cotton by next year.
“We are confident that this is achievable through teamwork, transparency and dedication,” he pointed out.
He announced that in order to avoid “cheating of cotton farmers” and to fix realistic prices for cotton, a national committee comprising a team of cotton experts, the IFC, World Bank, Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture would be formed.
Mr Ayariga further explained that the country would be divided into four zones, namely the North Eastern, North Western, North Central and Northern Brong Ahafo and Volta regions.
He said companies would be invited to engage in serious production of cotton in the four zones to help achieve targets in the industry.
He said activities such as land preparation, farmer mobilisation, input supply, and facilities for the evacuation of cotton from the farms to the ginneries would be undertaken by the selected companies.
The minister entreated workers to suspend their strike and work with their management while government resolved the problem.
The workers indicated that they had lost confidence in the management because of the fact that they “supervised operational losses for the past one decade and we do not think they have the capacity to turn around the fortunes of the company”.
They, however, expressed appreciation to the government for the cotton support programme, saying “had it not been for your timely intervention, the company would have been on its knees”.
The workers equally appealed to the government to conduct a forensic audit into the operations of the company over the past 10 years.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
THRILLS AT NAFAC (MIRROR, NOV 27, 2010, PAGE 46)
From Vincent Amenuveve, Tamale.
WHEN the Ezinlibo Abram Kundum Dance Group and the Nkabom Cultural Troupe all from the Western Region took turns to entertain residents of the Tamale Metropolis as part of the ongoing National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC), it was clear that the region had a lot to offer, besides crude oil and other natural resources.
Both groups expertly performed such traditional dances as the Sekosim, asomdwee dance drama and the Ezinlibo Abram Kundum dance among others thrilling patrons who had gathered at the Jubilee Park to witness the Regional Day activity of the NAFAC.
The region was paired with the Greater Accra Region (GAR) to show case their respective rich cultural and tourism potentials. Five cultural and dance groups each from the two regions performed at the function.
The Sekosim dance is a special choreographed dance for important occasions. It is a dance piece which was choreographed out of the three dances from the Western Region namely Sewurada from Shama, Kotodwe from Wasa Amenfi and Simpoa Allewuley in the Jomoro district.
The Asomdwe dance means peace in Fante and it is a dance drama which tells a story of two ethnic groups who were fighting over land for supremacy and threatened each other with war dance movements. They were later advised by another ethnic group to live in peace and harmony.
The Ezinlibo Abram Kundum dance originated from a small town in Ahanta called Aboadze. History has it that during the immigration of the Nzemas, the Nvavile clan came to settle at Aboadze in Ahanta and a man called Beluhue Ackah from Nvavile clan brought the dance to Benyin and it has since become the annual dance of the Nzemas. It is performed by both males and females, young and old.
The dance has become a festival dance to thank the gods for the fruits of the earth. Its significance is that it exposes bad and good deeds in the community and teaches the youth to put up good behaviours. The Ezinlibo Abram Kundum dance group was formed many years ago under the leadership of Mr. John Kwaw.
The Nkabom Cultural Troupe was formed out of the Regional Dance Association in the year 2000 under the leadership of Mr. Richard Teiko. The troupe has 25 members.
The Western region is made up of five major ethnic groups. They are Nzema, Aowin, Sefwi, Ahanta and Wassa. According to oral records, the people of the region migrated to their present location from the bank of the River Nile. They migrated partly because of the frequent attacks from the Arabs and partly in search of fertile land.
The people exhibit a high degree of cultural homogeneity, especially in the areas of lineage organisation, inheritance and succession, marriage and religion.
Traditional festivals are celebrated from January to December. The five major ethnic groups celebrate festivals which are unique from each other. Nzema and Ahanta people celebrate the Kundum festival while other ethnic groups celebrate Edie Afehye (Wasa Akropong) Odwira Afahye (Benso) Nkronu(Shama Supomu Dunkwa) Afehye (Bekwai) and Elluelie (Enchi and Dadieso).
The region is bordered by Cote D’Ivoire on the West, Central region on the East, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo in the North and 192 kilometers of Gulf of Guinea coast line in the South. It has a total land area of 23,921 kilometers which is about 10 per cent of Ghana’s total land area.
The Mass Choir and the Ledzokuku Cultural troupe from Accra performed various songs and traditional dances, respectively to the admiration of patrons.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashitey and the Deputy Western Regional Minister, Madam Betty Bosumtwe Sam outlined the various potentials of the two regions.
They however stressed the need for traditional authorities and those in the arts and culture industry to help safeguard the country’s rich cultural heritage inspite of the influx of foreign culture.
WHEN the Ezinlibo Abram Kundum Dance Group and the Nkabom Cultural Troupe all from the Western Region took turns to entertain residents of the Tamale Metropolis as part of the ongoing National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC), it was clear that the region had a lot to offer, besides crude oil and other natural resources.
Both groups expertly performed such traditional dances as the Sekosim, asomdwee dance drama and the Ezinlibo Abram Kundum dance among others thrilling patrons who had gathered at the Jubilee Park to witness the Regional Day activity of the NAFAC.
The region was paired with the Greater Accra Region (GAR) to show case their respective rich cultural and tourism potentials. Five cultural and dance groups each from the two regions performed at the function.
The Sekosim dance is a special choreographed dance for important occasions. It is a dance piece which was choreographed out of the three dances from the Western Region namely Sewurada from Shama, Kotodwe from Wasa Amenfi and Simpoa Allewuley in the Jomoro district.
The Asomdwe dance means peace in Fante and it is a dance drama which tells a story of two ethnic groups who were fighting over land for supremacy and threatened each other with war dance movements. They were later advised by another ethnic group to live in peace and harmony.
The Ezinlibo Abram Kundum dance originated from a small town in Ahanta called Aboadze. History has it that during the immigration of the Nzemas, the Nvavile clan came to settle at Aboadze in Ahanta and a man called Beluhue Ackah from Nvavile clan brought the dance to Benyin and it has since become the annual dance of the Nzemas. It is performed by both males and females, young and old.
The dance has become a festival dance to thank the gods for the fruits of the earth. Its significance is that it exposes bad and good deeds in the community and teaches the youth to put up good behaviours. The Ezinlibo Abram Kundum dance group was formed many years ago under the leadership of Mr. John Kwaw.
The Nkabom Cultural Troupe was formed out of the Regional Dance Association in the year 2000 under the leadership of Mr. Richard Teiko. The troupe has 25 members.
The Western region is made up of five major ethnic groups. They are Nzema, Aowin, Sefwi, Ahanta and Wassa. According to oral records, the people of the region migrated to their present location from the bank of the River Nile. They migrated partly because of the frequent attacks from the Arabs and partly in search of fertile land.
The people exhibit a high degree of cultural homogeneity, especially in the areas of lineage organisation, inheritance and succession, marriage and religion.
Traditional festivals are celebrated from January to December. The five major ethnic groups celebrate festivals which are unique from each other. Nzema and Ahanta people celebrate the Kundum festival while other ethnic groups celebrate Edie Afehye (Wasa Akropong) Odwira Afahye (Benso) Nkronu(Shama Supomu Dunkwa) Afehye (Bekwai) and Elluelie (Enchi and Dadieso).
The region is bordered by Cote D’Ivoire on the West, Central region on the East, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo in the North and 192 kilometers of Gulf of Guinea coast line in the South. It has a total land area of 23,921 kilometers which is about 10 per cent of Ghana’s total land area.
The Mass Choir and the Ledzokuku Cultural troupe from Accra performed various songs and traditional dances, respectively to the admiration of patrons.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashitey and the Deputy Western Regional Minister, Madam Betty Bosumtwe Sam outlined the various potentials of the two regions.
They however stressed the need for traditional authorities and those in the arts and culture industry to help safeguard the country’s rich cultural heritage inspite of the influx of foreign culture.
NR COMES TOPS AT NAFAC (SPREAD, NOV 29, 2010)
THE Northern Region was at the weekend adjudged the overall best at an awards ceremony held at the Jubilee Park in Tamale to mark the end of this year’s National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC).
The second position went to the Central Region, with the Ashanti Region placing third.
All the 10 regions participated in the festival which was characterised by the display of diverse rich cultural and traditional performances.
The deserving regions were all presented with trophies.
Other awards included best highlife dancer, which went to the Central Region, with the Eastern and Northern regions placing second and third respectively.
In the traditional beauty pageant category, dubbed “Miss NAFAC 2010”, Anita Adjetey, the Head of Ceramic Unit of the Centre for National Culture (CNC) in Accra, was crowned Miss NAFAC 2010.
Western Region was adjudged the best scientific discovery region. The best visual arts product awards went to the Ashanti Region, with Central and Eastern regions placing second and third respectively.
Dr Hajia Salamatu Ibrahim Taimako from the Northern Region was honoured for her immense contribution to the growth of herbal medicine in Ghana.
The Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine placed second, while the Eastern Region took the third position.
In the debate competition, the Saint Charles Senior High School was adjudged the best while the best team in a gala competition went to Gbewaa, followed by Tampe-Kukuo with Baby Jet taking the third position.
Former ministers, chairmen and directors of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture (MCC), National Commission on Culture (NCC) and the Centre for National Culture (CNC) were honoured.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Magbenba, was also honoured for his role in making this year’s hosting of the NAFAC in the region a success.
Speakers and patrons at the function described this year’s NAFAC as a huge success although they equally complained of poor publicity about the event. The attendance for the eight-day event was described as encouraging.
The Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr Alexander Asum-Ahensah, observed that “for the past eight days, Tamale has successfully hosted NAFAC”.
He, therefore, commended the chiefs and residents of the town for the warm reception accorded visitors to the NAFAC, saying, “we have enjoyed every bit of our stay here in Tamale”.
He announced that the Brong Ahafo Region would host the 2012 NAFAC.
Mr Magbenba expressed excitement at the success hosting of NAFAC by the Northern Region.
“We in the region are proud to be hosts to an elaborate display of our rich cultural heritage; hosting of this event has put us on the tourism map,” he said.
A member of the Council of State, Kpan-Naa Mohammed Bawa, observed that the event brought to the fore the need for unity and understanding.
He expressed the hope that the success of the event, particularly in terms of the good attendance, would ultimately enhance the image of the region.
The former Dean of Directors of the CNC, Mr William Addo, on behalf of the award winners, said, “we are indeed grateful for the honour done us; but I must say that standards set by the Northern Region are very high and so the Brong Ahafo Region cannot afford but to meet such standards or do better”.
The second position went to the Central Region, with the Ashanti Region placing third.
All the 10 regions participated in the festival which was characterised by the display of diverse rich cultural and traditional performances.
The deserving regions were all presented with trophies.
Other awards included best highlife dancer, which went to the Central Region, with the Eastern and Northern regions placing second and third respectively.
In the traditional beauty pageant category, dubbed “Miss NAFAC 2010”, Anita Adjetey, the Head of Ceramic Unit of the Centre for National Culture (CNC) in Accra, was crowned Miss NAFAC 2010.
Western Region was adjudged the best scientific discovery region. The best visual arts product awards went to the Ashanti Region, with Central and Eastern regions placing second and third respectively.
Dr Hajia Salamatu Ibrahim Taimako from the Northern Region was honoured for her immense contribution to the growth of herbal medicine in Ghana.
The Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine placed second, while the Eastern Region took the third position.
In the debate competition, the Saint Charles Senior High School was adjudged the best while the best team in a gala competition went to Gbewaa, followed by Tampe-Kukuo with Baby Jet taking the third position.
Former ministers, chairmen and directors of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture (MCC), National Commission on Culture (NCC) and the Centre for National Culture (CNC) were honoured.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Magbenba, was also honoured for his role in making this year’s hosting of the NAFAC in the region a success.
Speakers and patrons at the function described this year’s NAFAC as a huge success although they equally complained of poor publicity about the event. The attendance for the eight-day event was described as encouraging.
The Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr Alexander Asum-Ahensah, observed that “for the past eight days, Tamale has successfully hosted NAFAC”.
He, therefore, commended the chiefs and residents of the town for the warm reception accorded visitors to the NAFAC, saying, “we have enjoyed every bit of our stay here in Tamale”.
He announced that the Brong Ahafo Region would host the 2012 NAFAC.
Mr Magbenba expressed excitement at the success hosting of NAFAC by the Northern Region.
“We in the region are proud to be hosts to an elaborate display of our rich cultural heritage; hosting of this event has put us on the tourism map,” he said.
A member of the Council of State, Kpan-Naa Mohammed Bawa, observed that the event brought to the fore the need for unity and understanding.
He expressed the hope that the success of the event, particularly in terms of the good attendance, would ultimately enhance the image of the region.
The former Dean of Directors of the CNC, Mr William Addo, on behalf of the award winners, said, “we are indeed grateful for the honour done us; but I must say that standards set by the Northern Region are very high and so the Brong Ahafo Region cannot afford but to meet such standards or do better”.
SANCTION NON-PERFORMING MPS (PAGE 13, NOV 29, 2010)
PARTICIPANTS in a forum to give voice to the voiceless in Ghana’s Constitution Review Process have stressed the need for mechanisms to be put in place to sanction non-performing parliamentarians.
They noted that over the years some members of parliament engaged in absenteeism, hence they did not contribute adequately to debates on the floor of parliament yet they received their salaries and ex gratia awards.
They equally pointed out the need for the MPS to be given a maximum of three terms after which they must resign as MPs.
Such a measure they noted would ensure that they did not become ineffective and complacent.
The forum discussed the executive, legislature, judiciary, decentralisation and local government, chieftaincy, the direct principles of state policy and national elections.
The forum was aimed at, among other objectives, providing a platform for the grassroots, the vulnerable and marginalised sections of the society to share their views on key aspects of the constitution.
It was organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) in collaboration with the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF).
Other participants pointed out the need for a review of the constitution to extend the tenure of office of the President from four to six or seven years.
On women representation at the assembly level, they noted that there was the need for more than 50 per cent of the women to be present at the assemblies to ensure that they form an integral part of the decision making process.
A Policy Analyst at the IEA, Dr Michael Ofori-Mensah, stated that “17 years into the operation of the current constitution, serious shortcomings have been identified”.
According to him, for instance, the superimposition of a partisan central government structure on a non-partisan local government system, within the political space in Ghana gave cause for concern and hence a review.
He explained that democracy could be strengthened, if the shortcomings experienced over the last 17 years were addressed by taking into consideration the concerns of the vulnerable and marginalised groups.
Dr Ofori-Mensah intimated that the IEA was currently undertaking research and advocacy on certain provisions of the constitution that in its view required critical examination.
“In our view, the best way to address the concerns of the marginalised groups is to create the opportunity for gender advocates and representatives of vulnerable groups to speak for themselves” he stated.
A Member of the Council of State, Kpan Naa Muhammed Baba Bawa urged the participants to discuss the issues dispassionately devoid of politics.
They noted that over the years some members of parliament engaged in absenteeism, hence they did not contribute adequately to debates on the floor of parliament yet they received their salaries and ex gratia awards.
They equally pointed out the need for the MPS to be given a maximum of three terms after which they must resign as MPs.
Such a measure they noted would ensure that they did not become ineffective and complacent.
The forum discussed the executive, legislature, judiciary, decentralisation and local government, chieftaincy, the direct principles of state policy and national elections.
The forum was aimed at, among other objectives, providing a platform for the grassroots, the vulnerable and marginalised sections of the society to share their views on key aspects of the constitution.
It was organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) in collaboration with the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF).
Other participants pointed out the need for a review of the constitution to extend the tenure of office of the President from four to six or seven years.
On women representation at the assembly level, they noted that there was the need for more than 50 per cent of the women to be present at the assemblies to ensure that they form an integral part of the decision making process.
A Policy Analyst at the IEA, Dr Michael Ofori-Mensah, stated that “17 years into the operation of the current constitution, serious shortcomings have been identified”.
According to him, for instance, the superimposition of a partisan central government structure on a non-partisan local government system, within the political space in Ghana gave cause for concern and hence a review.
He explained that democracy could be strengthened, if the shortcomings experienced over the last 17 years were addressed by taking into consideration the concerns of the vulnerable and marginalised groups.
Dr Ofori-Mensah intimated that the IEA was currently undertaking research and advocacy on certain provisions of the constitution that in its view required critical examination.
“In our view, the best way to address the concerns of the marginalised groups is to create the opportunity for gender advocates and representatives of vulnerable groups to speak for themselves” he stated.
A Member of the Council of State, Kpan Naa Muhammed Baba Bawa urged the participants to discuss the issues dispassionately devoid of politics.
MAAKE NDC FORMIDABLE — AKACHAWON (PAGE 12, NOV 27, 2010)
A member of the communication team of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Tamale, Mr Stephen Akachawon, has entreated the rank and file of the party to unite to make the NDC formidable in the years ahead.
He equally advised members of the party to educate Ghanaians on the achievements of the NDC government after barely two years in office and why the party’s mandate must be renewed in the year 2012.
Mr Akachawon stated this during an interaction with the Daily Graphic in Tamale.
“The internal rivalry within the party ,if care is not taken will dent our image and reputation as a political party .We collectively struggled ,used every resources at our disposal to win the election hence ,it is premature for us to be pinpointing who is a saint and who is a devil” he cautioned.
He intimated that God entrusted the leadership of the county into the hands of Prof. John Evans Atta Mills and that the same God would guide and direct him to effectively handle the affairs of the country.
According to Mr. Akachawon, Prof. Mills had distinguished himself as a real man for the people and had achieved a lot that needed to be lauded.
He equally advised members of the party to educate Ghanaians on the achievements of the NDC government after barely two years in office and why the party’s mandate must be renewed in the year 2012.
Mr Akachawon stated this during an interaction with the Daily Graphic in Tamale.
“The internal rivalry within the party ,if care is not taken will dent our image and reputation as a political party .We collectively struggled ,used every resources at our disposal to win the election hence ,it is premature for us to be pinpointing who is a saint and who is a devil” he cautioned.
He intimated that God entrusted the leadership of the county into the hands of Prof. John Evans Atta Mills and that the same God would guide and direct him to effectively handle the affairs of the country.
According to Mr. Akachawon, Prof. Mills had distinguished himself as a real man for the people and had achieved a lot that needed to be lauded.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
NORTHERN, BA CELEBRATE DAY AT NAFAC (PAGE 29, NOV 25, 2010)
RESIDENTS of Tamale metropolis have been treated to cultural performances by various cultural troupes from the Northern and Brong Ahafo regions at the ongoing National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC) at the Jubilee Park in the metropolis.
Seventeen cultural troupes from the Northern Region and three groups from the Brong Ahafo Region performed.
The programme was interspersed with poetry recitals. The one that drew admiration and cheers from residents was the poem on the tourism potentials of the Brong Ahafo Region by Akosua Kakyere Boakyewaa.
The various ethnic groups in the Northern Region, mainly Dagombas, Gonjas, Mamprusis, and Nanumbas performed to the satisfaction of the residents.
The groups include; the Nchile Tosiwa from Gambaga, the Takai from the Centre for National Culture (CNC) in Tamale and the Tanokrom Agoromma and Philamonic Choir from the BAR.
The event was co-chaired by Nana Owusu Akyeaw Bripong II, the Omanhene of Atebubu traditional area and the Mamprugu King, Na Bohagu Mahami Abdulai.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Magbenba, used the occasion to call on the arts and film industry to ensure that the nation’s cultural identity was not undermined by foreign culture.
“We need to strengthen our national identity as a way of preserving our cultural heritage, particularly at a time when we have an information super highway” he pointed out.
He outlined the region’s tourism potential but expressed regret that most of the tourist sites were inaccessible.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, announced plans by the government to provide funds through the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture to complete the region’s theatre project that had been abandoned for decades.
He said the region abounded in such potentials as the Tano Sacred Fish, the Buoyem Bat sanctuary and caves, the Bui and Digya National Parks.
The minister noted that the region had gold deposits and that plans were far advanced to undertake mining activities in the Tano North District.
“The region has a lot of potentials in agriculture and animal husbandry and provides 30 per cent of the country’s food requirements” he stated.
According to him, the region had a total land mass of 39,557.08 square kilometres.
Mr Marfo explained that the region was carved out of the Ashanti Region on April 4, 1959.
The week-long NAFAC has 10 participatory regions with each of them given the opportunity to display their cultural heritage and mount exhibitions.
Seventeen cultural troupes from the Northern Region and three groups from the Brong Ahafo Region performed.
The programme was interspersed with poetry recitals. The one that drew admiration and cheers from residents was the poem on the tourism potentials of the Brong Ahafo Region by Akosua Kakyere Boakyewaa.
The various ethnic groups in the Northern Region, mainly Dagombas, Gonjas, Mamprusis, and Nanumbas performed to the satisfaction of the residents.
The groups include; the Nchile Tosiwa from Gambaga, the Takai from the Centre for National Culture (CNC) in Tamale and the Tanokrom Agoromma and Philamonic Choir from the BAR.
The event was co-chaired by Nana Owusu Akyeaw Bripong II, the Omanhene of Atebubu traditional area and the Mamprugu King, Na Bohagu Mahami Abdulai.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Magbenba, used the occasion to call on the arts and film industry to ensure that the nation’s cultural identity was not undermined by foreign culture.
“We need to strengthen our national identity as a way of preserving our cultural heritage, particularly at a time when we have an information super highway” he pointed out.
He outlined the region’s tourism potential but expressed regret that most of the tourist sites were inaccessible.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, announced plans by the government to provide funds through the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture to complete the region’s theatre project that had been abandoned for decades.
He said the region abounded in such potentials as the Tano Sacred Fish, the Buoyem Bat sanctuary and caves, the Bui and Digya National Parks.
The minister noted that the region had gold deposits and that plans were far advanced to undertake mining activities in the Tano North District.
“The region has a lot of potentials in agriculture and animal husbandry and provides 30 per cent of the country’s food requirements” he stated.
According to him, the region had a total land mass of 39,557.08 square kilometres.
Mr Marfo explained that the region was carved out of the Ashanti Region on April 4, 1959.
The week-long NAFAC has 10 participatory regions with each of them given the opportunity to display their cultural heritage and mount exhibitions.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
FOOD SECUIRITY, MAJOR PROBLEM IN NORTHERN REGION (PAGE 35, NOV 17, 2010)
POOR co-ordination among key stakeholders in food security programmes has been identified as a major challenge in dealing with the problems in the Northern Region.
As a result of the situation, there is duplication of functions among the key partners, in spite of the huge investments made over the years to solve food insecurity in the region.
Other factors that militate against achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of eradicating extreme hunger and poverty include lack of integration and collaboration and the use of different development approaches towards achieving that goal.
Figures show that the Northern Region occupies about 40 per cent of the agricultural lands of Ghana, comprising sub-humid to semi-arid guinea and Sudan Savannah, with great potential for an agricultural revolution in the country.
The region is also considered in many respects as being the bread basket of the country, with about 70 per cent of its labour force engaged in agriculture, producing mainly food crops such as maize, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava, groundnuts, cowpea, yams and soya beans.
In spite of this huge potential, agriculture productivity and growth and in particular, the goal of ensuring food security continue to be a mirage.
Admittedly, although some successes have been chalked up over the years, much more needs to be done, considering the vast potential that exists in the region and the huge investments made in eradicating hunger in the area.
The absence of an effective platform and leadership to facilitate co-ordination and collaboration is another challenge to achieving the goals of food security in the region.
The non-adherence to land planning and development regulations is also a factor hindering efforts at achieving food security in the region.
At a recent workshop in Tamale on promoting food security through participation and collaboration, the 50 participants, drawn from the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, the Northern Regional Co-ordinating Council, the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute, the Lands Commission, Care International, World Vision and the Forestry Department, stressed the need for effective collaboration among key partners in food security.
The workshop brought together the different actors in agriculture in the region under the leadership of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, with funding from the Urban Agriculture Network (URBANET).
It was aimed at engendering discussions to chart the way forward in dealing with food security so that interventions would be strategic and timely.
It was also expected to establish a platform where there would be greater comparability of programmes and interventions from one place to another, increased vigour, greater transparency and increased relevance of agricultural programmes to the regional and national strategic decision making and actions.
The Programme Co-ordinator of URBANET, Mr Rashid Zakaria, stressed the need for dialoguing with the right and appropriate stakeholders to ensure commitment and resource sharing in urban agriculture to impact positively on food security in the region.
The Deputy Northern Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Mr Stephen Yakubu, said many well designed programmes were still being carried out in parallel interventions in many communities, all aimed at the overall objective of trying to help improve food security and sustainable livelihoods in northern Ghana.
He said the complexity of food security could be simplified into three distinct areas — food availability, accessibility and utilisation.
Indeed, one area of concern to some of the participants at the workshop was the establishment of food security networks (FSNs) as a strategy to boost food security in the region.
It is worthy of note that the government has developed a policy to guide agricultural development in Ghana called the Food and Agricultural Sector Development Policy (FASDEP), whose key objectives are to increase the food needs of Ghanaians for local consumption, local industry and export.
It also aims at creating wealth for farmers, most of whom are small-scale operators.
The strategies for its implementation include enhancing opportunities in the private sector to act as conduits for increased reach from government, especially small-scale operators in the food, livestock and fisheries sectors.
One major issue identified under FASDEP is the low incomes earned by farmers, mostly food crop farmers, and fishermen. In the Ghana Living Standard Survey (GLSS) 5, food crop farmers were identified among the lowest income earners in the country, although they form more than 50 per cent of the population.
Furthermore, the GLSS 5 report also indicated that food crop farmers constituted 46 per cent of the poor in the country.
It is, therefore, imperative for key stakeholders to ensure that food security networks are developed at the district and regional levels to address food security issues.
As a result of the situation, there is duplication of functions among the key partners, in spite of the huge investments made over the years to solve food insecurity in the region.
Other factors that militate against achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of eradicating extreme hunger and poverty include lack of integration and collaboration and the use of different development approaches towards achieving that goal.
Figures show that the Northern Region occupies about 40 per cent of the agricultural lands of Ghana, comprising sub-humid to semi-arid guinea and Sudan Savannah, with great potential for an agricultural revolution in the country.
The region is also considered in many respects as being the bread basket of the country, with about 70 per cent of its labour force engaged in agriculture, producing mainly food crops such as maize, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava, groundnuts, cowpea, yams and soya beans.
In spite of this huge potential, agriculture productivity and growth and in particular, the goal of ensuring food security continue to be a mirage.
Admittedly, although some successes have been chalked up over the years, much more needs to be done, considering the vast potential that exists in the region and the huge investments made in eradicating hunger in the area.
The absence of an effective platform and leadership to facilitate co-ordination and collaboration is another challenge to achieving the goals of food security in the region.
The non-adherence to land planning and development regulations is also a factor hindering efforts at achieving food security in the region.
At a recent workshop in Tamale on promoting food security through participation and collaboration, the 50 participants, drawn from the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, the Northern Regional Co-ordinating Council, the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute, the Lands Commission, Care International, World Vision and the Forestry Department, stressed the need for effective collaboration among key partners in food security.
The workshop brought together the different actors in agriculture in the region under the leadership of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, with funding from the Urban Agriculture Network (URBANET).
It was aimed at engendering discussions to chart the way forward in dealing with food security so that interventions would be strategic and timely.
It was also expected to establish a platform where there would be greater comparability of programmes and interventions from one place to another, increased vigour, greater transparency and increased relevance of agricultural programmes to the regional and national strategic decision making and actions.
The Programme Co-ordinator of URBANET, Mr Rashid Zakaria, stressed the need for dialoguing with the right and appropriate stakeholders to ensure commitment and resource sharing in urban agriculture to impact positively on food security in the region.
The Deputy Northern Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Mr Stephen Yakubu, said many well designed programmes were still being carried out in parallel interventions in many communities, all aimed at the overall objective of trying to help improve food security and sustainable livelihoods in northern Ghana.
He said the complexity of food security could be simplified into three distinct areas — food availability, accessibility and utilisation.
Indeed, one area of concern to some of the participants at the workshop was the establishment of food security networks (FSNs) as a strategy to boost food security in the region.
It is worthy of note that the government has developed a policy to guide agricultural development in Ghana called the Food and Agricultural Sector Development Policy (FASDEP), whose key objectives are to increase the food needs of Ghanaians for local consumption, local industry and export.
It also aims at creating wealth for farmers, most of whom are small-scale operators.
The strategies for its implementation include enhancing opportunities in the private sector to act as conduits for increased reach from government, especially small-scale operators in the food, livestock and fisheries sectors.
One major issue identified under FASDEP is the low incomes earned by farmers, mostly food crop farmers, and fishermen. In the Ghana Living Standard Survey (GLSS) 5, food crop farmers were identified among the lowest income earners in the country, although they form more than 50 per cent of the population.
Furthermore, the GLSS 5 report also indicated that food crop farmers constituted 46 per cent of the poor in the country.
It is, therefore, imperative for key stakeholders to ensure that food security networks are developed at the district and regional levels to address food security issues.
AIRCRAFT ENGINEERING TO COMMENCE TRAINING IN TAMALE (PAGE 29, NOV 17, 2010)
THE WASSPS Aircraft Engineering Limited is to run a training programme on light aircraft in Tamale.
The programme is a first step towards the establishment of an aircraft engineering and manufacturing facility in the metropolis, depending on patronage of the training programmes.
The Managing Director of the company, Mr Jonathan Porter, made this known during an interaction with media practitioners at the Tamale Airport.
The interaction formed part of a three-day cross-country promotional flight conducted by the company, using its CH701 ultra light aircraft manufactured in Ghana.
Mr Porter said the metropolis had a lot of potential in the usage of light aircraft and expressed the hope that in the near future, increase in patronage of its training programmes would encourage his outfit to locate a manufacturing industry for light aircraft in the sprawling city.
“I agree that some things need to move up here but the government needs to put in place the requisite facilities such as good roads, uninterrupted power supply, and ultramodern telecommunication facilities, including a high speed data mobile gadgets,” he pointed out.
He described the Tamale Airport as a fantastic one and expressed the hope that the capital could be moved from Accra to Tamale to facilitate the rapid development of the area and to encourage investors to fully tap the potential of the area.
He noted that one of the biggest challenges facing the area was lack of exposure to the benefits of the aviation industry, saying “parents are not encouraging their children to go into the aviation industry and I bet you, there are lots of prospects in that sector”.
The MD equally encouraged residents of the metropolis to use light aircraft since it had benefits such as using lesser hours to travel from Tamale to Accra.
He expressed optimism that some residents in the metropolis could purchase a light aircraft.
He said, for instance that one aircraft sold between $65,000 and $250,000, while it cost $100 an hour to rent an aircraft.
He said purchasing one aircraft manufactured by the company was equivalent to buying a new four-wheel vehicle.
The Aircraft Engineering Manager, Ms Patricia Nyekodzi, said the aircraft could be used for many activities, including surveillance, video coverage, mass spraying exercises and border patrols.
She encouraged parents to allow their children to be trained to pilot the light aircraft, saying it cost between $6000 and $9000 to be trained to pilot the aircraft.
Ms Nyekodzi was happy about the warm reception accorded her by residents of the metropolis, saying “Tamale is the best environment; the hospitality is so superb. In fact, I am so impressed and I would wish to spend more time here”.
The manager, who is currently the first female Ghanaian to hold the Ghana National Pilot Licence, piloted the CH701 aircraft throughout the 10 regions of the country with stopovers in Takoradi in the Western Region, Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region, Wa in the Upper East Region, Tamale in the Northern Region and Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
The programme is a first step towards the establishment of an aircraft engineering and manufacturing facility in the metropolis, depending on patronage of the training programmes.
The Managing Director of the company, Mr Jonathan Porter, made this known during an interaction with media practitioners at the Tamale Airport.
The interaction formed part of a three-day cross-country promotional flight conducted by the company, using its CH701 ultra light aircraft manufactured in Ghana.
Mr Porter said the metropolis had a lot of potential in the usage of light aircraft and expressed the hope that in the near future, increase in patronage of its training programmes would encourage his outfit to locate a manufacturing industry for light aircraft in the sprawling city.
“I agree that some things need to move up here but the government needs to put in place the requisite facilities such as good roads, uninterrupted power supply, and ultramodern telecommunication facilities, including a high speed data mobile gadgets,” he pointed out.
He described the Tamale Airport as a fantastic one and expressed the hope that the capital could be moved from Accra to Tamale to facilitate the rapid development of the area and to encourage investors to fully tap the potential of the area.
He noted that one of the biggest challenges facing the area was lack of exposure to the benefits of the aviation industry, saying “parents are not encouraging their children to go into the aviation industry and I bet you, there are lots of prospects in that sector”.
The MD equally encouraged residents of the metropolis to use light aircraft since it had benefits such as using lesser hours to travel from Tamale to Accra.
He expressed optimism that some residents in the metropolis could purchase a light aircraft.
He said, for instance that one aircraft sold between $65,000 and $250,000, while it cost $100 an hour to rent an aircraft.
He said purchasing one aircraft manufactured by the company was equivalent to buying a new four-wheel vehicle.
The Aircraft Engineering Manager, Ms Patricia Nyekodzi, said the aircraft could be used for many activities, including surveillance, video coverage, mass spraying exercises and border patrols.
She encouraged parents to allow their children to be trained to pilot the light aircraft, saying it cost between $6000 and $9000 to be trained to pilot the aircraft.
Ms Nyekodzi was happy about the warm reception accorded her by residents of the metropolis, saying “Tamale is the best environment; the hospitality is so superb. In fact, I am so impressed and I would wish to spend more time here”.
The manager, who is currently the first female Ghanaian to hold the Ghana National Pilot Licence, piloted the CH701 aircraft throughout the 10 regions of the country with stopovers in Takoradi in the Western Region, Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region, Wa in the Upper East Region, Tamale in the Northern Region and Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
FULANI HERDSMAN TO DIE (PAGE 3, NOV 11, 2010)
A Cattle herdsman who killed a colleague he suspected of stealing his ‘juju’ and GH¢10 was yesterday sentenced to death by hanging for murder by the High Court in Tamale.
A seven-member jury returned a unanimous veerdict of guilt of murder against Yakubu Bello, 24, for murdering his colleague, Mahamadu Fulani, at Fulanipe, a village near Salaga in the East Gonja District in the Northern Region.
The facts of the case, as presented by a Senior State Attorney, Mr Salia Abdul-Quddus, were that Bello and the deceased were both herdsmen employed by a cattle owner at Fulanipe.
Mr Abdul-Quddus had told the court, presided over by Mr Justice Laurent Mensah, that Bello and the deceased lived 300 metres away from where the kraal was located.
About 5:30 a.m. on March 2, 2004, the cattle owner visited the kraal to see how his employees were faring, but to his utter shock and surprise, he found Fulani dead and lying in a pool of blood.
According to the prosecution, the cattle owner then returned home and informed his sons about the incident and later returned to the kraal with his sons and because Bello was nowhere to be found, they decided to look for him.
They found Bello hiding in an obscure place of the kraal and he attempted to run away but they managed to arrest him and hand him over to the police.
The prosecution stated that Bello confessed that he had committed the crime and explained he killed his colleague because he had stolen his “juju” and GH¢10.
A seven-member jury returned a unanimous veerdict of guilt of murder against Yakubu Bello, 24, for murdering his colleague, Mahamadu Fulani, at Fulanipe, a village near Salaga in the East Gonja District in the Northern Region.
The facts of the case, as presented by a Senior State Attorney, Mr Salia Abdul-Quddus, were that Bello and the deceased were both herdsmen employed by a cattle owner at Fulanipe.
Mr Abdul-Quddus had told the court, presided over by Mr Justice Laurent Mensah, that Bello and the deceased lived 300 metres away from where the kraal was located.
About 5:30 a.m. on March 2, 2004, the cattle owner visited the kraal to see how his employees were faring, but to his utter shock and surprise, he found Fulani dead and lying in a pool of blood.
According to the prosecution, the cattle owner then returned home and informed his sons about the incident and later returned to the kraal with his sons and because Bello was nowhere to be found, they decided to look for him.
They found Bello hiding in an obscure place of the kraal and he attempted to run away but they managed to arrest him and hand him over to the police.
The prosecution stated that Bello confessed that he had committed the crime and explained he killed his colleague because he had stolen his “juju” and GH¢10.
NORTHERN REGIONAL NDC CHAIRMAN IS DEAD (PAGE 12, NOV 9, 2010)
THE Northern Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Alhaji Sumani Zakari, is dead.
The late Sumani, died at 1:00a.m. on Monday morning at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra where he was receiving treatment after he fell sick a couple of months ago. He was 75.
The late Chairman, affectionately called “suffer to gain” has since been buried in Tamale according to Islamic tradition. The late Sumani was born and bred in Tamale and comes from the Dakpema Royal Family in the metropolis. He left behind 29 children and four wives.
The late Alhaji Sumani became the Regional Chairman in 2005 and was instrumental in increasing the number of seats in Parliament in the region from 17 to 22 seats. It is also on record that he was efficient in harmonising the interests of all the factions that existed within the party in the region and supported the party tremendously to win the 2008 general election.
Apart from his political career, the late Sumani was a successful contractor, and commercial farmer with a good number of investments in Tamale including the ongoing plush hotel project in the metropolis.
When the Daily Graphic visited his house in Tamale, NDC party bigwigs in the region, including a former Northern Regional Minister, Mr Gilbert Iddi, the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabenba,his Deputy, Mr San Nasamu Asabigi,the Metropolitan Chief Executive,Alhaji Haruna Friday, among others, had gathered at the deceased’s house to sympathise with the bereaved family and witness his burial. Family members and residents of the metropolis, including sympathisers of the NDC party had also thronged the house to mourn him. They described his death as shocking and noted that it had created a vacuum inhis family and the party.
The NDC Regional Organiser, Alhaji Abdulai Silimboma, described the late Alhaji Sumani as a strong leader both in his family and the party as a whole.
“His contribution to the Northern Region and the country as a whole cannot be quantified that is why we received the news of his death with shock”Alhaji Silimboma stated.
The NDC Regional Youth Organiser, Mr Adam Mohammed Abio, for his part, expressed regret that his demise was untimely since it happened at a time when the party needed him most.
“We need him to unite the party and to facilitate the implementation of the Better Ghana Agenda in the region” he explained.
According to Mr Abio, when the party was in opposition, the late Sumani solely financed the activities of the party in the region which the rank and file of the NDC could testify to.
The regional youth organiser further observed that the late Chairman of the party contributed immensely towards the NDC’s victory in the 2008 general election.
“I know many party sympathisers are with the NDC because of him and I must assure them that the leadership of the party in the region would not turn its back on them but would ensure that the foot prints of the late Sumani is followed”Mr. Abio stressed.
According to the Regional Treasurer of the party, Mr Tanko Computer, the party’s constitution allows for one of the two vice chairmen to act as regional chairman until a congress of the party.
The late Sumani, died at 1:00a.m. on Monday morning at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra where he was receiving treatment after he fell sick a couple of months ago. He was 75.
The late Chairman, affectionately called “suffer to gain” has since been buried in Tamale according to Islamic tradition. The late Sumani was born and bred in Tamale and comes from the Dakpema Royal Family in the metropolis. He left behind 29 children and four wives.
The late Alhaji Sumani became the Regional Chairman in 2005 and was instrumental in increasing the number of seats in Parliament in the region from 17 to 22 seats. It is also on record that he was efficient in harmonising the interests of all the factions that existed within the party in the region and supported the party tremendously to win the 2008 general election.
Apart from his political career, the late Sumani was a successful contractor, and commercial farmer with a good number of investments in Tamale including the ongoing plush hotel project in the metropolis.
When the Daily Graphic visited his house in Tamale, NDC party bigwigs in the region, including a former Northern Regional Minister, Mr Gilbert Iddi, the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabenba,his Deputy, Mr San Nasamu Asabigi,the Metropolitan Chief Executive,Alhaji Haruna Friday, among others, had gathered at the deceased’s house to sympathise with the bereaved family and witness his burial. Family members and residents of the metropolis, including sympathisers of the NDC party had also thronged the house to mourn him. They described his death as shocking and noted that it had created a vacuum inhis family and the party.
The NDC Regional Organiser, Alhaji Abdulai Silimboma, described the late Alhaji Sumani as a strong leader both in his family and the party as a whole.
“His contribution to the Northern Region and the country as a whole cannot be quantified that is why we received the news of his death with shock”Alhaji Silimboma stated.
The NDC Regional Youth Organiser, Mr Adam Mohammed Abio, for his part, expressed regret that his demise was untimely since it happened at a time when the party needed him most.
“We need him to unite the party and to facilitate the implementation of the Better Ghana Agenda in the region” he explained.
According to Mr Abio, when the party was in opposition, the late Sumani solely financed the activities of the party in the region which the rank and file of the NDC could testify to.
The regional youth organiser further observed that the late Chairman of the party contributed immensely towards the NDC’s victory in the 2008 general election.
“I know many party sympathisers are with the NDC because of him and I must assure them that the leadership of the party in the region would not turn its back on them but would ensure that the foot prints of the late Sumani is followed”Mr. Abio stressed.
According to the Regional Treasurer of the party, Mr Tanko Computer, the party’s constitution allows for one of the two vice chairmen to act as regional chairman until a congress of the party.
Friday, November 12, 2010
COTTON COMPANY WORKERS WANT MANAGEMENT OUT (PAGE 51, NOV 8, 2010)
WORKERS of the distressed Ghana Cotton Company Limited (GCCL) in Tamale, Tumu and Bolgatanga, have called for the dismissal of the current management of the company.
They accused the management of mismanaging the resources of the company, thereby collapsing it.
They, therefore, entreated the government to, as a matter of urgency, salvage the distressed company by appointing a new board of directors and a substantive managing director as part of measures to revamp it.
The workers stated this in a 11-point petition presented to the media in Tamale by Mr Raphael Zuanah, the chairman of the local union.
The workers alleged that the management had “illegally adjusted their respective salaries upward leaving the rest of the workers, thereby distorting the whole salary structure”.
They further stated that the management “procured expired and relabelled insecticides that had resulted in poor production and drained the company’s resources”.
They also claimed the management used borrowed monies meant for the company’s operations to “sponsor top management staff to undertake their executive Masters Programme at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), although most of them were due for retirement”.
“Car loans were given to about 11 management staff members at a time when the company was in financial crisis. They have also converted their leave into huge sums of money when they could not pay staff,” the workers alleged.
The workers were of the view that it was not necessary for the company to increase its management staff from 11 to 22 with huge salaries being paid to them, which could pay the rest of the staff.
A letter written and signed by the acting Managing Director of the company, Mr George Osieku, and copied to the local union chairman, senior staff, manager, corporate affairs and the General Secretary of the General Agricultural Workers’ Union (GAWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) admitted that the company was in financial crisis.
The letter, dated October 21, 2010, also acknowledged that “salaries have been unpaid for an unprecedented six months and as such the company is heavily indebted to customers for services rendered and supplies made to it”.
According to management, it had secured GH¢1 million from the Ministry of Finance, which had already been disbursed for the payment of the outstanding six months’ salaries.
The management, therefore, advised workers to exercise restraint “as any industrial disharmony throws all efforts at securing funds out of gear and scare potential investors”.
The Daily Graphic also gathered that Chemico Limited, one of the companies that the cotton firm was indebted to, had filed a writ at the Accra High Court to place an injunction on both movable and immovable properties of the firm to compel it to honour its indebtedness.
They accused the management of mismanaging the resources of the company, thereby collapsing it.
They, therefore, entreated the government to, as a matter of urgency, salvage the distressed company by appointing a new board of directors and a substantive managing director as part of measures to revamp it.
The workers stated this in a 11-point petition presented to the media in Tamale by Mr Raphael Zuanah, the chairman of the local union.
The workers alleged that the management had “illegally adjusted their respective salaries upward leaving the rest of the workers, thereby distorting the whole salary structure”.
They further stated that the management “procured expired and relabelled insecticides that had resulted in poor production and drained the company’s resources”.
They also claimed the management used borrowed monies meant for the company’s operations to “sponsor top management staff to undertake their executive Masters Programme at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), although most of them were due for retirement”.
“Car loans were given to about 11 management staff members at a time when the company was in financial crisis. They have also converted their leave into huge sums of money when they could not pay staff,” the workers alleged.
The workers were of the view that it was not necessary for the company to increase its management staff from 11 to 22 with huge salaries being paid to them, which could pay the rest of the staff.
A letter written and signed by the acting Managing Director of the company, Mr George Osieku, and copied to the local union chairman, senior staff, manager, corporate affairs and the General Secretary of the General Agricultural Workers’ Union (GAWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) admitted that the company was in financial crisis.
The letter, dated October 21, 2010, also acknowledged that “salaries have been unpaid for an unprecedented six months and as such the company is heavily indebted to customers for services rendered and supplies made to it”.
According to management, it had secured GH¢1 million from the Ministry of Finance, which had already been disbursed for the payment of the outstanding six months’ salaries.
The management, therefore, advised workers to exercise restraint “as any industrial disharmony throws all efforts at securing funds out of gear and scare potential investors”.
The Daily Graphic also gathered that Chemico Limited, one of the companies that the cotton firm was indebted to, had filed a writ at the Accra High Court to place an injunction on both movable and immovable properties of the firm to compel it to honour its indebtedness.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE INAUGURATED (PAGE 18, NOV 5, 2010)
UNEMPLOYMENT among the youth in the Tamale metropolis is to be addressed with the inauguration of a project to train more than 180 youth annually to acquire various vocational skills in the metropolis.
The project, estimated at GH¢40,000, is the brain child of the Northern Youth for Peace and Community Development (NYPCD), a non-governmental organisation.
As part of the initiative, the NYPCD will link the trainees to credit unions, rural banks and the Ministry of Trade and Industry to enable them to have access to credit facilities to establish their own businesses and to help market their produce.
For a start, 50 trainees have been registered to undergo two-year training in fashion and design, hairdressing, batik tie-dye making, shoe production and smock weaving. It is envisaged that the completion of the project would help curb the high rural-urban migration among the youth.
A facility housing the various units like workshop, hairdressing unit, leather works unit, stores, and equipment such as sewing machines, designing equipment, among others, have been acquired to kick-start the training.
The Director of the NYPCD, Mr Yussif Hamidu, told the Daily Graphic that facilities would be expanded in the years ahead to provide accommodation facilities to enable trainees to be housed at the NYPCD training centre.
“At the moment we have six instructors and I wish to appeal to donor partners, particularly the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), to assist us to pay these instructors” Mr Hamidu stated.
The director commended all those who in diverse ways supported the project, and made particular mention of Dr Valerie Sawyerr, the Deputy Chief of Staff, for her tremendous role in supporting the initiative.
The project, estimated at GH¢40,000, is the brain child of the Northern Youth for Peace and Community Development (NYPCD), a non-governmental organisation.
As part of the initiative, the NYPCD will link the trainees to credit unions, rural banks and the Ministry of Trade and Industry to enable them to have access to credit facilities to establish their own businesses and to help market their produce.
For a start, 50 trainees have been registered to undergo two-year training in fashion and design, hairdressing, batik tie-dye making, shoe production and smock weaving. It is envisaged that the completion of the project would help curb the high rural-urban migration among the youth.
A facility housing the various units like workshop, hairdressing unit, leather works unit, stores, and equipment such as sewing machines, designing equipment, among others, have been acquired to kick-start the training.
The Director of the NYPCD, Mr Yussif Hamidu, told the Daily Graphic that facilities would be expanded in the years ahead to provide accommodation facilities to enable trainees to be housed at the NYPCD training centre.
“At the moment we have six instructors and I wish to appeal to donor partners, particularly the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), to assist us to pay these instructors” Mr Hamidu stated.
The director commended all those who in diverse ways supported the project, and made particular mention of Dr Valerie Sawyerr, the Deputy Chief of Staff, for her tremendous role in supporting the initiative.
KUKUO MARKET PROJECT STALLED (PAGE 18, NOV 5, 2010)
WORK on the Kukuo Market complex in Tamale, also known as the Golden Jubilee Market, has stalled. The situation has been attributed to lack of funds.
The GH¢4.595 million project was awarded on contract in December 2008 as part of the country’s Golden Jubilee celebrations and was expected to be completed in March this year.
A visit to the project site by the Daily Graphic showed no sign of construction work going on as workers of the China State Hualong Construction Company that is executing the project were not available for comments. So far the project is at the foundation level and there was no sign of construction equipment at the site. The Architectural Engineering Services Limited (AESL) is supervising the project.
The market is strategically located at Kukuo that is arguably one of the sprawling suburbs of the metropolis. It is envisaged that the completion of the project will help ease congestion at the Aboabu and Tamale Central markets.
When completed, the project would have a public parking lot, 402 shops, butchers’ shop, sanitary facilities, access roads, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre, a bank, security lights, revenue collection points, waste disposal sites and fire service facilities.
The Northern Regional Consultant of the AESL, Mr Anthony Baissana, told the Daily Graphic that the shops had been grouped into type A, B and C with offices attached.
According to him, the project would have three storey buildings that would house all the 402 shops.
Meanwhile residents of Kukuo have expressed disappointment at the delay in the execution of the project. They observed that most of them wanted to take advantage of the opportunity offered them and go into business.
They pointed out that the area was expanding rapidly in terms of population and hoped the requisite funding would be sourced to ensure the completion of the project.
The Public Affairs Officer of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TaMA), Mr Issah Musah, also stated that the Kukuo Market project was strategic as it would ultimately increase commercial activities in the metropolis.
The GH¢4.595 million project was awarded on contract in December 2008 as part of the country’s Golden Jubilee celebrations and was expected to be completed in March this year.
A visit to the project site by the Daily Graphic showed no sign of construction work going on as workers of the China State Hualong Construction Company that is executing the project were not available for comments. So far the project is at the foundation level and there was no sign of construction equipment at the site. The Architectural Engineering Services Limited (AESL) is supervising the project.
The market is strategically located at Kukuo that is arguably one of the sprawling suburbs of the metropolis. It is envisaged that the completion of the project will help ease congestion at the Aboabu and Tamale Central markets.
When completed, the project would have a public parking lot, 402 shops, butchers’ shop, sanitary facilities, access roads, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre, a bank, security lights, revenue collection points, waste disposal sites and fire service facilities.
The Northern Regional Consultant of the AESL, Mr Anthony Baissana, told the Daily Graphic that the shops had been grouped into type A, B and C with offices attached.
According to him, the project would have three storey buildings that would house all the 402 shops.
Meanwhile residents of Kukuo have expressed disappointment at the delay in the execution of the project. They observed that most of them wanted to take advantage of the opportunity offered them and go into business.
They pointed out that the area was expanding rapidly in terms of population and hoped the requisite funding would be sourced to ensure the completion of the project.
The Public Affairs Officer of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TaMA), Mr Issah Musah, also stated that the Kukuo Market project was strategic as it would ultimately increase commercial activities in the metropolis.
SOLAR POWER SYSTEM INAUGURATED AT BENKROM (BACK PAGE NOV 5, 2010)
A Solar power system, capable of supplying 4.2 kilowatt of power to small and medium-scale industries, has been inaugurated at Benkrom in the Kintampo North District of the Brong Ahafo Region.
The facility, which cost GH¢55,000 was jointly financed by the Pure Company Limited, an agro-processing factory at Benkrom and the Energy Commission (EC) as part of the first phase of a pilot project to provide a total of 25 kilowatt of power to institutions and residential facilities.
Inaugurating the facility, a board member of the Energy Commission, Dr Francis Dakura, said the commission was determined to increase allocation from its Energy Fund to upscale the solar project.
He further explained that by early next year, an advertisement on the project would be placed in the newspapers for interested individuals and corporate bodies to submit proposals for consideration.
According to Dr Dakura, Ghana was endowed with renewable energy resources such as solar wind, biomass, among others, which could be harnessed for electricity generation.
‘The rate of exploitation of these resources except biomass, however, has not seen any significant progress despite several years of support from government and development partners” he pointed out.
The board member said that the EC was taking proactive measures under Act, 541 of 1997 to ensure the accelerated development and utilisation of the country’s renewable energy resources including solar.
He stated that the commission had, therefore, completed assessment of renewable energy resources of the country, and observed that preliminary results indicated that solar and wind energy resources abound in the country saying, “the coastal zone of the country had favourable wind resources estimated at 300 megawatts which could be tapped for commercial production of electricity”.
The board member intimated that the major factor that had limited the development of renewable energy was the absence of requisite legislative framework to propel its adoption and application.
“In view of this, the Commission in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy has developed the Renewable Energy Bill, which is receiving Cabinet’s approval after which it will be tabled before Parliament for passage into Renewable Energy Law”, he added
The Executive Director of Pure Company, Mr John Addaquaye said the company embraced the pilot solar project as a strategy to reduce the cost of power consumed.
He announced that the company intended to look at other alternative energy solutions such as using shea waste to generate heat and electricity, adding that his outfit would consult the Ghana Energy Commission.
The Executive Secretary of the EC, Mr Ofosu Ahenkorah, encouraged Ghanaians to consider using solar energy since only 67 percent of rural communities had access to electricity with the remaining 33 percent of them without the facility.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Kintampo North, Mr Philip Ankomah, expressed optimism that the project would help reduce unemployment among the youth in the area.
The facility, which cost GH¢55,000 was jointly financed by the Pure Company Limited, an agro-processing factory at Benkrom and the Energy Commission (EC) as part of the first phase of a pilot project to provide a total of 25 kilowatt of power to institutions and residential facilities.
Inaugurating the facility, a board member of the Energy Commission, Dr Francis Dakura, said the commission was determined to increase allocation from its Energy Fund to upscale the solar project.
He further explained that by early next year, an advertisement on the project would be placed in the newspapers for interested individuals and corporate bodies to submit proposals for consideration.
According to Dr Dakura, Ghana was endowed with renewable energy resources such as solar wind, biomass, among others, which could be harnessed for electricity generation.
‘The rate of exploitation of these resources except biomass, however, has not seen any significant progress despite several years of support from government and development partners” he pointed out.
The board member said that the EC was taking proactive measures under Act, 541 of 1997 to ensure the accelerated development and utilisation of the country’s renewable energy resources including solar.
He stated that the commission had, therefore, completed assessment of renewable energy resources of the country, and observed that preliminary results indicated that solar and wind energy resources abound in the country saying, “the coastal zone of the country had favourable wind resources estimated at 300 megawatts which could be tapped for commercial production of electricity”.
The board member intimated that the major factor that had limited the development of renewable energy was the absence of requisite legislative framework to propel its adoption and application.
“In view of this, the Commission in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy has developed the Renewable Energy Bill, which is receiving Cabinet’s approval after which it will be tabled before Parliament for passage into Renewable Energy Law”, he added
The Executive Director of Pure Company, Mr John Addaquaye said the company embraced the pilot solar project as a strategy to reduce the cost of power consumed.
He announced that the company intended to look at other alternative energy solutions such as using shea waste to generate heat and electricity, adding that his outfit would consult the Ghana Energy Commission.
The Executive Secretary of the EC, Mr Ofosu Ahenkorah, encouraged Ghanaians to consider using solar energy since only 67 percent of rural communities had access to electricity with the remaining 33 percent of them without the facility.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Kintampo North, Mr Philip Ankomah, expressed optimism that the project would help reduce unemployment among the youth in the area.
REFUGEES BACK FROM TOGO (PAGE 19, NOV 2, 2010)
Ghanaian refugees who fled the ethnic conflict in Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo for shelter in neighbouring Togo have all returned home.
The Minister of the Interior, Mr Martin Amidu, stated this when he led a team from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on a tour of Kambatiak and Gbankoni, the two communities most affected by the exodus.
“Intelligence reports indicate that the people have returned home and are cohabiting peacefully,” he told the media during the tour.
He, however, disputed the figure of 6,000 quoted by earlier reports, arguing that the population of the two communities put together was not up to that figure.
Also in the interior minister’s entourage were the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Magbenba, and the National Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Kofi Portuphy.
The visit to the two communities formed part of his maiden two-day tour of the region to acquaint himself with the security challenges of the area, as well as the flood situation at Buipe in the Central Gonja District.
“Sometime in May, this year, a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) report indicated that there were 3,500 Ghanaian refugees in Togo and later the figure was increased to 3,600 and at the Geneva conference, it was said that there were 6,000 Ghanaian refugees in Togo. Why this?” he asked.
The minister entreated residents of the two communities to bury their differences to forestall such unfortunate situations.
“Let us comport ourselves because the name of Ghana is being dragged in the mud,” Mr Amidu advised the communities.
Mr Magbenba appealed to the people to avoid staying for long periods in Togo in order not to tarnish Ghana's reputation as a peaceful country.
The chief of Kambatiak, Marison Konlabonk, said it was true that there was a conflict in the area and some residents fled to Togo but stressed that almost all of them had returned home.
The Minister of the Interior, Mr Martin Amidu, stated this when he led a team from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on a tour of Kambatiak and Gbankoni, the two communities most affected by the exodus.
“Intelligence reports indicate that the people have returned home and are cohabiting peacefully,” he told the media during the tour.
He, however, disputed the figure of 6,000 quoted by earlier reports, arguing that the population of the two communities put together was not up to that figure.
Also in the interior minister’s entourage were the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Magbenba, and the National Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Kofi Portuphy.
The visit to the two communities formed part of his maiden two-day tour of the region to acquaint himself with the security challenges of the area, as well as the flood situation at Buipe in the Central Gonja District.
“Sometime in May, this year, a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) report indicated that there were 3,500 Ghanaian refugees in Togo and later the figure was increased to 3,600 and at the Geneva conference, it was said that there were 6,000 Ghanaian refugees in Togo. Why this?” he asked.
The minister entreated residents of the two communities to bury their differences to forestall such unfortunate situations.
“Let us comport ourselves because the name of Ghana is being dragged in the mud,” Mr Amidu advised the communities.
Mr Magbenba appealed to the people to avoid staying for long periods in Togo in order not to tarnish Ghana's reputation as a peaceful country.
The chief of Kambatiak, Marison Konlabonk, said it was true that there was a conflict in the area and some residents fled to Togo but stressed that almost all of them had returned home.
7 CLASSROOM PROJECTS HANDED OVER TO SCHOOLS ...In the Northern Region (PAGE 11, NOV 1, 2010)
SEVEN out of the 20 six-unit classroom projects which are meant to augment classroom facilities in selected senior high schools in the northern region have been completed and handed over to the beneficiary schools.
The initiative is expected to ease pressure on the limited classroom facilities in the beneficiary schools, particularly, as the schools have admitted fresh students for the 2010/11 academic year.
The projects are located at the Walewale Senior High School, Gambaga Senior High and Girls Schools, Zabzugu Senior High, Salaga Senior High and Islamic and Business Senior High Schools in Tamale. The projects were awarded on contract in June this year. The Architectural Engineering Services Limited (AESL) supervised the projects.
Speaking at a ceremony to hand over the GH¢517,000 projects to the Islamic and Business Senior High Schools in Tamale, the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Magbenba said the completion of the projects was a clear manifestation of the government’s resolve to address the inadequate classroom facilities in schools.
According to him, seven more of such projects would be completed in a week’s time and urged the beneficiary schools to take good care of the facilities.
“We are solving the problems gradually and I think by the close of November we would complete all the projects; for me we are just fulfilling our campaign promises,” he said.
The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yeleh Chireh said the government was on course with the provision of the needed facilities to improve on quality education in the country.
He said the government was equally finding ways of motivating teachers to give of their best.
The Manager of Nana Nyarko Enterprise, Mr Albert Nyarko, said although the work encountered a few challenges at the Business Senior High School project site, it did not affect the quality of work.
The initiative is expected to ease pressure on the limited classroom facilities in the beneficiary schools, particularly, as the schools have admitted fresh students for the 2010/11 academic year.
The projects are located at the Walewale Senior High School, Gambaga Senior High and Girls Schools, Zabzugu Senior High, Salaga Senior High and Islamic and Business Senior High Schools in Tamale. The projects were awarded on contract in June this year. The Architectural Engineering Services Limited (AESL) supervised the projects.
Speaking at a ceremony to hand over the GH¢517,000 projects to the Islamic and Business Senior High Schools in Tamale, the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Magbenba said the completion of the projects was a clear manifestation of the government’s resolve to address the inadequate classroom facilities in schools.
According to him, seven more of such projects would be completed in a week’s time and urged the beneficiary schools to take good care of the facilities.
“We are solving the problems gradually and I think by the close of November we would complete all the projects; for me we are just fulfilling our campaign promises,” he said.
The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yeleh Chireh said the government was on course with the provision of the needed facilities to improve on quality education in the country.
He said the government was equally finding ways of motivating teachers to give of their best.
The Manager of Nana Nyarko Enterprise, Mr Albert Nyarko, said although the work encountered a few challenges at the Business Senior High School project site, it did not affect the quality of work.
GOVT APOLOGISES FOR NAKPANDURI EXCESSES...In hunt for hardened criminal (PAGE 3, NOV 1, 20100
THE Government has apologised to residents of Nakpanduri in the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo District in the Northern Region for any excesses that might have occurred during the recent police operation to arrest Johnson Soloma Kombian, a notorious jail-breaker.
The Minister of the Interior, Mr Martin Amidu, who conveyed the apology on behalf of the government, however, pointed out that “no government will allow such a hardened criminal to live among innocent citizens and be terrorising them” and gave the assurance that the police would use all legal means to apprehend Kombian, who is alleged to have recently killed two cops and injured one.
Mr Amidu conveyed the apology when he called on the Mamprugu chief, Nayiri Na Bohagu Mahami Abdulai, at his palace over the weekend as part of his maiden two-day tour of the region to assess the security and flood situation in the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo and Central Gonja districts respectively.
He was accompanied on the tour by Mr Moses Magbenba, the Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Portuphy, National Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and some representatives of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Mr Amidu thanked the Nayiri for the relative peace in the area and equally expressed concern about negative media reportage that suggested that there were thousands of Ghanaian refugees in neighbouring Togo.
Nayiri Abdulai observed that those who moved from Kambatiak and Gbankoni to Togo were mainly farmers.
He entreated chiefs in the two conflicting communities to bury their differences in order not to tarnish the image of the country.
The Nayiri further cautioned security agencies against discrimination in the performance of their duties, saying, “you must find a way of making friends with the people so that they can easily volunteer information to you”.
Meanwhile, irate residents of Nakpanduri were on the streets at the weekend to protest against what they described as “brutalities” meted out to them by the police when they conducted an operation to arrest Johnson Soloma Kombian.
The residents, clad in red attire and wearing red bands, also accused the police of looting their properties and beating up innocent people in their respective homes and workplaces.
The convoy of vehicles carrying the Minister of the Interior, Mr Martin Amidu, Mr Moses Magbenba, the Regional Minister, and other dignitaries, who visited the area to acquaint themselves with the security challenges of the area and to sympathise with the victims, had to move through the crowd at a snail's pace as residents virtually took over the streets.
The protest followed last Wednesday’s police exercise to arrest Kombian, whom the police described as a notorious jail-breaker and a hardened criminal.
As a result, about 20 houses were burnt down, including kiosks and stores, while some food stuffs were also destroyed by the fire. A number of persons also sustained injuries in the process.
Mr Amidu expressed the government’s preparedness to investigate the matter and resolve all issues.
“We are very sorry for the excesses by the police but I can assure you that we would lay this matter to rest,” the Minister added.
The Minister of the Interior, Mr Martin Amidu, who conveyed the apology on behalf of the government, however, pointed out that “no government will allow such a hardened criminal to live among innocent citizens and be terrorising them” and gave the assurance that the police would use all legal means to apprehend Kombian, who is alleged to have recently killed two cops and injured one.
Mr Amidu conveyed the apology when he called on the Mamprugu chief, Nayiri Na Bohagu Mahami Abdulai, at his palace over the weekend as part of his maiden two-day tour of the region to assess the security and flood situation in the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo and Central Gonja districts respectively.
He was accompanied on the tour by Mr Moses Magbenba, the Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Portuphy, National Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and some representatives of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Mr Amidu thanked the Nayiri for the relative peace in the area and equally expressed concern about negative media reportage that suggested that there were thousands of Ghanaian refugees in neighbouring Togo.
Nayiri Abdulai observed that those who moved from Kambatiak and Gbankoni to Togo were mainly farmers.
He entreated chiefs in the two conflicting communities to bury their differences in order not to tarnish the image of the country.
The Nayiri further cautioned security agencies against discrimination in the performance of their duties, saying, “you must find a way of making friends with the people so that they can easily volunteer information to you”.
Meanwhile, irate residents of Nakpanduri were on the streets at the weekend to protest against what they described as “brutalities” meted out to them by the police when they conducted an operation to arrest Johnson Soloma Kombian.
The residents, clad in red attire and wearing red bands, also accused the police of looting their properties and beating up innocent people in their respective homes and workplaces.
The convoy of vehicles carrying the Minister of the Interior, Mr Martin Amidu, Mr Moses Magbenba, the Regional Minister, and other dignitaries, who visited the area to acquaint themselves with the security challenges of the area and to sympathise with the victims, had to move through the crowd at a snail's pace as residents virtually took over the streets.
The protest followed last Wednesday’s police exercise to arrest Kombian, whom the police described as a notorious jail-breaker and a hardened criminal.
As a result, about 20 houses were burnt down, including kiosks and stores, while some food stuffs were also destroyed by the fire. A number of persons also sustained injuries in the process.
Mr Amidu expressed the government’s preparedness to investigate the matter and resolve all issues.
“We are very sorry for the excesses by the police but I can assure you that we would lay this matter to rest,” the Minister added.
GNANI CAMP 'WITCHES' PLEAD (PAGE 11, OCT 30, 2010)
People accused of witchcraft at the Gnani Camp in the Yendi Municipality of the Northern Region have made a passionate appeal to human rights activists and civil society organisations to help them reunite with their families.
They said although they would love to go home to be reintegrated with their respective communities and families, they were afraid to do so due to the attitude of their community members.
The alleged witches made the appeal when the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ActionAid International, Madam Joana Kerr, visited the camp as part of her one-day maiden working visit to the region.
She was accompanied on the visit by the Country Director of ActionAid Ghana, Madam Adwoa Kluvitse.
The camp has a total population of 949 people made up of 269 women, 51 men and 629 children. Unlike other camps in the region, the Gnani Camp has both males and females who have been accused of witchcraft.
The alleged witches, some of whom had stayed in the camp for 15 years and more, complained about the circumstances that made the people banish them from their respective communities.
They attributed the accusations levelled against them by some community members to “envy and jealousy” and described them as “baseless and wrong”, stressing that it should be condemned.
“For me it was just my rival who accused me of witchcraft and so I was brought here” one of the women stated.
Others claimed because of their hard work they were accused of using people for ritual purposes, particularly when they fell sick or died.
Some of the alleged witches also claimed they were banished from their communities because some “spiritualists” claimed they were possessed with witchcraft, when they were taken to their shrines.
The alleged witches thanked ActionAid for their immense support and hoped other non-governmental organisations would emulate the gesture.
Madam Kerr said there was the need to ensure that children at the camp had access to quality education.
She said she was encouraged by the “strength of the women in spite of their predicaments.
The CEO said such accusations were “unfounded purely because they have not been verified by a competent court of jurisdiction”.
She called for urgent steps to help stop those “inhuman treatment of people because it is unfair and unjustified”.
Madam Kerr assured the alleged witches that ActionAid would do all it could to help change the negative perception about the society towards them, adding, “We are in solidarity with you and we are standing behind you in your struggle to safeguard your rights”.
They said although they would love to go home to be reintegrated with their respective communities and families, they were afraid to do so due to the attitude of their community members.
The alleged witches made the appeal when the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ActionAid International, Madam Joana Kerr, visited the camp as part of her one-day maiden working visit to the region.
She was accompanied on the visit by the Country Director of ActionAid Ghana, Madam Adwoa Kluvitse.
The camp has a total population of 949 people made up of 269 women, 51 men and 629 children. Unlike other camps in the region, the Gnani Camp has both males and females who have been accused of witchcraft.
The alleged witches, some of whom had stayed in the camp for 15 years and more, complained about the circumstances that made the people banish them from their respective communities.
They attributed the accusations levelled against them by some community members to “envy and jealousy” and described them as “baseless and wrong”, stressing that it should be condemned.
“For me it was just my rival who accused me of witchcraft and so I was brought here” one of the women stated.
Others claimed because of their hard work they were accused of using people for ritual purposes, particularly when they fell sick or died.
Some of the alleged witches also claimed they were banished from their communities because some “spiritualists” claimed they were possessed with witchcraft, when they were taken to their shrines.
The alleged witches thanked ActionAid for their immense support and hoped other non-governmental organisations would emulate the gesture.
Madam Kerr said there was the need to ensure that children at the camp had access to quality education.
She said she was encouraged by the “strength of the women in spite of their predicaments.
The CEO said such accusations were “unfounded purely because they have not been verified by a competent court of jurisdiction”.
She called for urgent steps to help stop those “inhuman treatment of people because it is unfair and unjustified”.
Madam Kerr assured the alleged witches that ActionAid would do all it could to help change the negative perception about the society towards them, adding, “We are in solidarity with you and we are standing behind you in your struggle to safeguard your rights”.
Friday, October 29, 2010
OUTRAGED WOMAN SMASHES CAR WINDSCREEN (MIRROR, PAGE 20, OCT 30, 2010)
From Vincent Amenuveve, Tamale
WHEN a taxi driver at Choggu Manayilli, a suburb of Tamale, quarrelled with his girlfriend for allegedly bringing home another man, little did he know that his taxi cab would pay dearly for that confrontation as the girlfriend smashed the windscreen of the vehicle.
For her lawlessness, the Tamale District Court, presided over by a Magistrate, Gabriel Mate-Teye, sentenced Jezawu Mohammed, a trader at Gurugu in Tamale, to a fine of GH¢600 or in default serve six months imprisonment in hard labour.
The convict, however, pleaded guilty to the charge of causing unlawful damage.
According to the prosecution, at about 9:00 p.m. on March 21, 2010, Shaibu Mohammed, the taxi driver visited Jezawu at her house but did not meet her.
After waiting for her for sometime, Jezawu arrived home with another man.
The prosecution stated that the situation brought about a quarrel between Mohammed and Jezawu after the man at the centre of the controversy left.
Mohammed’s taxi developed a mechanical fault after the quarrel and so he could not drive the vehicle back home.
The prosecution explained that Mohammed, therefore, parked the vehicle behind the house of the convict.
When Mohammed left, the convict who was still annoyed because she was rebuked by Mohammed vented that anger on his taxi cab and smashed both the front and rear windscreens of the vehicle with a stone, damaging them in the process.
The prosecution said the convict also broke the inner glasses in all the doors of the vehicle.
The prosecution continued that when Mohammed returned the following day with his mechanic to repair the fault on the vehicle, the convict, still angered by the boyfriend’s action, went to them and started boasting that she had damaged the vehicle.
The matter was reported to the police and the convict was arrested and after investigations, she was charged with the offence.
WHEN a taxi driver at Choggu Manayilli, a suburb of Tamale, quarrelled with his girlfriend for allegedly bringing home another man, little did he know that his taxi cab would pay dearly for that confrontation as the girlfriend smashed the windscreen of the vehicle.
For her lawlessness, the Tamale District Court, presided over by a Magistrate, Gabriel Mate-Teye, sentenced Jezawu Mohammed, a trader at Gurugu in Tamale, to a fine of GH¢600 or in default serve six months imprisonment in hard labour.
The convict, however, pleaded guilty to the charge of causing unlawful damage.
According to the prosecution, at about 9:00 p.m. on March 21, 2010, Shaibu Mohammed, the taxi driver visited Jezawu at her house but did not meet her.
After waiting for her for sometime, Jezawu arrived home with another man.
The prosecution stated that the situation brought about a quarrel between Mohammed and Jezawu after the man at the centre of the controversy left.
Mohammed’s taxi developed a mechanical fault after the quarrel and so he could not drive the vehicle back home.
The prosecution explained that Mohammed, therefore, parked the vehicle behind the house of the convict.
When Mohammed left, the convict who was still annoyed because she was rebuked by Mohammed vented that anger on his taxi cab and smashed both the front and rear windscreens of the vehicle with a stone, damaging them in the process.
The prosecution said the convict also broke the inner glasses in all the doors of the vehicle.
The prosecution continued that when Mohammed returned the following day with his mechanic to repair the fault on the vehicle, the convict, still angered by the boyfriend’s action, went to them and started boasting that she had damaged the vehicle.
The matter was reported to the police and the convict was arrested and after investigations, she was charged with the offence.
CHOP BAR ATTENDANT JAILED FOR DUMPING BABY (MIRROR, PAGE 20, OCT 30, 2010)
From Vincent Amenuveve, Tamale
A chop bar attendant has been sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment by the Tamale District Court for abandoning her day-old baby on a refuse dump.
Rahi Iddrisu, who lives at Salamba, a suburb of Tamale, already has two children, aged two and three.
She pleaded guilty to the charge of child abandonment at the court, presided over by Mr Gabriel Mate-Teye.
The facts of the case, as presented by the prosecution, were that about 4 a.m. on July 25, 2010, Mr Alhassan Salifu Kalala of the Bilchinsi Task Force was informed by some of the community members about the abandonment of an infant on a rubbish dump near the Community Health Nursing Training School in Tamale.
Mr Kalala rushed to the scene and took the baby to the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), where it was admitted for examination and treatment.
According to the prosecution, the community members later identified the convict as the culprit and, upon interrogation, she admitted committing the offence.
On July 27, 2010, the convict was handed over to the police for investigation, during which, in her caution statement, she admitted the offence and led the police to where she had dumped the baby.
The prosecution further explained that on August 4, 2010, one Adam Inusah, an uncle of the convict, presented a copy of an application requesting custody of the baby.
After investigations, the convict was charged with the offence of child abandonment.
Meanwhile, the baby is currently in the custody of the Department of Social Welfare in Tamale.
A chop bar attendant has been sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment by the Tamale District Court for abandoning her day-old baby on a refuse dump.
Rahi Iddrisu, who lives at Salamba, a suburb of Tamale, already has two children, aged two and three.
She pleaded guilty to the charge of child abandonment at the court, presided over by Mr Gabriel Mate-Teye.
The facts of the case, as presented by the prosecution, were that about 4 a.m. on July 25, 2010, Mr Alhassan Salifu Kalala of the Bilchinsi Task Force was informed by some of the community members about the abandonment of an infant on a rubbish dump near the Community Health Nursing Training School in Tamale.
Mr Kalala rushed to the scene and took the baby to the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), where it was admitted for examination and treatment.
According to the prosecution, the community members later identified the convict as the culprit and, upon interrogation, she admitted committing the offence.
On July 27, 2010, the convict was handed over to the police for investigation, during which, in her caution statement, she admitted the offence and led the police to where she had dumped the baby.
The prosecution further explained that on August 4, 2010, one Adam Inusah, an uncle of the convict, presented a copy of an application requesting custody of the baby.
After investigations, the convict was charged with the offence of child abandonment.
Meanwhile, the baby is currently in the custody of the Department of Social Welfare in Tamale.
NR TOURISM SECTOR GROWING STEADILY (PAGE 27, OCT 30, 2010)
From Vincent
Amenuveve, Tamale.
THE tourism sector in the Northern Region generated a total of GH¢413,232 between 2002 and last year.
Additionally, a total of GH¢106,916 tourists arrived in the region within the same period.
The Regional Chief Officer of the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB), Mr Alexander Nketia, who made this known to The Mirror in Tamale, said the sector had grown significantly over the past eight years particularly in the areas of revenue and tourist arrivals to the region.
According to him, the region bagged GH¢142,218 with 17,620 tourist arrivals last year alone.
The major tourist attractions are located at Larabanga, Mognori, Daboya, Mole National Park and Tizaa among others.
He attributed the growth to frantic efforts over the years by the GTB to protect and discover more tourist attractions in the region.
Touching on the World Tourism Day celebrations, the officer intimated that the developing world’s share of global or international tourism had grown from 34 per cent in the year 2000 to 40 per cent at the moment.
That of Ghana, Mr Nketia said, had grown from 428,533 visitors with corresponding receipts of $836 million in 2005 to over 850,000 visitors with receipts of over $1.5 billion last year.
“If these figures are anything to go by then the need to protect and conserve the biodiversity upon which our tourism attractions are dependent” the officer pointed out.
He noted that there was the need to educate and inform communities particularly the youth about the dangers of destroying biodiversity.
“The GTB therefore sees it as a unique opportunity to raise public awareness particularly among the youth of the importance of biodiversity to tourism development,” he stressed.
Mr Nketia urged communities to avoid such activities as poaching, bush burning, lumbering, environmental pollution, improper disposal of waste and use of weedicides.
A lecturer at the Department of Ecotourism and Environment, Mr Raymond Adongo, said tourism depended so much on biodiversity, saying one of the fastest growing sectors of tourism was the nature based one.
He advocated the formation of tourism clubs in schools, development of tourism infrastructure as well as proper disposal of wastes.
Amenuveve, Tamale.
THE tourism sector in the Northern Region generated a total of GH¢413,232 between 2002 and last year.
Additionally, a total of GH¢106,916 tourists arrived in the region within the same period.
The Regional Chief Officer of the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB), Mr Alexander Nketia, who made this known to The Mirror in Tamale, said the sector had grown significantly over the past eight years particularly in the areas of revenue and tourist arrivals to the region.
According to him, the region bagged GH¢142,218 with 17,620 tourist arrivals last year alone.
The major tourist attractions are located at Larabanga, Mognori, Daboya, Mole National Park and Tizaa among others.
He attributed the growth to frantic efforts over the years by the GTB to protect and discover more tourist attractions in the region.
Touching on the World Tourism Day celebrations, the officer intimated that the developing world’s share of global or international tourism had grown from 34 per cent in the year 2000 to 40 per cent at the moment.
That of Ghana, Mr Nketia said, had grown from 428,533 visitors with corresponding receipts of $836 million in 2005 to over 850,000 visitors with receipts of over $1.5 billion last year.
“If these figures are anything to go by then the need to protect and conserve the biodiversity upon which our tourism attractions are dependent” the officer pointed out.
He noted that there was the need to educate and inform communities particularly the youth about the dangers of destroying biodiversity.
“The GTB therefore sees it as a unique opportunity to raise public awareness particularly among the youth of the importance of biodiversity to tourism development,” he stressed.
Mr Nketia urged communities to avoid such activities as poaching, bush burning, lumbering, environmental pollution, improper disposal of waste and use of weedicides.
A lecturer at the Department of Ecotourism and Environment, Mr Raymond Adongo, said tourism depended so much on biodiversity, saying one of the fastest growing sectors of tourism was the nature based one.
He advocated the formation of tourism clubs in schools, development of tourism infrastructure as well as proper disposal of wastes.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
TOURISM SECTOR GROWS STEADILY IN NORTHERN REGION (PAGE 42, OCT 28, 2010)
THE tourism sector in the Northern Region has been growing steadily for the past eight years in the areas of revenue and tourist arrivals to the region.
According to the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB), the region bagged GH¢142,218 from 17,620 tourist arrivals in 2001 as against GH¢9,401 from 7,295 visitors recorded in 2002.
In 2008, the region recorded 20,711 tourist arrivals and obtained GH¢62,385 as revenue. In 2007, GH¢51,889 was received in the sector with 16,545 visitors to tourist sites. The major tourist attractions are located at Larabanga, Mognori, Daboya, Mole National Park and Tizaa, among others.
The Regional Chief Officer of the GTB, Mr Alexander Nketia, made this known to the Daily Graphic in Tamale during a symposium to mark the World Tourism Day.
He attributed the growth to frantic efforts to protect and discover more tourist attractions in the region. The day was held on the theme: “Tourism and biodiversity.”
According to Mr Nketia, the developing world’s share of global or international tourism had grown from 34 per cent in 2000 to 40 per cent currently.
Mr Nketia said Ghana had grown from 428,533 visitors in 2005 with corresponding receipts of $836 million to over 850,000 visitors in 2009 with receipts of over $1.5 billion.
“If these figures are anything to go by, then there is the need to protect and conserve the biodiversity on which our tourism attractions are dependent,” he stated.
Mr Nketia stressed the need to educate and inform communities, particularly the youth, about the dangers of destroying biodiversity.
“The GTB, therefore, sees it as a unique opportunity to raise public awareness, especially among the youth, of the importance of biodiversity to tourism development,” he stressed.
Mr Nketia urged communities to avoid such activities as poaching, bush burning, lumbering, environmental pollution, improper disposal of waste and use of weedicides.
A lecturer at the Department of Ecotourism and Environment at the University for Development Studies, Mr Raymond Adongo, said tourism depended so much on biodiversity, adding that one of the fastest growing sectors of tourism was the nature based one.
He advocated the formation of tourism clubs in schools, the development of tourism infrastructure as well as proper disposal of waste.
According to the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB), the region bagged GH¢142,218 from 17,620 tourist arrivals in 2001 as against GH¢9,401 from 7,295 visitors recorded in 2002.
In 2008, the region recorded 20,711 tourist arrivals and obtained GH¢62,385 as revenue. In 2007, GH¢51,889 was received in the sector with 16,545 visitors to tourist sites. The major tourist attractions are located at Larabanga, Mognori, Daboya, Mole National Park and Tizaa, among others.
The Regional Chief Officer of the GTB, Mr Alexander Nketia, made this known to the Daily Graphic in Tamale during a symposium to mark the World Tourism Day.
He attributed the growth to frantic efforts to protect and discover more tourist attractions in the region. The day was held on the theme: “Tourism and biodiversity.”
According to Mr Nketia, the developing world’s share of global or international tourism had grown from 34 per cent in 2000 to 40 per cent currently.
Mr Nketia said Ghana had grown from 428,533 visitors in 2005 with corresponding receipts of $836 million to over 850,000 visitors in 2009 with receipts of over $1.5 billion.
“If these figures are anything to go by, then there is the need to protect and conserve the biodiversity on which our tourism attractions are dependent,” he stated.
Mr Nketia stressed the need to educate and inform communities, particularly the youth, about the dangers of destroying biodiversity.
“The GTB, therefore, sees it as a unique opportunity to raise public awareness, especially among the youth, of the importance of biodiversity to tourism development,” he stressed.
Mr Nketia urged communities to avoid such activities as poaching, bush burning, lumbering, environmental pollution, improper disposal of waste and use of weedicides.
A lecturer at the Department of Ecotourism and Environment at the University for Development Studies, Mr Raymond Adongo, said tourism depended so much on biodiversity, adding that one of the fastest growing sectors of tourism was the nature based one.
He advocated the formation of tourism clubs in schools, the development of tourism infrastructure as well as proper disposal of waste.
POOR ROAD NETWORK IN BUNKPURUGU HAMPERS PROGRESS (PAGE 42, OCT 28, 2010)
THE poor nature of roads in the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo District in the Northern Region is a major source of worry to the people.
The situation has worsened with the onset of the rains and time without number, many vehicles get stuck on the roads.
The undulating state of the roads most often result in accidents and sometimes deaths.
The area is predominantly a farming community and the people cultivate crops such as maize, guinea corn, groundnuts, sorghum, and soyabeans. They also rear guinea fowls, cattle and goats for economic gains.
The major tribes in the area are the Mamprusis, Bimobas and Konkombas.
Indeed farmers in the area complain bitterly about their inability to convey foodstuffs from their farms to the marketing centres.
It is common to see most mummy trucks locked up on the roads either because they have broken down or they are unable to ply the roads, especially during the rainy season.
The Chief of Bunkpurugu, Alhaji Abuba Nasumang, minced no words when he lamented about the situation in an interview with the Daily Graphic at his palace.
He stressed the need for the government to provide the only senior high school with boarding facility and hospitals in the area with the needed equipment to enhance the work of the officials.
“The deplorable roads affect our socio-economic lives and the earlier something is done about them the better; we are tired of this situation and we are wondering why it is so,”Alhaji Nasumang stressed.
During a recent visit to the area to inspect development projects, the Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr San Nasamu Asabigi, also acknowledged the deplorable state of roads in the area.
He, however, assured the people that the government was committed to the improvement of the road network in the area.
Mr Asabigi, therefore, entreated the people to avoid bickering and to unite for the accelerated development of the area.
The District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abdulai Mumuni for his part, stated that the poor state of roads in the area affected effective policing.
He said whenever there was a robbery incident around the Nankpanduri scarp, it took the police hours to get to the scene of crime by which time the suspects had escaped.
“Even if you get a distress call and you reach the place and you call for reinforcement, most of the time, it is impossible for them to come because of the bad roads; In fact, that is affecting security in the area,” ASP Mumuni stated.
The new District Chief Executive, Mr Philip Laari, pledged to take a critical look at the road sector, saying such challenges are surmountable.
The situation has worsened with the onset of the rains and time without number, many vehicles get stuck on the roads.
The undulating state of the roads most often result in accidents and sometimes deaths.
The area is predominantly a farming community and the people cultivate crops such as maize, guinea corn, groundnuts, sorghum, and soyabeans. They also rear guinea fowls, cattle and goats for economic gains.
The major tribes in the area are the Mamprusis, Bimobas and Konkombas.
Indeed farmers in the area complain bitterly about their inability to convey foodstuffs from their farms to the marketing centres.
It is common to see most mummy trucks locked up on the roads either because they have broken down or they are unable to ply the roads, especially during the rainy season.
The Chief of Bunkpurugu, Alhaji Abuba Nasumang, minced no words when he lamented about the situation in an interview with the Daily Graphic at his palace.
He stressed the need for the government to provide the only senior high school with boarding facility and hospitals in the area with the needed equipment to enhance the work of the officials.
“The deplorable roads affect our socio-economic lives and the earlier something is done about them the better; we are tired of this situation and we are wondering why it is so,”Alhaji Nasumang stressed.
During a recent visit to the area to inspect development projects, the Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr San Nasamu Asabigi, also acknowledged the deplorable state of roads in the area.
He, however, assured the people that the government was committed to the improvement of the road network in the area.
Mr Asabigi, therefore, entreated the people to avoid bickering and to unite for the accelerated development of the area.
The District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abdulai Mumuni for his part, stated that the poor state of roads in the area affected effective policing.
He said whenever there was a robbery incident around the Nankpanduri scarp, it took the police hours to get to the scene of crime by which time the suspects had escaped.
“Even if you get a distress call and you reach the place and you call for reinforcement, most of the time, it is impossible for them to come because of the bad roads; In fact, that is affecting security in the area,” ASP Mumuni stated.
The new District Chief Executive, Mr Philip Laari, pledged to take a critical look at the road sector, saying such challenges are surmountable.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
TAMALE RESIDENTS WALK TO PROMOTE ROAD SAFETY (PAGE 29, OCT 27, 2010)
AS part of efforts to curb road accidents in the Tamale metropolis, the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) in the Northern Region has organised a road safety walk in the metropolis.
Dubbed ‘Walk for Health Stay with Cowbell’, the walk was part of the new strategies adopted by the NRSC to sensitise residents to the need to ensure road safety measures.
A cross-section of the public took part in the walk that included keep fit exercises held at the Jubilee Park.
Speaking to the participants, the Regional Manager of the NRSC for the Northern and Upper East regions, Mr Thomas Boakye, stated that the walk would be organised every month.
He said that research had shown that where “enforcement of road traffic regulations failed, motivation must be adopted to encourage motorists to ensure road safety measures”.
He announced that next month had been declared a road safety month, adding that a “cycling month” would also be put in place as a way of educating the public on road traffic regulations.
He further explained that those who wore their crash helmets regularly would be identified and rewarded as a way of motivating residents to adhere to road safety measures.
“Safety consciousness is an individual affair and I must warn that if you mess up yourself and die through your own carelessness on the road, even God himself would not forgive you” the manager cautioned.
An educator at the NRSC in the region, Mr Baba Musah, noted that every road user should be concerned about the lives of other road users including pedestrians in order to reduce accidents to the barest minimum.
Last month 26 people died in a road accident at Zagyuri, near Kamina, when the cargo truck on which they were travelling from Zoggu in the Savelugu-Nanton District to Tamale veered off the road in an attempt to overtake a tipper truck and plunged into a gutter killing the passengers on the bus.
Dubbed ‘Walk for Health Stay with Cowbell’, the walk was part of the new strategies adopted by the NRSC to sensitise residents to the need to ensure road safety measures.
A cross-section of the public took part in the walk that included keep fit exercises held at the Jubilee Park.
Speaking to the participants, the Regional Manager of the NRSC for the Northern and Upper East regions, Mr Thomas Boakye, stated that the walk would be organised every month.
He said that research had shown that where “enforcement of road traffic regulations failed, motivation must be adopted to encourage motorists to ensure road safety measures”.
He announced that next month had been declared a road safety month, adding that a “cycling month” would also be put in place as a way of educating the public on road traffic regulations.
He further explained that those who wore their crash helmets regularly would be identified and rewarded as a way of motivating residents to adhere to road safety measures.
“Safety consciousness is an individual affair and I must warn that if you mess up yourself and die through your own carelessness on the road, even God himself would not forgive you” the manager cautioned.
An educator at the NRSC in the region, Mr Baba Musah, noted that every road user should be concerned about the lives of other road users including pedestrians in order to reduce accidents to the barest minimum.
Last month 26 people died in a road accident at Zagyuri, near Kamina, when the cargo truck on which they were travelling from Zoggu in the Savelugu-Nanton District to Tamale veered off the road in an attempt to overtake a tipper truck and plunged into a gutter killing the passengers on the bus.
TRULL FOUNDATION SUPPORTS NINE ORGANISATIONS (PAGE 29, OCT 26, 2010)
THIS year, the northern part of Ghana has witnessed one of its heaviest rains and this has led to the flooding of many communities in the various districts. Lives have been lost, houses collapsed, roads destroyed, farms inundated and communities cut off from each other.
Tamale, the capital of the Northern Region, was not spared its share of the destruction. One person was confirmed dead while several others sustained various degrees of injuries when the buildings they were residing in collapsed on them during the rains.
The daily lives of people living in parts of Gumani, Koblimahagu, Builpela, Kukuo, Wamali and Fuo became a nightmare as they had to move through water and swamp to and from home.
One of the most visible leftovers of the floods was the destruction caused to road networks in the various suburbs of the metropolis.
Some portions of various feeder roads were washed away by the running water, leaving behind large potholes on several portions.
For instance, roads in the Gbewa community, behind the Ghana Senior High School (GHANASCO) in Kukuo, were severely damaged dividing some of the roads into halves.
The residents of the area told the Daily Graphic that the nature of the roads was impeding movement, particularly for drivers of automobiles, as they had to manoeuvre their way through the potholes.
“Sometimes, you just have to park your car at a point and try to cross a ditch to the other side,” Mr Abdul Sadiq, a resident, stated.
One thing that the rains have, however, exposed is the failure of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TaMA) to tar many roads in the city. Apart from the roads in the main township, the rest are dusty roads that are awarded on contract periodically for reshaping.
This year, for instance, the main road in the Gbewa community was reshaped, but the floods have damaged the road once more, thereby leading to a waste of resources.
Except for the late 1990s and between 2002 and 2008, the metropolis has not undergone any major improvements in its road networks in recent times.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the TaMA, Mr Issah Musah, said the assembly had noted the deplorable condition of many roads in the city and had drawn up a comprehensive plan to rehabilitate them.
He said the plan, which was drafted in collaboration with the Urban Roads Department, captured all important roads in the city, but noted that the lack of funds was hindering the implementation of the plan.
Notwithstanding the challenge of lack of finance, Mr Musah insisted that there was some hope that the roads in the metropolis would be improved soon.
He noted, for instance, that some of the major roads had been captured in a proposal for special attention under the Ghana Urban Management Project (GUMP), which is to be sponsored by the French Development Agency (AFD).
These projects, he mentioned, included the upgrading of a portion of Tamale’s second ring road, between TAYSEC Junction and the SSNIT Flat Roundabout and access roads within Tishigu and Moshi Zongo.
The PRO also mentioned the rehabilitation of the Aboabo lorry park and the construction of the Gumani storm drain and retention point as two other projects that had been included in the proposal.
He said whiles the assembly waited for approval to undertake these projects, it had taken some temporary measures such as the rehabilitation of the assembly’s grader, which was being used from time to time to undertake minor repair works on the roads.
Tamale, the capital of the Northern Region, was not spared its share of the destruction. One person was confirmed dead while several others sustained various degrees of injuries when the buildings they were residing in collapsed on them during the rains.
The daily lives of people living in parts of Gumani, Koblimahagu, Builpela, Kukuo, Wamali and Fuo became a nightmare as they had to move through water and swamp to and from home.
One of the most visible leftovers of the floods was the destruction caused to road networks in the various suburbs of the metropolis.
Some portions of various feeder roads were washed away by the running water, leaving behind large potholes on several portions.
For instance, roads in the Gbewa community, behind the Ghana Senior High School (GHANASCO) in Kukuo, were severely damaged dividing some of the roads into halves.
The residents of the area told the Daily Graphic that the nature of the roads was impeding movement, particularly for drivers of automobiles, as they had to manoeuvre their way through the potholes.
“Sometimes, you just have to park your car at a point and try to cross a ditch to the other side,” Mr Abdul Sadiq, a resident, stated.
One thing that the rains have, however, exposed is the failure of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TaMA) to tar many roads in the city. Apart from the roads in the main township, the rest are dusty roads that are awarded on contract periodically for reshaping.
This year, for instance, the main road in the Gbewa community was reshaped, but the floods have damaged the road once more, thereby leading to a waste of resources.
Except for the late 1990s and between 2002 and 2008, the metropolis has not undergone any major improvements in its road networks in recent times.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the TaMA, Mr Issah Musah, said the assembly had noted the deplorable condition of many roads in the city and had drawn up a comprehensive plan to rehabilitate them.
He said the plan, which was drafted in collaboration with the Urban Roads Department, captured all important roads in the city, but noted that the lack of funds was hindering the implementation of the plan.
Notwithstanding the challenge of lack of finance, Mr Musah insisted that there was some hope that the roads in the metropolis would be improved soon.
He noted, for instance, that some of the major roads had been captured in a proposal for special attention under the Ghana Urban Management Project (GUMP), which is to be sponsored by the French Development Agency (AFD).
These projects, he mentioned, included the upgrading of a portion of Tamale’s second ring road, between TAYSEC Junction and the SSNIT Flat Roundabout and access roads within Tishigu and Moshi Zongo.
The PRO also mentioned the rehabilitation of the Aboabo lorry park and the construction of the Gumani storm drain and retention point as two other projects that had been included in the proposal.
He said whiles the assembly waited for approval to undertake these projects, it had taken some temporary measures such as the rehabilitation of the assembly’s grader, which was being used from time to time to undertake minor repair works on the roads.
Monday, October 25, 2010
ARMED ROBBERS SHOOT MILITARY MAN (PAGE 77, OCT 25, 2010)
A Soldier was reportedly gunned down on Friday when a group of suspected armed robbers attacked a Mercedes Benz saloon car on the Tamale-Buipe highway in the Central Gonja District of the Northern Region.
The deceased, a Warrant Officer (WO) whose name is being withheld for security reasons, was one of the five occupants of the vehicle, with registration number CR 826 W, that was travelling from Kumasi in the Ashanti Region to Tamale when the incident occurred. It was, however, not clear who shot and killed the deceased.
The outgoing Northern Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Angwubutoge Awuni, who confirmed the story to the Daily Graphic in Tamale, said the incident happened at about 3:00 a.m. but the police were yet to establish where the gunshots that killed the soldier came from as the matter was still under investigations.
According to him, the suspects had mounted road blocks in a bid to rob their victims and so when the car approached the crime scene one of the robbers asked the occupants to get down.
He explained that after the robbery, a police officer reportedly appeared on the scene and engaged in a shoot-out with the robbers and they subsequently fled into a nearby bush.
Narrating the incident, the driver of the vehicle, Mr Mahama Nasiru, said upon reaching the scene, one of the robbers opened the driver’s door and asked him (Nasiru) to come out and lie down.
According to him, the robber asked him to bring the money he had on him to which he (Nasiru) refused and so the suspect took his mobile phone and robbed one of the occupants of an amount of GH¢200.
Mr Nasiru explained that the robber asked the soldier also to come out of the vehicle and subsequently the soldier struggled with the robber and managed to snatch a locally manufactured weapon from him (the robber).
The driver said the robber, sensing danger, ran into the bush.
He said a few moments later he heard about three gunshots and when he stood up he found the soldier lying dead.
The deceased, a Warrant Officer (WO) whose name is being withheld for security reasons, was one of the five occupants of the vehicle, with registration number CR 826 W, that was travelling from Kumasi in the Ashanti Region to Tamale when the incident occurred. It was, however, not clear who shot and killed the deceased.
The outgoing Northern Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Angwubutoge Awuni, who confirmed the story to the Daily Graphic in Tamale, said the incident happened at about 3:00 a.m. but the police were yet to establish where the gunshots that killed the soldier came from as the matter was still under investigations.
According to him, the suspects had mounted road blocks in a bid to rob their victims and so when the car approached the crime scene one of the robbers asked the occupants to get down.
He explained that after the robbery, a police officer reportedly appeared on the scene and engaged in a shoot-out with the robbers and they subsequently fled into a nearby bush.
Narrating the incident, the driver of the vehicle, Mr Mahama Nasiru, said upon reaching the scene, one of the robbers opened the driver’s door and asked him (Nasiru) to come out and lie down.
According to him, the robber asked him to bring the money he had on him to which he (Nasiru) refused and so the suspect took his mobile phone and robbed one of the occupants of an amount of GH¢200.
Mr Nasiru explained that the robber asked the soldier also to come out of the vehicle and subsequently the soldier struggled with the robber and managed to snatch a locally manufactured weapon from him (the robber).
The driver said the robber, sensing danger, ran into the bush.
He said a few moments later he heard about three gunshots and when he stood up he found the soldier lying dead.
FOUR DCES SWORN INTO OFFICE (PAGE 13, OCT 23, 2010)
FOUR new District Chief Executives in the Northern Region have been sworn into office at a ceremony in Tamale.
They are Mr Philip Laari, 60, a former Regional Commander of the Ghana Prisons Service for the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo district, Mr Issah Zakaria, 50, an Educationist of the Yendi Municipality.
The rest are Mr Sulemana Issah, 48, a teacher of the Karaga District and Isaac Dramani, 40, an Accountant for the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District.
They were sworn-in by a Supervising High Court Judge, Justice Lawrene L. Mensah, in consonance with Article 243 of the 1992 constitution and section 20(1) of the Local Government Act 462.
Speaking after the ceremony, the Regional Minister, Mr Moses Magbenba, reminded the DCEs that the purpose for establishing the various district assemblies in Ghana was to among other things, ensure the full involvement of the local people in the decision making process.
He explained that the success of that initiative depended on some key values exhibited by the DCEs, namely honesty, commitment, firmness, probity, accountability and responsiveness to development issues, among others.
Mr Magbenba equally drew their attention to key provisions in the Local Government Act that related to their responsibilities.
“Clearly, as DCEs, you are supposed to lead the assembly in its development efforts by using the available human and material resources to implement planned programmes,” he pointed out.
The minister entreated the DCEs to provide leadership in the administration of their respective districts.
Mr Magbenba cautioned them against over-reliance on the district assemblies common fund and urged them to devise innovative ways of generating more local revenue for the accelerated development of the districts.
The Deputy Regional Minister, Mr San Nasamu Asabigi, told the new DCEs that the practice of swearing the official oath was to give them the opportunity to publicly demonstrate their total commitment to the implementation of the government’s policies, plans and programmes.
“By swearing the various oaths, you are going to pledge to act as effective agents of change for your people, give them sincere, honest and carefully thought-through advice on matters that come before you,” he explained.
Mr Laari pledged, on behalf of his colleagues, to help maintain relative peace by working hard to improve the security situation in their respective districts.
“Our administration will be an open one and opportunities will be granted to all, especially the youth and women who constitute the backbone of the development of any nation,” he stated.
Mr Laari further observed that all the four districts had similar challenges such as “security, chieftaincy, land and political disputes, road network and inadequate infrastructure”.
He was, however, glad that the issues about conflict in the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo district was gradually being resolved, while the major ones such as youth unemployment, lack of potable water, inadequate health and educational facilities were yet to be addressed.
They are Mr Philip Laari, 60, a former Regional Commander of the Ghana Prisons Service for the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo district, Mr Issah Zakaria, 50, an Educationist of the Yendi Municipality.
The rest are Mr Sulemana Issah, 48, a teacher of the Karaga District and Isaac Dramani, 40, an Accountant for the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District.
They were sworn-in by a Supervising High Court Judge, Justice Lawrene L. Mensah, in consonance with Article 243 of the 1992 constitution and section 20(1) of the Local Government Act 462.
Speaking after the ceremony, the Regional Minister, Mr Moses Magbenba, reminded the DCEs that the purpose for establishing the various district assemblies in Ghana was to among other things, ensure the full involvement of the local people in the decision making process.
He explained that the success of that initiative depended on some key values exhibited by the DCEs, namely honesty, commitment, firmness, probity, accountability and responsiveness to development issues, among others.
Mr Magbenba equally drew their attention to key provisions in the Local Government Act that related to their responsibilities.
“Clearly, as DCEs, you are supposed to lead the assembly in its development efforts by using the available human and material resources to implement planned programmes,” he pointed out.
The minister entreated the DCEs to provide leadership in the administration of their respective districts.
Mr Magbenba cautioned them against over-reliance on the district assemblies common fund and urged them to devise innovative ways of generating more local revenue for the accelerated development of the districts.
The Deputy Regional Minister, Mr San Nasamu Asabigi, told the new DCEs that the practice of swearing the official oath was to give them the opportunity to publicly demonstrate their total commitment to the implementation of the government’s policies, plans and programmes.
“By swearing the various oaths, you are going to pledge to act as effective agents of change for your people, give them sincere, honest and carefully thought-through advice on matters that come before you,” he explained.
Mr Laari pledged, on behalf of his colleagues, to help maintain relative peace by working hard to improve the security situation in their respective districts.
“Our administration will be an open one and opportunities will be granted to all, especially the youth and women who constitute the backbone of the development of any nation,” he stated.
Mr Laari further observed that all the four districts had similar challenges such as “security, chieftaincy, land and political disputes, road network and inadequate infrastructure”.
He was, however, glad that the issues about conflict in the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo district was gradually being resolved, while the major ones such as youth unemployment, lack of potable water, inadequate health and educational facilities were yet to be addressed.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Case of ambush at Nakpanduri...ANOTHER COP DIES (PAGE 3, OCT 22, 2010)
ONE of the policemen who got injured during an attack on them while on duty on the Nakpanduri Scarp in the Northern Region last Sunday has died of his wounds.
Constable Owusu Frimpong died early yesterday morning at the Nalerigu Hospital, where he was admitted following the injuries he sustained from the attack.
His death brings to two, the number of policemen who have lost their lives following Sunday’s attack by the gunmen believed to be under the command of Johnson Soloma Kombian, who has been described by the police as a notorious jail breaker.
Kombian is also suspected to be recruiting young men to be carrying out a series of criminal activities along the scarp.
Constable Prince Agyare died earlier during the attack and his body has been deposited at the morgue of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, leaving Lance Corporal Osei Bonsu, who was airlifted to Accra for further medical treatment, as the lone survivor.
They were attacked while on patrol duties in the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo District.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Northern Regional Police Command, Chief Inspector Ebenezer Tetteh, confirmed the latest death to the Daily Graphic in Tamale yesterday.
Meanwhile, four persons have been arrested in connection with the attack on the three policemen.
The suspects are Talata Sonika, Yenuduki Kombian, Bitian Kombian and Fintima Kunchan and are currently in police custody in Tamale to be arraigned.
The police administration has mounted a search for Johnson Soloma Kombian and offered a prize of GH¢3,000 to anyone who would provide information that would lead to his arrest.
A high-powered delegation from the police headquarters in Accra is expected to visit the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo District to assess the situation on the ground.
Constable Owusu Frimpong died early yesterday morning at the Nalerigu Hospital, where he was admitted following the injuries he sustained from the attack.
His death brings to two, the number of policemen who have lost their lives following Sunday’s attack by the gunmen believed to be under the command of Johnson Soloma Kombian, who has been described by the police as a notorious jail breaker.
Kombian is also suspected to be recruiting young men to be carrying out a series of criminal activities along the scarp.
Constable Prince Agyare died earlier during the attack and his body has been deposited at the morgue of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, leaving Lance Corporal Osei Bonsu, who was airlifted to Accra for further medical treatment, as the lone survivor.
They were attacked while on patrol duties in the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo District.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Northern Regional Police Command, Chief Inspector Ebenezer Tetteh, confirmed the latest death to the Daily Graphic in Tamale yesterday.
Meanwhile, four persons have been arrested in connection with the attack on the three policemen.
The suspects are Talata Sonika, Yenuduki Kombian, Bitian Kombian and Fintima Kunchan and are currently in police custody in Tamale to be arraigned.
The police administration has mounted a search for Johnson Soloma Kombian and offered a prize of GH¢3,000 to anyone who would provide information that would lead to his arrest.
A high-powered delegation from the police headquarters in Accra is expected to visit the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo District to assess the situation on the ground.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
FOUR ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH SHOOTING OF COPS (BACK PAGE, OCT 21, 2010)
FOUR persons have been arrested in connection with the attack on three policemen on the Nankpanduri scarp in the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo District, which resulted in the death of one policeman and injuries to two others.
The suspects, Talata Sonika, Yenuduki Kombian, Bitian Kombian and Fintima Kunchan, were arrested last Tuesday at their hideout in Nankpanduri upon a tip-off.
A police source said Talata was alleged to have taken part in the attack on the police personnel on the scarp while Fintima was reportedly harbouring the notorious criminal Johnson Soloma Kombian in his house.
Johnson Soloma Kombian is believed to have masterminded the attack on the police personnel, which left Constable Prince Agyare dead and Lance Corporal Osei Bonsu and Constable Owusu Frimpong seriously injured.
Bonsu has been flown to Accra for further treatment while arrangements were still being made for Frimpong to be airlifted from the Nalerigu Hospital to Accra.
Johnson Soloma Kombian has been on the police wanted list for several years and has gained notoriety as a jail-breaker.
Kombian is also suspected to be recruiting young men in the area to be carrying out all manner of criminal activities along the scarp.
The national security apparatus has been placed on high alert while a thorough search has begun to arrest him.
Meanwhile the outgoing Northern Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr Angwubutoge Awuni, has led a team of police officials to visit one of the injured policemen at the Nalerigu Hospital. He described the officer’s condition as being stable.
The suspects, Talata Sonika, Yenuduki Kombian, Bitian Kombian and Fintima Kunchan, were arrested last Tuesday at their hideout in Nankpanduri upon a tip-off.
A police source said Talata was alleged to have taken part in the attack on the police personnel on the scarp while Fintima was reportedly harbouring the notorious criminal Johnson Soloma Kombian in his house.
Johnson Soloma Kombian is believed to have masterminded the attack on the police personnel, which left Constable Prince Agyare dead and Lance Corporal Osei Bonsu and Constable Owusu Frimpong seriously injured.
Bonsu has been flown to Accra for further treatment while arrangements were still being made for Frimpong to be airlifted from the Nalerigu Hospital to Accra.
Johnson Soloma Kombian has been on the police wanted list for several years and has gained notoriety as a jail-breaker.
Kombian is also suspected to be recruiting young men in the area to be carrying out all manner of criminal activities along the scarp.
The national security apparatus has been placed on high alert while a thorough search has begun to arrest him.
Meanwhile the outgoing Northern Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr Angwubutoge Awuni, has led a team of police officials to visit one of the injured policemen at the Nalerigu Hospital. He described the officer’s condition as being stable.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
DON'T CHANGE DATE FOR ASSEMBLY POLLS...Civil Society urges EC (PAGE 13, OCT 14, 2010)
CIVIL Society Organisations (CSOS) in the Northern Region have called on the Electoral Commission (EC) and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to ensure that the December 28, 2010 date fixed for the District and Unit Committee elections is not changed.
The organisations, observed that the postponement of the date from October 23 to December 28, 2010 would create a power vacuum in all the 170 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) and affect the activities of the assemblies.
It will also deny the people the opportunity to demand accountability within the period.
The Facilitator of the CSO Forum, Mr Alhassan Awal, made the call at a press conference in Tamale on emerging issues of the 2010 District and Unit Committee Elections.
The conference followed a forum held on September 6, 2010 by the 21 members of the CSOs to critically assess the forthcoming district assembly elections.
According to Mr Awal, the CSOs observed with grave concern “key stakeholders’ contribution to the postponement of the 2010 district assembly elections that had created confusion and worry to aspirants and wondered if government and the EC attached importance to this important national exercise”.
The facilitator urged the government to ensure the availability of the needed resources to enable the EC and the National Commission for Civic Education to create awareness on the new date and also encourage citizens to participate actively in the process.
Mr Awal equally pointed out the need for the President to use his executive powers during the period of the power vacuum to ensure that the activities of the assemblies were not interrupted.
He appealed to Parliament and other stakeholders whose duty it was to expedite action on resolving the legal aspect of the new date to immediately take action to bring to rest the current legal debate on the exercise.
The facilitator further explained that the postponement had created frustration among aspiring candidates who had already invested their resources in the campaign towards the earlier date of the elections.
“Citizens’ interest in the district assembly elections is likely to experience a serious setback which can affect operationalisation of the decentralisation concept”, he stressed.
According to Mr Awal, a few people who have to manage the resources of the assembly during the power vacuum created before the new date of the elections are likely to execute projects that may not reflect the needs of the people and further defeat the decentralisation concept.
“In the opinion of the CSO forum, the district assembly elections are as important as the presidential and parliamentary elections and must be given all the seriousness that it deserves”, he stated.
The organisations, observed that the postponement of the date from October 23 to December 28, 2010 would create a power vacuum in all the 170 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) and affect the activities of the assemblies.
It will also deny the people the opportunity to demand accountability within the period.
The Facilitator of the CSO Forum, Mr Alhassan Awal, made the call at a press conference in Tamale on emerging issues of the 2010 District and Unit Committee Elections.
The conference followed a forum held on September 6, 2010 by the 21 members of the CSOs to critically assess the forthcoming district assembly elections.
According to Mr Awal, the CSOs observed with grave concern “key stakeholders’ contribution to the postponement of the 2010 district assembly elections that had created confusion and worry to aspirants and wondered if government and the EC attached importance to this important national exercise”.
The facilitator urged the government to ensure the availability of the needed resources to enable the EC and the National Commission for Civic Education to create awareness on the new date and also encourage citizens to participate actively in the process.
Mr Awal equally pointed out the need for the President to use his executive powers during the period of the power vacuum to ensure that the activities of the assemblies were not interrupted.
He appealed to Parliament and other stakeholders whose duty it was to expedite action on resolving the legal aspect of the new date to immediately take action to bring to rest the current legal debate on the exercise.
The facilitator further explained that the postponement had created frustration among aspiring candidates who had already invested their resources in the campaign towards the earlier date of the elections.
“Citizens’ interest in the district assembly elections is likely to experience a serious setback which can affect operationalisation of the decentralisation concept”, he stressed.
According to Mr Awal, a few people who have to manage the resources of the assembly during the power vacuum created before the new date of the elections are likely to execute projects that may not reflect the needs of the people and further defeat the decentralisation concept.
“In the opinion of the CSO forum, the district assembly elections are as important as the presidential and parliamentary elections and must be given all the seriousness that it deserves”, he stated.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
MAJAH INTRODUCES MOBILE CAR WASH (PAGE 23, OCT 14, 2010)
LIFE, they say is not a bed of roses. But for those who persevere, they will be crowned with success at the end of the day. This has always been the philosophy of a young and enterprising man, Abubakari Majah, 23, who is currently into mobile washing of vehicles in the Tamale Metropolis.
By dint of hard work and perseverance, Majah mooted the idea of acquiring a motor-tricycle fitted with a water tank, pump and hose for washing vehicles any where and at the convenience of customers. Vehicle owners no longer have to drive to washing bays to have their cars washed for them. For one thing, Majah’s idea is the first of its kind in the metropolis.
Born in Tamale to the Late Yakubu Boti and Madam Mariama Yaa Medura, Majah had his primary and Junior High School (JHS) education at the Bawku Cluster of Schools in the Upper East Region and the Tishegu Anglican School in Tamale respectively.
Indeed Majah’s dream in life has always been to acquire a university education and preferably, a degree but as fate would have it, he could not achieve that due to lack of financial support.
After completing his JHS education in 2000, he had admission to the Northern Business College (NOBISCO) but could not afford the fees. Majah later attended the Tamale Polytechnic where he read Agricultural Engineering.
He later joined the Late Maurice Merga, a former presenter at Radio Justice in Tamale to acquire some experience in broadcasting. In 2004, the young man wrote the private Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination also known as NOV/DEC.
Unfortunately for him, he could not pass the examination and was determined to write another one when death laid its icy hands on his father in 2005.
According to Majah, he still had the ambition to re-write the examinations in order to gain admission to the University but he faced financial constraints.
Since life must continue, he decided to join the Top Class Entertainment Company and fortunately for him, he passed an audition and was asked to be assisting Nana Oye Lithur now a Lawyer.
“I tried not to be lazy and so I used my leisure hours to read anything I came across to help broaden my knowledge and if possible to discover more opportunities” he stated.
He intimated that at a point in his life he realised that determination, prayer and diligence were key to success and that although he had many friends, he did not imitate their bad lifestyles saying “I am not a copy cat”.
Realising that he could not get the needed support to help register and re-write the NOV/DEC, he tried to help himself “without being lawless”.
He tried writing fiction stories for broadcast on the various Accra-based FM stations. “When I saw that I was not making any headway, I decided to come back to Tamale and see what else to do” he said further.
He said he tried attending classes to enable him re-write the private SSCE so as to pass with good grades but this efforts proved futile as the major problem again was how to raise money to sponsor himself.
After deep thinking, he came out with the idea of cleaning the windscreens of vehicles, particularly when they are in traffic just to raise some funds.
According to Majah, he equally engaged in other menial jobs to raise money for his education as well as to feed his mother and sister’s children.
Then again another idea struck him, and that was to acquire a facility that will enable him to wash vehicles at anywhere and at anytime.
Majah had support from his brother to purchase the Motor-Tricycle and added his personal savings to acquire the water pump, tank and other facilities for the job. But the young man was quick to add that his priority was to raise money to pay for his fees to re-write his examination to enable him to pursue university education in Agricultural Science and Entrepreneurial skills.
Majah speaks Dagbani, Hausa and Twi which facilitates his business as he is able to communicate with people from all walks of life who need his services. He urged his colleagues to continue to persevere in life and to avoid depending on people.
By dint of hard work and perseverance, Majah mooted the idea of acquiring a motor-tricycle fitted with a water tank, pump and hose for washing vehicles any where and at the convenience of customers. Vehicle owners no longer have to drive to washing bays to have their cars washed for them. For one thing, Majah’s idea is the first of its kind in the metropolis.
Born in Tamale to the Late Yakubu Boti and Madam Mariama Yaa Medura, Majah had his primary and Junior High School (JHS) education at the Bawku Cluster of Schools in the Upper East Region and the Tishegu Anglican School in Tamale respectively.
Indeed Majah’s dream in life has always been to acquire a university education and preferably, a degree but as fate would have it, he could not achieve that due to lack of financial support.
After completing his JHS education in 2000, he had admission to the Northern Business College (NOBISCO) but could not afford the fees. Majah later attended the Tamale Polytechnic where he read Agricultural Engineering.
He later joined the Late Maurice Merga, a former presenter at Radio Justice in Tamale to acquire some experience in broadcasting. In 2004, the young man wrote the private Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination also known as NOV/DEC.
Unfortunately for him, he could not pass the examination and was determined to write another one when death laid its icy hands on his father in 2005.
According to Majah, he still had the ambition to re-write the examinations in order to gain admission to the University but he faced financial constraints.
Since life must continue, he decided to join the Top Class Entertainment Company and fortunately for him, he passed an audition and was asked to be assisting Nana Oye Lithur now a Lawyer.
“I tried not to be lazy and so I used my leisure hours to read anything I came across to help broaden my knowledge and if possible to discover more opportunities” he stated.
He intimated that at a point in his life he realised that determination, prayer and diligence were key to success and that although he had many friends, he did not imitate their bad lifestyles saying “I am not a copy cat”.
Realising that he could not get the needed support to help register and re-write the NOV/DEC, he tried to help himself “without being lawless”.
He tried writing fiction stories for broadcast on the various Accra-based FM stations. “When I saw that I was not making any headway, I decided to come back to Tamale and see what else to do” he said further.
He said he tried attending classes to enable him re-write the private SSCE so as to pass with good grades but this efforts proved futile as the major problem again was how to raise money to sponsor himself.
After deep thinking, he came out with the idea of cleaning the windscreens of vehicles, particularly when they are in traffic just to raise some funds.
According to Majah, he equally engaged in other menial jobs to raise money for his education as well as to feed his mother and sister’s children.
Then again another idea struck him, and that was to acquire a facility that will enable him to wash vehicles at anywhere and at anytime.
Majah had support from his brother to purchase the Motor-Tricycle and added his personal savings to acquire the water pump, tank and other facilities for the job. But the young man was quick to add that his priority was to raise money to pay for his fees to re-write his examination to enable him to pursue university education in Agricultural Science and Entrepreneurial skills.
Majah speaks Dagbani, Hausa and Twi which facilitates his business as he is able to communicate with people from all walks of life who need his services. He urged his colleagues to continue to persevere in life and to avoid depending on people.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
2 NGOS DRAW PROGRAMME TO ASSIST 'WITCHES' (PAGE 11, OCT 12, 2010)
TWO non-governmental organisations, Songtaba and ActionAid Ghana have drawn up a programme to work closely with the various district assemblies in the Northern Region where witches camps are located to effectively help and respond to the concerns of the alleged witches.
Dubbed “Exit Plan and Sustainability Strategy” the programme will be implemented between now and 2015, to help build the confidence of the alleged witches, mostly women and children who are confined to the six witches camps in the Northern Region. The non-governmental organisations are Songtaba and ActionAid.
As part of the programme, the two organisations will increase awareness of the women on their rights, as well as co-ordinate with the district assemblies to set up responsive budget to meet the social needs of the inmates in the short to medium term.
The promotion of a violence free environment for children staying in the camps, as well as enjoying rights to education devoid of stigmatisation will also be enhanced under the plan.
The six camps are located at Gnani in the Yendi Municipality , Kukuo in the Nanumba South District, Bonyansi in the Central Gonja District, Gambaga in the East Mamprusi District, Naboli and Kpatinga all in the Gushiegu District.
Since 2006, Songtaba together with its partners have been playing leading roles of working in these camps with the aim of empowering the alleged witches to live dignified lives and enjoy their respective basic rights including participating in the decision-making process in a violence free environment.
The organisations have been facing such challenges as alleged entrenched and insensitive attitude of some personalities, particularly in state institutions’ response to the needs of inmates at the various camps.
Indeed, that problem had affected the response to myriad of problems facing the alleged witches thereby leaving them in abject poverty.
Inadequate funds to support the immediate needs of the women in all the six camps is another challenge while re-integrating these women accused of witchcraft into the society also hangs in a balance although the two organisations have been advocating the effective implementation of laws such as the Domestic Violence Law.
Inspite of these challenges, the two organisations have been able to facilitate the payment of the annual premium of the National Health Insurance Scheme for alleged witches at the Gnani Camp in Yendi in 2007.
It is also heart warming to note that, through the efforts of the two organisations, the six alleged witches camp with a total population of 674 inmates were enlightened on their rights.
Between 2007 and 2010, the two organisations facilitated the cultivation of maize in the six camps as a way of helping to provide enough food for the alleged witches.
An Alleged Witches Network called the Ti-Gbub’taba Women’s Network was introduced to intensify lobbying and engagement with government authorities and other development agencies to make life bearable for the inmates.
Reflect Circles were also introduced in the Gnani camp at Yendi to help raise the awareness on the rights of the alleged witches.
At a recent meeting of civil society organisations (CSOs) in Tamale, the Programme Officer of Songtaba, Madam Adam Lamnatu, intimated that “the work with alleged witches" camps is a key activity in the strategy of mobilising women in the overall objective of Songtaba’s partnership with ActionAid to curb violence against women and children”.
Some of the participants at the meeting expressed concern about the brutalities being meted out to the alleged witches and resolved to help address the issue.
Dubbed “Exit Plan and Sustainability Strategy” the programme will be implemented between now and 2015, to help build the confidence of the alleged witches, mostly women and children who are confined to the six witches camps in the Northern Region. The non-governmental organisations are Songtaba and ActionAid.
As part of the programme, the two organisations will increase awareness of the women on their rights, as well as co-ordinate with the district assemblies to set up responsive budget to meet the social needs of the inmates in the short to medium term.
The promotion of a violence free environment for children staying in the camps, as well as enjoying rights to education devoid of stigmatisation will also be enhanced under the plan.
The six camps are located at Gnani in the Yendi Municipality , Kukuo in the Nanumba South District, Bonyansi in the Central Gonja District, Gambaga in the East Mamprusi District, Naboli and Kpatinga all in the Gushiegu District.
Since 2006, Songtaba together with its partners have been playing leading roles of working in these camps with the aim of empowering the alleged witches to live dignified lives and enjoy their respective basic rights including participating in the decision-making process in a violence free environment.
The organisations have been facing such challenges as alleged entrenched and insensitive attitude of some personalities, particularly in state institutions’ response to the needs of inmates at the various camps.
Indeed, that problem had affected the response to myriad of problems facing the alleged witches thereby leaving them in abject poverty.
Inadequate funds to support the immediate needs of the women in all the six camps is another challenge while re-integrating these women accused of witchcraft into the society also hangs in a balance although the two organisations have been advocating the effective implementation of laws such as the Domestic Violence Law.
Inspite of these challenges, the two organisations have been able to facilitate the payment of the annual premium of the National Health Insurance Scheme for alleged witches at the Gnani Camp in Yendi in 2007.
It is also heart warming to note that, through the efforts of the two organisations, the six alleged witches camp with a total population of 674 inmates were enlightened on their rights.
Between 2007 and 2010, the two organisations facilitated the cultivation of maize in the six camps as a way of helping to provide enough food for the alleged witches.
An Alleged Witches Network called the Ti-Gbub’taba Women’s Network was introduced to intensify lobbying and engagement with government authorities and other development agencies to make life bearable for the inmates.
Reflect Circles were also introduced in the Gnani camp at Yendi to help raise the awareness on the rights of the alleged witches.
At a recent meeting of civil society organisations (CSOs) in Tamale, the Programme Officer of Songtaba, Madam Adam Lamnatu, intimated that “the work with alleged witches" camps is a key activity in the strategy of mobilising women in the overall objective of Songtaba’s partnership with ActionAid to curb violence against women and children”.
Some of the participants at the meeting expressed concern about the brutalities being meted out to the alleged witches and resolved to help address the issue.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
RENEWAL ENERGY PROJECT LAUNCHED AT WALEWALE (PAGE 19, OCT 9, 2010)
A Jetropha project aimed at increasing access to improved modern and renewable energy services in rural communities has been inaugurated at Walewale in the West Mamprusi District of the Northern Region.
The €2 million project will ensure the establishment of 500 hectares of the plant in seven beneficiary communities over a five-year period. They are Bimbini, Wungu, Kparigu, Nasia, Loagri Number Two, Janga and Yama.
It is being financed by the European Union (EU), with support from the Technology Consultancy Centre of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Tamale and the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
New Energy, a Tamale-based non-governmental organisation, and the Desertification Research Group of the University of Sassari in Italy are also partners in the project.
The project co-ordinator, Professor Giuseppe Enne, indicated that the Jetropha Curcas plant had a strong adaptation capacity and a long productive lifespan of up to 30 years.
He further explained that the project was expected to help develop and construct an appropriate and cost-effective expeller for Jetropha oil extraction and the establishment of a localised small-scale facility in selected rural communities.
Prof. Enne said the project would increase the financial and educational status of women and other marginal groups leading to higher social status.
The Deputy Regional Minister, Mr San Nasamu Asabigi, noted that about 69 per cent of the total energy consumed in the country was from the already depleting forest resources.
According to him, the effects of climate change and rising cost of fossil fuel have compelled the government to look for clean, alternative and sustainable fuel to meet the energy demands of the country.
The West Mamprusi District Chief Executive, Mr Sulley Zakaria, observed that the project would help ensure sustainable livelihood conditions in rural communities through the use of the Jetropha plant.
Mr Zakaria entreated the beneficiary communities to own the project and put in their maximum efforts by giving the project equal attention as they would do to their maize or rice farms.
The €2 million project will ensure the establishment of 500 hectares of the plant in seven beneficiary communities over a five-year period. They are Bimbini, Wungu, Kparigu, Nasia, Loagri Number Two, Janga and Yama.
It is being financed by the European Union (EU), with support from the Technology Consultancy Centre of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Tamale and the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
New Energy, a Tamale-based non-governmental organisation, and the Desertification Research Group of the University of Sassari in Italy are also partners in the project.
The project co-ordinator, Professor Giuseppe Enne, indicated that the Jetropha Curcas plant had a strong adaptation capacity and a long productive lifespan of up to 30 years.
He further explained that the project was expected to help develop and construct an appropriate and cost-effective expeller for Jetropha oil extraction and the establishment of a localised small-scale facility in selected rural communities.
Prof. Enne said the project would increase the financial and educational status of women and other marginal groups leading to higher social status.
The Deputy Regional Minister, Mr San Nasamu Asabigi, noted that about 69 per cent of the total energy consumed in the country was from the already depleting forest resources.
According to him, the effects of climate change and rising cost of fossil fuel have compelled the government to look for clean, alternative and sustainable fuel to meet the energy demands of the country.
The West Mamprusi District Chief Executive, Mr Sulley Zakaria, observed that the project would help ensure sustainable livelihood conditions in rural communities through the use of the Jetropha plant.
Mr Zakaria entreated the beneficiary communities to own the project and put in their maximum efforts by giving the project equal attention as they would do to their maize or rice farms.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
CHASS MUST NOT CHASTISE GOVT — LUDWIG (PAGE 12, OCT 5, 2010)
THE National Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Ludwig Hlodze, has called on the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) to avoid “chastising the government” for lapses in the education sector, particularly the senior high school (SHS) system.
He noted that the NDC government would not allow the future of the youth in the country to be ruined by the implementation of bad policies since the government was committed to promoting quality education in the country.
Mr Hlodze made the call in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Tamale during his three-day working visit to the Northern Region.
As part of his visit, the Youth Organiser held a meeting with various youth groups in the area and held discussions with Regional and Constituency executives of the party.
He also addressed a youth forum organised by the Tertiary Education Institution Network (TEIN) of the NDC at the Tamale Polytechnic campus.
“As far as the government is concerned, the President is doing his best to address the distortion in the senior high school system”, he stressed.
Mr Hlodze entreated CHASS to evolve effective strategies that would help address the lapses in the education system rather than blaming the government for the problems in the sector.
He commended former President Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings for his enormous contribution to the establishment of the University for Development Studies (UDS) which has campuses in the three Northern Regions.
He further commended President John Evans Atta Mills for facilitating the establishment of two new universities in the Volta and Brong Ahafo regions.
Mr Hlodze advised the youth in the region to refrain from lawless acts in order to promote peace which is a prerequisite for the accelerated development of the area.
He further entreated them to unite and exercise restraint in making their legitimate demands since the government would not relent in its efforts to make them realise their full potential.
According to him, it was important for the youth to work together as a team to help make the “Better Ghana Agenda” successful.
Mr Hlodze indicated that government was working hard to put in place the required structures that would enable the youth to realise their potential and contribute meaningfully to the country’s development agenda.
He noted that the NDC government would not allow the future of the youth in the country to be ruined by the implementation of bad policies since the government was committed to promoting quality education in the country.
Mr Hlodze made the call in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Tamale during his three-day working visit to the Northern Region.
As part of his visit, the Youth Organiser held a meeting with various youth groups in the area and held discussions with Regional and Constituency executives of the party.
He also addressed a youth forum organised by the Tertiary Education Institution Network (TEIN) of the NDC at the Tamale Polytechnic campus.
“As far as the government is concerned, the President is doing his best to address the distortion in the senior high school system”, he stressed.
Mr Hlodze entreated CHASS to evolve effective strategies that would help address the lapses in the education system rather than blaming the government for the problems in the sector.
He commended former President Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings for his enormous contribution to the establishment of the University for Development Studies (UDS) which has campuses in the three Northern Regions.
He further commended President John Evans Atta Mills for facilitating the establishment of two new universities in the Volta and Brong Ahafo regions.
Mr Hlodze advised the youth in the region to refrain from lawless acts in order to promote peace which is a prerequisite for the accelerated development of the area.
He further entreated them to unite and exercise restraint in making their legitimate demands since the government would not relent in its efforts to make them realise their full potential.
According to him, it was important for the youth to work together as a team to help make the “Better Ghana Agenda” successful.
Mr Hlodze indicated that government was working hard to put in place the required structures that would enable the youth to realise their potential and contribute meaningfully to the country’s development agenda.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
TAMALE CENTRAL MARKET NEEDS REHABILITATION (PAGE 23, OCT 4, 2010)
THE Tamale Central Market, which is located within the central business district (CBD) of the metropolis, needs a facelift.
Members of the Progressive Traders Association (PTA) and visitors to the market have on countless occasions raised serious concerns about the poor facilities at the market. The muddy nature of the walkways anytime it rains is a major source of worry to residents as well.
Due to the poor nature of the walkways some residents are reluctant to go to the market to buy food items.
The spaces between the sheds and stores are almost always flooded.
It is common to see both men and women raising either their trousers or long skirts and dresses to prevent them from being stained by the muddy water.
Those who transact business there eventually come out of the market soaked with water and mud after they have bought their items.
The market is strategically located so travellers in big trucks to and from the Sahelian region stop by to buy food items. It was renovated by the traders in 1980, following a fire outbreak.
When contacted on the issue, the Public Affairs Manager of the TaMA, Mr Issah Musah, stated that the assembly was liaising with the PTA to help raise funds to help renovate the walkways and structures at the market.
That, he stated, would ultimately help to boost business activities in the metropolis.
Mr Musah, therefore, entreated traders to bear with the assembly while it took concrete steps to address the situation.
He acknowledged that the strategic location of the market was critical to boosting commercial activities in the metropolis, hence it must be put in good shape.
The Secretary to the PTA, Mr Thomas Ade, said that the PTA, in collaboration with the TaMA, was evolving effective strategies to sensitise traders to the dangers of fire outbreaks.
According to him, for years, conditions at the market had been of grave concern to the PTA members.
He suggested to the assembly to include the provision of security lights in the rehabilitation work to be done at the market.
Mr Ade was optimistic that patronage of the market would increase in the years ahead in spite of the many challenges confronting traders.
Members of the Progressive Traders Association (PTA) and visitors to the market have on countless occasions raised serious concerns about the poor facilities at the market. The muddy nature of the walkways anytime it rains is a major source of worry to residents as well.
Due to the poor nature of the walkways some residents are reluctant to go to the market to buy food items.
The spaces between the sheds and stores are almost always flooded.
It is common to see both men and women raising either their trousers or long skirts and dresses to prevent them from being stained by the muddy water.
Those who transact business there eventually come out of the market soaked with water and mud after they have bought their items.
The market is strategically located so travellers in big trucks to and from the Sahelian region stop by to buy food items. It was renovated by the traders in 1980, following a fire outbreak.
When contacted on the issue, the Public Affairs Manager of the TaMA, Mr Issah Musah, stated that the assembly was liaising with the PTA to help raise funds to help renovate the walkways and structures at the market.
That, he stated, would ultimately help to boost business activities in the metropolis.
Mr Musah, therefore, entreated traders to bear with the assembly while it took concrete steps to address the situation.
He acknowledged that the strategic location of the market was critical to boosting commercial activities in the metropolis, hence it must be put in good shape.
The Secretary to the PTA, Mr Thomas Ade, said that the PTA, in collaboration with the TaMA, was evolving effective strategies to sensitise traders to the dangers of fire outbreaks.
According to him, for years, conditions at the market had been of grave concern to the PTA members.
He suggested to the assembly to include the provision of security lights in the rehabilitation work to be done at the market.
Mr Ade was optimistic that patronage of the market would increase in the years ahead in spite of the many challenges confronting traders.
TAMALE CENTRAL MARKET NEEDS REHABILITATION (PAGE 23, OCT 4, 2010)
THE Tamale Central Market, which is located within the central business district (CBD) of the metropolis, needs a facelift.
Members of the Progressive Traders Association (PTA) and visitors to the market have on countless occasions raised serious concerns about the poor facilities at the market. The muddy nature of the walkways anytime it rains is a major source of worry to residents as well.
Due to the poor nature of the walkways some residents are reluctant to go to the market to buy food items.
The spaces between the sheds and stores are almost always flooded.
It is common to see both men and women raising either their trousers or long skirts and dresses to prevent them from being stained by the muddy water.
Those who transact business there eventually come out of the market soaked with water and mud after they have bought their items.
The market is strategically located so travellers in big trucks to and from the Sahelian region stop by to buy food items. It was renovated by the traders in 1980, following a fire outbreak.
When contacted on the issue, the Public Affairs Manager of the TaMA, Mr Issah Musah, stated that the assembly was liaising with the PTA to help raise funds to help renovate the walkways and structures at the market.
That, he stated, would ultimately help to boost business activities in the metropolis.
Mr Musah, therefore, entreated traders to bear with the assembly while it took concrete steps to address the situation.
He acknowledged that the strategic location of the market was critical to boosting commercial activities in the metropolis, hence it must be put in good shape.
The Secretary to the PTA, Mr Thomas Ade, said that the PTA, in collaboration with the TaMA, was evolving effective strategies to sensitise traders to the dangers of fire outbreaks.
According to him, for years, conditions at the market had been of grave concern to the PTA members.
He suggested to the assembly to include the provision of security lights in the rehabilitation work to be done at the market.
Mr Ade was optimistic that patronage of the market would increase in the years ahead in spite of the many challenges confronting traders.
Members of the Progressive Traders Association (PTA) and visitors to the market have on countless occasions raised serious concerns about the poor facilities at the market. The muddy nature of the walkways anytime it rains is a major source of worry to residents as well.
Due to the poor nature of the walkways some residents are reluctant to go to the market to buy food items.
The spaces between the sheds and stores are almost always flooded.
It is common to see both men and women raising either their trousers or long skirts and dresses to prevent them from being stained by the muddy water.
Those who transact business there eventually come out of the market soaked with water and mud after they have bought their items.
The market is strategically located so travellers in big trucks to and from the Sahelian region stop by to buy food items. It was renovated by the traders in 1980, following a fire outbreak.
When contacted on the issue, the Public Affairs Manager of the TaMA, Mr Issah Musah, stated that the assembly was liaising with the PTA to help raise funds to help renovate the walkways and structures at the market.
That, he stated, would ultimately help to boost business activities in the metropolis.
Mr Musah, therefore, entreated traders to bear with the assembly while it took concrete steps to address the situation.
He acknowledged that the strategic location of the market was critical to boosting commercial activities in the metropolis, hence it must be put in good shape.
The Secretary to the PTA, Mr Thomas Ade, said that the PTA, in collaboration with the TaMA, was evolving effective strategies to sensitise traders to the dangers of fire outbreaks.
According to him, for years, conditions at the market had been of grave concern to the PTA members.
He suggested to the assembly to include the provision of security lights in the rehabilitation work to be done at the market.
Mr Ade was optimistic that patronage of the market would increase in the years ahead in spite of the many challenges confronting traders.
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