A branch of the Ghana Traditional Healers Association has been inaugurated in the Tamale Metropolis with the primary objective of complementing the efforts of public health institutions to cure diseases in the area.
The association, which has a 13-member executive with Alhaji Fuseini Alhassan as its chairman, is also expected to help cure epilepsy and mental illness in the entire Northern Region.
The Regional Co-ordinator of Psychiatry, Mr John Abdulai Ibrahim, said from 1981 to date the region had recorded a total of 1,358 cases of epilepsy and mental illness.
He further explained that 848 cases were recorded for epilepsy and 510 for mental illness.
Mr Ibrahim mentioned insufficient provision of psychotropic and anticonvulsant drugs, stigmatisation of the mentally ill and epileptic patients as challenges to curing such patients and integrating them into the society.
He also expressed concern about the lack of logistics such as spare parts, fuel and adequate funds to facilitate periodic visits to patients at home as a way of monitoring their state of health and conditions.
The Administrator of the Basic Needs Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Mr Matthew Pipio, stated that the organisation was very much committed to the work of traditional healers.
“My outfit has since 2002 always worked closely with traditional healers; studies have shown that most people who fall sick first approach traditional healers for cure,” he pointed out.
Mr Pipio, therefore, stressed the need for the association to work in collaboration with other groups and bodies, as well as the mother association in Accra to facilitate the smooth running of the association in the north.
The administrator urged traditional healers to avoid all forms of negative practices that abused the human rights of patients who came to them to seek cure for their various illnesses.
“You must avoid acts like beating up the mentally ill persons, chaining them, as well as confining them in a place for long time, thereby making it difficult for them to be integrated into the society,” he advised.
The Programme Co-ordinator of the Gub-Katimali Society, Shiekh Yakubu Abdul-Kareem, said there was a correlation between the increasing number of kayayei and the prevalence of such diseases as HIV/AIDS, mental illness and drug addiction among people from Northern Ghana.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
INTENSIFY EDUCATION OF ELECTORATE (PAGE 32)
THE Director-General of Operations at the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Mr Patrick Timbillah, has called for the intensification of education of the electorate on the electoral laws to enable them to know their responsibilities during the polls.
“Are people aware for instance that they have to leave the polling stations immediately after voting?” he asked.
DCOP Timbillah was addressing security personnel in the northern sector at the launch of; “Exercise Peace Angel” to harmonise their operations to ensure maximum security during and after the December polls in Tamale.
The exercise would also serve as a platform to brainstorm on how best to anticipate incidents during and after the elections, taking into consideration flashpoints that had been identified in the area.
Mr Timbillah further called on the personnel of the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) and the Ghana Immigration Service to be vigilant and beef up security at the country’s borders as a way of contributing to the conduct of peaceful elections.
“You must know the electoral laws yourselves and be firm, fair, neutral and resolute in the performance of your duties” the Director-General advised.
He urged the media and political party activists not to engage in acts that would inflame passions during and after the elections.
According to him, the inauguration of the national, regional and district electoral security task forces were among measures being put in place to ensure peaceful elections.
He stated that 1,399 flashpoints had been identified in the country and stressed that the security services would leave no stone unturned to nip in the bud any political violence that might occur in any part of the country.
“This election is a real test case for our democracy and the whole world is watching us; although the elections would be tough we are also going to be tough to ensure successful elections” DCOP Timbillah promised.
The General Officer Commanding the Northern Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, Brigadier General J.N. Adinkra stressed the need for the electorate to know the difference between criminality and politics.
The Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Mr Ofosu-Mensah Gyeabour, assured the electorate that the police would remain impartial, resolute, fair and neutral in the performance of its duties,
“I also want to assure the public that we the regional electoral security taskforce have put in place effective measures to ensure peaceful elections” he said.
The Deputy Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Bruce Ayisi, told security personnel to be punctual when assigned to their respective duties as a way of ensuring smooth take off of the elections.
He further cautioned the security personnel against interfering in the voting processes.
“Are people aware for instance that they have to leave the polling stations immediately after voting?” he asked.
DCOP Timbillah was addressing security personnel in the northern sector at the launch of; “Exercise Peace Angel” to harmonise their operations to ensure maximum security during and after the December polls in Tamale.
The exercise would also serve as a platform to brainstorm on how best to anticipate incidents during and after the elections, taking into consideration flashpoints that had been identified in the area.
Mr Timbillah further called on the personnel of the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) and the Ghana Immigration Service to be vigilant and beef up security at the country’s borders as a way of contributing to the conduct of peaceful elections.
“You must know the electoral laws yourselves and be firm, fair, neutral and resolute in the performance of your duties” the Director-General advised.
He urged the media and political party activists not to engage in acts that would inflame passions during and after the elections.
According to him, the inauguration of the national, regional and district electoral security task forces were among measures being put in place to ensure peaceful elections.
He stated that 1,399 flashpoints had been identified in the country and stressed that the security services would leave no stone unturned to nip in the bud any political violence that might occur in any part of the country.
“This election is a real test case for our democracy and the whole world is watching us; although the elections would be tough we are also going to be tough to ensure successful elections” DCOP Timbillah promised.
The General Officer Commanding the Northern Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, Brigadier General J.N. Adinkra stressed the need for the electorate to know the difference between criminality and politics.
The Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Mr Ofosu-Mensah Gyeabour, assured the electorate that the police would remain impartial, resolute, fair and neutral in the performance of its duties,
“I also want to assure the public that we the regional electoral security taskforce have put in place effective measures to ensure peaceful elections” he said.
The Deputy Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Bruce Ayisi, told security personnel to be punctual when assigned to their respective duties as a way of ensuring smooth take off of the elections.
He further cautioned the security personnel against interfering in the voting processes.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
MORE ROADS TO BE REHABILITATED IN TAMALE (PAGE 29)
THE road sector in the Tamale metropolis is to undergo another face-lift next year.
Currently, the Metropolitan Roads Unit of the Department of Urban Roads under the Ministry of Transportation has earmarked a total of 12 roads to be rehabilitated at the cost of GH¢5.7 million in the metropolis.
With a total road network of 15.06 kilometres, the roads would, among other things, improve on the traffic situation in the fast growing metropolis as well as commercial activities that have seen tremendous improvement in recent times.
Already, the metropolis has been acknowledged nationwide as having some of the best roads in the country. The well laid out bicycle and pedestrian lanes coupled with the excellent road network partly contribute to making the city the cleanest and most beautiful in the country.
According to the Maintenance Engineer of the unit, Mr Abraham Danquah, work on the projects included the upgrading of the Tishegu area, Old Karaga road, Vitting-Target road, Choggu Low Cost main road, Village water road-second ring road.
The others are the Naluro-NOBISCO-Kumbungu roads, Gumani-Kanvilli road, Relax Lodge-Ward K road, Radach Memorial-Industrial area, Nyohini link, Fuo main road and the Moshi-Zongo area roads.
Mr Danquah further explained that the completion of the second ring road that stretched from the Taysec junction, through to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) junction to the Agricultural traffic light through the Choggu roundabout to the New stadium roundabout, Nyohini and industrial area roundabout back to the Taysec junction would soon be completed.
He pointed out that from last year to date, his outfit had spent GH¢4 million to rehabilitate a total of 12.1 kilometres stretch of roads, including the construction of culverts and routine maintenance works on some of the roads in the metropolis.
He said the Sakasaka road, Iranian, Radach Memorial, new stadium road, Seventh-Day Adventist road had been completed while the Yapei- Builpela, Russian Bungalow-Kukuo roads were nearing completion.
“During the period we also procured a number of road signs while pedestrian guard roads were constructed to avoid pedestrians crossing unauthorised roads; most of our traffic lights are also functioning properly, ” he further stated.
The engineer also expressed concern about negative practices by some motorists and residents that destroyed the roads.
He said for instance that the washing of vehicles on the roads by some residents and washing bay attendants was not the best as such practices weakened the roads.
“When water seeps onto the roads it will weaken the strength of the pavements and thereby deteriorate the roads faster; repairing of vehicles and motorbikes on our bituminous surfaces destroys the roads as oil seeps onto the roads and dissolves the bitumen thereby damaging the roads, ”Mr Danquah observed.
He reminded residents that the government was using the tax payers' money, in this case their money, to construct the roads for them at a very high cost so they must take good care of the roads.
“Motorists must also maintain their vehicles properly and respect road traffic regulations since it will ultimately enhance the lifespan of the roads” the engineer stressed.
He said the unit had received petitions from a good number of suburbs for the erection of speed rumps because of the frequent accidents and loss of lives in those areas.
He said the unit was seriously considering such petitions and would respond appropriately.
Investigations conducted by the Daily Graphic, however, indicated that work on the 2.5 kilometre stretch of access roads to the Tamale Polytechnic had incurred the displeasure of students of the polytechnic, who took to the streets last week to protest against what they described as slow pace of construction of the road.
The GH¢890,000 project started in February 2007 and was expected to be completed within 19 months.
The Metropolitan Road Unit authorities, however, explained that the contractor, Mola Construction Company, would soon move to the site to continue the work as all the necessary materials had been procured for the completion of the job.
Currently, the Metropolitan Roads Unit of the Department of Urban Roads under the Ministry of Transportation has earmarked a total of 12 roads to be rehabilitated at the cost of GH¢5.7 million in the metropolis.
With a total road network of 15.06 kilometres, the roads would, among other things, improve on the traffic situation in the fast growing metropolis as well as commercial activities that have seen tremendous improvement in recent times.
Already, the metropolis has been acknowledged nationwide as having some of the best roads in the country. The well laid out bicycle and pedestrian lanes coupled with the excellent road network partly contribute to making the city the cleanest and most beautiful in the country.
According to the Maintenance Engineer of the unit, Mr Abraham Danquah, work on the projects included the upgrading of the Tishegu area, Old Karaga road, Vitting-Target road, Choggu Low Cost main road, Village water road-second ring road.
The others are the Naluro-NOBISCO-Kumbungu roads, Gumani-Kanvilli road, Relax Lodge-Ward K road, Radach Memorial-Industrial area, Nyohini link, Fuo main road and the Moshi-Zongo area roads.
Mr Danquah further explained that the completion of the second ring road that stretched from the Taysec junction, through to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) junction to the Agricultural traffic light through the Choggu roundabout to the New stadium roundabout, Nyohini and industrial area roundabout back to the Taysec junction would soon be completed.
He pointed out that from last year to date, his outfit had spent GH¢4 million to rehabilitate a total of 12.1 kilometres stretch of roads, including the construction of culverts and routine maintenance works on some of the roads in the metropolis.
He said the Sakasaka road, Iranian, Radach Memorial, new stadium road, Seventh-Day Adventist road had been completed while the Yapei- Builpela, Russian Bungalow-Kukuo roads were nearing completion.
“During the period we also procured a number of road signs while pedestrian guard roads were constructed to avoid pedestrians crossing unauthorised roads; most of our traffic lights are also functioning properly, ” he further stated.
The engineer also expressed concern about negative practices by some motorists and residents that destroyed the roads.
He said for instance that the washing of vehicles on the roads by some residents and washing bay attendants was not the best as such practices weakened the roads.
“When water seeps onto the roads it will weaken the strength of the pavements and thereby deteriorate the roads faster; repairing of vehicles and motorbikes on our bituminous surfaces destroys the roads as oil seeps onto the roads and dissolves the bitumen thereby damaging the roads, ”Mr Danquah observed.
He reminded residents that the government was using the tax payers' money, in this case their money, to construct the roads for them at a very high cost so they must take good care of the roads.
“Motorists must also maintain their vehicles properly and respect road traffic regulations since it will ultimately enhance the lifespan of the roads” the engineer stressed.
He said the unit had received petitions from a good number of suburbs for the erection of speed rumps because of the frequent accidents and loss of lives in those areas.
He said the unit was seriously considering such petitions and would respond appropriately.
Investigations conducted by the Daily Graphic, however, indicated that work on the 2.5 kilometre stretch of access roads to the Tamale Polytechnic had incurred the displeasure of students of the polytechnic, who took to the streets last week to protest against what they described as slow pace of construction of the road.
The GH¢890,000 project started in February 2007 and was expected to be completed within 19 months.
The Metropolitan Road Unit authorities, however, explained that the contractor, Mola Construction Company, would soon move to the site to continue the work as all the necessary materials had been procured for the completion of the job.
TAMALE CHILDREN'S HOME CRIES FOR SUPPORT (PAGE 29)
THE Supervisor of the Tamale Children’s Home, Madam Augustina Quainoo, has said the increase in expenses made at the home was a big challenge to the management.
She said the 29 inmates of the Home, most of whom were babies, needed extra care including medical attention and feeding, and these expenses kept rising.
“Babies for instance need to take at least four cartons of lactogen in a month because their mothers were not available to breast feed them, while we are also grappling with the problem of school fees and other expenses for the children,” Madam Quainoo lamented this in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Tamale. The supervisor acknowledged that although a significant number of public-spirited organisations and individuals had made donations to the home, the truth of the matter was that they were still inadequate.
She said all cash donations were paid into the home’s account at the Barclays Bank in Tamale and that if the authorities had not used the resources judiciously, the home would have collapsed.
“Our major challenges here include lack of funds, inadequate feeding grants, poor access roads, lack of transport, fence wall, rampant defecation around our premises, poor lighting system and lack of potable water supply,” she stressed.
She further emphasised the need for the staff strength of 19 to be augmented to include more childcare givers, labourers and night watchmen.
Madam Quainoo expressed regret that most of the used clothing that were donated to the home were not good enough to be worn by the inmates.
She, however, thanked all donors and volunteers for supporting the home.
“Sometimes things get so tough that I have to go about begging for lactogen for the babies and these items are so expensive to buy these days; please help us, ” she pleaded.
Established in 1969 by the government, the home serves as a foster home to the 29 inmates who are between the ages of three weeks and 17 years.
She said the 29 inmates of the Home, most of whom were babies, needed extra care including medical attention and feeding, and these expenses kept rising.
“Babies for instance need to take at least four cartons of lactogen in a month because their mothers were not available to breast feed them, while we are also grappling with the problem of school fees and other expenses for the children,” Madam Quainoo lamented this in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Tamale. The supervisor acknowledged that although a significant number of public-spirited organisations and individuals had made donations to the home, the truth of the matter was that they were still inadequate.
She said all cash donations were paid into the home’s account at the Barclays Bank in Tamale and that if the authorities had not used the resources judiciously, the home would have collapsed.
“Our major challenges here include lack of funds, inadequate feeding grants, poor access roads, lack of transport, fence wall, rampant defecation around our premises, poor lighting system and lack of potable water supply,” she stressed.
She further emphasised the need for the staff strength of 19 to be augmented to include more childcare givers, labourers and night watchmen.
Madam Quainoo expressed regret that most of the used clothing that were donated to the home were not good enough to be worn by the inmates.
She, however, thanked all donors and volunteers for supporting the home.
“Sometimes things get so tough that I have to go about begging for lactogen for the babies and these items are so expensive to buy these days; please help us, ” she pleaded.
Established in 1969 by the government, the home serves as a foster home to the 29 inmates who are between the ages of three weeks and 17 years.
TAMALE ICT CENTRE PROJECT COMPLETE BUT... (PAGE 29)
WORK on the GH4¢100,000 modern Information Communication and Technology (ICT) centre project in Tamale has been completed but the facility is yet to be furnished.
The project, which begun in July last year, was executed by the Dagban Construction Works Limited based in Tamale. It was funded by the Ghana Community Network Services Limited (GC-NET), a private ICT soft and hardware company.
The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, performed the sodcutting ceremony for the project in December 2006, witnessed by a cross section of residents in the metropolis.
The facility will, among other things, help to train the youth in ICT skills and empower them to fit into the job market.
The site Foreman, Mr Alhassan Damba, told the Daily Graphic that the project was redesigned to provide toilet facilities for the physically challenged in the metropolis.
“We are also happy that the project has finally been completed and we hope it will go a long way to equip the youth to face the challenges ahead,” he said.
The Northern Regional Co-ordinator of the National Youth Council (NYC), Mr Ziblim Shaibu, commended the Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Mohammed Amin Adam, the Vice President and the GC-NET for their commitment to the execution of the project.
Mr Shaibu said the project was now ready for inauguration and that a date was yet to be fixed for the ceremony.
He made a promise to ensure that the facility was put to good use, but entreated the government to help adequately resource the NYC to enable it to perform its mandatory roles effectively.
The co-ordinator also urged Parliament and the government to “promulgate the National Youth Policy”.
The project, which begun in July last year, was executed by the Dagban Construction Works Limited based in Tamale. It was funded by the Ghana Community Network Services Limited (GC-NET), a private ICT soft and hardware company.
The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, performed the sodcutting ceremony for the project in December 2006, witnessed by a cross section of residents in the metropolis.
The facility will, among other things, help to train the youth in ICT skills and empower them to fit into the job market.
The site Foreman, Mr Alhassan Damba, told the Daily Graphic that the project was redesigned to provide toilet facilities for the physically challenged in the metropolis.
“We are also happy that the project has finally been completed and we hope it will go a long way to equip the youth to face the challenges ahead,” he said.
The Northern Regional Co-ordinator of the National Youth Council (NYC), Mr Ziblim Shaibu, commended the Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Mohammed Amin Adam, the Vice President and the GC-NET for their commitment to the execution of the project.
Mr Shaibu said the project was now ready for inauguration and that a date was yet to be fixed for the ceremony.
He made a promise to ensure that the facility was put to good use, but entreated the government to help adequately resource the NYC to enable it to perform its mandatory roles effectively.
The co-ordinator also urged Parliament and the government to “promulgate the National Youth Policy”.
Monday, November 3, 2008
MURDER SUSPECT IN CUSTODY (PAGE 19)
THE Tamale District Court on Monday remanded in custody Awal Abdulai following his alleged involvement in the murder of one Gazal Fuseini.
The suspect, who had been on the wanted list of the police for years, was arrested by the Northern Regional Police Command at the weekend.
Awal together with seven others is suspected to be behind the murder of Fuseini.
He, however, escaped arrest in 2003 while his alleged accomplices were arrested, prosecuted, acquitted and discharged by the Tamale High Court.
Briefing newsmen in Tamale on the case, the Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Ofosu-Mensah Gyeabour, said the other suspects were acquitted and discharged for lack of evidence.
They are Yakubu Alhassan, Rufai Yakubu, Awal Mustapha, Musah Razak, Iddrisu Musah and Jafaru Abdul-Rahman.
The commander further explained that in April 2003, there were some disturbances around the vicinity of the Assemblies of God Church in Tamale where the deceased lived.
He said this later led to the attack of the deceased by his assailants compelling him (the deceased) to lock himself up in his room, which was later set ablaze by the attackers leading to his death.
The suspect, who had been on the wanted list of the police for years, was arrested by the Northern Regional Police Command at the weekend.
Awal together with seven others is suspected to be behind the murder of Fuseini.
He, however, escaped arrest in 2003 while his alleged accomplices were arrested, prosecuted, acquitted and discharged by the Tamale High Court.
Briefing newsmen in Tamale on the case, the Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Ofosu-Mensah Gyeabour, said the other suspects were acquitted and discharged for lack of evidence.
They are Yakubu Alhassan, Rufai Yakubu, Awal Mustapha, Musah Razak, Iddrisu Musah and Jafaru Abdul-Rahman.
The commander further explained that in April 2003, there were some disturbances around the vicinity of the Assemblies of God Church in Tamale where the deceased lived.
He said this later led to the attack of the deceased by his assailants compelling him (the deceased) to lock himself up in his room, which was later set ablaze by the attackers leading to his death.
5 REMANDED FOR POLITICAL ASSAULT (PAGE 14)
FIVE persons alleged to have been involved in an assault case at Yendi following a misunderstanding between supporters of an independent candidate and a New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate in the area, have been remanded in prison custody by the Yendi Circuit Court.
The suspects who include four campaign executive of the independent candidate, were expected to reappear in court scheduled for yesterday.
The Yendi Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Patrick Adusei Sarpong, who made this known to the Daily Graphic in a telephone chat, said the incident occurred last weekend, when both parliamentary candidates organised rallies in the area.
According to him, after both rallies had closed, an argument ensued between supporters of the two candidates who were coming from opposite directions.
This led to a misunderstanding and two persons were attacked in the process. He asserted that the police did not receive notification from the organisers of the rally for the independent candidate but that the NPP candidate notified the police they would hold a rally that weekend in consonance with the Public Order Act.
“There has never been an occasion when we refused to grant permit to independent candidates to hold rallies; we encourage them to just inform us and we would grant them the permit to go ahead with their rallies”, Mr Sarpong added.
The commander explained that anytime the situation became critical due to possible clash of rallies, the police met with the parties involved and a new date would be fixed in order to promote peace in the area.
“Yendi is a small town and we do not want to encourage parties to hold rallies on the same day, to avert any possible disturbances”, Mr Sarpong stressed.
The suspects who include four campaign executive of the independent candidate, were expected to reappear in court scheduled for yesterday.
The Yendi Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Patrick Adusei Sarpong, who made this known to the Daily Graphic in a telephone chat, said the incident occurred last weekend, when both parliamentary candidates organised rallies in the area.
According to him, after both rallies had closed, an argument ensued between supporters of the two candidates who were coming from opposite directions.
This led to a misunderstanding and two persons were attacked in the process. He asserted that the police did not receive notification from the organisers of the rally for the independent candidate but that the NPP candidate notified the police they would hold a rally that weekend in consonance with the Public Order Act.
“There has never been an occasion when we refused to grant permit to independent candidates to hold rallies; we encourage them to just inform us and we would grant them the permit to go ahead with their rallies”, Mr Sarpong added.
The commander explained that anytime the situation became critical due to possible clash of rallies, the police met with the parties involved and a new date would be fixed in order to promote peace in the area.
“Yendi is a small town and we do not want to encourage parties to hold rallies on the same day, to avert any possible disturbances”, Mr Sarpong stressed.
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