COLLEAGUES of the late Sarah Yenuloom, a student of the School of Hygiene in Tamale, who died last week during a float to mark the school’s sanitation week, claim that the deceased might have had a premonition of her death before the incident occurred.
According to some colleagues of the deceased who pleaded anonymity, during an interaction with this reporter at Gurugu, a suburb of Tamale, they had been warned by some police personnel not to divulge information to anyone on the matter since it could affect investigations.
They, however, described Sarah as a cheerful person, but said she started behaving strangely before the unfortunate incident occurred.
They said on the eve of the float, the deceased shared her personal belongings such as shoes, bracelets and a wrist watch among her roommates.
Her colleagues further said she reconciled with almost all the students she was not been on talking terms with, and prepared tea for some of them.
They contended that when they asked the deceased about her action, she was alleged to have replied “what happens if after sharing my belongings you hear that I am no more?”
“She even went to the extent of giving out the promise ring she was wearing to one of the students,” they claimed.
Another information circulating among students on campus was that the mother of the deceased, who is said to be residing in Techiman, in the Brong Ahafo Region, was alleged to have had a dream, warning of an impending fatal accident that claimed her daughter’s life.
Her colleagues intimated that the mother of the deceased, therefore, sent a word to her daughter not to come out on the day of the float as she (the mother) was seeking divine intervention with the help of a man of God.
Sarah died when the vehicle on which they were using for a float run over her in the process.
The incident happened at Kanvili, a suburb of Tamale.
She was pronounced dead on arrival at the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
The deceased is said to be in her mid-20s and a second-year student, who had only two months to complete her course and start her practical training.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
REHABILITATION CENTRE CRIES FOR SUPPORT (PAGE 29)
THE Manager of the Tamale Rehabilitation Centre, Mr Inusah Atchulo, has entreated the government to provide adequate funds and logistics to help run the centre effectively.
He said since its establishment on July I, 1962 to cater for the needs of persons with disabilities, the centre had been receiving support from a Catholic Priest, Reverend Father Martin Balemans, as the government’s subvention was woefully inadequate.
“The priest has so far spent over GH¢180,000 to help renovate and provide the necessary facilities at the centre,” the manager further stated.
Mr Atchulo made the appeal during an interaction with journalists in Tamale.
According him, there were 30 inmates at the centre, but the centre had difficulty catering for their needs because of the inadequate resources it obtained from the government.
“We need a regular supply of water, a fence wall, labourers and a means of transport, communication facilities and security, because some people have been stealing our electric cables,” he further stressed.
In November last year, some members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises, and the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), Ghana, toured the centre to acquaint themselves with the challenges facing the institution.
The two-day tour was to help increase the level of awareness on the Disability Law.
During that visit, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee, Mr Paul Okoh, observed that the provision of such basic facilities at the centre depended to a large extent on the commitment of the government and other well-meaning citizens to the implementation of the new Disability Act 715 of 2006.
He said since its establishment on July I, 1962 to cater for the needs of persons with disabilities, the centre had been receiving support from a Catholic Priest, Reverend Father Martin Balemans, as the government’s subvention was woefully inadequate.
“The priest has so far spent over GH¢180,000 to help renovate and provide the necessary facilities at the centre,” the manager further stated.
Mr Atchulo made the appeal during an interaction with journalists in Tamale.
According him, there were 30 inmates at the centre, but the centre had difficulty catering for their needs because of the inadequate resources it obtained from the government.
“We need a regular supply of water, a fence wall, labourers and a means of transport, communication facilities and security, because some people have been stealing our electric cables,” he further stressed.
In November last year, some members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises, and the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), Ghana, toured the centre to acquaint themselves with the challenges facing the institution.
The two-day tour was to help increase the level of awareness on the Disability Law.
During that visit, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee, Mr Paul Okoh, observed that the provision of such basic facilities at the centre depended to a large extent on the commitment of the government and other well-meaning citizens to the implementation of the new Disability Act 715 of 2006.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
MEDIA MUST NOT AS AGENTS FOR POLITICIANS (PAGE 15)
A VETERAN journalist, Mr Alhassan Imoru, has cautioned media practitioners against the habit of parading themselves as “public relations agents and propagandists” for politicians and political parties in the country.
“Our role as media practitioners must remain one of making every actor on the political landscape accountable to the people; in fact the media should be the voice for the voiceless and we must listen to the citizens at all times,” Mr Imoru stressed.
He gave the warning at a two-day capacity building workshop to ensure free and fair elections in the December polls in Tamale.
Forty-five participants made up of journalists and staff of the Information Services Department attended the workshop.
The topics discussed were “Election and Conflict”, “Overview of Conflicts in Northern Ghana”, “The role of the media in marketing of politics” and “Ensuring Free and Fair Elections”.
The workshop was organised by the Shay-Mah Media Consult and sponsored by the German Development Service (DED).
Mr Imoru, who is also the Media Director of Rural Media Network (RUMNET), a non-governmental organisation operating in the Northern Region, pointed out that the media could be the voice of the people without necessarily “becoming sectional and partisan in pursuance of what is believed to be social justice and progress”.
“We must be circumspect in our reportage and exercise a high sense of responsibility whenever reporting rallies and campaigns likely to involve personal attacks or use of abusive language against other candidates and politicians,” he emphasised.
He reminded media practitioners to ensure that electoral coverage was comprehensive and fair to all with information gathered presented as “objectively and impartially as possible”.
“From now until the election day on December 7, 2008, the media should emphasise citizen-based election coverage; by this I mean our coverage should report on the realities of daily life, rather than an agenda set by political parties,” Mr Imoru stated.
The General Manager of Diamond FM, a Tamale-based radio station, Mr Edward Ameyibor, entreated the media to concentrate on real issues like poverty, health, education and security of individuals.
“The media must take up the challenge to make the people vote so that we have a government that is truly representative of the people,” Mr Ameyibor noted.
A media consultant based in Tamale, Mr Mahama Sayibu, urged the media not to encourage issues that divide the people but should rather inform the electorate on the election process including programmes and policies of political parties and their respective candidates.
“Our role as media practitioners must remain one of making every actor on the political landscape accountable to the people; in fact the media should be the voice for the voiceless and we must listen to the citizens at all times,” Mr Imoru stressed.
He gave the warning at a two-day capacity building workshop to ensure free and fair elections in the December polls in Tamale.
Forty-five participants made up of journalists and staff of the Information Services Department attended the workshop.
The topics discussed were “Election and Conflict”, “Overview of Conflicts in Northern Ghana”, “The role of the media in marketing of politics” and “Ensuring Free and Fair Elections”.
The workshop was organised by the Shay-Mah Media Consult and sponsored by the German Development Service (DED).
Mr Imoru, who is also the Media Director of Rural Media Network (RUMNET), a non-governmental organisation operating in the Northern Region, pointed out that the media could be the voice of the people without necessarily “becoming sectional and partisan in pursuance of what is believed to be social justice and progress”.
“We must be circumspect in our reportage and exercise a high sense of responsibility whenever reporting rallies and campaigns likely to involve personal attacks or use of abusive language against other candidates and politicians,” he emphasised.
He reminded media practitioners to ensure that electoral coverage was comprehensive and fair to all with information gathered presented as “objectively and impartially as possible”.
“From now until the election day on December 7, 2008, the media should emphasise citizen-based election coverage; by this I mean our coverage should report on the realities of daily life, rather than an agenda set by political parties,” Mr Imoru stated.
The General Manager of Diamond FM, a Tamale-based radio station, Mr Edward Ameyibor, entreated the media to concentrate on real issues like poverty, health, education and security of individuals.
“The media must take up the challenge to make the people vote so that we have a government that is truly representative of the people,” Mr Ameyibor noted.
A media consultant based in Tamale, Mr Mahama Sayibu, urged the media not to encourage issues that divide the people but should rather inform the electorate on the election process including programmes and policies of political parties and their respective candidates.
GUSHEGU GETS NEW DISTRICT HOSPITAL (BACK PAGE)
THE people of Gushegu in the Northern Region now have a district hospital.
This follows the inauguration of a GH¢24 million facility equipped with a mortuary, two operating suites, and maternity, paediatrics, male and female wards.
The hospital would provide services in accident and emergency cases, dental treatment, prosthetics, medical and surgical services, obstetrics and delivery services, and out-patient and in-patient services.
Inaugurating the new facility, the Health Minister, Major Courage Quashigah (retd), called on the management of the hospital to establish a "planned preventive maintenance programme" to enable the people to derive maximum benefits from the facility for many years to come.
"This hospital is one of the best in the country and has been designed to provide quality services for the people of Gushegu on a sustainable basis," Major Quashigah stated.
The minister announced plans to refurbish the old Gushegu Hospital and convert it into the first National Regenerative Health and Nutrition Training Centre.
According to him, preliminary evaluation by his ministry had revealed that the incidence of malaria reduced significantly due to the introduction of the indoor residual spraying programme in Tolon-Kumbungu, Savelugu-Nanton, West Mamprusi, Karaga and Gushegu between May 5 and July 12, 2008.
The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, announced that the government would soon provide five polyclinics at Chereponi, Kpandai, Karaga, Junga and Tatale, to help improve the health status of the people in those areas.
"This new hospital is a manifestation of the close collaboration that exists between the government and its development partners,” he stated.
The Gushegu District Chief Executive, Mr Mahama Abukari, expressed concern about inadequate staff strength at the hospital.
"The doctor-patient ratio of 1:21,741 is not the best and as of now, we do not have a theatre nurse and an anaesthetist, which is a great challenge to surgical operations in the hospital,” he said.
Mr Abukari, however, observed that since the hospital was opened to the public in February, this year, patronage had been encouraging with outpatient attendance increasing from 3,886 to 6,467 but stated that malaria remained the leading cause of deaths in all cases.
The First Secretary in charge of Health and Gender of The Netherlands Embassy, Mr Marius de Jong, also confirmed that the level of patronage of the facility so far had been encouraging.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Ghana Director, Mr Robert Hellyer, noted that the indoor residual spraying campaign for malarial control in the region had benefited about 500,000 people in five districts, adding that approximately $53 million would be spent on the President's Malaria Initiative for the next three years.
This follows the inauguration of a GH¢24 million facility equipped with a mortuary, two operating suites, and maternity, paediatrics, male and female wards.
The hospital would provide services in accident and emergency cases, dental treatment, prosthetics, medical and surgical services, obstetrics and delivery services, and out-patient and in-patient services.
Inaugurating the new facility, the Health Minister, Major Courage Quashigah (retd), called on the management of the hospital to establish a "planned preventive maintenance programme" to enable the people to derive maximum benefits from the facility for many years to come.
"This hospital is one of the best in the country and has been designed to provide quality services for the people of Gushegu on a sustainable basis," Major Quashigah stated.
The minister announced plans to refurbish the old Gushegu Hospital and convert it into the first National Regenerative Health and Nutrition Training Centre.
According to him, preliminary evaluation by his ministry had revealed that the incidence of malaria reduced significantly due to the introduction of the indoor residual spraying programme in Tolon-Kumbungu, Savelugu-Nanton, West Mamprusi, Karaga and Gushegu between May 5 and July 12, 2008.
The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, announced that the government would soon provide five polyclinics at Chereponi, Kpandai, Karaga, Junga and Tatale, to help improve the health status of the people in those areas.
"This new hospital is a manifestation of the close collaboration that exists between the government and its development partners,” he stated.
The Gushegu District Chief Executive, Mr Mahama Abukari, expressed concern about inadequate staff strength at the hospital.
"The doctor-patient ratio of 1:21,741 is not the best and as of now, we do not have a theatre nurse and an anaesthetist, which is a great challenge to surgical operations in the hospital,” he said.
Mr Abukari, however, observed that since the hospital was opened to the public in February, this year, patronage had been encouraging with outpatient attendance increasing from 3,886 to 6,467 but stated that malaria remained the leading cause of deaths in all cases.
The First Secretary in charge of Health and Gender of The Netherlands Embassy, Mr Marius de Jong, also confirmed that the level of patronage of the facility so far had been encouraging.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Ghana Director, Mr Robert Hellyer, noted that the indoor residual spraying campaign for malarial control in the region had benefited about 500,000 people in five districts, adding that approximately $53 million would be spent on the President's Malaria Initiative for the next three years.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
CEPS, IMMIGRATION COLLABORATE ON ILLEGAL ARMS (BACK PAGE)
THE Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) and the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) in the Northern Region have embarked on a joint exercise at strategic locations to halt the influx of arms and activities of alien herdsmen in the area.
The measure by the two institutions is to help curb the proliferation of arms in the region against the backdrop of recent disturbances in Bawku.
The two sector commanders, Messrs Ernest Frimpong-Nuamah and Baba Salami of CEPS and the GIS respectively, made this known in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Tamale.
They hinted that apart from the border points, some of the checkpoints would be mounted on the Tamale-Bolgatanga road.
“I have talked to my men to be extra vigilant at the borders in order for us to maintain peaceful elections; we call on the public to volunteer information on the activities of suspicious characters in the respective communities,” the CEPS commander further stressed.
The GIS commander for his part indicated that “we are sniffing around to see whether some foreigners would cause havoc during and after the elections; we are gearing up for the elections seriously”.
“We are currently handicapped in our operations, since our informants are not feeding us with adequate information to enable us nip in the bud the influx of uncustomed vehicles for instance,” he pointed out.
He indicated that some people hid behind the Temporary Importation Regime (TIR) of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to illegally change foreign number plates on their vehicles to Ghanaian vehicle numbers.
“Generally, the atmosphere is not conducive for us to embark on a massive operation; we would wait for the appropriate time and strike,” he further indicated.
The measure by the two institutions is to help curb the proliferation of arms in the region against the backdrop of recent disturbances in Bawku.
The two sector commanders, Messrs Ernest Frimpong-Nuamah and Baba Salami of CEPS and the GIS respectively, made this known in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Tamale.
They hinted that apart from the border points, some of the checkpoints would be mounted on the Tamale-Bolgatanga road.
“I have talked to my men to be extra vigilant at the borders in order for us to maintain peaceful elections; we call on the public to volunteer information on the activities of suspicious characters in the respective communities,” the CEPS commander further stressed.
The GIS commander for his part indicated that “we are sniffing around to see whether some foreigners would cause havoc during and after the elections; we are gearing up for the elections seriously”.
“We are currently handicapped in our operations, since our informants are not feeding us with adequate information to enable us nip in the bud the influx of uncustomed vehicles for instance,” he pointed out.
He indicated that some people hid behind the Temporary Importation Regime (TIR) of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to illegally change foreign number plates on their vehicles to Ghanaian vehicle numbers.
“Generally, the atmosphere is not conducive for us to embark on a massive operation; we would wait for the appropriate time and strike,” he further indicated.
Friday, July 18, 2008
COMPANIES DON'T PAY WORKERS' SSNIT CONTRIBUTIONS (PAGE 29)
THE failure of 120 viable companies in the Tamale metropolis to pay the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions of their workers is said to be impacting negatively on the affected beneficiaries.
Currently, defaulting companies owe SSNIT to the tune of GH¢50,000 in spite of the legal action taken against them by the trust to retrieve the money.
In October last year, 73 defaulting companies owed the SSNIT GH¢67,000.
In view of the worsening situation, the management of the SSNIT recently held a seminar for employers in Tamale on a new computerised system -the Employer Member Account Reconciliation (EMAR). The system involves the monthly reconciliation of employers’ accounts with SSNIT based on the last known payment records.
The Tamale branch Manager, Mr Frank Molbila, explained in an interview that under the new system, “indebtedness of establishments with outstanding contribution reports are estimated based on their last submitted contribution reports”.
He expressed concern about the way some establishments failed to keep good records of their workers’ salaries.
Mr Molbila stressed the need for companies to avoid engaging casual workers for several years without paying their social security contributions.
The SSNIT Area Manager in charge of the three northern regions, Mr Felix Adams, announced that the trust had instituted an age assessment committee to help deal with human errors regarding the correct age of beneficiaries of the scheme.
Some of the participants called on the management of SSNIT to do a “house cleaning exercise” themselves to help check anomalies in the system, including bad record keeping.
Currently, defaulting companies owe SSNIT to the tune of GH¢50,000 in spite of the legal action taken against them by the trust to retrieve the money.
In October last year, 73 defaulting companies owed the SSNIT GH¢67,000.
In view of the worsening situation, the management of the SSNIT recently held a seminar for employers in Tamale on a new computerised system -the Employer Member Account Reconciliation (EMAR). The system involves the monthly reconciliation of employers’ accounts with SSNIT based on the last known payment records.
The Tamale branch Manager, Mr Frank Molbila, explained in an interview that under the new system, “indebtedness of establishments with outstanding contribution reports are estimated based on their last submitted contribution reports”.
He expressed concern about the way some establishments failed to keep good records of their workers’ salaries.
Mr Molbila stressed the need for companies to avoid engaging casual workers for several years without paying their social security contributions.
The SSNIT Area Manager in charge of the three northern regions, Mr Felix Adams, announced that the trust had instituted an age assessment committee to help deal with human errors regarding the correct age of beneficiaries of the scheme.
Some of the participants called on the management of SSNIT to do a “house cleaning exercise” themselves to help check anomalies in the system, including bad record keeping.
ILLEGAL CONNECTION OF UTILITIES ALARMING (PAGE 29)
THE Northern Regional Manager of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Mr Abukari Jabaru, has expressed concern about the alarming rate of illegal connections in some suburbs of the Tamale metropolis.
According to him, since the PURC was established in the area barely two years ago, 21 cases of illegal connections in the water and electricity sectors had been recorded, adding that such negative practices were rampant in the Aboabu and Nyohini areas.
Mr Jabaru stated this in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Tamale during a forum to educate utility users and the public on energy conservation and the wise of use of water.
The forum dubbed “catch them young” was organised by the PURC mainly for students in second-cycle institutions.
The manager further said some consumers had failed to settle their water and electricity bills for the past two or three years and this was several thousands of Ghana cedis.
According to him, some defaulting consumers in the metropolis engaged in “self reconnections”, which contributed to huge losses to the utility companies.
He said problems associated with water and electricity delivery, particularly illegal connections in the region and the country at large, were the major challenges facing the utility companies.
Mr Jabaru indicated that the PURC was “committed to ensuring the development and delivery of the highest quality of utility services to consumers, as well as achieving efficiency and reliability in the provision of these services”.
The Consumer Services Manager of the PURC, Mr Dan Afropong, urged the youth in the area to act as ambassadors for the utility companies and report such negative practices to the PURC.
He called on residents to change their attitude to the use of water and electricity to conserve those resources.
According to him, since the PURC was established in the area barely two years ago, 21 cases of illegal connections in the water and electricity sectors had been recorded, adding that such negative practices were rampant in the Aboabu and Nyohini areas.
Mr Jabaru stated this in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Tamale during a forum to educate utility users and the public on energy conservation and the wise of use of water.
The forum dubbed “catch them young” was organised by the PURC mainly for students in second-cycle institutions.
The manager further said some consumers had failed to settle their water and electricity bills for the past two or three years and this was several thousands of Ghana cedis.
According to him, some defaulting consumers in the metropolis engaged in “self reconnections”, which contributed to huge losses to the utility companies.
He said problems associated with water and electricity delivery, particularly illegal connections in the region and the country at large, were the major challenges facing the utility companies.
Mr Jabaru indicated that the PURC was “committed to ensuring the development and delivery of the highest quality of utility services to consumers, as well as achieving efficiency and reliability in the provision of these services”.
The Consumer Services Manager of the PURC, Mr Dan Afropong, urged the youth in the area to act as ambassadors for the utility companies and report such negative practices to the PURC.
He called on residents to change their attitude to the use of water and electricity to conserve those resources.
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