Bonakye Girls Model School Cries for Infrastructure as Pupils Write with Laps as Support

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April 14, 2019

By:Benjamin Owusu | Voltaonlinegh |

Students of Bonakye Girls Model School in the Nkwanta South Municipality of the Oti Region are calling on the government and other philanthropic organisations as a matter of urgency, come to their aid to help resolve challenges impeding effective teaching and learning in the school.

When Benjamin Owusu visited the school, he found out that the school which has a population of about 150 was being housed in a rented Islamic school, and grappling with lack of classrooms, learning materials and furniture forcing some pupils to turn their laps into tables to enable them write down notes.

A pupil supporting a book with her laps while writing

Head teacher of the school, Samuel Nyurekyor lamented the numerous challenges including absence of office accommodation for teachers which gradually kept affecting academic performance in the school.

Mr. Nyurekyor therefore, called on the government, non-government organisation and individuals to come to their aid to help improve the falling standard of education in the municipality especially among the girl child.

Some of the pupils who spoke to Voltaonlinegh added their voice to appeal for support to have classroom blocks constructed for the school because according to them, they were unable to concentrate in class when it was time for the Moslems to have their prayer and also find it difficult to take notes due to lack of desks.

Assembly member for the area, Joseph Gbatey Drunyah also decried the lack of school infrastructure as the major challenge and called on the authorities and corporate organisations to come the aid of the school.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Akatsavakpor M.A Basic School Begs for Support to Exist

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Volta Online

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April 14, 2019

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By: Dodzi Deku | Voltaonlinegh.com |

Pupils of Akatsavakpor M.A Basic School at Kpordoave Klikor in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region are calling for help to save their school from its current state and to keep them and their teachers in school for effective teaching and learning.

To the pupils and teachers of the school plagued with several challenges including poor infrastructure, absence of teaching and learning materials, and unfavourable conditions, government must pay heed to the popular saying of education is the only key to every country’s future by making efforts to support the school.

Currently, the pupils learn under structures built of tree stumps with some roofed with thatch and others with roofing sheets as their classrooms. There are inadequate desks for the school-children to sit on forcing some of them to sit on cement blocks while others settle on the floor while teaching go on while those who can, bring stools from home to sit on.

One of the classrooms at Akatsavakor M.A. Basic School

Akatsavakpor M.A Basic School which runs from kindergarten to primary six, with a population of about 200 pupils and have a total of 8 staff, also has other challenges such as absence of cupboards, and other teaching and learning materials.

From time to time, greater number of the school population including teachers fails to come to school due to the conditions prevailing in the school.

Head teacher of the school, Ignatius K. Futukpor told this reporter that “the situation is really affecting us academically” saying, there were times snakes got into the classrooms scaring both teachers and pupils away.

Mr. Futukpor revealed that many teachers were uncomfortable in the school especially those who were chased out of class at the sight of snakes while others had left the school and so, “we are pleading to everyone to come to our aid.”

Assembly member for the area, David Kugbey admitted to the challenges in the school which forced the school to close any time the rains came and said they had followed up to the municipal education office several times but to no avail.

An uncompleted classroom block started 3 years ago

Mr. Kugbey disclosed that the assembly started about 6-unit classroom block with auxiliary facilities for the school some 3 years ago which remained to be completed and called on government to see to the early completion of the project to address the infrastructure challenge.

To him, “Akatsavakpor M.A Basic School is performing well especially in the areas of academic and sports” despite the many challenges and hoped their performance would improve when the many challenges were addressed.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Volta Handball League Goes on Break

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Volta Online

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April 14, 2019

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By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey | Voltaonlinegh.com |

The 2nd Volta Regional Handball League(with Stars of Asha men and TERESCO women as winners of the maiden edition) which has seen 10 weeks of exciting matches at the Ho Sports Stadium will be going for Easter break, starting this weekend, April 13, 2019.

The league played only on Saturdays goes on an early break due to the unavailability of referees who are currently officiating the basic sports games at Akatsi.

Meanwhile, 3 women matches which were played over the past 2 weeks had Mawuko winning their first match in 3 outings against Mawuli School on March 30, 2019, a week 9 fixture.

The only match played on that day saw Mawuko win by 15-7 as Sonrise, who were to play Ho Technical University requested for a postponement.

On Saturday, April 6, leaders on the women table, South Tongu Talents (STT) defeated Mawuli by 39-15, with a half time score of 23-4. STT went ahead to humiliate Ho Technical University 46-13 on the same day after leading 25-6 at half timeC were exposed as they did not have a full complement of the players.

South Tongu Talents are now 4 points clear at the summit of the women table, with 8 points after 5 matches. Unique Stars follow with 4 points, while Ho Technical University lie 3rd with 2 points. Sonrise and Mawuko in that order are also with 2 points each whereas Mawuli occupy the bottom spot with no point.

The league is expected to bounce back after the Easter break with week 11 fixtures which will see Mawuli lock horns against Unique Stars women and as well play Stars of Asha men.

The second season of the league is still hoping to land sponsors to promote the sport.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Ho Card Clubs Association to Hold First Awards Ceremony

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Volta Online

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April 13, 2019

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By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey | Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Ho Card Clubs Association (HOCCA) on Sunday, April 14, 2019 will hold an Awards ceremony League at the Ho Municipal Assembly Hall from 3pm to reward deserving clubs at the just ended maiden edition of Ho Card League.

The 16-club league with home and away matches which came to an end on Sunday, March 9 saw clubs like Amenuveve Card Club, Apito Power Club, Atomic Card Club, Bankoe All Stars, Bazuka Card Club, and City Power participate.

Others included Freedom Stars, Golden Stars, Heve All Stars, Mighty Hands and Peace Youth.

The rest were Reggae Card Club, Showboyz Card Club, Sunset Card Club, Casino Card Club and Victory Card Club.

Chairman of HOCCA, Innocent Kodzo Dey told this reporter (TalksenseSports) that the Awards would also be used to announce the existence of Ho Card Clubs Association which was formed on November 11, 2017 to the general public.

“The essence of the Awards is to inform the public about playing cards. We have heard of people playing football, netball, handball, volleyball, tennis and others in the region. Most people are aware of all these events but never heard of playing cards. We therefore want to be recognised as a serious sporting association.”

The Awards on Sunday will see a presentation of trophy and a cash prize of Gh₵1000.00 to winners with the 1st and 2nd runner ups also taking home wonderful prizes.

The Awards is expected to see in attendance the Deputy Regional Minister, Ho Municipal Chief Executive, Regional Sports Director, Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association as well as the Sports Writers Association of Ghana-Volta.

Political bigwigs in the Volta Region as well as traditional rulers are also expected to grace the occasion.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Consultant Charges Minister to Change Face of Volta, Says First Impressions Matter

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Volta Online

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April 13, 2019

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By: Ewoenam Kpodo | Voltaonlinegh.com |

A renowned academician and investment consultant, Prof. Paul N. Buatsi has charged the Volta Regional Minister, to as a matter of urgency, put in measures to change the face of the region to attract appreciable amounts of investment into the region saying, “first impressions matter.”

Prof. Buatsi who among other things mentioned a favourable investment climate as a factor that could attract investors into the region also pointed out physical infrastructure especially road as critical to bringing investors emphasing that a first time visitor (investor) who encountered difficulty travelling to the region would be discouraged from investing in the region.

According to him, Volta Region (Oti inclusive) “holds a lot of promise as an investment destination and should not fight shy of flaunting her credentials proudly and prominently” and asked that conscious efforts were taken to harness these potentials which include Travel and Tourism (natural, man-made, cultural attractions, hospitality and historical), Garment Production, Wind Energy, Agriculture, Quarry, Mining (lithium, gold, diamond), Oil and Gas to create wealth and impact on the quality of life of the people in the region.

He made the call while addressing participants as the Guest Speaker at the launch of the 4th edition of Volta Trade, Investment and Cultural Fair on Thursday at the auditorium of Ho Technical University (HTU).

The 2019 Fair which is slated for November 25 to December 8, 2019 and is expected to host all 26 districts across Volta and Oti regions to showcase indigenous products and services as well as network with foreign partners is under the theme, “Sustainable Investment Growth through Trade Promotion”.

In a speech to officially launch the Fair, Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa said it was important for both regions to industrialise so as to progress and break out of the poverty cycle saying, “industry is the heartbeat of the private sector. And the private sector is the nerve centre f our local economy.”

Dr. Letsa predicted that over 200 exhibitors from the region and beyond and outside Ghana with over 2,000 visitors would be participating in the event and called on the business community to fully participate in the Fair to their advantage because it would be featuring “business to business group meetings, technical seminars and matchmaking sessions.”

Deputy Oti Regional Minister, Maxwell Kofi Blagodzi was grateful for the joint Trade Fair which he believed would help both regions in terms of development.

According to Mr. Blagodzi, the creation of Oti from Volta must not be seen as a “divorce but a separation” which would inure to the benefit of both regions saying, he looked forward to more collaborations until “Oti Region is weaned off Volta Region.”

Also in attendance at the launch chaired by Paramount Chief of Avatime, Osie Adjah Tekpor VII, were dignitaries including Indian High Commissioner, Representatives of development partners (GIZ), Vice Chancellors of UHAS and HTU and Chairman of AGI Eastern/Volta-Chapter.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Nneka Youth Foundation Launches ICT Contest among Schools in Afadzato South

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Volta Online

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April 12, 2019

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By: AKN | Voltaonlinegh.com |

Nneka Youth Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) with a mission to give the necessary guidance and support to children in rural communities for a positive transformation and growth, has launched a maiden Information Communication Technology (ICT) contest among some schools in the Afadjato South District of the Volta Region.

The contest which involved a practical assessment of the pupils’ skills and knowledge in ICT had about 33 pupils drawn from eleven 11 schools in the district as participants.

The contest saw Ve Golokuati E.P. Jnr. High School emerge the overall winner with Ve Agbome D/A Basic School and Ve Deme Basic School taking the second and third positions respectively.

The winning schools were presented with various forms of awards including learning materials and footballs for extra curriculum activities.

Speaking to Voltaonlinegh.com, Executive Director of Nneka Youth Foundation, Cecilia Fiaka explained that the contest formed part of efforts to bridge the knowledge gap in the study of ICT between pupils in rural Ghana and their counterparts in the cities.

Madam Fiaka who commended the pupils for their competence and zeal in carrying out the various tasks in the contest, assured that the Foundation would continue to build bridges of opportunity for young people in rural Ghana, by creating avenues for practical engagement.’’

Though she expressed satisfaction at the outcome of the contest, she hinted that the Foundation had a bigger task to perform in ensuring that more girls were motivated to develop interest in ICT as the number of girls who partook in the contest was very low.

“We however had only 5 female participating out of 33, which heightens our task to get more females involved in ICT and technology going forward. We look forward to making this a core of our transformation agenda.”

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

MP Aspirant Donates Education Materials to South Tongu Schools

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Volta Online

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April 12, 2019

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By: Tabitha Kugbonu | Voltaonlinegh.com |

Chairman of the Ghana Association of Land Surveyors-Volta Chapter and Member of Parliament (MP) for South Tongu aspirant, Maxwel Lukutor in collaboration with some philanthropists has donated some teaching and learning materials to some selected junior high schools (JHS) in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region.

The materials which included text books on solved past questions from 1990 till date which cover all the subjects in the syllabus except Ewe was to help the pupils know how to solve and answer questions accurately during their final examination, Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

The schools that benefited included Tefle D/A JHS, Tefle-Agorgbe JHS, Dodoekope JHS, Agbadzakope JHS and Gamenu JHS.

Earlier, Mr. Lukutor donated similar teaching and learning materials to Agorkpo D/A Basic School, Kpotame PCG School and Kpotame D/A Primary School (all in the South Tongu District) and in addition, presented an award to Ruth Sam, a past student of Kpotame D/A Primary School who scored grade 13 in 2018 BECE as a sign of motivating other students to study hard and come out with better results.

Speaking to Voltaonlinegh.com after the donation, Mr. Lukutor said it has been his desire to improve upon the standard of education in the district with the little efforts he could put in place to ensure that pupils and students pass their examination in order to achieve their dreams.

According to him, seeing the success of pupils and students during their examination was not only about studies, but the ability to be familiar with past questions and to answer them correctly in order to come out with flying colors after writing their final year examination.

He decried the unwillingness of pupils and students to devote their times for studies but to rather engage themselves in activities that pose danger to their future and advised them to be serious with their studies.

The MP aspirant pleaded with the teachers to allow JHS 3 pupils who are currently preparing towards their BECE examination in few months time to have access to the textbooks to help them prepare adequately for their examination.

District Director of Education, South Tongu, Madam Evelyn Araba Zentey who was present at the event, said the future of school children were important to them because they would be the ones to replace them in the future.

Madam Zentey said some of the school children went through lots of challenges but if they would hold on to education and study hard, they would become an asset to parents, the community, nation and the world at large and for that matter, they should not joke with their studies because that could bring them out of poverty.

Head teachers of the schools which benefited from the donations thanked Maxwell Lukutor for making the efforts to ensure quality education in the district and promised to make good use of the books.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Addor-Akura, Nanum Odumase Communities Cry for Basic School

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Volta Online

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April 10, 2019

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By: Benjamin Owusu | Voltaonlinegh.com |

Two deprived fishing communities, Addor-Korfe and Nanum Odumase in the Krachi East Municipality of the Oti Region are appealing for basic schools to enable children of school-going ages in the area to easily access formal education.

Report by Benjamin Owusu indicates that over 700 children of school going age are denied access to education due to the absence of schools in the area and so, engage in fishing instead.

A child of school-going age engaged in fishing

The report details that some children desiring to have access to education, walk for five kilometers daily to attend school.

Headman of Addor-Akura, Ampedu Adewu, disclosed that the absence of basic schools in the communities was increasing illiteracy among children in the area.

He urged education authorities in the municipality to place mobile structures in the community to house a school to contribute to an increase in literacy rate in the area.

Children who spoke to the Voltaonlinegh.com revealed that they wanted to go to school but have no access to schools, thus, appealed to the education directorate to set up prefab structures to enable them have access to education.

Some angry parents said they have been wasting their times participating in elections to elect leaders to take charge of affairs of the country and turn around their situations for good but have been disappointed as positive results remained to be seen.

They therefore, called on government to put up school structures to enable their children have equal opportunities to formal education to reduce illiteracy in the community.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Krachi East GES Director Uses Motorcycle for Official Duties

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Volta Online

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April 10, 2019

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Lawrence Agyemang as pillion passenger for official duty — Lawrence Agyemang (pillion passenger) ready for official duty

By: Benjamin Owusu | Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Director of Education in the Krachi East Municipality of the Oti Region, Lawrence Agyemang has for some time now, resorted to using motorbike for his official duties as the official vehicle has broken down for years without any plans in sight to get it back on the road.

Speaking to Voltaonlinegh News, Lawrence Agyemang disclosed that the development has been affecting monitoring and supervision of schools in the municipality which in turn, is affecting academic performance of pupils.

Meanwhile, investigations by this reporter revealed that the woes of the Municipal Education Directorate are not just official but residential as the Director struggles for a place to accommodate himself and the family.

Currently, Mr. Agyemang and his family manage one boys quarters apartment while a 3-bedroom apartment constructed by the assembly for over decade, has been left to waste away.

Municipal Chief Executive for the area, Patrick Jilima in reaction, said the assembly was doing its possible best and would soon provide the directorate with all the necessary logistics to improve on the quality of education in the municipality.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Anglican Stun Mawuli; United MA Demolish Ho Kpodzi to Win Volta Cricket League

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Volta Online

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April 9, 2019

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By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey |Voltaonlinegh.com |

Anglican Basic School Boys Cricket team and United MA Girls have been crowned winners of the Volta Cricket Schools’ U-12 League after defeating Mawuli Basic and Ho Kpodzi D Basic respectively in the final s played at the Ho Sports Stadium on Saturday, April 6, 2019.

The over 10-week 15 over league which started on January 19, successfully wrapped up with Anglican and United MA lifting the coveted trophies.

Anglican after topping their group A with 6 points won toss and elected to bat first. They scored 53 runs for 3 wickets, with a partnership between Sampele Richmond and Dzata Caleb accruing 25 runs, (15 runs off 8 balls and 10 runs off 10 balls respectively).

Mawuli in the second innings managed 49runs for 9 wickets, with Dogbey Alex being the only player to score a double figure, 13 runs off 12 balls. Anglican won by 4 runs as their opponents relaxed, trying to protect their wickets, with Sampele Richmond and Dzata Caleb taking 3 wickets and giving away 4 runs each in 3 and 2 overs respectively.

In the Girls final, United MA scored 82 runs for 3 wickets in 4 overs, of which Amakoe Gloria scored 26 runs off 9 balls after United won the toss. Ho Kpodzi were pressured as they could only manage 76 runs for 2 wickets and United won by 6 runs. Hotor Sackey was impressive but could not save her team she was bowled in 9th wicket after scoring 23 runs off 13 balls for Ho Kpodzi.

Coach of Ho Kpodzi, Mawuli Emmanuel Afiademenyo who was certain about winning, congratulated United but was disappointed in the application of skills by their opponents.

“I will congratulate my opponents for winning. The performance of my girls was good and I appreciate. We couldn’t bat because of the bowling skills used by our opponents. The scorers at a point had to call on the umpires to check the bowlers but it continued. We will stick to teaching the kids the right thing and will not devise any form of strategy to help us win. On the whole, it was a good game and we’ve as well learnt from our mistakes.”

Meanwhile, Secretary of the Volta Cricket Association says, it was a good start for them and they will improve in the next league. He also appreciated the efforts of all members in ensuring the league went on well from execution to completion.

The finals saw in attendance, Director of National Sports Authority, Volta, Kwame Amponfi Jnr. who presented the boys’ trophy to Anglican and Ho Municipal Physical Education Coordinator, Walter Krokroko who presented the girls’trophy to United MA.

Also present were officials from the Ghana Cricket Association, sponsors of the regional league who included Cricket Operations Officer, Henry Benjamin Ackom, Development Officers, Lawrence Ahadzi and Prince Eugene King as well as Secretary, Bernard Essuman.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com