54 Years down the Line, We’re still Struggling-VR GWCL Laments

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March 23, 2019

By: Ewoenam Kpodo | Voltaonlinegh.com |

Volta Regional Chief Manager, Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Ing. Joseph A. Nkrumah has disclosed that the company established with the mandate of production and distribution of potable water to customers in urban areas of the country, is 54 years on, “still struggling to realise this dream.”

Ing. Nkrumah said the company has been faced with numerous challenges which pose “serious challenge if the country has to meet the Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6)” which is about clean water and sanitation by 2030.

He identified problems including “plant limited capacities, lack of proper maintenance, limited distribution network and inadequate funding for infrastructure” as worsening the situation.

According to him, the region including Oti Region has just “four surface conventional water supply plants” and “operates 13 systems” which are inadequate to supply clean water to every urban community stressing,a lot would have to be invested.

“If we look at the demand and supply gap, one would require more than 200 million US dollars to finance water supply projects in both regions. For instance, if you take Ho Municipality, our current water production is just 2.5 million gallons per day whilst the current demand is estimated at 13.5 million gallons per day, forcing us to ration supply in the municipality.”

“This situation is not limited to only Ho. With the exception of Kpando, we ration supply in all our areas of operation,” he added.

Ing. Nkrumah was addressing participants on Friday at a ceremony in Hohoe to mark this year’s World Water Day held on the theme, “Leaving no one behind”.

The Day which is observed around the world on March 22 every year, highlights the importance of freshwater and advocates for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

The durbar was preceded by a tree planting exercise at GWCL head works at Hohoe where workers planted about 300 acacia seedlings along the banks of River Dayi (on which the Hohoe water supply plant is based) following an earlier dredging of the river as a means of sustaining the freshwater and ensuring enough raw water all year round.

Ing. Nkrumah said despite the current challenges, “there are plans far advanced at the engineering design stage to construct 3 treatment plants” in the region and appealed to customers such as assemblies, agencies, schools, and hospitals indebted to the company to the tune of Gh¢27.7 million to pay up.

Mankrado of Gbi-Bla, Togbe Vule V in a speech, was grateful that the phenomenon of water pollution by activities of illegal miners was absent from his area.

Togbe Vule pledged on behalf of his people to grow the trees planted by the workers to protect the river and tasked GWCL to maximise their operations in order to reach every household with safe water saying, “water is life”.

Regional Trade Union Congress (TUC) Boss, Elvis Van-Lare called for attitudinal change among the citizenry (customers) and charged workers of GWCL to work hard to advance the company’s cause of making the dream of SDG 6 by 2030 attainable.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Amewu Cuts Sod for 2000 Capacity Sports Complex at Hohoe

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March 23, 2019

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Mr. Amewu breaking grounds for the Sports Complex

By: KALD | Voltaonlinegh.com |

Construction work has commenced on a 2,000 capacity sports complex in the Hohoe Municipality as part of government’s agenda to develop sporting infrastructure across the country to support the unearthing of talents for the various sporting disciplines.

The project being executed by Wembley Sports Construction Company Limited, comprised of a standard artificial Astroturf football pitch, a multipurpose court for volley and basketball, children’s playground, changing rooms, washrooms, a conference facility, flood lights and 2000 capacity spectator stand.

Mr. John Peter Amewu, Minister of Energy who performed the sod cutting ceremony on behalf of President Akufo-Addo on Friday, said the president was committed to the completion of the project, which first began under the erstwhile Kufour-led New Patriotic Party government but abandoned after change of government in January, 2009.

As a native of the area, the Minister assured the people of his personal commitment towards the development of the municipality and was optimistic the project would be completed within the 7-month schedule to promote sports development.

“This project first commenced in the 2006/7 in the erstwhile President John Agyekum Kufour’s administration but came to a stale because of change of government. His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo is determined that projects of this nature must be completed for the benefits of the citizens of this area. The municipality is a football-loving community, therefore the football capacity and capability of the people needs to be built,” he stated.

The sod-cutting ceremony was witnessed by host of residents, traditional and religious leaders as well as the Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Teddy Ofori and the Regional Secretary of the governing NPP, Mr. Joseph Homenya.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

237 PWDs in Agotime-Ziope Receive Start-up Kits

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March 23, 2019

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DCE, Dickson Dzokpe in Smock Handing over Motor Bike to a Beneficiary

By Fred Asare and Fred Duodu ~ Voltaonlinegh.com ~

237 Persons with Disabilities in the Agotime Ziope District of the Volta Region have received support to engage in profit making ventures to enhance their livelihood.

The beneficiaries who amount to 37 percent of 669 total number of PWDS on the assembly’s disability album were drawn from various backgrounds and locations.

The support they got which the Assembly described as Start-up kits forms part of government’s initiative to make PWDs self-dependent by providing them with livelihood support financed with 3% of the District Assembly’s Common Fund (DACF) for the year. Those yet to benefit amount to 432.

The items were shared in two phases, the first face had 42 beneficiaries while the second phase which is worth about GHC120,000 had 195 beneficiaries.

Beneficiaries of PWDs Share of Common Fund in Agotime-Ziope District for 2018/2019

The beneficiaries, most of whom requested to go into petty trading got 5 double-decker freezers, 105 50 kg bags of beans, 110 105 kg bags of maize, 50 kg 102 bags of Gari, 25 kg 115 bags of rice, 115 25 litres of vegetable cooking oil and 115 cartons of soft drinks.

Two motorbikes were also presented, while some other beneficiaries received cash to cater for their medical needs.

The Agotime Ziope District Chief Executive (DCE), Dickson Dzokpe, entreated the beneficiaries to use the items for the intended purpose. He added the assembly has prioritised the wellbeing of persons with disability and committed to improving their living standards.

The Chairman of the Agotime Ziope District PWDs Association, Prosper Kporku, lauded government for the initiative and prayed that those who have not been served will be served as soon as the next tranche of Common Fund is received from government.

Meet Hyfi, the New Upcoming Music Icon from Ho

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Volta Online

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March 23, 2019

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By: Albert Kuzor | Voltaonlinegh.com |

Ho-based artist, Hyfi is one of the best makers of good music from the Volta Region whose tunes are gradually gaining attention in the region.

Hyfi, born Mandy Wisdom Enyam, a nominee for the category of Male Vocalist of the Year at the just ended helloadipa Volta Music Awards 2019, started his musical career in high school while he nursed the dream of becoming a Computer Engineer.

Although he is new to the commercial music scene of the day, his singles have already caught the attention of many of the youth who enjoy listening to his music across the region and on university campuses.

In an interview with Voltaonlinegh showbiz, Hyfi admitted that it is very challenging to gain grounds in the music industry but he is determined to serve the society with his God-given talent; giving relief to every soul through good music.

“My dream is to become one of the greatest artists in few years to come and spread love across the world through music.”

The determined artist who started recording his music in less than 10 months, already has 6 songs and one video to his credit. To him, he intends to inspire the youth of Ghana through his music and also promote education among the youth especially those in the “ghetto”.

“I completed Kpedze Senior High School and currently, a student of University of Ghana, Legon, studying Computer Engineering. This will also contribute to my career and so I want every youth to also go to school, education is the key, you know,” he said.

Speaking on the Awards, Hyfi said although he could not walk home with the award “that encouraged me that the masses have recognised me and I will do more to their satisfaction.”

For his message on promoting music in Volta and Ghana, he said “the world should watch out for me because I have lot of fire coming up.”

The HipHop, AfroPop and HipLife artist of Insane fame has a fan group, HYFGANG who believe in his talents and hope that the world in the near future comes to appreciate his music.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Volta Cricket League: Methodist Boys to Decide their Fate in last Group Match

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March 22, 2019

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By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey | Voltaonlinegh.com |

With finalists for the girls division already known in the ongoing Volta Cricket U-12 Schools League, Methodist Basic School boys will decide their own fate in the last Group matches to be played on Saturday, March 23, 2019 at the Ho Sports Stadium.

Methodist, 3rd and tied on 4 points with Fiave EP (2nd) has a chance of cementing a final with already qualified Mawuli Basic, if they convincingly defeat Housing MA in the Group A as Anglican tops with 6 points.

Still in Group A, the girls will battle it out for a second spot position as both Housing and Methodist are tied on 4 points each, (2nd and 3rd respectively).

In Group B, it will be a clash of the Catholic schools, Dome RC coming up against Bankoe RC.

Both schools are bottom 2 in the group and will fight for supremacy, bragging rights and escape from bottom of the table.

Meanwhile, Mawuli in the penultimate group matches beat Bankoe RC in both divisions on Saturday, March 16.

In the girls division, Bankoe RC who chose to field first after winning the toss managed 25 runs for 3 wickets as Mawuli scored 63 runs, for no wicket in the first innings. Mawuli then won by 38 runs.

Bankoe RC in the boys game chose to bat first after winning toss and scored 53 runs for 6 after which Mawuli scored 54 runs for 2 wickets in 11.2 overs to win the match by 8 wickets.

Anglican girls failed to turn up, giving Methodist 2 points.

Anglican boys then angrily defeated Methodist in the match that still puts both sides in contention for the finals.

Methodist won toss and elected to field. Anglican remarkably scored 114 runs, for 3 wickets and limited Methodist to 25 runs, all out in 12.2 overs.

The 15 Over Single Round Robin League already has Ho Kpodzi and United MA preparing for the finals on March 30, after both exhibited 100% brilliance in their respective groups.

The U-12 league, sponsored by the Ghana Cricket Association (GCA) will see winners crowned with trophies.

The only regional league in Ghana is one of the ways the GCA intended to develop the skills of players, efficiency of coaches and organisational capacity of the entire Association.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

NGO Supports Tefle with Solar-Powered Mechanised Borehole

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March 22, 2019

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By: Tabitha Kugbonu | Voltaonlinegh.com |

Project Maji Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in collaboration with Global Giving has donated solar-powered mechanised borehole at a cost of 10,000 US dollars to the people of Tefle Kplorduwlor in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region to make potable water accessible to them.

Speaking at the event to commission the project, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Project Maji, Sunil Lalvani said Volta River Authority (VRA) had assisted them in getting a site in the community to establish the project funded by donations from about 100 individuals around the world to provide quality water for good health and also to empower women in rural communities.

Commissioning of the project at a short ceremony

Mr. Lalvani said the project would serve as a relief to school children who hitherto were traveling long hours and distances in search of water and urged residents to take the project like their own and make good use of it.

Project Maji established in 2015 had provided over 30,000 Ghanaians with safe drinking water using a new technology called Solar Water Kiosk. It has about 30 sites constructed nationwide to help address water challenges.

Ebenezer Charway who represented the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources said over the years, the Ministry has been collaborating with a lot of partners to deliver water to the people of Ghana due to the limited resources available in the country to provide water to the ever increasing population of the country.

Mr. Charway indicated that the task of water provision was very huge saying, one of the challenges the Ministry kept facing had to do with maintenance and urged the community members to ensure the project lasted.

District Chief Executive (DCE) for South Tongu, Emmanuel Louis Agama thanked Project Maji for the project which he believed would serve the interest of the people.

Mr. Agama called on the NGO to continue with its support in providing safe water to the people saying, communities in Tefle Traditional Area have been suffering for water for decades.

Togbe Nakakpo Dugbaza VIII, Paramount Chief of Tefle and interim President of the Tongu Council of Chiefs who chaired the ceremony advised residents to eschew litigation so that the donors could continue bringing such developmental projects to their door steps.

Assembly member for Kpotame Electoral Area, Mashack Ato Zottor was grateful the NGO and pledged on behalf of the community to ensure proper maintenance of the project.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

MCE Nominee for Keta Meets Stiff Opposition as NPP Group Questions His Eligibility

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March 22, 2019

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By: Ewoenam Kpodo | Voltaonlinegh.com |

Some members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Keta Constituency of the Volta Region have taken to the streets of Keta in a demonstration against President Nana Akufo-Addo’s nominee for Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Keta, Godwin Edudzi Effah.

The group made up of card bearing polling station executives, elders and the grassroot members of the NPP within the Keta Constituency is questioning the eligibility of Mr. Effah who they say is an indigene of Anlo Constituency believed to be the Anlo Constituency Financial Secretary of the party until the last Annual Delegates’ Conference in February, 2018.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on March 13, nominated Mr. Effah, an accountant with the Ghana Education Service (GES) as the new MCE for the Keta Municipal Assembly.

His nomination was occasioned by the transfer of the current MCE for Keta and indigene of Anlo Constituency, Seth Yormewu to the newly inaugurated Anloga District Assembly (which was carved out of Keta Municipality after several requests) as its first DCE.

The demonstration saw the protestors clad in red attire and armbands, marching briskly with placards which conspicuously conveyed their message to the President to withdraw the nomination of Mr. Effah.

A protester displaying inscriptions on a placard during Friday’s demonstration

Friday’s demonstration followed an earlier petition to the President on Monday through the Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa and copied to the Minister of Local Government and NPP National, Regional and Keta Constituency chairmen, which lauded the creation of Anloga District but expressed reservation on Mr. Effah’s nomination.

“Unfortunately, and as usual, those same unseen forces from the Anloga side, some of whom owe allegiance to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and who were at the helm of affairs in the last assembly, have once again managed to influence the nomination of Mr. Godwin Edudzi Effah to help them satisfy their parochial interests and to strengthen their own market powers over we the people of the Keta constituency.”

The group therefore demanded the replacement of Mr. Effah with a grassroot member from the constituency or risk stiffer resistance from members.

“We wish to state that if his nomination is not reversed, and immediately too, we the grassroots of the party in the Keta constituency will resort to anomic forms of redress to ensure Mr. Godwin Edudzi Effah never occupies the office of the MCE in the Keta Municipality.”

The group concluded on the caution that “we will no longer tolerate the ‘monkey dey work, baboon dey chop’ situation in our constituency.”

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

It’s Been a Sad Story for Us in the Water Sector-VR CWSA Dir.

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March 21, 2019

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By: Ewoenam Kpodo | Voltaonlinegh.com |

Volta Regional Director of Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), Ing. Divine Dugbartey has decried the many challenges facing the agency in the region citing finance as the biggest impeding their work of getting clean water to rural dwellers in Volta and Oti regions.

Ing. Dugbartey said though the agency had done quite well since it took charge of water supply systems in the region on June 18, 2018, there was the need for funding to be able to make impact.

According to him, projects carried out included rehabilitation of treatment plants on the surface systems, transmission lines, distribution lines, storage tanks and public standpipes and installation of pumps and noted, more needed to be done.

“We have done a lot since we took over because we have been able to rehabilitate pump houses at Akatsi, Taviefe, Vakpo, Kwamekrom. We have also worked at the intake at Adidome and Kpassa-Damanko but there’s still more to be done and we haven’t stopped. What it means is that for the system to operate optimally, we need to invest more.”

The Regional Director made this known on Wednesday during CWSA regional stakeholder engagements in Ho themed “Reforming Ghana’s Water Sub-sector towards Efficient Management of WASH Services to Rural Communities and Small Towns”.

He lamented the situation and made reference to Damanko-Kpassa where he said “CWSA needs about 15 million Ghana cedis to replace the UPBC pipes with HDPE pipes for the transmission of about 40 kilometres” saying, funds were readily unavailable.

He therefore called on all stakeholders to be a part as he emphasised that “everyone has a responsibility to ensure that safe water runs in every rural home” to enable Ghana attain SDG 6 which is about clean water and sanitation by 2030.

An official from CWSA Head office, Mr. Ibrahim Adoko took participants through what the Agency is about, its mandate, the reforms it underwent, the challenges and achievements.

Mr. Adoko said the Agency established in 1998 to facilitate the provision of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services was to implement National Community Water and Sanitation Programme (NCWSP) managed under Community Ownership and Management (COM) model.

He said there were challenges with the system including water management gap, interrupted service, continuous breakdown of water systems, high indebtedness to power distributors and inadequate maintenance that threatened the sustainability of the huge investments by government.

He disclosed that the shift from community management approach had brought professionalism into the water management system and its attendant outcomes including increased revenue in sale of water without increase in tariff.

The Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa in a speech read on his behalf, was grateful to CWSA for its efforts in addressing water problems in rural areas in the region and the country at large.

To Dr. Letsa, new approaches must be adopted in the water management system for desired impact in order to fit into government’s Ghana beyond Aid agenda.

District Chief Executive (DCE) for North Dayi, Edmund Kudjoh Attah who chaired the occasion underscored the importance of clean water in rural areas describing the theme for the engagement as apt.

The Dean of MDCEs commended the Agency for their efforts and urged them to ensure more rural areas were covered in future to make the SDG 6 achievable.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

HHOSA Donates Learning Materials to Alma Mater

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March 21, 2019

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By: Rita Kafui Nedjoh | Voltaonlinegh.com |

Ho Housing Old Students Association (HHOSA) has presented Aki Ola textbooks and story books worth GHC500.00 to their alma mater, Ho Housing M/A School to facilitate teaching and learning in the school.

The donation was in response to an earlier appeal for assistance made on behalf of the school by the Headmistress, Madam Paulina Sallah.

The items were bought with funds from the past students of the school and some donations from individuals.

Handing over the items to the management of the school at a ceremony, Chairman of HHOSA, Mr. Ansah Elikplim expressed confidence that the books would significantly help to address the challenges the school had been faced with.

He advised the pupils to take good care of the books and study hard to make good grades in their final Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

He also called on management of the school to maintain the books and to ensure quality teaching in the school.

Receiving the books on behalf of the school, the Headmistress Madam Paulina Sallah thanked the old students for not forgetting their alma mater and promised to take good care of the books given them.

Mrs. Paulina Sallah however, appealed to old students and other individuals to also come to the aid of Ho Housing M/A School in addressing the many challenges facing the school.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

‘I’m Ripe for the Job; Leadership Not About Certificates’ – Avuletey

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March 21, 2019

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Avuu — Mr. Johnson Avuletey, Deputy Regional Minister

By: KALD | Voltaonlinegh.com|

The Deputy Volta Regional Minister-designate, Mr. Johnson Avuletey has justified his nomination by President Akufo-Addo to serve in the second top most political position in the region despite his limited academic qualifications.

The nominee, who is a former timber merchant and reverend minister, during his appearance before the Appointment Committee of Parliament on Wednesday downplayed the relevance of academic qualifications in the political administration of a region, stating that, regardless of his limited academic credentials, he was the right person at the moment to assist the regional minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa to drive the president’s transformation agenda in the region.

‘I am more than the right person [for this job] and my going into that office is a relief to the people of the region,’ the outgoing Regional Premix Fuel Coordinator said in response to a question from a member of the committee and MP for Hohoe, Dr. Bernice Adiku-Heloo who sort to know his suitability for the office.

The 3-time Regional Organizer of the governing new patriotic Party (NPP), in a further response to a follow up question from the Member of Parliament for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhiyini, regarding his highest academic qualification being a Diploma in Adult Education, stated that, academic certificate was not the only consideration for his appointment but also his leadership skills and experience of the political terrain in the region.

According to him, ‘If you’re appointed as a regional minister or deputy to the best of my knowledge, it is not only certificate they watch. You are a leader and you must be accountable to the people, you have to bring a lot of people on board and prosecute government agenda.’

Adding that, members of the appointment committee would be marveled with his performance in office, when given the nod and later invite him back to the august house for recognition.

Seen as a grassroot man, the nominee said he was well abreast with the challenges of the people in the region, which, when given the nod, he will assist his minister to address.

Other issues that featured on Mr. Avuletey’s almost an hour long vetting, include, his previous timber business, which he did between 1988 and 1998; and his role as premix fuel coordinator in curbing the diversion and smuggling of the highly subsidized product.

He nonetheless pledged to work hand-in-hand with the Regional Minister and all other stakeholders to ensure peaceful coexistence among residents, promote the region’s tourism potentials and spearhead the implementation of government’s flagship policies and programmes, which would provide sustainable jobs for the teeming youth.

The deputy minister-designate was accompanied by Regional minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa, and former deputy, Mr. Maxwell Blagodzi, MP for Krachi East, Mr. Michael Gyato, Energy Minister, Mr. John Peter Amewu, Volta Regional Director of NADMO, Mr. Divine Bosson and a host NPP party supporters.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com