The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has sent a message of condolence to the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, on the news of the Ethiopian Airlines crash on Sunday, 10th March, 2019, which killed all on board.
In his message, President Akufo-Addo stated that “Like all Ghanaians, I have been deeply saddened by Sunday’s news of the tragic loss of 157 lives who perished on board an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa to Nairobi, in Kenya.”
He continued, “on behalf of the Government and people of Ghana, I extend deep condolences and sympathies to the families of the deceased, and to you, Mr. Prime Minister, the Government and people of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in these difficult times. May the souls of the departed rest in peace.”
According to a statement from Ethiopian Airlines, the aircraft, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, which was carrying 149 passengers and 8 crew members, lost contact with air traffic controllers, some six minutes after take-off, crashing near Bishoftu, southeast of the Ethiopian capital.
The statement did not say, immediately, the cause of the plane crash, but indicated that the plane was a new one, and had only been delivered to the airline in November.
The pilot, who had been working for the carrier since 2010, sent out a distress call shortly after take-off and was given clearance to return.
Ethiopian state media has stated that more than 30 nationalities were on board flight ET 302, including 32 Kenyans, 9 Ethiopians, 18 Canadians, 8 Chinese, 8 Americans, 8 Italians, 7 French, 7 British, 6 Egyptians, 5 Dutch, 4 Indians, 4 Slovaks, and 2 Spaniards.
The announcement of Keeny Ice, born Barnabas Amu as Volta’s new Artiste of the Year was greeted with thunderous claps and cheers from patrons at the Volta Music Awards (VMA) night on Saturday at the Ho Technical University (HTU) auditorium.
The reaction from the patrons was expected because Keeny Ice found himself in the same category with equally talented and favourite artists including winner of the category at the maiden edition of the Awards, Agbeshie, the sensational KD Bakes and Fiamor of the famous sarcastic yet inspirational song, Yaka who were all tipped to take home the award.
The second edition of the prestigious Awards dubbed helloadipa Volta Music Awards 2019 themed, “Keeping Volta Music Alive”, started minutes after 10pm and lasted till about 4:00, Sunday morning.
The night witnessed awesome performances including poetry recital, cultural display, musical rendition by the nominees punctuated with music provided by three excellent djs just to avoid dull moments on the night.
A section of patrons at the Awards
Keeny Ice, prior to grabbing the ultimate award, won two other categories, Best Rapper of the Year and Best Collaboration of the Year.
There were two other big winners, KD Bakes and Mawuli Younggod who bagged two awards each.
KD Bakes won the categories of Best Male Vocalist of the Year and Best Music Video while Mawuli Younggod, Hiphop Song of the Year and Discovery of the Year.
KD Bakes (in white)
Messages at the Awards
In a message read on his behalf, Chief Executive Officer of headline Sponsors, helloadipa, an online store, Adipa Stevenson said he was happy to be a part of such an award scheme.
He said the region abounds with talents and expressed hope that it would grow bigger and bigger.
CEO of Eventic GH, organisers of the Awards, Kwamivi Ashiaby explained, the Awards was instituted to celebrate artists and groups who are promoting Volta excellence through music and encouraged everyone to keep on supporting music from Volta.
Member of Parliament for Ho West, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah who is yet to miss the Awards, bemoaned the lack of government’s interest in the event.
According to Hon. Bedzrah, he expected Deputy Minister of Information, Pius Hadzide’s presence on Saturday to share what his Ministry thinks of the event explaining, the music industry offers many opportunities including selling Ghana to the world, thus, the need to support it.
The Nominees, Winners
Nominees who spoke to Voltaonlinegh.com before the awards, expected to win in the category(ies) they were nominated for.
They however, believed that deserving artists were going to carry the day adding, no matter the outcome of the awards, nothing was going to change in their efforts to promote Volta music.
KD Bakes after the awards said he was expecting the ultimate but was grateful for what he got.
He thanked his fans for the support and promised to double his efforts for bigger wins in the region, the country and beyond.
Remy J who won in one category, said though his expectations were more, the award was important to him and would motivate him to do more.
Remy J (right)
The Fun Moment
There was some excitement from the crowd when another fan of Volta Music Awards, Sammy Flex who speaks for Zylofon Media (subsidiary organisation of embattled gold dealership firm, Menzgold), hit the stage for a short message.
The gathering chose to greet him with shouts of “NAM1” (name of Menzgold CEO) rather than give him audience.
And when he asked whether to extend their (crowd) love to NAM1, the shouts of “NAM1 NAM1” ceased and instead, there were “no ooo” from a section of the crowd where from another, burst of laughter.
Full List of Award Winners
Gospel Song of the Year – Kwame Gabby
Song Writer of the Year – Fiamor
Best Entertainment School of the Year – Keta Business College
Hiplife Song of the Year – Chris Phoebus
Best Female Vocalist of the Year – Queen Eyram
Discovery of the Year – Mawuli Younggod
Traditional Song of the Year – Selorm Razzy
Best Male Vocalist of the Year – KD Bakes
Hiplife Artist of the Year – Dan Zaki
Highlife Artist of the Year – Erastus
Best Music Video of the Year – KD Bakes
Lifetime Achievement Award of the Year – Kwame senyo
Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year – Wolfman
Highlife Song of the Year – Remy J
Best Entertainment Company of the Year – Mac D Empire
Producer/Sound Engineer of the Year – Jay Watt
Best Collaboration of the Year – keeny Ice ft. Victor AD
Girls of the Global Women Development Promoters’ (GLOWDEP) Sister’s Club from some basic and senior high schools in the Central Tongu District have called for an enabling environment to allow young girls access equal opportunities like their male counterparts.
The call came during a panel discussion initiated by GLOWDEP in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service on Adidome-based Dela Radio, on the theme, “Think Equal: Build Smart and Innovate for Change” to mark 2019 International Women’s Day.
The panel made up of schoolchildren highlighted issues on gender inequality, gender biases and gender discrimination.
Schoolchildren having a conversation on gender issues
One of the panelists, Rose Achi from Adidome R.C Junior High School said she was encouraging all girls to think at par with boys adding, this was the only way they could embrace male dominated courses like Science, Mathematics and IT.
“My fellow girls must be bold and confident to make the right choices and also must know that, we are smart and we can do anything that is normally regarded as impossible for other girls. We can also pass the mathematics exams and become the engineers and doctors,” she said.
Meanwhile, in an interview with the Executive Director of GLOWDEP, Victora Amaglo Norgbey, she asked that more training opportunities for women in the workplaces must be encouraged in order to build their capacity in the areas of IT, and data analysis.
Madam Norgbey added that it was about time parents motivated their girls to think equal as boys saying, equal opportunities for both boys and girls would pave way for equal employment and equal pay for comparative jobs.
“We are also aiming at a planet 50-50 by year 2030. This means that, we will soon have a world where all women and girls have equal opportunities and rights by the year 2030.”
Madam Norgbey who disclosed the organisation has been organizing the programme since 2014 called for more mentoring and coaching programmes for girls to increase their confidence levels to participate in development activities.
In an interview with the Coordinator of GLOWDEP Sister’s Club, Evelyn Agblese, she noted that everyone should be interested in the development of the girl child.
“The development of the girl child shouldn’t be the concentration of only women and civil society organisations. We must all get involved. We must make sure our girls are provided with enabling environment in order to access equal opportunities in their schools and workplaces as well.”
The day also saw the team visit the Adidome Girls Model Schools to speak to the girls on the need to hope and aspire to become better female leaders in society.
International Women’s Day is celebrated World Wide yearly on 8th March, to mark the achievement of noble women in the society.
Some participants trying their hands on what is being taught
By: Shallom Lumor | Voltaonlinegh.com |
Nneka YouthFoundation, a non-governmental organisation has chosen to train some 75 young women in soap making and beads designing at Mafi Sasekpe in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region on the day the world celebrated women, International Women’s Day (IWD).
For results, some 5 young women were given equipment to kick-start their business after the skills training.
In an interview with the Executive Director of the Foundation, Madam Cecilia Fiaka, she said one of the ways to make women “Balance for Better”, theme for the Day was to empower them economically, hence the gesture.
She said many young women were being abused daily in their marriages and working lives because they have not been empowered to stand on their feet to defend their rights.
“Some of them are in certain unfavorable situations because they have not been empowered economically. One of the ways is to get a job on their hands.”
“Some of these women will be able to take care of their children’s education with this skills training we organising for them, hence their children will also have opportunity to be educated well,” she added.
Meanwhile, speaking with the Queen mother for the area, Mama Klebetesi II who hosted the training programme said, “Mafi Sasekpe is the hardest hit in the district in terms of school dropout” owing to teenage pregnancy.
She complained the situation had resulted in violence against women and children which explained her decision to collaborate with the Nneka Youth Foundation to help train some of these unskilled women.
She added that the beneficiaries would now have a work to do to take care of themselves and their children.
The Nneka Youth Foundation also used the opportunity to engage community leaders, women and children to remind them of the rights of the child and the responsibilities of parents in reducing child marriage and abuse in the community.
A heavy rainstorm which occurred on Thursday evening has rendered over 300 people including a 95-year old woman homeless at Nyambong, a farming community in the Nkwanta South Municipality of the Oti Region.
Chief of Nyambong, Nana Obiako Akoula II, who led the Unit Committee and the Assembly member of the area to the affected areas, told Voltaonlinegh.com that many houses in the area had their roofs ripped off by the storm.
Nana Akoula therefore appealed to the Nkwanta South Municipal Assembly, National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and philanthropists to come to the aid of the victims.
MCE for Nkwanta South, John Thassun visiting Nyambong after the rainstorm
The Assembly member, Anthony Kwame Badu appealed to the Deputy Oti Regional Minister designate, Maxwell Blagodzi, non-governmental organisations and philanthropists for assistance.
Mr. Badu said the homeless were for the time being, staying with friends and relatives at Nyambong.
The Municipal NADMO Officer, Abajene Marcillinus who was there to access the extent of damage, disclosed that the estimated cost of the storm would be accessed for appropriate actions to be taken in bringing relief to the victims.
The 95-year old Otorbuetan Agyaru who is among those currently putting up with friends and relatives, called for support from individuals to get her building repaired.
The other victims also made similar call for support to help them get their homes back in order to continue with their economic activities.
Volta Region is geared up for a night of exciting and wonderful performances as great talents from the region will be gathering at the Ho Technical University (HTU) auditorium on Saturday night for the biggest music contest, helloadipa Volta Music Awards 2019.
Among the nominees to battle for supremacy on the night is the 3-member group, Aikons of Keta Business College (KETABUSCO) whose campaign song, Stop Galamsey track and video earned them a slot in the Best Entertainment School of the Year category.
The maiden edition of the Awards which had Agbeshie awarded as the Artiste of the Year with two other big winners, Kasare of Gome Ne fame and Keeny Ice sweeping three awards each, saw amazing and energetic performances from artists including Volta’s gospel icon, Israel Nanevi Maweta which kept patrons on their toes as they sang along into the spirit.
Tonight’s Awards was preceded by helloadipa Volta Music Awards Nominees Jam which took place on February 16 at the border town of Aflao in the Ketu South Municipality which brought together nominees and some great djs to thrill the crowd that showed up for the night.
Massive crowd that turned up at the nominees jam last month
Speaking to Voltaonlinegh.com, former Consultant and Publicist for Eventic Gh, Organisers of the Awards, Jonathan Nii Laryea also known as Jonilar said all is set for the event which is few hours away.
Mr. Laryea on his expectations said, he expects a “massive turnout” at the event and at the end, deserving artists should win” in order to continue promoting the region through their music
The Volta Music Awards was initiated in 2018 by Eventic GH and their partners including Volta Regional branch of Musicians Unions of Ghana (MUSIGA) to reward the efforts of musicians, individuals and institutions who are promoting Volta music.
The second edition of the prestigious annual music awards is being headlined by helloadipa, an online store and has up to 27 categories including Best Artiste of the Year with the year under review being from December 1, 2017 to November 25, 2018.
Ladies in Ministry International, non-denominational Christian group which aims at mentoring young ladies into women of substance and vessels for God, has celebrated some seven outstanding women in a ceremony held at Hlefi in the Host West District of the Volta Region.
The event on Friday, March 8 to mark the 2019 International Women’s Day (IWD) themed, “Balance for Better”, was meant to encourage more women to aim for excellence in their various endeavors.
The most outstanding award for the day went to Rev. Mrs. Christiana Adehenu for her sterling qualities.
Rev. Mrs. Adehenu, a recently ordained pastor in the Assemblies of God Church and also Founder of the Ministry, was described as “a motivator, an encourager, an inspirer” and “an honourable vessel of God”.
The award also extolled her qualities as someone “into whose hands God has entrusted the enormous task of helping young ladies discover their God given talents, nurturing them to become useful instruments in the hands of God as agents of transformation.”
Rev. Mrs. Adehenu (in white) being awarded
Other outstanding women on the day included a retired educationist, Mrs. Janet Abiwu whose contribution towards provision of learning materials for Kpale-Xoase Basic School was recognised.
Again, Mad. Margarete Quaye who before her retirement headed the school which produced Volta’s best 2018 BECE pupil.
Also, Queen mother from Ziavi Traditional Area, a Rev. Minister, NDC Ho West Constituency Women’s Organiser, and Assembly woman from the area were also honoured for distinguishing themselves in their respective fields.
The all-women affair which brought women together to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women in society and to deliberate on the way forward was also attended by basic school pupils in the area and two friends of the Ministry from Uganda.
Some participants at the event
Speaking at the event, Volta Regional Human Resource Manageress, Community Water and Sanitation Agency, Mrs. Sally Donkor-Zonu observed that the issue of gender inequality was about the mindset and nothing more saying, “we have tuned our mind to the fact that we have been made vulnerable and treated unequally.”
Mrs. Donkor-Zonu said women were not created weaker than the men as perceived by society because “in the first creation account, God fashions man and woman as fully equal bearers of his image” and they “jointly receive His blessing and commission to rule the earth.”
According to her, it was about time women stopped singing the gender inequality song and made good use of the “power and numerous opportunities and advantages” they have.
She gave an instant where she was in the labour ward to be delivered of her child. She recalled that her husband could not stand the sight of the childbirth and had to rush out. She added that despite the pain in childbearing, some women had gone to labour wards several times in their lifetime and wondered how such a group could be referred to as “weaker vessel”.
The Ministry member therefore called on parents, especially mothers, to provide good training to their children, not assign gender-based roles to them and make the efforts to empower their girls by educating them, building their communication skills and giving them decision-making roles to spur them on for great exploits in future.
Senior Nurse at Volta Regional Hospital, Mrs. Victoria Dumevi led a chat on cervical cancer and underscored the need for women to go for checks to know their status.
She touched on its possible causes including early sexual life and multiple sexual partners. She also outlined some symptoms, preventive measures, insisting on good diet (with vegetables and fruits) as well as treatment for the cancer.
Nana Amanfo Monfankye I of Dadiase Adele Traditional Area in the Nkwanta South Municipality of the Oti Region has appealed to the Ministry of Special Initiatives to establish a gari processing factory under the government’s One District, One Factory (1D1F) programme to accelerate socio-economic development in the area.
Nana Monfankye said Dadiase is known for cultivating cassava in commercial quantities and therefore underscored the need for the assembly and government to establish gari processing factory in the area to boost productivity in the country.
He bemoaned the fact that as a food growing area, the community has been bedeviled with several challenges including bad roads, thus, militating against their socio-economic progress.
Ohemaa Nsifor Okolor, a Queen mother from the traditional area also stressed on the need for government to establish the factory in the area saying, it would reduce poverty.
She also appealed to the District Health Directorate to provide the community with a health post to bring health services to their door steps to help in reducing maternal and infant morbidity.
Some gari producers who spoke in an interview with Voltaonlinegh.com, disclosed that the factory would reduce their burden and enable them produce more.
The Deputy Minister designate for Oti Region, Maxwell Blagodzi indicated that government had put in place various intervention programmes and assured that very soon, the local people would begin benefitting from those programmes.
As part of efforts to keep Ghana clean, students and residents in the Nkwanta South Municipality of the Oti Region have spent the holiday on a clean-up exercise to keep the streets of the capital, Nkwanta clean.
According to the students, taking an active part in the clean up exercise would enable them contribute to the eradication of communicable diseases, thus, giving them a sense of responsibility.
Speaking to Voltaonlinegh.com, students who took part in the clean up exercise said, dirty environment has many negative implications for the country and that having realised the benefits of having a clean environment, they would always be ready to respond to calls to assist with clean up exercises.
The Assemblyman for Nkwanta Nsana Zongo Electoral Area, Richard Kwame Nayo, commended the students and residents for keeping the streets clean saying that cleanliness is important for a healthy society.
He therefore urged other students and communities to emulate the example of these students and get involved in clean up exercises.
A resident, Festus Okpora lauded the media for taking key interest in ensuring that Ghana is made clean.
He indicated that it was important that the youth of the country be inculcated in them the spirit of communalism and volunteerism at a very early stage of their lives so that it would become a part of them.
Nkwanta-based Gateway Radio morning show Host, Christiana Ativi, urged media practitioners to focus more on sanitation-related issues instead of the daily political talk shows.
Residents of Nkwanta North District with Kpassa as it capital in the newly created Oti Region have given government a 9-month ultimatum to fix the deplorable state of the Nkwanta-Damanko stretch of the Eastern Corridor road.
According to the residents, failure of government to get the road fixed would leave them with no option than to hit the streets to demonstrate to Ghanaians and the entire world to know what they had suffered for ages.
Paramount Chief of Kpassa Traditional Area, Ubor Konja Tassan VI who disclosed this on West FM’s morning show, West Breakfast Drive on Thursday, said successive governments kept promising to fix their road but had failed to keep their word.
Ubor Tassan said vehicles including heavy duty ones from the south to the north of the country, ply the stretch leaving communities along the roads, engulfed in dust, a situation which has health implications for the residents.
According to him, his people had suffered enough for “we eat and drink dust” and could not continue living like that all the time.
The Paramount Chief also lamented about other issues that the people of Nkwanta North had to suffer due to the poor state of their roads including difficulty in transporting their produce to market centres when rains set in, thus, making life very difficult for them.
