A 40-year old yam farmer at Mama-Akura community in Nkwanta North District of the Volta Region, has lost his tubers of yam worth over GHĀ¢40,000 in a fire.
Mr. Nigurla Nbagha lost the tubers of yam when his yam barn caught fire on Wednesday.
A visit to the farm by Benjamin Owusu established that a yam barn which had over 15,000 tubers and seeds was razed down by the fire.
According to Nigurla Nbagha, he left his wife and the children at the yam barn while harvesting the rest of the yam only to return to meet the barn on fire.
Mr. Nbagha who is married to two wives with eighteen (18) children is yet to establish the cause of the fire.
He blamed government for neglecting yam farmers in the area by not getting ready market for their produce.
He therefore appealed to government to come to his aid and urged government to pay attention to other crop farmers in the country to avoid such disaster.
The Assemblyman for the electoral area, George Ndachi Oscar, appealed to farmers in the area to take preventive measures by creating farm belts around their farms.
He also called on government to give the needed attention to yam farmers in the country by supporting them with same package as cocoa farmers.
A delegation from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has paid a working visit to Green Gold Ghana, a Social Enterprise based in Zongo Macheri in the Krachi Nchumuru District of the Volta Region.
Green Gold Social Enterprise is a company that deals in moringa leafs, oil and poultry production and also has an institution called Dreamivill, aimed at training entrepreneurs within and outside the region.
Green Gold has an incubator which has a capacity of 1,525 that can be used to hatch different types of eggs, solar dry for the drying of leafs, and oil press machines for processing of moringa oil.
The incubator at Green Gold Ghana
The company also has some 20 acres of moringa farm which feeds its production.
The delegation led by the Director for MoFA, Abduial Ncheal, said the purpose for their visit was to take record of post-harvest losses and measures to tackle it.
Post-harvest loss has since been one of the major factors affecting most farmers at various stages throughout the country.
However, the Director said agriculture ācontinues to be the backbone of Ghana’s economyā saying, it was necessary to support farmers to improve on the agricultural production and as well, control losses of farm produce.
Mr. Ncheal said to increase productivity and reduce post-harvest losses, the government through MoFA had introduced “Farmer Service Center” to provide a timely and enhanced access to mechanisation services to all farmers.
The centers which are yet to be decentralized “will provide services such as farm machinery, input supply, farmer-training, machine manifesting and repair and storage services”
He added that Green Gold being a developing company in the district will receive supports from the Ministry and also monitor the company to improve productivity.
The Chief Executive Officer for the Green Gold Ghana, Clement Matornmasen commended the Ministry for what he described as a āmotivational visit.ā
He briefed the delegation on some of the challenges the company is facing in the area of moringa seed, leafs and oil production.
Moringa leafs being solar dried
He noted that āhow to get seed (moringa) from the local community is very difficult,ā asking, āhelp promote moringa to enable farmers go into it to help the company get more seeds.ā
Mr. Matornmasen said the company was going to improve on the lives of the people through job creation and provide nutritional supplement as natural medicine for humanity.
He added that the profit made would be reinvested into the local community through education, health and road infrastructure and called on farmers to start moringa farming to help eliminate poverty in the country.
Labour expert and acting Executive Director of Labour Policy International, Mr. Seth Abloso has charged media practitioners to stand their grounds and ensure their rights as workers are not abused, noting, it is high time the media advocated for its rights.
Mr. Abloso observed that over the years, journalists have risked their lives and taken up the fight for the rights of others in diverse areas writing about sufferings of others in society yet remained silent when it comes to issues affecting them.
According to him, many of these practitioners suffer abuses in terms of remuneration, recognition, job security, occupational hazards among others where they work for organisations without salary or letter of engagement, get into accident in their line of duty without compensation, and face unlawful termination of employment.
He said there had been many instances where the rights of journalists and other media workers had been abused and taken for granted by employers and noted that the media must stand up for their rights just as they do for people in other professions.
Mr Abloso said this during a media training workshop on labour laws and gender reporting organised by a not-for-profit, research and advocacy organisation, Gender Center for Empowering Development (GenCED) on January 15 in Accra.
GenCED Executive Director addressing participants
The workshop took journalists drawn from various parts of the country through the constitutional provisions on labour issues including special arrangements for women and persons with disability, gender issues among others.
Mr. Abloso underscored the need for media practitioners to join or form themselves into groups to for one united voice to champion their cause.
Media practitioner, Ms Shamima Muslim who facilitated the training workshop spoke briefly on special provisions for women including maternity leave saying, it was in the stateās own interest to protect the jobs of women who take on another responsibility of producing the countryās labour force.
Shamima Muslim
Ms Muslim said procreation is āa societal role women play and only they can do thatā and the state needs to ensure they perform that role without any threat of losing their jobs.
Executive Director, GenCED, Ms Esther Tawiah tasked the media to be abreast of the Labour Act to empower them insist on their rights from their employers and to properly educate others to cause a change.
According to her, only knowledge of the law could help address these issues and prevent the wrongful exploitation of people in the industry.
Some participants at the workshop shared some bitter experiences they encountered at their workplaces. The training ended with participants forming into groups and brainstorming on the possible ways forward in addressing gender and labour issues at the workplaces.
The Volta Regional 1st Vice Chairman for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Adjei Ntim has called on chiefs in the newly created regions especially Oti to allow technocrats select the most suitable place for the regional capital.
According to him, the Minister for Regional Reorganisation and Development, Mr Dan Kwaku Botwe had already indicated that consultations with technocrats were ongoing to ensure selection of the most suitable place for the regional capital.
Mr Adjei Ntim seized the opportunity to thank President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for demonstrating high level of commitment towards the creation of the new region, adding, āthis is one of the most important achievements of the Akufo-Addo administration in just about two years.ā
He made this call at a press briefing with party executives at Kadjebi-Akan in the newly endorsed Oti Region to be created from the Volta Region.
He appealed to the chiefs in the new regions to accept which districts or towns that would become the regional capitals to allow for development.
The Deputy Volta Regional NPP Women’s Organiser, Olivia Yawa Aglago, appealed to the chiefs and the people not to allow the location of the regional capital bring disunity among them.
Speaking with the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Mr Maxwell Blagodzi, he said lobbying for regional capital by the chiefs was in the right direction but the technocrats would ensure the selection of the most suitable place for the regional capital.
He therefore advised the chiefs to trust the technocrats to select the most suitable place for the regional capital.
The Bodies of the deceased persons conveyed from the scene in a Pickup vehicle, 15 hours after the incident
By: KALD & Rita Nedjoh | Voltaonllinegh.com|
The Volta Regional Minister has launched an independent probe into recent disturbances in the Alavanyo area, which has resulted in the killing of some three persons in last few days.
The investigations, being done by an independent committee, according to Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa, who is also the Chairman of Regional Security Council, would unravel immediate and remote causes of last Sunday and Monday shooting incidents which claimed three lives and injured six others.
Two persons were shot and killed with six others sustaining injuries last Sunday at Alavanyo-Dzogbedze on Sunday in what the police described as a cross fire between an agitated crowd and a security detachment in the area, when the latter went to meet the community chief to negotiate the release of an AK47 rifle, which was seized from a policeman during an earlier operation in the area.
Barely 24 hours after this incident, there was sporadic shooting at Alavanyo-Kpeme, where a soldier was said to have sustained gunshot wounds on the leg and a 70-year old man later found dead.
These situations have heightened tension in the area, with the residents, including the paramount queen mother, Mama Ametor II demanding an independent probe into the incidents.
The Regional minister speaking on the issue in radio interview on Tuesday said the independent probe was crucial in restoring the confidence of the people of Alanvanyo in the security agencies.
āWe need to do something to prove to the community that, it was the fault of the police or if it was the fault of anybody else, nobody is above the law,ā he told Accra Based JoyFM and added that, the Chairman and Secretary of the Regional Peace Council are providing their expertise on the committee, whose membership he fell short of mentioning.
He said the committee would submit its report by close of week and appealed to the aggrieved residents to exercise restraint.
Military Reinforcement
Volta Regional Police Commander, DCOP Doku
Meanwhile, a military reinforcement from the 66 Artillery regiment in Ho has been deployed to protect lives and properties in the volatile Alavanyo area.
The Volta Regional Police commander, DCOP Francis Doku who disclosed this at a media briefing on Tuesday, said the contingent would augment the security arrangement in the area, as the police retreated to forestall any reprisal attack.
While, calling for calm in the area, the police chief said the situation could have been avoided as the attack on police was unprovoked.
Explaining the circumstances that led to the killing of the three persons, DCOP Doku said that the police went to the area upon intelligence to retrieve illegal arms and ammunitions that were stashed and in the process arrested 3 persons.
During the operation, he said some aggrieved youth attacked the two police men who were guarding the police vehicle and snatched an AK-47 rifle from the officer while, the 3 persons arrested also escaped their handcuffs.
As a result, the police team retreated from the area and lodged a complaint at the Kpando divisional command, where another police team later returned with military detachment in the area to the chiefās palace to negotiate the release of the AK 47 riffle of the police.
According to Police commander, the youth got incensed upon seeing the joint security team and as such disconnected the electricity supply in the community and started shooting. This got them to return fire resulting in cross fire in which the two people were killed and six other injured.
DCOP Doku also disclosed that, the tyres of the police Armor vehicle were shot and military vehicles damaged during the during the second shooting incident at Kpeme, which claimed the life of the 70 year old man and injured a soldier, who was currently receiving treatment at 7MRS at the 66 Artillery in Ho.
He however emphasized that, the recent incidents has no connection with the protracted age old land disputes between the Alavanyos and Nkonyas, which has caused the imposition of prolong curfew on the two towns.
Meanwhile, the deceased bodies have since been deposited in the Margaret Marquart Catholic hospital morgue at Kpando, where the injured are also receiving treatment.
Mr. Dan Botwe, Minister for Regional Reorganization & Development
By: Voltaonlinegh.com|
A group calling itself, the Association of Aides to Regional Chairmen of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has listed some ten government functionaries and appointees as āOutstanding Performersā in the Akufo-Addo led administration for the year 2018.
The list made up of ministers, deputies and Chief Executives of some government agencies and institutions, the group noted, was centered on the efficient leadership style, accessibility and effective cooperation the various appointees had with the grassroots in the past year.
A press release signed by associationās Coordinator Andy Owusu and Research/Publicity officer, Elikem Sewordor stated that, the rating was based on a survey conducted to seek the opinions of the grassroots on which Minister has done exceptionally well and need to be recognized.
Dr Owusu Afriyie-Akoto, Minister for Agriculture
Among the top three outstanding ministers for 2018, according to the group, was the minister for food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Minister for Regional Reorganization, Mr. Dan Botwe and Mr. Joe Ghartey, minister for Railways Development.
Joe Ghartey, Minister for Railways Development
Information Minister, Mr. Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah was also named the most visible minister in the year under review.
In the deputy ministersā category, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, deputy minister for Education, Mr. Martin Agyei Mensah Korsah deputy minister of Regional Reorganization as well as Mr. George Oduro, Deputy Minister for food and Agriculture, were named by the group as most outstanding deputy ministers.
Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officers category has the Managing Director of ECG Ing. Boakye Appiah, Managing Director of the registrar, scholarship secretariat Mr. Kingsley Agyemang and the Managing Director of buffer stock Mr. Hanan Abdul Wahab as the most outstanding MDās and CEOās in 2018.
Dr.Yaw Osei-Adutwum, Deputy Minister for Education
The statement from the group however emphasized that, āall others ministers, deputies and CEOs equally performed creditably well and it was a hectic task distinguishing these outstanding performers.ā
Below is the Full Statement from the Group
Press Release
12th January, 2019
OUTSTANDING MINISTERS, DEPUTIES AND CEOs IN 2018
The Association of Aides to Regional Chairmen of the New Patriotic Party rates these Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Managing Directors/CEO of the Akufo Addo led government as the most outstanding performers in 2018.
Our fair and objective rating is primarily based on their performance in the year under review, their efficient leadership style, accessibility of these Ministers and the effective cooperation they offered to the grassroots.
We also wish to emphasize that all others ministers, deputies and CEOs equally performed creditably well and it was a hectic task distinguishing these outstanding performers. Just to mention a few the Education Minister, Roads and Highways, the Works and housing were all exceptional ministers in 2018
But, we per our stands as Aides who pick information at the grassroots we single out these top performers in this order.
HON AFRIYIE AKOTO
(Minister of Agriculture)
His tremendous achievements on the planting for food and jobs programme set him apart from the others. Under his leadership at the Agric ministry, Ghana has enough food in our local market and for the first time in many years, the country export food like plantain, maize etc to our neighbouring countries, even in the midst of Army Worm,Ā he fought it and made a great stride. Through his visionary leadership, he organised focus group discussions with farmers from time to time to unearth their challenges. This has been the backbone to his success at the Ministry. We congratulate Dr. Akoto for this remarkable success and we hope for more in 2019.
HON. DAN BOTWE
(Minister of Regional Reorganization)
This man has always been referred to as a workaholic. We believe as a group that the President only needed a person like him to oversee the hectic task of creating new regions. His style of Regional reorganisation was perfect and out of that we had a peaceful referendum and the creation of new regions. This enviable success can never be overlooked.Ā We congratulate him for his leadership in the creation of the new regions.
HON. JOE GHARTEY
(Minister of Railway Development)
Every Ghanaian could attests to the great infrastructure development underway at the railway ministry. Under the watch of Hon. Ghartey, the railway sector has seen a massive uplift and his achievements were quite clear in 2018. We have to appreciate and congratulate him for such an outstanding leadership.
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTIVE DEPUTY MINISTERS
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum
(Deputy Minister of Education)
His works as a deputy minister was exceptional and exemplary. Dr. Adutwum in this category performed remarkably well with his in-depth explanation of the free SHS policy and the double track system.Ā He assisted his boss really well and we have a firm believe that ‘Napo’, the Minister of Education is fortunate to have gotten an assistant like such. Congratulations Dr. Adutwum for your efficiently role as a deputy minister of education
HON George Oduro
(Deputy Minister for Agric.)
The whole country saw his good works in 2018. He supported his boss Dr. Akoto efficiently. He was seen always assisting and facilitating the planting for food and jobs programme and it is not surprising that the Agric ministry made a lot of strides in 2018. We appreciate your efforts, Hon. Oduro.
HON. Martin Agyei Mensah Korsah
(Deputy Minister, Regional Reorganization)
Mr. Korsah’s role in the creation of the new regions cannot be underestimated.Ā He played a great role and efficiently assisted his boss in the reorganization process. We thank you and congratulate you for your good works.
Most Visible Minister
Hon. Kwadjo Oppong Nkrumah
(Minister of Information)
He is undoubtedly the most visible and outstanding ministers. His communications style, his values and his leadership qualities make him an outstanding performer. We congratulate him and appreciate his good works.
M.D/CEO OF THE YEAR
MANAGING DIRECTOR, ECG
(Ing. Boakye Appiah)
We rate him higher because he took charge when electricity supply was a problem in Ghana companies were running down as a result of the power crisis during the NDC’s regrettable era. He took charge from the regrettable era of ‘Dumsor’ and under his leadership; āDumsorā is now a thing of the past. We cannot overlook his achievements.
MANAGING DIRECTOR, BUFFER STOCK
(Mr. Hanan Abdul Wahab)
He is a contributing factor to the success of the free SHS programme. Due to his efficient leadership, food supply to SHS nationwide has been timely and that is remarkable.Ā We appreciate your efforts Sir.
REGISTRAR, SCHOLARSHIP SECRETARIAT
(Mr. Kingsley Agyeman)
The decentralization of the scholarship scheme made scholarship acquisition accessible to all even those at the district levels. This made him one of the best and also an outstanding performer as an M.D in 2018.
Residents of Alavanyo-Dzogbedze in the Hohoe municipality are demanding an independent probe into circumstances which led to the killing of two indigenes by a joint police-military task force in the area last Sunday.
There was an uneasy calm in the area after the joint security task reportedly clashed with some agitating youth and in the process shot and killed the two persons and injured at least six others during an operation in the area.
Report from the area suggested that, the Police had sought the assistance of the Chief of Alavanyo Dzogbedze to help retrieve handcuffs that had gone missing during an arrest operation early in the day.
According to the Queen Mother of Alavanyo, Mama Ametor II, Alavanyo-Dzogbedze which is the first town from Kpando had some Indian Hemp (wee) farm. Although there was a Joint Police and Military camp at Alavanyo-Kpeme overseeing the area, a Police patrol team went to the farm without their knowledge to undertake a wee operation at about midday.
The Bodies of the deceased persons conveyed from the scene in a Pickup vehicle, 15 hours after the incident
She alleged that the Officers who went to the farm and requested for money, but the owner refused, making the officers burn the farm. They then arrested the owner and two other guys, which infuriated the youth of the town. They then assisted the three guys who were handcuffed to escape arrest.
The Police left the town only to return at about 6:00pm that same day to talk to the Commander of the Military Team at Alavanyo to assist them retrieve their handcuffs. They met the Alavanyo Dzogbedze Chief who assured them of getting their handcuffs back.
Unfortunately, when they were returning, the crowd gathered in the town hooted at them. Few moments later gunshots were heard, leading to the death of two men and injury of six others.
Contradictions
This account however contradicts that of the Police, as the Regional Police Commander, DCOP Francis E. Doku told the media on Monday morning that the six officers that went there on Sunday Afternoon, included officers from the SWAT unit to intercept illegal arms and not Indian Hemp.
He said residents attacked his officers leaving one unconscious. They freed their suspects and took an Ak47 Rifle and three handcuffs.
The team reported the incident at Kpando Divisional Police command where another team went in the evening to retrieve the gun and the handcuffs. On returning the team was shot at by unknown assailants from the bush and the Police returned fire leading to the two deaths and injuries.
Although the Regional Police Commander claimed in his interaction with the media hours before midday that his men had visited the scene and conveyed the body to the morgue, it emerged that his men were not on the ground as at then.
This portal can authoritatively report that the corpses were conveyed at 1:30pm Monday in the presence of the Hohoe MCE and the Queen mother of Alavanyo
Checks in the area revealed the bodies of the deceased persons remained at the scene for several hours before they were finally conveyed to the morgue later on Monday.
Information gathered indicated that, police officers assigned to go and assess the two corpses and convey same to the morgue did not go, for fear of their lives.
The Officers feared that the youth in Alavanyo, particularly Dzodgedze where the incident happened will stage a reprisal attack to revenge the death of their kinsmen.
After a lot of back and forth, the bodies were finally conveyed by the Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Teddy Ofori, the Queen Mother of Alavanyo Traditional Area, Mama Ametor II, a National Security and BNI official at about 1;30pm on Monday; over 15 hours after the young men died.
The Queen mother, who was not happy about the situation, wondered why the Police will allow the bodies of the same men they shot to lie down by the road side for such long.
REGSEC Meet as Alavanyo Fumes
As at the time this report was filed, the Volta Regional Security Council (REGSEC) was in a crunch meeting at Kpando with the Police and other key stakeholders.
Meanwhile, residents in Alavanyo have expressed disgust at the action of the Police and are calling on the IGP, National Security Coordinator, Interior Minister and the President to order an investigation into events leading to the cause of death of their relatives.
Mama Ametor II was not happy with the accounts of the Police describing it as half-truth as there are many inconsistencies in the accounts.
Human Right is a right that everyone is entitled to as a human being regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political affiliation, nationality, social status among others.
The question is, does everyone or every citizen enjoy this fundamental human rights?
We live in a society, Ghana for example, where women and children are not allowed to do certain things based on some cultural and traditional norms that people still hold on to. Also, persons living with disabilities get discriminated for no fault of theirs but for their disability.
Despite all the human rights provisions in the 1992 that every Ghanaian citizen is entitled to vulnerable groups including women and children, persons with disabilities, lesbians, gays, bisexual, transgender and intersexual (LGBTIs) and albinos continue to have their rights abused in our various communities.
Although the Constitution guarantees rights to freedom of expression and of assembly to Ghanaian citizens, these fundamental rights of LGBTI people are actively denied them making them targets of physical and violent attacks.
There had been some media reports of such discriminatory acts such as kicking out young gay people from their homes among others.
Government of Ghana has a responsibility especially after it has committed itself at the international stage to promote the rights of every citizen (including LGBTIs) to strengthen institutions in charge of human rights issues such as Commission on Human
Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Social welfare, National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), etc to get to the defense of such vulnerable groups as well as carry out a thorough public education on the rights of every citizen in the society.
As a Journalist and a Human Rights Defender, I say let us all come together to protect the vulnerable and the less privileged in our society for a prosperous future.
Newly promoted Division Two side, Nkwanta United has managed a 2-2 draw with former Premier League side, Real Tamale United (RTU) in a friendly match at the late Joe Tetteh Coffei stadium in Nkwanta in the Volta Region.
The home side, Nkwanta United, took the lead 5 minutes into the game through a blunder committed by RTU goalkeeper, Mubarak Somed.
He got punished by Eviem Edem who made no mistake in scoring his first goal for his club.
Nkwanta United doubled the lead when Alhassan Atakora Borjan scored a corner kick from Mensah Godson on the 16th minute.
But experienced RTU came back strongly with tactical passes to level the score-line through Maulaya and Taufig Alolo in the 36th and 43rd minutes of the first half.
The former Asante Kotoko, Kessben FC and AC Horsen of Denmark player, Taufiq Alhassan Alolo who captained RTU side converted a rebound to cancel the second goal.
After the break, Eviem Edem missed a chance to put revitalised Nkwanta United side ahead when he blasted the ball off the post.
Coach Ibrahim Tanko of RTU commended his boys for equalising the two goals scored in the early minutes of the game.
Mr Tanko was optimistic his formidable side will soon bounce back strongly into the Ghana Premier League.
He advised Nkwanta United players to be disciplined and strictly stick to instructions from their coach to better their career.
Nkwanta United coach, Daniel Kwame Tweneboah was content with the performance of his boys and expressed gratitude to the people of Nkwanta for the immense support shown throughout the game.
He added that Nkwanta United looks forward to playing with two clubs from theĀ region, Elite FC of Hohoe in their next game on January 20, 2018 at Joe Tetteh Coffie Park before taking on the Borborlogi-Boys of Kpando Heart of Lions.
A driver and a conductor of a Metro Mass Transit (MMT) bus intercepted with a submachine gun (SMG) and live ammunitions on Sunday at Nkwanta in the Nkwanta South Municipality of the Volta Region have been remanded into police custody for two weeks.
The two, driver, Tony Kwaku Ann Baidoo and his mate, Samuel Larbi were on Tuesday, arraigned before the Nkwanta District Court on charges of conspiracy and illegal possession of firearms.
The Prosecutor, Detective Victor Gadese, pleaded for more time to gather evidence in prosecuting the two suspects.
The court presided over by Baba Issahaku Iddi remanded the suspects into custody for two weeks to allow the prosecutor time to continue his investigations.
The suspects who are currently in the Nkwanta Police station cells failed to produce owners of ammunitions concealed under seats and boots onboard the MMT bus they were operating.
A team of police personnel during a random search on the bus on Sunday at the Nkwanta Police barrier retrieved one SMG riffle plus 3 packets of metal cache consisting of 2,100 rounds of ammunitions.
