Volta Police Commander, Staff Officer Transferred with Immediate Effect

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January 21, 2019

Volta Regional Police Commander, DCOP Doku — DCOP Francis Doku, Outgone Volta Regional Police Commander,

By: KALD | Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Inspector General of Police, David Asante-Appietu, has with immediate effect transferred the Volta Regional Commander, DCOP Francis Ebenezer Doku and the staff officer at the Regional command, DSP Maister Klay out of the region.

A memo from the IGP dated 21^st January 2019, reassigned DCOP Doku to the Police Headquarters as the Director in charge of Special Duties, while, DSP Klay, has been transferred to Gamabaga Police command in the Northern region as the district commander.

Though, no reason was assigned for the transfers, the deputy Regional Police commander, ACP Peter Gyimah, is expected to take charge of the of the region until a substantive Regional commander is appointed in the coming days or weeks.

The removal of these senior officers from the region however comes on the back of recent developments, which have caused some public disaffection for the Police service in the region.

DCOP Doku who assumed command of the region October 2018, after serving as deputy regional commander, has in the past few days been on a collision course with residents of Alavanyo, following the killing of three indigenes during an operation, which the police said resulted a cross fire between an agitated crowd and a security detachment in the area.

While the commander insisted his men were in the area to retrieved stashed arms and ammunition, before they were attacked by aggrieved youth, the residents including their queenmother, Mamaga Ametor II on the other hand, accused the police of coming to extort money from alleged Indian hemp (wee) farmers, a transaction which denigrated into clashes after the security operatives set the farms on fire.

This has compelled the Regional minister and chairman of the Regional Security Council, Dr. Archibald Letsa to institute an independent probe into the matter. The committee, which membership includes the chairman and Executive Secretary of the Regional Peace council is yet to conclude its work and submit its report.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

HTU Council Appoints Prof. Honyenuga as New Vice Chancellor

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Volta Online

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January 21, 2019

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Prof. Honyenuga — Prof. Ben Honyenuga, [Photo credit: Bonecstasy]

By: KALD | Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Governing Council of the Ho Technical University, (HTU) has appointed Professor Ben Quarshie Honyenuga, as the substantive Vice Chancellor of the university, voltaonlinegh.com has gathered.

Prof. Honyenuga who was the first faculty member to attain a professorial rank in the university, was acting Vice Chancellor from October 2018, following the expiration of the 4-year tenure of the former VC, Prof. Emmanuel Kojo Sakyi.

Information available to voltaonlinegh.com, revealed Prof. Honyenuga’s appointment was confirmed last week by the governing council at a meeting presided over by the chairman, Prof. James Flolu, upon the recommendations of a search committee, which scouted for suitable candidate for the position.

Being the first to have risen from within to the highest office in university, Prof. Honyenuga, prior to his appointment, also served as the first Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the university following the conversion of the then Ho polytechnic to a Technical University.

As senior lecturer of department of Management Sciences of the HTU Business School, Prof. Honyenuga has served in various capacities in the university, including the dean of students and board chairman of the campus based radio station, Volta Premier FM.

Profile

Prof. Honyenuga who is a native of Nyagbo-Gagbefe in the Afadjato South district, joined the then Ho polytechnic in 1997 as an instructor and rose through the ranks to an associate professor in July 2017.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Social Sciences from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology; Masters in Public Administration from the University of Ghana Business School; and Master of Philosophy from the Maastricht School of Management, Netherlands.

Prof. Honyenuga who obtained a PhD degree in Management from the Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen inJuly 2015), also holds a Certificate in Management of Higher Education Institutions from Galilee International Management Institute, Israel.

He has a rich experience, spanning two decades of teaching management related courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Re: Jasikan Hyped as Preferred Capital for Oti Region

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Volta Online

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January 21, 2019

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By: Anthony Danquah |

My attention has been drawn to an incredulous publication of January 18, 2018 on www.myjoyonline.com with the above caption which seemed to suggest that Chiefs, people and representatives from Kadjebi, Biakoye, Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe, Lolobi and Jasikan had thrown their weight behind Jasikan to serve as the capital for the newly endorsed Oti Region out of the Volta Region.

It is unfortunate that a viral message with no authority, purposely for propagating falsehood, on WhatsApp could be given such prominence on a rather credible news portal like www.myjoyonline.com.

I wish to appeal for restraints from all well meaning people of the endorsed Oti Region regarding the current discourse on the location of the regional capital especially, the media publications going round, suggesting that some particular place got the majority endorsement.

The Regional Capital Presentation exercise which took place barely a week ago in Accra, from my understanding, was not to call for a headcount to determine winners and losers of persons bidding for the capital nor was it to take a final decision on a proposed capital. That would have been clearly outside the mandate of the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC).

The essence of the exercise was towards consensus building in the spirit that had begun from the date of the fight for the region.

The JCC was constrained with time in that it was unable to even set out the criteria for consideration in advance for preparation towards the presentation until the date of the meeting. While this was very well understood, acknowledged and appreciated by the various representatives for the presentation, it appeared to have been set out by persons who favoured a particular location as the capital on that day.

Therefore, the claim that the JCC had early on approved a 10-point criteria as the basis for analysing and selecting an appropriate location for the capital in the reportage is misleading, and a mere inferior communist’s tactics to court undeserved attention from the team of technocrats mandated to identify the capital for the new region.

It is important to appreciate that the choice of a regional capital is not intended to serve people or interests of today but generations yet unborn. It must therefore be highly representative, inclusive, fair, transparent, and futuristic.

The schemes in the press are rather unnecessary. The inputs from the JCC should only provide a guide to the technocrats who we, the people of the endorsed Oti Region, trust will do a good job that will be appreciated by us and the good people of Ghana as a whole.

NB: The writer is a youth from the newly endorsed Oti Region, resident in Accra.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Jasikan Hyped as Preferred Capital for Oti Region

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Volta Online

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January 20, 2019

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By: Voltaonlinegh.com |

At a crunch presentation of bids and endorsement meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) of the Oti Movement, the body that championed the creation of the Oti Region, Jasikan was overwhelmingly supported to host the regional capital of Oti Region.

Chiefs and people and their representatives from Kadjebi, Biakoye, Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe, Lolobi (SALL) and Jasikan on Wednesday, January 16, 2019, threw their support behind Jasikan to serve as the Capital for Oti Region.

This came on the back of Jasikan presenting a Capital Territory proposal, which readily spreads development instead of the conventional capital town adopted by the other contenders Krachi, Dambai and Nkwanta South.

With the Capital Territory concept, Jasikan would host the Regional Administration, whiles Biakoye, Akan, Buem and SALL host other important facilities of the region.

While Dambai got the support of only Nkwanta North, no district supported either Kete-Krachi or Nkwanta South.

Majority of the people at the meeting discounted Dambai as the central location of the region, because it is not the actual geographical centre of the Oti Region.

The regional ought to be located at a nodal position that is easily accessible from all parts of the region and this, the people thought fell on Jasikan.

The JCC had approved of a ten point Criteria for use as the basis for analysing and selecting an appropriate location as the regional capital.

This notwithstanding, it was observed that Jasikan rated high in almost all the 10 key criteria for scoring.

Among the ten factors used were the historical role played by the proposed centre for the entire proposed region, accessibility and average travel time to and from other parts of the region, centrality (modality) of the proposed centres, united and generally accepted traditional authority, assurance of peace and security, availability and level of current social infrastructure and access to a well-drained land which is also free of litigation among others.

In attendance were Chiefs and representatives from Buem, Nkonya, Worawora, Kadjebi, Tapa, Nkwanta North, Nkwanta South, Krachi East, Krachi West and Krachi Nchumuru and SALL.

Source: www.myjoyonline.com

Savings of 65-year old Woman “Eaten up” by Termites

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Volta Online

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January 19, 2019

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By: Benjamin Owusu | Voltaonlinegh.com |

A 65-year old woman at Kpassa in the Nkwanta North District of the Volta Region, Fatima Nyande, has lost all her savings of over Gh¢2,000.00 when termites ate into the bundled up monies buried in a hole under packed firewood in her house.

Madam Nyande kept her money with herself at home but in a hole to avoid being swindled after she lost faith in banks and financial companies in the area.

A visit to her home by Benjamin Owusu of Voltaonlinegh.com revealed that the 65-year old widow was forced to choose saving her daily sales in a hole as a better option.

Madam Nyande showing where she kept the money

According to her, she started saving the money in the dug hole at home after dubious financial companies absconded with her Gh¢4,000.00

However, after losing her savings to the termites, she advised the public to develop the attitude of saving their money with banks.

Madam Nyande seized the opportunity and appealed to the district assembly and the Electricity Company of Ghana to extend power supply to the area to enable her continue with her water supply business.

General Manager for Kpassa Rural Bank, Evans Liwalajor, who was on a monitoring team to the area and met the victim lamenting over her loss, urged residents to save their monies with certified and accredited financial institutions that cannot run away from their customers.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Nkwanta South NADMO Donates Relief Items to Disaster Victims

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Volta Online

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January 18, 2019

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By: Benjamin Owusu | Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Nkwanta South office of National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in the Volta Region has donated some relief items to disaster victims in the municipality

The donation on Wednesday was to victims who had lost their properties through flood and fire disasters in 2018 who could not receive any relief items at the time.

Items presented included rubber basin, rubber buckets, rice, blankets, cups, mosquito nets, coils, soap, second-hand clothing among others.

Speaking with the Municipal Coordinator, Mr. Larry Stephen, he said the disaster victims presented their reports some time last year but there were no items available to address their plights then.

Mr. Stephen said some of the disaster victims had their buildings collapsed during the rainy season while others had their properties getting burnt during the dry season.

According to him, he decided to meet them on Wednesday to present the relief items to them.

He explained that the donation was done only to victims in Nkwanta town since they did not have vehicle to convey the items to the beneficiary villages, noting, at the appropriate time they would donate to them also.

He therefore cautioned residents to be extra careful during this harmattan so as not to lose their properties in fire disasters.

A teacher at Bonakye who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, commended the officials of NADMO for their effort of responding to their (the victims) request to be provided with such items and asked that the officials reach out to the remaining victims with the relief items.

He also advised his colleague beneficiaries to take good care of themselves to prevent such occurrences in the future.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Farmer Loses Yam Barn in Blaze

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Volta Online

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January 18, 2019

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By: Benjamin Owusu | Voltaonlinegh.com |

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 GH¢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.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

MoFA Team Pays Working Visit to Green Gold Ghana

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Volta Online

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January 18, 2019

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By: Albert Kuzor | Voltaonlinegh.com |

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 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 “continues to be the backbone of Ghana’s economy” 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 “motivational visit.”

He briefed the delegation on some of the challenges the company is facing in the area of moringa seed, leafs and oil production.

He noted that “how to get seed (moringa) from the local community is very difficult,” asking, “help promote moringa to enable farmers go into it to help the company get more seeds.”

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.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

It is Time for Media to be its own Advocate – Labour Expert

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Volta Online

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January 17, 2019

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By: Ewoenam Kpodo | Voltaonlinegh.com |

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 state’s own interest to protect the jobs of women who take on another responsibility of producing the country’s labour force.

Ms Muslim said procreation is “a societal role women play and only they can do that” 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.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Volta NPP Urges Chiefs to Allow Technocrats Choose Suitable Place as Capital for Oti

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Volta Online

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January 17, 2019

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By: Benjamin Owusu | Voltaonlinegh.com |

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, “this is one of the most important achievements of the Akufo-Addo administration in just about two years.”

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.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com