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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 “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.
Moringa leafs being solar dried
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.
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.
Shamima Muslim
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.
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.
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.
“We 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,” 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 chief’s 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 ‘Outstanding Performers’ 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 association’s 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 ministers’ 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 MD’s and CEO’s in 2018.
Dr.Yaw Osei-Adutwum, Deputy Minister for Education
The statement from the group however emphasized that, ‘all others ministers, deputies and CEOs equally performed creditably well and it was a hectic task distinguishing these outstanding performers.’
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, 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. 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. 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. 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; ‘Dumsor’ 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. 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.
