Oti Campaign Heats Up ahead of Thursday’s Referendum

By

-

December 26, 2018

Oti Yes Campaign (1) — Pro-Oti campaigners on a street march.

By: Voltaonlinegh.com |

Campaigners for the proposed Oti region have step up their game to mobilize the needed numbers for an outright endorsement of the new region in the northern part of the Volta region come the referendum on Thursday 27^th December 2018.

The last few days has seen a lot of community mobilization campaigns in the eight districts and municipalities earmarked for the referendum, with a lot of street activities each morning to whip up support for a ‘Yes’ vote.

In the Jasikan District for instance, there was a “Yellow Walk for Oti Region” with hundreds of people, including chiefs all draped in yellow, the colour representing “yes” on the ballot.

According to a Ghana News Agency report, busloads of natives from the enclave have also been arriving in major towns such as Jasikan, Nkwanta, Kpassa, Dambai, and Kete Krachi ahead of the D-day, as the ferry at Dambai has increased its daily crossings with canoe operators also working round the clock to handle the increasing traffic.

The various Organizing Committees for the pro-Oti campaign are leaving no stone unturned, as they have taken the campaign to various Christmas convention grounds in the area to solicit for a massive turnout and an overwhelming endorsement for the new region.

Mr Daniel Bamease, acting Secretary for the Krachi East Municipal Organising Committee, told the Ghana News Agency that churches would help deliver the “yes” messages widely and effectively.

Traditional and opinion leaders have also been seen in the campaign teams moving from one church to the other ahead of the referendum.

Kofi Adams, (L) actively on the pro-Oti campaign

The campaign also has witness both sides of the major political divides, the NDC and NPP in rare unionism mobilizing support for the new region. Mr Kofi Adams, a former National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress, has been seen on the campaign trail asking the people to vote “yes” to create Oti, for development.

Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission has debunked reports of an injunction on the exercise on Thursday and has called on eligible voters in the six proposed new regions in the country to come out in their numbers on the D-day to exercise their franchise.

Mr Kafui Klutsi, Krachi East Director of the Electoral Commission, has also expressed the preparedness of the Commission to conduct the referendum.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com/with additional files from GNA/Photos from Facebook

Dr. Letsa Extends Yuletide Felicitations To Voltarians, Promises of a Brighter 2019

By

Volta Online

-

December 25, 2018

0

By: Ewoenam Kpodo | Voltaonlinegh.com |

Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa has on his own behalf and on behalf of his government, wished the people of the region “a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New year in advance.”

Dr Letsa in his Christmas message to the people urged them to enjoy the festive occasion as he assured of a brighter new year.

Furthermore, I wish to seize this opportunity to entreat all of us to enjoy this festive season and look to the future with hope, for 2019 shall be brighter and with more opportunities for us as a people of this beautiful region.”

Dr Letsa indicated that the season affords people the opportunity to reflect on their activities during the year to make better resolutions for the new year, encouraging those who could not achieve their objectives in 2018 “not to be discouraged but see the coming year as an opportunity to do better.”

He therefore called on the people to take advantage of all programmes of the current administration which are aimed at improving on the lives of the citizenry, saying, “we cannot afford to lag behind.”

He implored everyone, especially the youth to celebrate Christmas in moderation in order not put their lives and that of others in harm’s way.

The Minister also expressed appreciation to the chiefs, security services and the citizenry for their support and cooperation which had culminated into the smooth running and implementation of government policies in the region as well as the relative peace being enjoyed in the region and urged everyone to continue to say a prayer for the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his government.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Police Retrieves Stockpile of Arms ahead of Oti Referendum

By

Volta Online

-

December 24, 2018

0

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

By: KALD | Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Volta Regional Police Command has retrieved a stockpile of arms and ammunitions from a hideout at Alavanyo-Dzogbedze in the Hohoe Municipality, in the Volta Region following an intelligence-led operation last Saturday.

Items impounded during the operation included a sub-machine gun (SMG) rifle No. 63254 and one a locally manufactured short gun with large quantities of ammunitions.

According to a release from the Regional Police Command on Monday, the operation which was as a result of their “desire to ensure an incident free referendum” in the proposed Oti Region, saw the retrieval of the arms together with 61 pieces of AK 47 ammunition, eleven G3 assault rifle, seven blank AK47 ammunition and three used AK47 ammunition from a room in the area.

Though the occupant of the room had bolted, the Police command assured of efforts to apprehend person(s) behind the stockpiling, as it also cautioned “perpetrators of any offensive act to stop or face the wrath of the command.”

The statement ended with an appeal to the general public to volunteer information on the issue to the police.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Vilcabamba Holds Annual Championship

By

Volta Online

-

December 24, 2018

0

By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey | Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Centre for National Culture, Denu will be hosting the annual Table Tennis Championship organised by Hotel Vilcabamba and Micky Group Limited on Saturday, December 29, 2018.

The Championship which is open to all will have Cadet boys (Under 15), Junior boys (Under 21), Men (Under 40), Veterans, (plus 40) and female over 10 years.

The one day event which begins at 8:00am will see first 4 of each category take medals (except veterans, first 3), cash prizes, T-shirts, Certificates and possible trophy winners in each category.

The Championship which has been consistent for over 15 years will have a best of 3 for the preliminaries but best of 5 for the knockout stages. A category which will see more than 8 players will be grouped while that which will be 8 or less will play a round robin.

Coach David Senyo Ahiaba expressed his expectation of the Championship in an interview with Voltaonlinegh’s Davis Clottey (TalksenseSports).

“I am expecting that Volta will be the hub for Table Tennis. So, this will be used to unearth talents and also expose the region to other parts of Ghana. Since it is open, we even hope people from outside the country will come. We also expect a lot of people to participate.”

Vilcabamba Table Tennis Club (VTTC) will use the Championship which climaxes their year to specially honour the ladies who placed fourth at the 2018 National Table Tennis League after laurels won at the League (which ended in November) were presented to their Chairman, Thomas Kuenyefu.

VTTC, Volta’s only active Table Tennis club won the Most Improved player accolade and the Most Disciplined player accolade at the 2018 National Table Tennis League Awards on Saturday, December 8, 2018 at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Ziope D/A JHS PTA Honours Hardworking Staff

By

Volta Online

-

December 22, 2018

0

By: Fred Duhoe|Voltaonlinegh.com|

The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of Ziope D/A Junior High School in the Agotime-Ziope district has given recognition to some teachers of the school for their dedication and hard work.

The association as a way of motivating staff to continue their good work for the school presented each teacher with a piece of cloth and a certificate of honour to some deserving staff for their punctuality and dedication.

According to the PTA chairman, Mr David Domey, their gesture was to appreciate the commitment and dedication of the teachers in providing quality education to their wards.

“We the executives of the PTA took a unanimous decision to contribute some money to buy cloth for all the teachers and to award certificate to the very punctual and hardworking ones. This will go a long way to create competition among the teachers to offer their best,” he explained.

The head teacher of the school, Mr Chestertine Fiagbe who was appreciative of the gesture, said though it came to them as a surprise, it was worth it assessing performance of the school in the last Basic Education Certificate Examination.

“Our school (Ziope D.A JHS) came second in the 2017 Basic Education Certificate Examination in the Agotime-Ziope District a clear indication of our hard work and commitment to duty. We are happy the parents have recognised our inputs and we expect them as key stakeholders to help us achieve more.”

He indicated that, out of 56 pupils, comprising 16 boys and 40 girls, presented for the 2017 BECE, the school recorded between aggregates 8 and 37, a performance which was far improvement in previous exams.

Mr. Fiagbe howver noted that, in spite of their modest achievements, the school was still faced infrastructure challenges, as over 70 pupils are crowded in one class.

He, thus appealed to the authorities, especially the “Member of Parliament Mr Charles Agbeve and the government to come to our aide to put up some 3 unit classroom block for us. We also need computers to assist the children.”

Some of the pupils also expressed appreciation to their teachers for impacting knowledge in them.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Former Keta DCE Found Dead In Uncompleted Structure

By

Volta Online

-

December 21, 2018

0

The late, Edward Kofi Ahiabor, former DCE for Keta

By: Voltaonlinegh.com|

Report reaching Voltaonlinegh.com from Anloga in the Keta Municipality has it that, a former DCE for the area in the erstwhile Kufuor led NPP government, Mr. Edward Kofi Ahiabor has been found dead in an uncompleted building.

According to information gathered from sources close to the incident, the man had gone missing for a couple days now, only for his body to be found later Friday afternoon in a near-decomposing state in the uncompleted building near the father’s residence at Anloga.

Though, it is not yet clear what might have led to his death, there are speculation of a suspected suicide.

The 55 year old deceased, served as DCE for the then Keta district during the tenure of President John Agyekum Kufuor from October 2004 to December 2008.

Mr. Ahiabor was an avid farmer, who prior to his appointment was a 2-time winner of the district best farmer Award, and also holds a Masters Degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Ghana.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

‘Gov’t Must not Be Neutral when Opponents of New Regions Are Being Intimidated’

By

Volta Online

-

December 21, 2018

0

By: Ewoenam Kpodo | Voltaonlinegh.com |

A senior research fellow with Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG), Dr Kwesi Jonah has charged government to protect “No Campaigners” in the affected areas earmarked for the creation of six new regions to ensure smooth process leading to the referendum scheduled for December 27.

Dr Jonah observed that both those who are campaigning for and against the proposed additional regions, must be given the free space to convince people to either vote ‘YES’ or ‘NO’ without people being coerced to vote against their wish.

His comment was in reaction to that of the Minister of Regional Reorganisation and Development, Mr Dan Botwe, suggesting government’s neutrality in the entire process of new regions creation, during a panel discussion on the topic of Creation of New Regions on “We the People” show on Ghana Television (GTV) on Thursday between 8:00-9:00pm.

The maiden show which was moderated by the Executive Director of Institute of Democratic Governance, Dr Emmanuel Akwettey had the two panelists and some members of Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) including Volta-GJA Chairman, Mr Kafui A.B. Kanyi invited to the studio to partake in the discussion.

Dr Jonah said there had been few reports in the media suggesting acts of intimidation against people perceived to be opposing the creation of the new regions in the affected areas and mentioned that there was still the likelihood of opponents in these areas becoming targets, noting, the onus lied on government to put in measures to prevent such from happening.

According to him, proponents and opponents alike have rights to freedom of speech under the laws of this country and government cannot afford to be “neutral” when the issue of protection of rights of the citizenry comes up.

The “We the People” show is part of the GJA’s 18-month project with funding from STAR-Ghana dubbed “Enhanced Media-CSO Partnership for Inclusive Local Governance” aimed at helping the citizenry understand the essence of participation in the local governance process.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

80 Year Old Man Released, After Being Detained Over Alleged ‘Anti-Oti’ Comment

By

Volta Online

-

December 21, 2018

0

By: KALD | Voltaonlinegh.com|

An 80-year retired educationist, Mr. Edward Nyarko has regained his freedom after he was reportedly detained without charges by the Kadjebi Police for allegedly speaking against the creation of the proposed Oti Region.

Reports suggested the old man was picked up by the police at about 8:00am on Thursday after he was reportedly heard at a popular joint in the Kadjebi Township, condemning the creation of the proposed region, describing the move as unnecessary.

His son who corroborated the story to Accra based Citi FM, claimed the police told them his father was arrested on the instructions of the District Chief Executive, Maxwell Kofi Asiedu and efforts to get him released have proven futile.

According to him, “We don’t know what crime he has committed. Only the station commander came and told my brother that he is being brought there and detained for speaking against the proposed Oti Region. The Old man is still at Police custody there since morning. We’ve all been there to check on him. The station commander said he cannot do anything about it.”

This claim was however discounted by the DCE, who told the same radio station that the old man was rather arrested for championing the agenda of a secessionist group, which is clamoring for an independent Western Togoland state in the Volta region.

Nonetheless, after almost 12 hours in police custody, the man has been discharged by the police at about 10:00pm on Thursday.

This arrest comes on the back of the reports of alleged intimidation and manhandling of some ‘No’ vote campaigners in the Oti enclave.

Voltanlinegh.com learnt of an incident last week, where a man was reportedly accosted on his motorbike by the youth of Katanga in the Krachi East municipality and taken to a chief’s palace for allegedly distributing ‘Vote NO Oti region’ stickers in the area.

A ‘No’Campaigner on his knees after he was accosted by Katanga youth

The Electoral Commission is set to conduct referendum in all six proposed new regions in the country, including the Oti region on Thursday, 27th December 2018.

Ahead of that crucial constitutional exercise, the National House of Chiefs through its President, Togbe Afede XIV has called for a free and fair process on the part of the Electoral Commission and the state security apparatus in order to ensure a peaceful outcome.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Man Arrested for Defiling 10-Year Old Girl, Victim’s Family Faces Threats

By

Volta Online

-

December 21, 2018

0

By: Fred Duhoe | Voltaonlinegh.com |

Sogakope District Police in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region on Moday, arrested a 27-year old man for allegedly defiling a 10-year old class 4 pupil (name withheld) at Mafi Zongo in the Central Tongu District.

The suspect, Harrison Wobube Ahorgba, resident of Mafi Zongo was arrested and detained at Sogakope Police Station after a case of defilement was opened by Compassion Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), interested in the wellbeing of children, operating in the area.

The NGO lodged the complaint after Comboni Hospital, Sogakope revealed a forceful penetration when the victim was sent there to receive treatment.

Mother of the victim in an interview with Voltaonlinegh.com said her daughter had been bleeding for over a year which she attempted treating over the period to no avail, adding, she never suspected she was sexually abused.

“My daughter has been discharging for over a year now for which no remedy from the locally prepared medicines helped. It was later that an NGO through their health screening discovered the cause when my little girl broke the news of sexual abuse to them.

The NGO referred my girl to Comboni Hospital at Sogakope before they drew our attention.”
Disclosing her ordeal, the victim said the suspect was engaging in the act with her during school’s long break period on bare floor at home, adding, the man abused her on several occasions and threatened her into remaining silent.

“He had sex with me several times and I’ve had bruises in my vagina. I feel pain always in school. I bleed always in my panties but I couldn’t tell my parents because of the threat to kill me if I dare.”

Meanwhile, the victim’s mother alleged her family had been bastardised by family of the suspect who she said were using all means to get them (victim’s family) to discontinue the case for it to be settled at home.

“The family members keep threatening us in an attempt to compel us to bury the case but we have no say in the case because the NGO has taken up the matter.

“We’re extra careful in our going to farm for fear of attacks on the way. I really feel like running away from the town to have my peace with the kids,” she added.

Checks with Compassion Ghana confirmed the NGO was leading the case to have the suspect face the law for his acts.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Volta Police Invites Radio Host, Panelist for “Insulting” Pres. Akufo-Addo

By

Volta Online

-

December 21, 2018

0

DCOP Doku — DCOP Francis Doku, Volta Regional Police Commander

By: KALD| Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Sogakope Divisional Police command has begun investigations into a complaint against the morning show host of Sela Radio, a local station at Dabala in the South Tongu district, one Mr. Mohammed and a panelist, Mr. Luis Adjin over an alleged insulting comment against the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The complaint filed against the two persons by the constituency chairperson of the New Patriotic party, Madam Grace Kutu-Acheampong, accused the radio host, of allowing the 73-year old social commentator cum panelist, to insult the president as a “foolish man and bogus man” during last Friday’s edition of the station’s ‘Tomenya’ morning show.

Voltaonlinegh.com gathered Mr. Adjin who is a retired educationist made the alleged comments during a discussion on the proposed new national holidays put before parliament by the government for ratification.

The police in a 19^th December 2018 letter to the manager of the station, captioned, ‘Abetment of Crime to wit offensive conduct conducive to breach the Peace…’ and signed by the Divisional Crime officer, ASP Joseph Nakoja, requested for the morning show host to report with the said panelist to the Divisional command today, Friday, 21^st December, 2018 to help with investigations.

Excerpts of the letter sighted by voltaonlinegh.com, read the “Police was told that on 14^th December 2018 at 10:30am, Mohammed allegedly permitted Mr. Adjin on the show to insult the President of the Republic of Ghana, to wit, ‘foolish man and bogus man.”

“Gratefully release Mr. Mohammed of yours to report to the divisional crime officer at Sogakope on 21^st December 2018 at 9:00am to assist with investigation. He is also advised to come along with Mr. Adjin and audio recording to aid the investigation.”

This latest action from the police comes, on the back of a recent arrest of two men for allegedly attempting to cast a spell on the president and six others at a shrine in connection with the impending referendum for the creation of the proposed Oti region.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com