Ziope D/A JHS PTA Honours Hardworking Staff

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December 22, 2018

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

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December 21, 2018

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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’

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December 21, 2018

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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

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December 21, 2018

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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

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December 21, 2018

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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

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December 21, 2018

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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

Nat’l Hse of Chiefs Calls for Free & Fair Referendum Process for New Regions

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Volta Online

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December 20, 2018

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By: KALD | Voltaonlinegh.com |

With barely a week to the first ever referendum for the creation of the proposed six new regions in the country, President of the National House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV has called on players involved in the exercise to ensure free and fair process.

According to him, people ought to freely express their views and campaign ‘for’ or ‘against’ the proposed regions devoid of any intimidation.

The EC is set to conduct referendum in the proposed Oti, Ahafo, Western North, Bono East, North East and Savannah regions on Thursday, December 27, 2018.

But ahead of the exercise, there have been reports of alleged intimidation and manhandling of some ‘No’ vote campaigners in the northern part of the Volta region, which is earmarked for the proposed Oti region.

Just this past weekend, Voltanlinegh.com has learnt of an incident, 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.

However speaking at a meeting of the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi on Wednesday, Togbe Afede charged the security agencies not to take side in the process but rather give protection to both sides of the divide in order to ensure a congenial environment for the referendum.

The Asogli paramount chief also urged the Electoral Commission to conduct the referendum in a free, fair and transparent manner; as he entreated his fellow traditional leaders to ensure peace and tranquility prevails in the country regardless of the outcome of the exercise.

Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has enjoined Ghanaians not to see the creation of the proposed new regions, which is the first of its kind under a democratic constitution, as a secession attempt by the proponents.

Speaking at a media encounter at the Jubilee house on Wednesday, the president stated that, “The people who seek new regions are not seeking to secede from Ghana – they are Ghanaian citizens who are seeking new administrative structures to guide their lives by a constitutionally-sanctioned process within the Ghanaian space.”

He therefore called for a peaceful and incident-free exercise, as he expressed his trust in the new leadership of the Electoral Commission to pass their first test of organizing a free, fair, transparent poll.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

NNEKA Youth Foundation fetes over 800 Children At Carols Service

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Volta Online

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December 20, 2018

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Nneka Carols (2) — some school children performing during the carol service

By: Rita Nedjoh|Voltaonlinegh.com|

It was early Christmas for some 800 school children in the Afadzato South district as they were treated to a party by a non-governmental organization, NNEKA Youth Development Foundation.

The party was part of the charity’s festival of Nine Lessons and Carols service, which saw the participation of eleven public and two private basic schools in the Ve area.

The service held at the Nneka Development centre at Ve-Agbome on Wednesday had pupils and teachers from the participating schools reading the nine lessons amidst cultural performances and carols competition.

some school children performing during the carol service

At the end of the performances, the Ve- Deme D/A Junior High School were crowned winners of the competition, with Ve-Golokuati D/A JHS and Golokuati E.P basic schools emerging first and second runner-ups respectively.

This was followed by feasting and merry making as the NGO provided food, drinks and clothes to all students present ahead of the Christmas festivity.

Founder of the foundation, Madam Cecilia Fiaka said the rationale for the programme was to give platform to the students to showcase their various talents and also give them the opportunity to experience extra-curricular activities.

Madam Fiaka, founder of Nneka , standing from Right

She explained that, the children in the rural areas do not usually have the opportunity to participate in such of extra-curricular programmes which will help them to believe in themselves.

According to “The various things that happen in the cities that add-up to the curriculum of the education, these children do not have it, which is why we try to give a platform to these children to believe in themselves.”

She noted that the programme targeted at 400 school children, ended up with over 800 students in attendance which indicated that they were missing out a lot from the extra-curricular activities and they are happy to participate in the “NNEKA Christmas carols service”.

Madam Fiaka indicated that, through these activities, the foundation was fulfilling its objective of helping solve the challenges of school drop-outs, curb teenage pregnancy and drug abuse among the youth in the rural areas and to promote education.

NNEKA Youth Development Foundation was founded in 2012 with 500 children from 10 communities. The foundation is now operating in over 200 communities in 11 districts in the Volta and Greater Accra regions.

According to her, the foundation has opened an ICT library in the Ve-Agbome for the five Ve communities and also stocked eleven school libraries with books.

Also, the foundation which relies on the benevolence of donors and volunteers for its programmes and activities, madam Fiaka noted has trained over 51 teachers to run the after school reading programme for children in addition to a “vocational and entrepreneurial path way programme” being run for teenage mothers.

The Public Relation Officer of the Afadzato South directorate of Ghana Education Service, Mr. Raymond Kubuafor who was present at the program advised the students to be of good behavior as they proceed on vacation, Adding that, they should stay away from sexual activities and drug abuse as they celebrate the Christmas festivity.

Other officials at the programmes were Circuit Supervisor for Ve-South, Madam Patience Ahorgli, and Mr. Noah Adorbor, Coordinator of private schools, among others.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Volta NHIA Staff Outdoors *929# Mobile Renewal Service with a Float

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Volta Online

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December 20, 2018

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By: KALD|Voltaonlinegh.com|

Staff of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in the Volta region on Wednesday embarked on street float in the regional capital, to outdoor the newly introduced Mobile Membership Renewal Service.

The staff drawn from the Regional office and nearby district offices clad in branded T-shirts and marched through the principal streets of Ho amidst brass band music to announce the new mobile short code, *929# through which the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) subscribers can conveniently renew their membership using their mobile phones.

Led by the Regional Director, Mr. Joseph Homenya and other management members, the enthusiastic staff marched briskly from the Volta Regional Hospital taxi rank, through the Housing road to Asigame (central market), Raymakossa traffic light to Civic centre, Post office junction to Ministries before rounding up at the premises of NHIA Regional office on the Old traffic to SIC road.

Mr. Homenya, (2nd from Right ) leading the float

The national launch of the mobile renewal service which was done concurrently by the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on behalf of the president, also coincided with the 15^th anniversary of the introduction of the NHIS by the erstwhile Kufuor administration in 2003.

Speaking on the significance of the new service, the Regional Director said, the introduction of the mobile renewal system has ushered the health insurance scheme into a whole new era of efficient and convenient service delivery to its clients.

He said the *929# affords the over 10 million active NHIS subscribers nationwide to renew their scheme membership using any kind of mobile phone across all networks, without having to travel and spend long hours at the district offices just to do so.

The service, according to Mr. Homenya will also give subscribers constant reminders through SMS on the expiration of their members, among other benefits it provides both the authority and health care providers also well.

He thus, entreated NHIA staff to intensify public education to ensure its patronage in order to reduce the high turnouts at the offices for renewal.

Endorsement

Prior to the launch, management of NHIA in the region joined by some officials from the national head office had engagements with some key stakeholders, including the Regional minister, the media and traditional authorities to brief them on how the mobile renewal service works.

Togbe Adzie Lakle Howusu XII, chief of Ho Dome and Warlord of the Asogli state, expressed excitement about the service after he was briefed by the NHIA Deputy Director in charge of Corporate Affairs, Mr Oswald Esuah-Mensah.

He described the NHIS mobile renewal service as a game changer, which will bring much relieve to subscribers who in some instances virtually sleep over at the NHIA offices just to renew their membership.

He thus threw his support for the service and pledged to lead sensitization about it among his fellow traditional leaders, stating that, “this is a very good initiative which must be made work.”

Similarly, the Volta regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa expressed delight about the innovation and was optimistic it would also help check fraud in the system as it will afford the scheme to verify claims submitted by service providers from subscribers and only pay for services that are provided.

NHIS officials with the Regional Minister

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

UNDP Urges Businesses to Use SDGs as Framework for Impact Investment

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December 20, 2018

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By: Shallom Lumor | Voltaonlinegh.com |

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has urged businesses in the private sector to use the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework for impact investment in Ghana.

The call was made by the Acting Resident Representative of UNDP Ghana, Ms. Gita Welch in a keynote address at the 2018 Ghana Impact Dialogue held in Accra by the Global Steering Group (GSG) on the theme “Creating a Ghanaian Impact Economy”.

Ms. Welch emphasised that impact investment is crucial for the achievement of the SDGs as it brings more philanthropic and private money into the development system to drive powerful social change.

“Through the process of allocating resources for products and services, the private sector could make returns to expand the interest in making purposeful, replicable, measurable and impactful investments which would have powerful consequences for social change within our communities.”

She added that, in line with the vision of “Ghana Beyond Aid”, developing an ecosystem for impact investment is very important as this will complement traditional types of development financing with philanthropic, private and blended capital to enhance shared value.

Ms. Welch indicated that UNDP has established SDG Impact Facility at the global level to support businesses to adapt and transform their core strategies to deliver financial, social and environmental performance, and to use the SDGs as the basis for engaging in untapped markets.

Citing specific examples of UNDP’s impact investment initiatives in Ghana, she noted that UNDP was facilitating a Multi-Stakeholder Waste Resource Platform, which is a digitally-enabled one stop shop solution to connect key stakeholders to promote waste recovery in the country.

She also stated that the Country Office was supporting a South-South Cooperation and match-making opportunities between businesses from Ghana and other countries from the South, one of which will be resulting in a joint venture to establish a solar photovoltaic plant in Ghana.

Panelists during a discussion agreed that businesses should focus more on the environmental impacts of their activities and not only on the social impacts. They also explored how the private sector can be a hub for testing new ideas; driving a culture of using data to inform decisions at all sectors and supporting a transformation of the educational system to shift from knowledge acquisition to skills application.

The dialogue also witnessed the launch of a report on the State of Impact Investing in Ghana. Presenting key findings from the report, Ms. Krizstina Tora, Marketing and Development Director of the Global Steering Group, noted that impact investment in Ghana is growing, mainly due to Government interventions to increase the supply of capital in the market.

She however indicated that there was still a great deal of opportunities for policy makers to work with investors to further enhance the sector.

The report made recommendations including the need for a common platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing among stakeholders to promote start-ups and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across Ghana as means of attracting more impact investments.

The 2018 Ghana Impact Dialogue was an initiative by the Global Steering Group (GSG) for Impact Investment, in partnership with the Department for International Development (DFID). It brought together key stakeholders from Ghana and beyond for a collaborative dialogue on Ghana’s future as an impact economy.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com