The assembly's task force putting a shop under lock
By: Obrempongba Kwame Owusu | Voltaonlinegh.com |
Nkwanta South Municipal Assembly in the Volta Region has closed down over 50 businesses and shops for defaulting to pay their business operating permits to the assembly as established under section 79 of the Local Government Act.
The closing down of the shops on Thursday was as a result of a comprehensive tax campaign embarked upon by the assembly to clamp down on tax defaulters and also to encourage residents to honour their tax obligations to increase the assembly’s domestic revenue targets.
Some business and shop owners who refused to speak with the media were seen fighting with revenue collectors during the exercise.
The Municipal Director of the assembly, Alhaji Yussif Ibrahim indicated that the objective was to clamp down on more business owners that had defaulted in the payment of their taxes in the coming days.
According to him, the move by the assembly management and the revenue mobilisation units formed part of efforts to improve upon tax compliance in the country.
He further urged business operators to contribute their quota by paying their tax to the assembly to increase social intervention policies and accelerate development in the area.
The 6-unit classroom block for Tordzinu D/A Primary School
By: Tabitha Kugbonu | Voltaonlinegh.com |
The South Tongu District Assembly in the Volta Region has handed over a 6-unit classroom block with ancillary facility to Ghana Education Service (GES) on Wednesday to be used by Tordzinu D/A Primary School in the district.
The District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) funded-project commenced on October 20, 2015 and was awarded to Dekpey Company Limited from Akatsi at an estimated cost of Gh₵347,887.10.
The new building provides relief and serene atmosphere to enhance teaching and learning. The facility consists of 6-unit classroom block, office, store, library and 2-Seater KVIP institutional latrine.
District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Emmanuel Louis Agama in commissioning the building, stated that the assembly was handing over the building to the school to serve as an inheritance to the school and the community at large.
DCE, Mr Agama commissioning the classroom block at Tordzinu
Mr Agamah therefore urged pupils to learn very hard promising that the best pupil of the school to score from grade 6 to 15 in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) shall receive Gh₵500.00 from him (the DCE) as a reward for his/her hard work.
He pledged the assembly’s continued support to the school in various dimensions in order for the school to have access to quality education.
Headmaster of the school, Mr Fredmond Agbeli expressed his satisfaction about the school building and other developmental projects the assembly was undertaking in their area.
He gave a brief history of the school, saying, it was established in 1962 in someone’s house but the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) together with other stakeholders played a vital role for the school to reach its current state with an enrolment of the school being 261 and teachers, 14.
Mr Agbeli appealed to the assembly to provide the school with potable water, desks and classroom block for the junior high school and also, enough latrines for the school.
An official from South Tongu GES office, Mr Mark-Peter Dumatonu noted that “education is the key to success” urging the pupils to learn hard and become great men some day.
Chief of Tordzinu, Togbe Tsifodze Dzamesi pleaded with the assembly to avail themselves whenever they bring their concerns to them.
Daasebre Atamafowiese Bonja II, the Paramount Chief of Chonke Traditional Area in the Krachi-Nchumuru District of the Volta Region has appealed to the government to as matter of urgency, provide the area with a district hospital to cater for the health needs of the people.
This, he said was necessary because the only health facility, situated at Borae No.2, serving the area lacks infrastructure and the needed logistics hence, unable to meet critical health needs of residents.
He made this call during the annual Chonke Yam Festival at Borae No.2.
He appealed to the government to upgrade the Borae Clinic to enable the facility attend to critical health issues of residents as the next hospital is over 50 miles away.
He also lamented that Krachi-Nchumuru District has no hospital to serve the people making access to health delivery in the area very difficult.
He therefore appealed to government to build a befitting hospital to serve the people of the area.
Some residents who spoke to Voltaonlinegh.com added their voices to that of the Paramount Chief, lamenting about the situation and called on the government to construct a hospital in the area to meet the health needs of the people.
The Nefahene of Guan-Kyode Traditional Area in the Nkwanta South Municipality of the Volta Region has laid curses on people who are opposing the creation of the proposed Oti Region, wishing the opposing factions be struck down by the gods of the area.
Nana Sey Mireku laid the curse while pouring libation at his palace at Nkwanta. He called on the gods of the area to intervene as their demand for the Oti Region had been over 40 years.
He added that people living in the Oti enclave had been deprived of social amenities for long, thus, the need for a new region to be carved out from the current Volta Region to enhance socio-economic development in the area.
He warned chiefs from the south to stop claiming ownership of lands in the northern part of the Volta Region.
The Paramount Chief of Challah, Nana Addo Chedri Kenawu II also cautioned the southern chiefs, indicating, residents of the Oti area owe no allegiance to Ewes neither are they slaves to the south.
He rather advised the detractors of the proposed region to remain calm and prepare for peaceful referendum.
Some youth flying the Yes for Oti flags
Regarding the upcoming referendum, Nkwanta South Youth for Oti had already taken it upon themselves by flying ‘Yes for Oti’ flags to raise awareness for residents to vote massively for the Oti Region to come to fruition.
The proposed Oti Region is among six new regions that are expected to be created across the country.
A referendum to determine the creation of the new regions is scheduled to take place on December 27, 2018.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will on November 28 determine a case brought before it challenging holding the referendum in only the affected areas instead of entire regions to be divided.
The District Chief executive (DCE) for Central Tongu, Thomas Moore Zonyrah has urged all within the district to keep hopes alive as the Nana Addo government works assiduously to fulfill all promises made to the people of Ghana prior to his election as president.
The DCE in addressing a town hall meeting on Wednesday said government was on course as some of the promises made including Planting for food and Jobs, 1District-1 Factory (1D1F) and 1 million dollars per constituency have so far been delivered.
“We have had our fair share of government policies and projects so far. We have received our 1 million dollar per constituency as promised by the president, planting for food and jobs is ongoing with over 5000 farmers registered so far.”
Mr Zonyrah revealed the 1D1F had already materialised in his district with a company currently into greenhouse vegetables production and had so far, employed 65 workers from the district.
He also mentioned that some 200 graduates had been posted to the district under the NABCO programme recently launched.
The town hall meeting afforded the citizens the opportunity to ascertain some facts from government representatives to enhance policy formation and decision making.
The Ministry of Information in collaboration with the Information Services Department (ISD) had engaged almost all the 25 assemblies in the Volta Region.
Volta Regional Director of ISD, Mr Stephen Adzah expatiated on achievements of government so far and was of the firm belief that government was on course and all must support the various initiatives to the benefit of the ordinary Ghanaians.
“Government has so far rolled out a number of social policies such as the free Senior High School which almost everyone is benefiting from directly or indirectly. NABCO has so far recruited some 100,000 youths who hitherto would have been home by now but through the great leadership of President Nana Akufo-Addo, these young graduates will be working in different sectors and start receiving some Gh₵700 for upkeep.”
Central Tongu District is the second to last district in the region to have engaged citizens as stakeholders in development.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Central Tongu Constituency, Hon Alexander Gabby Hotordze has touted his achievement since becoming the MP listing among other things, a number of schools, health facilities and other social projects he had undertaken in his service to the people.
The MP mentioned this to the citizens of the area at a town hall meeting at Mafi Kumase.
Giving an account of his expenditure from the MPs Common Fund, he disclosed some of the projects he had had undertaken and hinted of those in the pipeline.
“I have given close to 500 street lights to be fixed at vantage points within the district to enhance visibility at night. All junior high schools in the district will benefit from free exercise books while I’ve made efforts to resource the circuit supervisors at Ghana Education Service (GES).”
He added “support has been given to the health sector and the police service in the district and this I hope to continue to progressively see our district develop.”
The town hall meeting offered Mr Hotordze the opportunity to brief his people on happenings and recent laws that had been passed in parliament.
“We have so far as minority approved two significant laws and the third one being the Right to Information (RTI) Bill will soon be passed. As for the loans, we keep approving it for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government even though that’s not what they promised us.”
Town hall meetings, an initiative of the Ministry of Information (MoI) in collaboration with the Information Services Department (ISD) aim at interacting with the various segments of the society and explaining to the general public government and assemblies’ programmes and policies.
The South Dayi District Director of Health, Patience Nunoo has labeled co-payment at the various National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) credentialed health facilities across the country including South Dayi as a necessary.
According to Madam Nunoo, although co-payment is bad and must not be encouraged, some situations at the health facilities require co-payment to save lives.
She was speaking at a stakeholders forum on co-payment on Tuesday at the South Dayi District Assembly.
The forum followed findings from a recent survey conducted by the District National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) which revealed that all the 11 health facilities in the district (1 District hospital, 1 CHAG, 5 health centres and 4 CHPS compounds) were illegally taking money from NHIS card holders.
Some participants at the forum
Presenting the findings at the forum, the District Manager of NHIA, Mawuko Tsigbey said “pregnant women seeking ante-natal and delivery services are the worst victims of these illegal fees because they are made to pay the highest amounts compared to clients seeking general out-patient department (OPD) services.”
“These illegal fees were being collected at various units in the health facilities including the consulting room, laboratory, maternity unit, dispensary,” the survey added.
Co-payment is the illegal practice of NHIA credentialed healthcare provider charging a valid NHIS card holder a fee for services or medicines/treatments provided that are covered under the NHIS benefits package.
Currently, the country’s insurance model does not permit for a card holder and the NHIA to share the cost of treatment for conditions covered by the Scheme’s benefits package. Put simply, a condition and its treatment that is covered by the Scheme is covered fully and if it is not covered, the client bears the full cost of such treatment.
The Health Director said the health facilities struggle to provide health care to clients mentioning delays by the NHIA in reimbursing them and high prices of acquiring the items for the care delivery than what is on the NHIA tariff, thus, resulting in passing the difference to the patient.
The Acting Medical Supt of Peki Government Hospital, Dr Alphonse Makafui Dzakpasu who shared similar views with the Health Director said, their focus as health practitioners, is on delivery of quality health care and not just delivering health care.
Although he registered his displeasure about co-payments, he explained that sometimes situations compel them to suggest medicines to patients when those covered under the Scheme proved to lack the potency to cure their sicknesses.
The District Chief Executive for the area, Ernest Patrick Kojo Mallet observed that there was the need for consultations between key stakeholders in order to resolve complaints of low prices of NHIS service and medicine tariffs which seemingly were to blame for issues of co-payment.
Mr Emmanuel Avinu who represented Regional NHIA Manager called on health care providers to comply with the policy direction of the Scheme, explaining that the Authority has prosecutorial mandate to take on providers caught attempting to defraud the system.
He said the NHIA intends working on prompt payment of claims and asked that complaints of low NHIS tariffs should be communicated through the proper channels for review so as not to defeat the very purpose for which government established the Scheme.
Volta Best Radio at the recently held 23rd Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards, Kekeli Radio 102.9 has organised the biggest ever Ewe musical competition dubbed, Kekeli Ewe Music Festival.
The event which took place on Sunday at E.P. Church Elorm Parish, Ho-Bankoe formed part of activities lined up to herald the 5th anniversary celebration of the award-winning radio station later in December this year.
Kekeli Ewe Music Festival according to the Programmes Manager of Kekeli Radio, Israel Abotsivia, was meant to showcase the rich culture of the Ewe people through drumming and dancing.
He said, it was informed of the desire to let the listeners of the radio station feel a part of the celebration and the best way to rope everyone else in was through the binding force, music.
Chief Executive Officer of the Ho-based Kekeli Radio, a subsidiary station of Jubilee Radio 106. 9, Keta (the first private radio station in the region), Rev Norkplim Adikah called on the people to appreciate the Ewe language and be proud to speak it anywhere.
Rev Norkplim Adikah addressing patrons while the MCs look on
According to him, the language is an international one and offers great opportunities to its speakers, thus, the need for it to be taken serious.
The event which attracted huge number of patrons including traditional rulers and music experts saw impressive performances from a list of Ewe music genres including borborbor and agbadza which were part of four categories that performing groups numbering about 20 from various districts, contested in to win the bragging right as the champion group for the first ever Ewe musical concert to be organised in the region.
The contest started off with Choral Music, then Borborbor, Agbadza, and Unique Performance including atsyiagbekor by carefully selected performers.
Patrons were kept thrilled during the performance which started some minutes after 3 in the afternoon and travelled deep into the night (few minutes to midnight). Also, Solomon Ahiable and Rejoice Fiamor (both presenters at the station) who co-emceed the event constantly kept patrons gingered up with their witty jokes and dance moves.
The judges for the night
At the end, Asogli Unity Borborbor, Ho-Bankoe beat off competitions in their category to emerge winners. New Generation from Agortime-Wodome carried the day for the Agbadza category. For the Unique Performance, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Youth, Ho-Depot were winners while St Anthony Catholic Church, Christ the King Choir from Sokode- Gbogame sang to victory in the Choral Music category.
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Youth were declared the overall winners. Three groups, Israel Group, Good News Choir and CYB all from the host, E.P. Church Elorm Parish, Ho-Bankoe won Special, Well Behaved and Well Dressed awards respectively.
The champions were presented with awards as well as plaques for their rewards.
Patrons who Voltaonlinegh.com spoke to expressed excitement and asked that the Kekeli Radio should make Kekeli Ewe Music Festival an annual event.
The Registrar of the Volta Region House of Chiefs, Mr. Harry A. Attipoe has advised chiefs who are fond of bailing persons guilty of social crimes to stop such practice in their various areas.
According to Mr. Attipoe, it is very common in the Volta Region as well as other parts of the country to see chiefs and other key personalities in communities intervening to prevent the law enforcement agencies from dealing with perpetrators.
He said many chiefs nowadays use their powers to prevent the police and courts from playing their roles any time youth in their areas falls foul of the law.
He appealed to the chiefs not to undermine the works of the various law enforcement agencies aimed at deterring wrongdoers in their communities.
He made this known during a sensitisation workshop organised by the Volta House of Chiefs under the auspices of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs in the Hohoe Municipality.
The workshop was aimed at building the capacity of the chiefs, queen mothers, and kingmakers from Lolobi, Akpafu, Likpe, Santrokofi and Gbi traditional arears on how to prevent chieftaincy disputes in their areas.
Mr. Attipoe who was the facilitator at the workshop, advised the chiefs to obey the Constitution and Chieftaincy Acts to enable peaceful environment and reigns.
He advised kingmakers to desist from exchanging the traditions of the people for money and charged them to follow due procedures before installation of chiefs and queen mothers. The participants were also charged to stay away from active politics and social media in chieftaincy issues.
He disclosed that some chiefs in the region lack the financial muscle and called on well-to-do individuals to support their traditional rulers.
Most of the about 120 participants who attended the workshop expressed gratitude to the House of Chiefs and called on the Registrar to continually engage them.
The chiefs also appealed to the government to extend support to their traditional councils, sub and divisional chiefs to enable them play their roles as chiefs.
Similar workshop had been held in about 10 traditional areas and is expected to cover all the 120 traditional councils in the region before 2019.
The First National Vice Chair of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Anita De-Soso is concerned all aspirants from the Volta Region have lost out in the party’s 9th National Delegates Congress.
Anita De-Soso said it is a cause for worry that “there is no Voltarian in the game…”, urging the party to subject the outcome to deep thinking.
Although the results for National Chairmanship for the party in which veteran politician Dan Abodakpi was contesting were yet to be announced at the time of the interview, the former National Women’s Organiser revealed to Joy News he lost.
According to her, this development will not affect the NDC during the 2020 election if only the party finds a good way to “massage” the outcome of the Congress.
The Volta Region is said to be the World Bank of the opposition NDC as the party garners the majority of its votes from the region during general elections.
Mrs De-Soso who told Joy News she had lost out on the National Organiser position even before the results were declared said she is happy because, after 39 years in politics, she ventured into a male-dominated area.
She said those who have gotten the mandate to serve should do their best and urged the party members to unite towards victory in 2020.
“There were few women against 23 men contesting for different positions…if that is what they [delegates] want so be it…I have made my name and I will continue to enjoy myself in the party,” she said.
She said no one should feel slighted for losing out but respect the decision of the delegates.
She called on the new leaders to lace their boots and know that the race toward election 2020 has already begun.
