The Central Tongu District Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) Mama Hodzige II has asked Ghanaians to desist from discriminating against persons living with disability (PWDs) especially children.
Mama Hodzige II gave the caution on Monday when officials of the NCCE visited some schools in the Central Tongu District in the Volta Region to raise awareness on child protection on the theme “Non Discrimination against Children Living with Disability”.
She called on architects to be current and design school buildings that are disability friendly to enable PWDs have access to such buildings with ease.
She said it saddens her to see government and church buildings with no plans made for persons living with disability to access them.
Mama Hodzige II urged school children and parents to accept children living with disability so that they will also feel part of society.
She also warned students to stop teasing or making discouraging statements against their colleagues who are PWDs and decried how some school children living with disability are forced to drop out of school due to victimisation from fellow students.
By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey | Voltaonlinegh.com |
The Volta Regional Boxing Federation (VRBF) has presented 6 boxers to participate in the National Boxing Individual Championship at the Sports Hall of the Accra Sports Stadium.
The Championship organised by the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF) to select boxers to form the Black Bombers team begins today, October 4 to Saturday, October 6, 2018.
Volta has paraded Afagbedzi Prosper, Dorgbetor Holy, Wisdom Agbogbleamenu and Adzewoda Bernard. The other two include last year’s National Sports Festival Bronze winner in the flyweight division, Nana Antwi and Osei Maxwell.
Abubakar Sadick Akake who is the Volta Regional Boxing Head Coach believes his boys can make an impact at the Championship.
“In fact, we have been training for the national Games for long and we are well prepared. We have been training since we heard the news of the indefinite postponement of the Games at Cape Coast. I believe in my boys and I know at the end of the Championship, we will get some of them into the team. We don’t have any threat from any Region; we are just prepared for the task ahead.”
Weigh in took place at the Bukom Boxing Arena in the early hours of Thursday and was followed by a technical meeting for all ring officials. The Championship has become necessary as the GBF must prepare the Bombers adequately for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games after the previous team from Australia was dissolved.
President of the Ghana Boxing Federation, George Lamptey in an interview with Voltaonlinegh.com said they are yet to receive any support for the 3-day tournament.
“As I speak to you, we are yet to receive sponsorship after we sent out letters to attract people to come on board but none has shown any commitment. We have to do this Championship to raise the Black Bombers team.”
“We invited all regions but we are yet to hear from the coaches. Volta, Upper West, Central and Ashanti are the regions I have seen so far,” he added.
The event is expected to begin at 4pm in all weight categories, with the technical team keen on selecting good boxers for the Black Bombers.
Mr. Dan Abodakpi, former Member of Parliament (MP) for Keta who is aspiring for the chairmanship position of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has promised to transform the NDC from the grassroots to the national levels, when elected to man the party at its upcoming national delegates conference.
The former government appointee and founding member of the NDC said there are cracks within the party following its humiliating defeat to the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2016 general elections which must be well dealt with before next general elections in 2020.
According to him, when given the nod to steer the affairs of the party, he will work to resolve the conflicts and as well, restore the core values of the party to mobilise support for victory 2020.
Mr. Dan Abodakpi made the promise in Ho where he met and interacted with some party executives/delegates and the press to kick-start his regional campaign.
He noted that when he becomes the chairman, he will “heal wounds in the party” and unite members beyond unity walk to ensure fairness.
“I’ll go beyond unity walks and reach the grassroots for proper healing because our grassroots cannot be taken for granted.”
Mr. Abodakpi who is also a founder of some party cadres said he will work to ensure full participation of these groups to coordinate activities towards the party’s victory.
The former minister of Trade and Industry was of the view that his election will represent a new hope for the party to mobilise and reconnect to its members and to ensure progress of the party.
The Asogli State Council has cautioned government and all key actors in the creation of the proposed Oti Region out of the Volta Region to adhere to the 1992 constitution for peace to prevail.
The Council believed the processes so far from the commission of enquiry to the limited voter registration exercise and the proposed referendum later this year to determine the creation of the new region had not been fair to citizens at the southern and middle belt of the region who are in the majority.
Addressing a press conference in Ho on Tuesday, Togbe Adzi Lakle Howusu XII, Warlord of Asogli said the Council fears this unconstitutional manner in which the process is being carried out can pose a threat to the peace currently being enjoyed in the region and demands that the authorities go by constitutional means.
“We find these developments worrisome and therefore wish to state our position unequivocally that the creation of the Oti region involves the alteration of the existing boundaries of the Volta Region. Therefore, the entire Volta Region must be allowed to take part in the referendum and it must not be limited to only the area earmarked for the Oti Region.”
He said creation of new regions results in alteration of existing boundaries arguing, “if one of the issues to be decided in such a referendum is the boundary of a new region, then it is difficult to see how voting could be limited to only people within an assumed boundary and not the entire region.”
The Council on behalf of the chiefs and people of Asogli and their brothers in the south said they are not against the creation of the proposed Oti Region but only demanding that due process be followed as provided for in chapter 2 of the Constitution.
The Council added that they are not exerting or attempting to exert dominion over those in the Oti enclave.
“We also want to add that the Ewes have never sought domination over the other tribes in the region, even though we are in the majority. Volta’s population comprises: Ewes 73.8%, Akans 2.8%, Ga Dangme 1.5%, Guan 8.1%, Gruma 11.3%, others 2.5%. But out of the six regional ministers we have had since 2001, three were non-Ewes from the northern part of the region: Hon. Kwasi Owusu-Yeboah, the late Hon. Henry Ford Kamel and Hon. Helen Ntoso.”
By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey |Voltaonlinegh.com |
Old Students of Koforidua Sec Tech and Aburi Girls emerged overall winners of the maiden edition of the Eastern Konnect Games held at the Athletics Oval of the University of Ghana, Legon.
The MMARIMA MMA achieved that feat after amassing 90 points out of the Games that was held on Saturday, September 29 including, tug of war, lime & spoon, sack race, 100m, 4x50m, 50m and soccer in the male division.
ANSEC, placed second with 80 points after making a semifinal berth in soccer while GHANASS occupied the 3rd spot with 60 points. SUTESCO, POJOSS, ODASCO and ABUSCO followed in that order with 50, 40, 35 and 25 points respectively.
Surprisingly, PERSCO, who emerged winners of the male soccer game placed 8th with an overall point of 15. The Nkwatia-based school’s old students had to beat SUTESCO 1-0 on penalties after a barren draw in the first game and went on to defeat SECTECH in the first semi’s 2-1 on penalties. PERSCO then clashed with SUTESCO again in the finals, after the ABENFO qualified to the last four as they were the best losers in the 6-team soccer game. PERSCO who endured the counter attacks of SUTESCO with wasted several chances in the game they dominated finally won on penalties by 3-2.
SUTESCO became the second team to score 2-0 in regulation time against ANSEC in the second semi-final after the latter saw off POJOBA in the same score line during the 3rd prelims. Overall male winners, SECTECH, however reached the semis after a 1-0 win against ODASCO in the second prelims played.
In the female division, ABUGISS won it with 75 points and were closely followed by ANSEC who really showed class in the penalty shoot outs with 60 points. KROGISS managed a 3 position with 50 points while ROSA had 45 in 4th while ODASCO and GHANASS followed with 25 and 10 points respectively.
Aburi Girls in blue
ABUGISS dominated in the Tug of war, 4x50m, 100m and the Lime & Spoon games to gain the bragging rights alongside SECTECH on the fun pack day which saw lots of Jama, Music & dance, food and drinks.
Though he first edition attract a large crowd, is purpose of gathering to network and help improve upon the education and extra curricula activities of the Eastern Region schools was realised.
As one of the targets of Eastern Konnect, it will be supplying 15,000 books on elective subjects to the 12 schools which participated in the games.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkwanta South in the Volta Region, Hon. Geoffrey Kini has called on supporters of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in his constituency to avoid factionalism and all other negative actions which have the tendency to thwart efforts of bringing the party back to power in the upcoming elections.
According to him, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo and his New patriotic party (NPP) government have already failed Ghanaians and so, there is the need for NDC supporters to bury their differences, forge ahead in unity in order to wrestle power from the current government so as to put the country back on track.
He made this call on Saturday when he joined a number of party supporters in a unity health walk at Nkwanta.
NDC supporters at the unity health walk
He added that the NPP government has not kept its campaign promises of 1 million dollars per constituency, 1 District 1 Factory, 1 Village 1 Dam and must therefore be shown the exit in the 2020 elections.
Mr. Kini went on to say that “the marginal depreciation of the cedi and cost of electricity are signs that the NPP has failed. It is a sign that the NDC is a better choice.”
Nana Mprah Besemuna III, Paramount Chief of Krachi in the Volta Region and also Chairman of the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) of Oti Movement, a group advocating for the creation of a new region out of the Volta Region said they deserve a region of their own.
According to him, the views of citizens from the southern parts of the region and those in diaspora that the northern part belongs to the Ewes are incorrect.
“It appears that the Ewes think that they are the colonisers and we are the colonised. You know we have our land and you have your land, if we say we don’t want certain arrangement we have the right to say it.”
“We don’t know the Ewes until 1950s when the Germans brought us together and we had brought clearly defined boundaries that we only joined the Ewes, we were not under them,” he added.
He cautioned Ewe chiefs against claiming ownership of the northern territory saying, “if you say they are grabbing your land, you have no land here. I warn any chief in Ewe land who will say that he has territories in this area.”
Nana Mprah Besemuna said citizens in the Oti enclave were ready and awaiting the referendum which is scheduled for December this year and urged them to come out in their numbers to vote for the realisation of the proposed Oti Region.
“We want to also see everything that the south has or everything that all other regions in Ghana have,” he added.
The Krachiwura who was speaking in an interview with Voltaonlinegh following comments by some Ewes accusing the current government of working to partition the region along ethnic lines, said their demand for the new region was only to speed up development in those areas but not to create conflicts between the north and south of the region.
Some 9 out of the 25 administrative districts in the region are expected to become part of the proposed Oti Region with plans of carving out Lolobi, Akpafu and Likpe from the Hohoe Municipality to add to the new region.
However, the Lolobi and Akpafu Traditional Councils early this month issued a press statement stating their stance against that move saying they were better off being part of the Volta Region.
Currently, there are two separate lawsuits against the Electoral Commission challenging the constitutionality of rolling out limited voter registration exercise in affected communities and plans to hold the referendum later this year in only the affected areas to determine the creation of the proposed regions.
Head teacher of Nkwanta M/A Junior High School (JHS) ‘C’ in the Volta Region, Kennedy Amoako has called on government and philanthropic organisations to help resolve challenges impeding effective teaching and learning in the school.
According to him, the numerous challenges including the lack of basic educational materials are gradually affecting academic activities.
He added that the lack of classroom furniture worsens academic activities, thus, appealed to government and individuals to help provide furniture for the pupils.
He made this call on Thursday during parents and teachers association (PTA) meeting of the school. He however, commended the PTA for its continued support to the school.
A section of parents at the meeting
A teacher in the school, Mr Aziz also added to the head teacher’s call by appealing to government for a computer lab and library to enhance the study of information and communications technology (ICT).
The PTA Chairman, Mr. Francis Kwame Mensah in addressing the meeting, urged parents not to relent on their efforts but continue to contribute their quota towards the development of the school.
In an interview with some of the pupils of the school, they raised the lack of school infrastructure, toilet facility and a computer lab and library center as their major challenges and called on the authorities and corporate organisations to come to the aid of the school.
By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey | Voltaonlinegh.com |
Volta Region’s only club at the Stanbic Bank National Table Tennis League in Accra, Vilcabamba Table Tennis Club (VTTC) returned to winning ways in week 4 on Saturday September 29.
The Denu-based club after losing all matches in both categories in week 3, saw the female side beat Prisons 3-2 while the male lost first match 0-3 to Otumfuo Stars but defeated Eastern Loopers 3-1.
Matilda Fodu began on a good note for the ladies after seeing off Prison’s Eunice Quaye 3-1 (11-9, 11-5, 7-11, 11-1). Attipoe Eyram lost the second singles in a 3 straight sets to Esther, 4-11, 6-11, 7-11. Matilda and Millicent Ankude then put their team ahead in the doubles with an 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9 results against Christabel and Eunice. Millicent bounced back to complete the victory, beating Esther 11-5, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9.
VTTC ladies
The males’ defeat to Otumfuo started with Bright Dzotsiafe losing 3 sets 11-8, 11-5, 11-3 to Sunday, after which David Senyo lost 3-1 (8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-8) to Favour. The doubles then had Sellasie and Senyo losing a 3-2 thriller (11-7, 11-3, 7-11, 8-11, 11-7) to Sunday and Cosmos.
Improving upon their previous performance, David Senyo beat Ofori 3-2 (5-11, 11-6, 3-11, 11-5, 14-12) before Sellasie allowed Eastern Loopers to draw level, losing 3-1 (17-15, 7-11, 8-11, 4-11) to Nketia. Sellasie ensured parity was restored as he partnered Bright to defeat Emmanuel and Theophilus in 3 straights sets 11-4, 11-9, 11-9. David sealed the victory with the fourth game, beating Theophilus 3-1 (11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6).
Coach of VTTC, David Senyo Ahiaba said they were closer to achieving their target with the female victory, expressing joy in the revenge against Eastern Loopers.
“Our sweet revenge against Eastern Loopers as they beat us narrowly last year in the national games in Kumasi is a great achievement. Moreover, our girls winning today, is one step closer to our aim of being in the top 3 at the end of the league.”
He called for support in cash or kind to motivate the team to achieve their aim while expressing appreciation to their Chairman, Thomas Kuenyefu and few people in the club for supporting them as well as all well-wishers for their words of encouragement.
Out of 10 clubs, Vilcabamba female team lies 6th on the table with 8 points, 4 adrift leaders Army & immigration, and 5 more than bottom side Western; whereas the male team occupies the 12th position with 14 points, 10 less than table toppers Immigration & Police and 10 more than 18th placed Coast Loopers.
Patrons who thronged Peki Adzokoe community on Thursday to go hiking the less-patronised or existing-but-undiscovered Mountain Peki-Adzokoe has expressed admiration and wondered why tours were not organised of the mountain for tourists to help open the community up to reap the full benefits of its tourist site.
The patrons, mostly people of Peki Traditional Area in the South Dayi District of the Volta Region went hiking the Peki Adzokoe Mountain as part of activities to celebrate this year’s Peki Yam Festival.
Beautiful scenery viewed from Mt. Peki Adzokoe
The climb to the mountain by residents of the various Peki communities including Avetile, Dzake, Tsame, Wudome, Blengo, Agbateh, Adzokoe among others coincided with UN World Tourism Day which is celebrated every September 27 to raise awareness on tourism’s actual and potential contribution to sustainable development.
The 1,510 ft Mt. Peki Adzokoe offered spectacular view of Peki communities and beyond from its summit which was accessed through a dense forest, plantations of palm trees and cocoyam, and about an hour’s climb, passing two levels of waterfalls along the way.
Journey to the top
Intriguing traditional sites like ruins of buildings and fortifications used as defenses against warring tribes can also be seen at the wide-levelled summit.
Climbing and descending the mountain was a difficult task yet enjoyable and fulfilling. The path to the summit was slippery as rains fell in the forest every now and then forcing hikers to support themselves on a stick with the other hand on the ground for the most part of the journey.
This giant rock at the top served as delivery area for women
Mt. Peki Adzokoe with its tourism potentials however, has not been well-developed to attract visitors just like the others, Mt. Adaklu, Gemi, Afadja and other tourist sites in the region which serve as tourist destinations to many and this, according to the people of Peki, needed to change.
Head of Avenui clan, Torgbui Amenu XIII in an interview with Voltaonlinegh earlier said the Peki area was replete with various tourist sites which remained unknown to the younger generation and those outside Peki.
He spoke of the Slave Cave at Dzake which used to be the resting place when Peki was the ancient 300-kilometre slave route linking the north and east Volta Region to the coast from Vakpo, and Wusuta in the era of the slave trade.
He mentioned other interesting places including a tunnel at Dzogbati, and caves at Peki Adzokoe.
Peki 2018 Yam Festival (Tedudu in Ewe) will be climaxed by a grand durbar of chiefs and people of Peki state with the Paramount Chief, Deiga Kwadzo Dei XII in state at Blengo.
To herald Saturday’s durbar, mini durbars were held on Friday in the various communities where farmers exhibited their yam tubers from their farms.
Traditional games like top spinning ‘tondoo fofo’ and palm frond bundle throwing known as ‘kpodada’ were also played in the streets by the local youth to mark the celebration.
