Korea Taekwondo Team Ends Training Programme in Ghana

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August 24, 2018

A four-member team from the World Taekwondo Peace Corps Headquartered in the Republic of Korea has completed a month-long training programme in three regions including Volta, Western and Greater Accra Regions.

The team’s work was to teach Taekwondo (a dynamic combat sports) practitioners in the regions, new Taekwondo skills and rehearse old skills. The exercise which was the fifth time was to promote the sport especially in the hinterlands.

The team, Gawon Park, Seungjun Lee, Hwangi Kang, and Boram Kim, arrived in Ghana on July 24 for the tour, beginning from Volta, then Western to Accra.

Coordinator of the programme, Master Stephen Amegashie Jnr, who is also the Technical Director of the Ghana Taekwondo Federation said the team visited different clubs in each of the regions according to a timetable drawn by the respective regional Associations.

He said the team in Volta Region, worked closely with the Regional Association and the Regional Director of Sports of the National Sports Authority, Kwame Amponfi Jnr.

The coordinator said the support from these officials was massive, thus, the team had a successful trip having spent 10 days in the region then moved to the Western Region for another 10 days before moving to Accra.

He disclosed that in Western Region, the team in addition to the training sessions organized by the Regional Association, volunteered to officiate in the Mapro Open Taekwondo Championships.

In a brief Interview with TalksenseSports, spokesperson of the team, Boram Kim was impressed about the enthusiasm of the people and advised all practitioners to stay focused.

The team finished its training tour on Wednesday, August 22 after visiting a club in Ashaiman and are expected to return to Korea on Friday, August 24, 2018.

By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey/voltaonlinegh.com

Girls Run Marathon to Campaign against Child Marriage

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Volta Online

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August 24, 2018

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World Vision Ghana, a humanitarian organisation operating in Kadjebi Akan District of the Volta Region has organized marathon for girls between the ages of 10-18 to campaign against the negative impact on child marriage.

The programme was part of the Organisation’s Girls Vacation Camp initiative to equip vulnerable teenagers in the district with employable skills, team building, self-esteem, personal hygiene, reproductive health, advocacy to enable them try new things and become self-confident.

Mr Cheremeh of World Vision Ghana (right) and DCE, Mr Asiedu (in cape)

Speaking at the ceremony on Friday, August 17, the Project Manager in charge of Education and Life Skills for World Vision Ghana, Mr Kennedy Amposah Cheremeh indicated that World Vision International is a child focused organisation with the primary aim of protecting the rights of children and providing access to health care, quality education, water, sanitation and hygiene and livelihood security.

He added that the annual girls vacation camp forms part of an innovative approach to support over 200 vulnerable girls from the ages of 10-18 drawn from 15 communities in the district and provides a safe supportive place for girls to seek new opportunities and challenges.

The week-long camp was also characterised by group work, discussions, games, and variety of activities focused on how to make assorted handicrafts to identify their hidden potentials.

He expressed hope that participants would take advantage of the training to improve their livelihood and not depend on men to survive.

The District Chief Executive for Kadjebi Akan, Mr Maxwell Kofi Asiedu thanked world Vision Ghana for the wonderful initiative which was of immense benefit to children and the nation at large.

He therefore, encouraged the children to show seriousness in their quest to earn more skills so as to survive and indicated that the assembly under his leadership would continue to collaborate with World Vision Ghana for more success.

By: Obrempongba K. Owusu/voltaonlinegh.com

Ghana Fails to Progress to Semis of Div 2 Cricket Qualifiers

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Volta Online

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August 23, 2018

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Ghana’s Under 19 team has failed to progress to the last four of the ongoing ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup Africa Qualifier Division 2 tournament in Potchefstroom, South Africa on Wednesday, August 22, 2018.

The boys, who comfortably saw off Lesotho on day 2 of the 50 over tourney after losing their opening game to Nigeria on Sunday, lost their last group game against Mozambique by 6 wickets with 169 balls remaining.

Played at the Senwes Park 1, Ghana, after winning the toss and electing to bat scored 99 runs, all out in 25 overs. Mozambique in the second innings scored 100-4 in 21.5 overs.

Bernardo Simango, who was adjudged Player of the Match, took a hat-trick dismissing David Mario Pereira, Joseph Oko Adotei and Aaron Boamah, giving away only 1 run in an over.

Mozambique, thus, qualified alongside leaders of Group B Nigeria to the semi-final. Nigeria had a 100% record in the group stages with 6 points as they beat Lesotho by 9 wickets with 259 balls remaining after a 46-10 in 18.1 overs & 47-1 in 6.5 overs results.

Group A of the tournament however has more matches to decide their semi-finalist. Tanzania (with 3 matches played) and Sierra Leone (with 2 matches) lead with 4 points each while Rwanda (with 2 matches) and Botswana (with 3 matches) lie 3rd and 4th with 2 points each. Swaziland after 2 matches played is bottom with no point.

Sierra Leone beat Botswana by 6 wickets after the latter won toss and scored 140-10 in 38 overs. Salone scored 141-4 in 40 overs.

Tanzania defeated Swaziland by 163 runs as the former scored 262-5 whiles Swaziland managed 99-10 in 41.2 overs.

The first 3 teams after the tournament qualify to the Africa Div 1 Qualifiers for the Cricket World Cup which will be held in January and February 2020 in South Africa.

Team Ghana are expected to touch down at the Kotoka International Airport at 9:15pm on Saturday.

By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey/voltaonlinegh.com

Cricket: Ayoleyine’s One Short of a Century Seals Ghana’s Win against Lesotho

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August 21, 2018

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Youngster Paul Ayoleyine was a delight to watch in Ghana’s win against Lesotho on Monday, August 20 at the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup Africa Qualifier Division 2 tournament in Potchefstroom, South Africa.

The 16-year old scored a remarkable 99-90, not out, as Ghana beat Lesotho on day 2 of the tournament on Senwes Main Park, scoring 337-7. Ayoleyine had a good partnership with Richmond Baaleri, who also scored 89-90 in the middle order of the first innings as Lesotho won toss and chose to field.

Ayoleyine was then adjudged the Player of the match as Ghana won the game by 270 runs after Lesotho managed 67-10 in 20.2 overs. Aaron Boamah took 5-10 in 5.2 overs while Bless Bakodie took 2-2 in 3 overs. David Mario Pereira dismissed Ts’epo Seliane & Sello Mahadika, for a Golden Duck with figures 2-18 in 4 overs.

Ghana after losing their Group B opener to Nigeria on Sunday, will now have 1 more match to play to determine their qualification to the next stage, as Gambia, their supposed last group opponents together with Group A’s Zambia failed to turn up for the tournament.

Ghana, third on the group with 2 points will face Mozambique, on Wednesday at 9:30am (7:30am Ghana time) while leaders, Nigeria with 4 points play Lesotho. Nigeria on Monday also defeated Mozambique with 10 wickets after a 56-10 in 19.2 overs and 58-0 in 9.5 overs results.

In Group A, the first 4 teams are with 2 points each except Swaziland, who are yet to taste victory. Sierra Leone beats Tanzania by 8 wickets (96-10 in 32.4 / 97-2 in 31.5 overs), whereas Botswana saw off Rwanda by 19 runs (120-10 in 28.2 overs & 101-10 in 37 overs).

First 2 in both groups progress to the Semi-final, with the first 3 of the tournament progressing to the div 1 qualifiers.

By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey/voltaonlinegh.com

Ghana Loses Opening Game to Nigeria in Cricket Qualifier

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Volta Online

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August 20, 2018

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Ghana’s U-19 Cricket team has failed to pick the first 2 points in Group B, against West African neighbours, Nigeria at the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup Africa Qualifier Division 2 tournament in South Africa on Sunday, August 19, 2018.

Playing on Senwes Park 1 in Potchefstroom, Ghana won toss and opted to bat first. Nigeria went on to score a remarkable 291 runs, all out in 49.5 overs in the first innings. Ghana who had scary start could only manage 26 runs, all out in 14.4 overs, a score which had Nigeria to win by 265 runs.

However, Mills Yaotse took 3 wickets for 50 runs in 7.5 overs, while Richmond Baaleri also took 3 wickets for 52 runs in 10 overs.

In the other group game, Mozambique won by 245 runs after a 306-10 in 48.2 over and 61-10 in 16 overs results against Lesotho.

Group A had Rwanda beating Swaziland by 102 runs, while Tanzania defeated Botswana by 27 runs.

Ghana, in a group of 5 countries unlike Group A with 6, plays their next match against Lesotho on Monday at 9:30am (7:30am Ghana time) on Senwes Park main. The 50 Over tournament will see 2 top teams progress to semifinals, third place and finals as 3 countries are eligible to qualify to Div. 1.

The team with 12 debutants had individual support from President Emmanuel Asare, Board members, Vantaka Mahesh and Nani Vattikutti, Managing Director of Aluminum Products, Mr Ravi and Everest Cricket Club.

The Ghana Cricket Association (GCA) is still in talks with the Ministry of Youth and Sports awaiting government’s support. The GCA is however hopeful of a positive response as they’ve lacked government support for many years.

By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey/voltaonlinegh.com

Bagbin Promises to Transform NDC when Elected Leader

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Volta Online

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August 18, 2018

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Mr. Bagbin speaking to delegates — Bagbin speaking to delegates

Mr. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament and a leading contender for the 2020 flagbearership of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has pledged to transform the party to turn its fortunes around.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nadowli/Kaleo Constituency blamed shortcomings in the NDC and its leadership for the party’s abysmal performance in the previous administration.

“The legacy we left was that of poverty, corruption, hardship and worst of all, one million vote deficit.”

Mr. Bagbin said this when he met with party executives from Akatsi North, Akatsi South, South Tongu, Central Tongu and North Tongu constituencies at Sogakope on Friday, August 17 as part of his tour of the Volta Region.

He promised to unite the party and bring back every neglected member especially, the Founder and former President Jerry John Rawlings, saying, “the NDC cannot win power without the founder.”

He also said MPs will have offices in the constituencies they represent so as to be in touch with the constituents.

“Under my leadership every MP will have an office in his constituency and have people who will go round to gather information for him and this will make the MP know what pertains on the ground to be in the position to address them.”

Mr. Bagbin said he planned of making some proposals for some articles in the party constitution to be amended to allow for the party’s national chairman to be considered the leader of the party when in government instead of the president who may be busy with national assignments.

He added, “same applies to regional ministers and district chief executives who become automatic leaders of the party when we are in government. The respective elected party chairmen for the regions and constituencies should lead the party in order to inform the appointees on happenings.”

The flagbearer hopeful said under his leadership, a provision will be made in the constitution to reward loyal and long serving party executives while building a strong partnership with the media especially the pro-NDC media, most of which he said “had collapsed under the previous government.”

By: Fred Duhoe/voltaonlinegh.com

Crate of Tomatoes Selling Cheaply in Agotime-Ziope

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Volta Online

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August 17, 2018

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Farmers at Ziope in the Agotime-Ziope District of the Volta Region are forced to sell their tomatoes cheaply to avoid letting the produce go waste on the farms.

A crate of tomatoes is selling for Gh₵30.00 or less which according to the farmers, is the only option left to them.

Though the farmers have been blessed with good harvest this tomato season, they are unable to make profit due to the absence of available market for the highly perishable produce at a good price from the farmers.

Ziope, a major vegetable, especially tomato producing area in the Volta Region has been described on many occasions as one of the “food baskets” of the country.

Though tomato is produced there in commercial quantities, the absence of a processing facility makes it difficult for farmers to make money from their farms, thus, discouraging the youth to take up farming.

Some farmers who spoke to voltaonlinegh.com expressed frustration at successive governments’ inability to support the district with a tomato factory to enable farmers enjoy their toil.

A farmer, Promise Gati wondered, “what is government waiting for? We have land available for free for government to build a factory for processing and canning tomatoes”

“The community is ready to provide land to any investor who is ready to establish tomato factory in the community. The community is producing over 5000 crates of tomatoes every day, these are the things the government of Ghana needs to focus on,” he added.

Philip Azameti, one of the elders in the community said efforts being made to have a lasting solution to the problem were yet to yield results.

Togbui Binah Lawluvi VI, Paramout Chief of Ziope and former Council of State member during the launch of 2017 Agbleza of his people, appealed for a processing factory for the tomato growing area under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government’s “One District One Factory” project to benefit farmers and encourage young ones to stay and not migrate to other places in search of jobs.

He had on several occasions expressed worry over the situation which he said was to blame for the young ones leaving the area every time and feared the town risked becoming a ghost town.

By: Fred Duhoe/voltaonlinegh.com

Under 19 Cricket Team Set for World Cup Div 2 Qualifier

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Volta Online

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August 17, 2018

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Ghana’s U-19 Cricket team leaves the shores of the country for the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup Africa Qualifier Division 2 tournament in South Africa on Friday, August 17.

The team, made up of 14 players and 2 officials are expected to depart from the Kotoka International Airport at 9am.

The African Qualifiers which will see 11 countries battle it out for 3 spots into division 1, will take place at Potchefstroom, South Africa from August 17 through to 29.

Countries that will compete for the promotion include Botswana, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Tanzania, Rwanda, Mozambique, Gambia, Swaziland, Zambia and Lesotho.

Ghana who takes on West African rivals Nigeria on Sunday, August 19 at the opening game of the 50 Over format at the Senwes Park 1, has 10 debutants who have been groomed well by the technical handlers for over a month and are ready to showcase their skills.

Ghana will play 3 other countries as they are paired in group B together with Mozambique, Lesotho and The Gambia. Top 2 teams in each group progresses to Semi Finals and then onwards to Finals or third place play off.

The squad who make the trip are Captain Joseph Oko Adotei, Richmond Baaleri, Bless Bakodie, Jerry Angel Gbafah, Enoch Frimpong, Eric Amoah and David Mario Pereira.

Others include Nurudeen Ibrahim, Paul Ayoleyine, Abraham Nii Quaye, Yahaya Abdul Mohammed, Obed Taylor and Mills Yaoste.

Team Manager, Henry Benjamin Ackom and Team Coach Francis Bakiweyem will lead the boys with the hope of making it to the next round.

The last attempt by Ghana to reach the Cricket World Cup failed at the last round of qualifiers which was played in Kenya in 2017.

By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey/voltaonlinegh.com

V/R NHIA Boss Warns against Wrongful Billing of Card Holders

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Volta Online

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August 16, 2018

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The Volta Regional Director of National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Joseph Homenya has described as worrying challenges bedeviling the Scheme in the region and called for the need to address these challenges for its successful implementation.

Mr. Homenya said National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) card holders continue to pay unlawful charges when they attend hospitals.

He decried the situation where pregnant women are charged various sums of monies depending on consumables used despite government’s policy on free maternal care covered under the NHIS.

The Regional Director made the complaint during the 2018 NHIA mid-year review meeting on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 in Ho.

Participants in a pose after the meeting

He expressed worry at the situation which he said was affecting public’s confidence in the Scheme established by an Act of Parliament in 2003 (Act 650) to secure financial risk protection against the cost of healthcare services for all in Ghana.

To him, “it is difficult to get a refund to clients for wrongful billing, and the reason often is that the software being used by the hospital makes it irreversible.”

Mr. Homenya said this issue coupled with frequent breakdown of registration equipment, intermittent shortage of registration consumables, and network/application downtimes are contributing to the low enrolment and premium mobilization in the region.

He mentioned that out of the annual target of 994,210 membership registration set for the 2018 year, the Scheme recorded an active membership enrollment of just 395,062 (representing 39.73 per cent) by the end of June and managed a premium mobilization of Gh₵1,729,705.90 (representing 36.32 per cent) of an annual target of Gh₵4,761,413.

He therefore warned service providers against wrongful billing saying, the Authority has been granted prosecutorial powers to deal with any person or group of persons who will attempt to defraud the Scheme.

Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa assured of government’s commitment to revive the Scheme to benefit the citizenry.

He said government is abreast with challenges facing the Scheme and has begun implementing policies to fix them.

The meeting which attracted district managers, accountants and district directors of health among others across all the 16 NHIS districts in the region also saw the presentation of awards to best performing districts in the region.

By: Collins Anku/voltaonlinegh.com

Rastafari Converge in Ho for 1st Volta Regional Conference

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Volta Online

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August 16, 2018

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The Rastafari National Outreach organized by the Rastafari National Council has organized the first Volta Regional Conference at the Center for National Culture in Ho.

The conference which took place on August 11, 2018 was aimed at bringing all Rastafari members or groups together in one circuit to facilitate easy dissemination of information and other relevant materials necessary for the upliftment of Rastafari in Ghana.

Present at the conference was the Rastafari National President, Ahuma Bosco Ocansey who is also the current Rastafari Continental Chairman been elected recently at a conference in South Africa.

In his address, Daddy Bosco spoke on the need for a unified front in all regions of Ghana to ensure an all-inclusive form of governance or leadership. He said with members fully registered and recognised, the council can uphold and implement necessary actions needed to erase the negative perception about Rastafari.

In addition to that, he advised members to remain committed to the rightful teachings of Rastafari which is a sure way to withstand any unwarranted attack on the Rastafari personality as a whole.

Bosco Ocansey was of the view that, a strong council from Ghana will go a long way to project Ghana as a formidable country in the African Continent in all dimension.

Members shared their views on the need for an educational policy which will not discriminate against Rastafari students, the ability to work in public sectors without any personal attack on their identity as Rastafari and the individual effort of members to help erase the unhealthy perception society has about Rastafari.

Empress Safi Najeh, the National Women’s Commissioner was present to ensure balance and support for Rastafari women in the region.

She described the number of women in Rastafari as worrying and hinted that her administration would ensure Rastafari women come out in their numbers to spread the good deeds of Rastafari.

The conference though called late, attracted members from Hohoe, Kpando and surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, the 4th Rastafari National Conference is scheduled to take place in Kumasi, Ashanti Region on March 4, 2019.

By: Kris Delali Asare/voltaonlinegh.com