Pressure Mounts on Blay to Apologise for ‘Palm Wine Business’ Reply

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July 18, 2018

Pressure on Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Freddy Blay to render an unqualified apology to the Agbogbomefia of Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV keeps mounting by the day with the latest coming from Tongu Council of Chiefs.

The Tongu Chiefs condemned the insult on Togbe Afede XIV as unwarranted, demanding an unqualified apology, to Togbe Afede in the dailies, radio and TV.

The Council in a press conference held on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 at Sogakofe in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region and addressed by Togbega Nakakpo Dugbaza VIII, President of Tongu Council of Chiefs, further asked Blay to apologise to palm wine tappers for suggesting that they are “non- thinkers and non-entities” and also to all chiefs in Ghana.

Freddie Blay is alleged to have insulted Togbe Afede also President of National House of Chiefs as ignorant and questioned if he deals in “palm wine”.

This was after the Agbogbomefia asked for investigations into Blay’s purchase of f 275 buses for the NPP at the cost of $11.4 million during its recently held National Delegates Conference in Koforidua.

Blay’s comment has since generated reactions from a section of the public condemning his reply to Togbe’s admonishing. They believe Togbe Afede’s comment was aimed at addressing the issue of the perception of corruption and should not have provoked such harsh response Mr. Blay.

Just two days ago, the Asogli youth issued a statement warning Mr. Blay to apologise to the Asogli State Council and the National House of Chiefs or risk incurring their wrath.

The group believes an insult to their overlord is to the entire Asogli State. “Chieftaincy institution remains the embodiment of the people and must not be toyed with by any person irrespective of their status in society,” the statement said.

The youth of Asogli State’s call were similar to earlier ones from National House of Chiefs, Asogli State Council and Volta NPP through its Secretary, Mr. Joseph Homenya.

Tongu Council of Chiefs believe that by qualified privilege, Togbe Afede with his standing in society was obliged to call for investigations into Mr. Blay’s purchase of buses just at the last hour of his party’s delegate conference.

The statement said Mr. Blay’s went against the Chieftaincy Act and therefore called on all chiefs to condemn his conduct.

“This is an insult to chiefs and we call on all on chiefs in the country to stand against him and condemn Mr. Blay’s conduct. Additionally, Mr. Blay’s conduct contravened the Chieftaincy Act 2008, Act 759, Section 63, sub-section b.”

By: Ewoenam Kpodo/voltaonlinegh.com

Cricket: E. O. Asare Elected GCA Prez

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Volta Online

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July 18, 2018

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Emmanuel Kwame Owusu Asare and 5 others have taken up the mantle to steer the affairs of Cricket in Ghana for the next four years at an Elective Congress held at the Theodosia Oko Hockey Pitch Conference room on Saturday, July 14, 2018.

Mr Asare who was former vice President of the Ghana Cricket Association (GCA) under the Professor William Ampofo led administration, had no other contender for the topmost position of the President and had the backing of 19 delegates.

His elected Vice President, a veteran actor, Oscar Provencal also went unopposed after his only contender Samuel Asamoah pulled out of the race just before the election was conducted. The entertainer, once a national Cricketer who inspired the delegates, had 19 votes of confidence.

The position of the Treasurer which was also unopposed had Philip Danquah Debrah winning the hearts of the delegates with 20 votes. Philip, a founding member of Alumni Cricket Club, captained the University of Ghana Cricket Team from 2006 to 2009.

With the three other executive members, Vantaka Mahesh Krishna Narra, Chairman of Everest Cricket Club, Kofi Tandoh, former technical committee member and Narenda Vattikutti Director of Everest Cricket Club, got elected with 21, 20 and 19 votes respectively.

After the mandate of the Association was officially handed over to the new Board, President Asare said they would continue with the good work done by the previous administration and add more.

“We should not sit in our rooms but we all have to come together and move Ghana Cricket ahead. Everybody must be on board to achieve this because we are now going to start the hard work and it is going to be based on what the previous executive did. So, I take this opportunity to say a big thank you to Prof. William Ampofo and the rest of the team for the hard work they have done for the past 8 years. We are going to add to what they have done and add certain things as well”.

In all, 25 out of the 28 expected delegates were present to vote as the elective Congress was supervised by Justine Ligyalingi, former CEO of Uganda Cricket and newly appointed ICC – Africa Development officer and Daniel Sarpei, Deputy Director of Sports from the National Sports Authority.

Ghana Cricket has over the years chalked many successes at the U-19, Women’s and Senior Men’s national side and hopes to do better each passing time.

By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey/voltaonlinegh.com

Dambai: Weed Takes over Abandoned ICT Center 4 Years After Its Completion

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Volta Online

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July 18, 2018

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An information and communication technology (ICT) center that has been built at Dambai in the Krachi East Municipality of the Volta Region to serve students and people in the area has remained under lock since 2014.

A visit to the Center revealed very disturbing development indicating the facility has never been put to use four years after it was completed.

It was observed that weeds have outgrown the abandoned Center, reducing it to serve as domicile for snakes, reptiles and other wild animals for a long time while schools in the area continue to lack these facilities for effective teaching and learning of ICT.

The project which was started by Raphael Kofi Ojumako, then former District Chief Executive of Krachi East and completed in 2014 by his successor, Mr. Peter Awuranyi was to enhance the technological dexterity of students from Oti Senior High Technical, Asukwakwa Senior High School and citizens of Krachi East.

In an interview with some students and residents in the area, they expressed displeasure about how the project has been left to waste when it could have been put to use to benefit students and the public.

According to them, the site had become a dwelling place for rats, snakes, squatters and some other dangerous animals which defeats the purpose for which the project was implemented.

The aggrieved residents are therefore calling on the appropriate authorities to revisit the Dambai ICT Center project so that it would serve its intended purpose.

Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Patrick Charty Jilimah in his reaction, confirmed the situation and blamed the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration for not taking proper care of the facility.

He disclosed that measures are being taken to clear the surrounding of the facility and do some repair works at the Center to make it operational.

Hon Jilimah also added that the Assembly is doing everything possible to engage an IT Expert to undertake administrative and training work of the facility.

He urged interested persons to take advantage of the facility when fully functional, to equip themselves technologically in order to fit into the world market of IT.

Source: thenewsgh.com

Nneka Youth Foundation Transforms over 11,000 Lives in Volta, Greater Accra

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Volta Online

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July 18, 2018

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Founder of Nneka Youth Foundation, Cecilia Fiaka has challenged media practitioners to pay more attention to children and women and other vulnerable groups in deprived communities.

Addressing journalists from selected media houses at a workshop in the Volta Region, Madam Cecilia Fiaka expressed worry about the level of deprivation persons living in rural areas go through.

According to her, even when there are efforts to reach out to these persons in their areas, the bad nature of the road network as well as inadequate funds becomes a major challenging factor.

“I believe if in our own small ways, we can effect little changes in our home towns, then gradually the country will be a better place to live. It’s sad when you visit these areas and they look as if they are not part of the country. They are really deprived out here and so social vices are on the rise. It’s not as if the authorities don’t know about this, they do. Speak about them and leave the politics for another day.”

Mama Nneka, as Madam Fiaka is affectionately called by all indigenes, has defied all odds to affect lives of over 11,000 women, children and youth in 200 communities including Ve-Agbome and others in the Volta and Greater Accra regions with her initiatives.

Cecilia Fiaku, Founder, Nneka Youth Foundation

Founded in 2012, the Nneka Youth Foundation has initiated Vocational Entrepreneurial Pathway (VEP-Ghana) aimed at empowering, equipping and mentoring teenage mothers and out-of-school girls from rural and deprived communities.

A palm oil processing project has also been initiated by the Foundation to mechanize the ways of palm oil extraction to ease the burden of the women.

Aside this, a scholarship scheme and educational logistics support has also been initiated to support educational needs of some students at the secondary and tertiary levels.

There is also a book drive initiative, which provides text books to schools to aid with teaching and learning, thus, improving academic performance tremendously in the communities.

The Foundation in its own way has initiated community sensitization projects on the rights of the child and the responsibility of parents towards them.

Last but not the least on the Foundation’s initiatives is a summer camping activity organized every year for youth across the length and breadth of the country.

This year’s camping event is slated for this month and about 3,500 participants are expected to take part.

According to the Ghana Statistical Service, about 600,000 of the 2.1 million people in the Volta Region are aged between 0–14 Years.

Women constitute 51 per cent of the total population of the Volta Region but little is said in the media about their needs and challenges.

According to her and other speakers at the one-day workshop held on the theme: ‘Empowering Children, Youth and Women: The Role of Media Practitioners’, in reality, there are often imbalances in coverage of women, youth and children.

Source: 3news.com

Do the Honourable Thing or Incur our Wrath-Asogli Youth to Blay

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Volta Online

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July 16, 2018

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The Asogli youth in the Volta Region have expressed disgust at the alleged insults hurled at the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State and President of the National House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV by the National Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Freddy Blay, demanding an unqualified apology from Mr. Blay and the party.

The Youth of Asogli State in a statement issued on Monday, July 16, 2018 warned Mr. Blay to apologise to the Asogli State Council and the National House of Chiefs or risk incurring their wrath.

“Remember that the Chieftaincy institution remains the embodiment of the people and must not be toyed with by any person irrespective of their status in society.”

Freddie Blay is alleged to have described Togbe Afede as ignorant and questioned if he deals in “palm wine”.

This was after the Agbogbomefia asked for investigations into Blay’s purchase of f 275 buses for the NPP at the cost of $11.4 million during its recently held National Delegates Conference.

The Asogli youth are the latest to join in the call to have NPP and its Chairman apologise to Togbe for the insults following earlier calls from National House of Chiefs, Asogli State Council and recently, Volta NPP through its Secretary, Mr. Joseph Homenya, condemning the harsh words on Togbe.

They believe Togbe Afede’s comment was aimed at addressing the issue of the perception of corruption and took strong exceptions to the statements, names and comments in Mr. Blay’s response.

The youth said they “cannot fathom how such a harmless admonishing from our overlord could attract such harsh and abusive words from a person of Mr. Blay’s standing,” wondering why leadership of the party is yet to comment on Blay’s response.

“We are convinced by the assertion of the Asogli State Council on a statement issued ‘we can only conclude that this is part of their boardroom decision’ which affirms our belief that Mr. Blay actually spoke the mind of some NPP activists hence their silence,” the statement added.

By: Ewoenam Kpodo/voltaonlinegh.com

Corruption in Ghana on the Ascendancy-Survey

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Volta Online

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July 15, 2018

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Director of Commission on Human Right and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Daniel Carlos Mensah, has called on Ghanaians to be committed in fighting corruption in the country.

According to him, the fight against corruption can only be won when it is fought from its base. He therefore encouraged all especially public officials to work hard and stop taking advantage of the least opportunity offered them to make money off others.

He made this known during the launch of research conducted by a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Penplusbytes on corruption, titled METOGU Anti-Corruption Report in the Volta Regional capital, Ho on Friday, July 13, 2018.

The Report indicated that 7 out of 10 Ghanaians sampled perceive corruption to be on the ascendancy with majority of the respondents holding the view that government is gradually losing the fight against corruption in the country.

The METOGU Report revealed that over 95 per cent of the 792 respondents agreed that corruption is high in Ghana and is highly prevalent in the public sector where majority of the citizenry have had to pay facilitation or illegal fees to access services while 69 per cent believed that government’s effort in fighting corruption is either unsatisfactory or average.

Penplusbytes employed both survey and focus group discussion (FGD) methodologies to collect data from four regions namely: Greater Accra, Western, Ashanti and Volta regions with the 792 respondents drawn from a wider spectrum of the Ghanaian population.

The research focused on seven thematic areas of anti-corruption consisting; general corruption issues, the creation of the office of the special prosecutor, and the passage of the right to information bill.

Others are; reforms of the public-sector procurement act and value for money, beneficial ownership title, the passage of the public officers’ code of conduct bill and the assets declaration regime, and the national health insurance scheme and school feeding programme.

Executive Director, Penplusbites, Kwami Ahiabenu II disclosed that the Organisation with support from the UK-aid funded “Strengthening Action Against Corruption” (STAAC) programme had embarked on a two-year METOGU Project aimed at giving citizens the opportunity to support the fight against corruption.

He said METOGU, a Guan phrase meaning “Keeping the pressure on” is a project to raise awareness on the current government’s promises on anti-corruption and provide a platform that encourages citizens to hold both elected and public officials accountable to deliver towards a zero-corruption environment in Ghana.

Kwami Ahiabenu II said the Report would be used to engage appropriate institutions on anti-corruption to enhance their work thus, “serve as a basis for dialogue between ordinary citizens and the Executive,” to ensure the fight is won against corruption.

A Lecturer at EP University College, Harrison Kofi Belley observed that successive governments intentionally refused to resource public anti-corruption institutions so that society is uninformed for them to continue perpetrating their corrupt acts.

He charged the media to continue with their anti-corruption campaign focusing their lenses on political parties.

By: Collins Anku/voltaonlineg.com

Two in Court over Human Trafficking

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Volta Online

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July 15, 2018

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Police in Sogakofe in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region have arraigned a 30-year old Sampson Aglah, a Ghanaian and his Nigerian accomplice, Goodness Ifeoma Amobi aged 29 before Sogakofe Circuit Court for allegedly attempting to traffic three girls to Benin.

The suspects were en route to Benin together with the unsuspecting victims when they were apprehended by security personnel last weekend at Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) Checkpoint at Dabala Junction near Sogakope.

Speaking to voltaonlinegh.com, the Tongu Divisional Police Commander, Chief Supt Dennis Fiakpui narrated that on Saturday, July 7, 2018 around 2:00pm, CEPS personnel arrested the two suspects who attempted to traffic their three victims and brought them to the Police.

The suspects lured the victims; Elizabeth Mawusi Awuku, 17, Esther Forkuo, 18 and Barikisu Afia Abdullah, 15 from Ashanti-Mampong in the Ashanti Region with the promise that they were going to work in Accra and not Benin.

The victims therefore raised alarm when it dawned on them that they were actually not going to Accra but in Volta Region heading to the Ghana-Togo border at Aflao which subsequently led to the arrest of the suspects.

Chief Supt Fiakpui said that while in court on Wednesday, July 11, the two pleaded not guilty to the charge of human trafficking and were accordingly admitted to bail to reappear on Wednesday, July 18, 2018.

He said though the two are on court bails, they are still in police custody because they were unable to fulfill their bail conditions.

By: Ewoenam Kpodo/voltaonlinegh.com

Traders at Kpassa to Get Modern Market Shed

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Volta Online

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July 15, 2018

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The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Nkwanta North, Jackson Jackayi, has cut sod for the construction of a modern market shed in Kpassa, the District Capital.

The project is part of development plan drawn to enhance socio-economic development in the district which is identified as one of the underdeveloped districts in the Volta Region.

The first phase of the project which is expected to cost about Gh¢100,000 and be completed in six months is being financed from the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) and Internally Generated Fund.

Mr. Jackson Jackayi expressed optimism that the project would boost the assembly’s revenue mobilisation and as well, improve livelihood of residents.

Traders displaying their wares on the road

He indicated that the provision of the shed is aimed at housing traders who usually display their wares along the principal street leading to the market and hinted that upon completion, traders along the streets would be evacuated and forced to take sheds in the market to ease traffic on the road during market days.

The District Director, Mr. Sevlo Adjei appealed to the residents to pay their taxes promptly to empower the assembly deliver more development projects to their benefit.

Speaking on behalf of traders in the Kpassa market, Faustina Donkor commended the assembly on the initiative and appealed for a timely completion of the market shed.

Some of the traders who spoke to voltaonlinegh.com indicated that they are compelled to trade along the streets due to unavailability of space and shed in the market.

They however, promised to immediately evacuate the streets once enough space is provided them in the market.

By: Obrempongba K. Owusu/voltaonlinegh.com

We Shall not Allow You to Destroy Our Democracy- Group Warns Nana Addo

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Volta Online

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July 13, 2018

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A group calling itself Youth for Development (YfD) has warned President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo and his New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to desist from attempts aimed at disenfranchising majority of Ghanaians particularly, those from the Volta Region.

Members of the group who are mainly from the Volta Region are convinced that government’s directive to stop issuance of birth certificates in the region is a ploy to exclude Voltarians from registering for Ghana cards in the ongoing National Identification Authority’s exercise.

At a press conference dubbed Evaglo (Enough is enough) organised by the group on Thursday, July 12, 2018 in Ho, the Group said it could not be mere coincidence that Volta Regional Head of Births and Deaths Registry, Mr. Richard Wemegah and his Deputy, Mad. Peace Agbenyo were asked to handover and notice for cessation of issuing birth certificates given.

The Regional Head and his Deputy each received a letter signed for the Minister of Local Government Local Government and Rural Development by C. K. Dondieu of the Ministry directing them to handover to the Volta Regional Coordinating Director and report to the Ministry in Accra for reposting by June 19, 2018.

Both letters ordered that the issuance of birth certificates in the Volta Regional office of the Registry should cease with immediate effect.

YfD considers the removal of these two persons a demonstration of hatred for the people in the Volta region.

“As though these were not enough, the National Head of the Registry in the person of Mr. John Agbeko was also served with a letter to handover to the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development. Interestingly, all the three affected persons are natives of the Volta Region. Clueless President Akufo Addo should take caution and watch his dubious actions targeted at

Voltarians if he wants to keep the peace he inherited from former President John Dramani Mahama.”

The Group believes the happenings are part of a grand scheme to alienate majority of Voltarians to support claims of Vice President Dr. Bawumia when they were in opposition and to prevent them from acquiring birth certificates and by extension, the Ghana card.

“Not only is the directive to stop issuing birth certificates to applicants in the Volta Region unthinkable, it is also a pure exhibition of hatred to the people of Volta Region by President Akufo Addo and his government and part of a grand plan to deny them the opportunity to register for Ghana Card which will become the basic requirement for registering as voters under this vindictive and clueless government. This path is dangerous and disgraceful to our growing democracy, and also to the peace and stability of our country.”

The Group is therefore demanding from Nana Addo the immediate resumption of issuance of birth certificates to applicants in the region and also acceptance of Voter’s card as requirement for Ghana Card registration to ensure majority of Ghanaians are not left out.

By: Ewoenam Kpodo/Voltaonlinegh.com

Football Administrator Harry Atutornu Passes on

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Volta Online

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July 12, 2018

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Member of Ghana Football Association (GFA) Referees Appointment Committee, Mr. Harry Atutornu has passed on at 63.

A source close to the family confirmed the news to voltaonlinegh.com that the experienced football administrator gave up his spirit in the morning of Thursday, July 12, 2018 after a prolonged illness.

According to the source, the late Atutornu passed on after prolonged illness which took him in and out of hospital.

Mr Atutornu was renowned for his immense contribution towards football development both in the Volta region and beyond.

Before his death, he held several key positions in football administration: He was a member of the GFA Referees Appointment committee, two-time Vice Chairman of Regional Football Association (RFA) Volta, former Chairman, RAG-Volta, former member, National Juvenile Committee, former Chairman, Regional Juvenile Committee-Volta, former Chairman, Regional Match Commissioners Association –Volta and CEO of Volta Academy and Selion FC.

By: Eric Eli Adzie/voltaonlinegh.comem