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

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July 16, 2018

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

JCC Commends Nana Addo for the Creation of Oti Region

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Volta Online

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July 12, 2018

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Chairman for Joint Consultative Committee and also the Paramount Chief for Krachi Traditional Council in the Volta Region, Nana Mprah Besemuna II, on Wednesday July 2018 on behalf of the people of Oti enclave has commended President Nana Akufo-Addo and his New Patriotic Party (NPP) government for their acceptance of the creation of the proposed Oti Region after several petitions were submitted to previous governments.

According to him the creation of the new Oti Region will deepen decentralization with all the related benefits in terms of injection of more resources into the area for accelerated development, creation of jobs, the coordination of development programs and also reduce travel time to current regional capital, Ho.

The Krachiwura disclosed this during the president’s visit to Dambai of the Krachi East District on Wednesday, July 11, 2018 as part of his three-day tour of the Volta Region which began on Monday, July 9.

Nana Besemuna II noted that Nana Addo’s government is just 18 months old but have already set some enviable records of achievement including the introduction of the Free SHS and One District-One Factory industrialization scheme which is attracting investors, both local and international.

He argued that the proposed Oti area was and is still contributing immensely to the economy of Ghana through the production food crops, cocoa, coffee, timber products but notwithstanding, the area has not benefited much in terms of development from the Ghana that they all created together.

He decried the bad road network in the area resulting in avoidable deaths and destruction of property. He also spoke of inadequate hospitals in the area which also lack basic and necessary equipment, qualified medical doctors and other health professionals while mentioning that access to potable water is a nightmare to most of the communities in the area.

The Krachiwura said development in the area could only be realised when the Oti Region is created and therefore, assured of a 100 per cent ‘yes’ at the referendum.

“We want to assure you that our people, regardless of party colours, religious affiliation and tribal background, we are prepared and stand ready to work with the government, the electoral commission and all other relevant institutions to ensure a successful referendum to return a resounding Yes vote.”

President Akuffo-Addo in response, said he remains committed to the realisation of the long awaited Oti Region and encouraged citizens there to unite and work together to achieve that dream.

By: Obrempongba K. Owusu/voltaonlinegh.com

Police Partners ECG to Recover Debts in Volta

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Volta Online

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July 12, 2018

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The Volta Regional Police Command has pledged its support to the Management of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) as the power distributor rolls out an intensive revenue mobilization programme.

The Deputy Volta Regional Police Commander, DCOP Francis Ebenezer Doku, sitting in for the Regional Commander, enumerated the excellent working relations that currently exists between the Command and the ECG and promised to support ECG in the exercise to recover its debts.

“All district commanders will be duly informed to provide maximum support to officers of the Company, throughout the period of this intensive exercise.”

DCOP Doku gave the assurance when Management of ECG, Volta, called on the Command to request police support in the exercise.

According to ECG Regional General Manager, Ing. Delali Oklu, staff of the company would visit communities and possibly cut services to defaulters who would fail to pay.

“As part of the programme, ECG staff will visit all houses to assess the integrity of their electricity connections. Staff will also be available in communities to receive payments from defaulting customers, and where there is failure to settle debts; we will be forced to curtail services to them.”

The nationwide revenue mobilization programme which began on July 2, 2018 is intended to help the ECG attain its revenue collection targets for the year.

By: Ewoenam Kpodo/voltaonlinegh.com

Nana Addo Urges Every Ghanaian to Acquire NIA Card

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Volta Online

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July 11, 2018

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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo has called on chiefs in the Volta Region to impress on their people to partake in the ongoing registration for National Identification Authority (NIA) card to provide a national database to help in the planning and organisation of the country.

He made the call on Monday, July 9, when he visited the region on a three-day tour to commission completed projects and inspect ongoing ones in the region.

Nana Akufo-Addo said people should disregard minority in parliament’s attempt to suggest that the purpose of NIA insisting on passports and birth certificates for the card is to disenfranchise some Ghanaians, particularly those from the Volta Region.

Section of Ghanaians especially National Democratic Congress (NDC) legislators are opposed to the restriction requirements to the two documents saying, it is likely to disenfranchise over 20 million Ghanaians.

A group, Strategic Thinkers Network-Africa has also sued the NIA over Voter ID exclusion in the ongoing Ghana card registration exercise. Its concern is that majority of citizens will be prevented from obtaining the card and be deprived of benefits that may come with acquiring the card.

According to Nana Akufo-Addo, the law requiring birth certificates and passports to be registered for the NIA card was passed in parliament “on a bi-partisan basis, there was no dissent” and therefore, no justification for allegations that it is targeted at some particular Ghanaians.

He assured that no Ghanaian will be excluded from the exercise because the law also provides that those without birth certificates and passports can produce a Ghanaian to vouch for them in order to get the NIA card.

By: Ewoenam Kpodo/voltaonlinegh.com

Creation of Oti Region not to Spite the South-Nana Addo

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Volta Online

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July 11, 2018

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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has appealed to chiefs from the southern belt of the Volta Region to lend support for the creation of a new region, Oti Region out of the Volta Region.

According to him, the move is to ensure amenities reach the northern part of the region to bring about development to that part of the region.

The president who said this while addressing chiefs from Anlo, Keta, Ketu North and South, Akatsi North and South, Central, South and North Tongu, Adaklu and Agotime Ziope constituencies on Monday, July 9, 2018 at Tadzewu in the Ketu North Municipality to round up his activities of day one his visit to the region.

Nana Akuffo-Addo arrived in the region on Monday, July 9 for a three-day working visit as part of his ongoing nationwide tour which has seen him visit Brong Ahafo and Western Regions.

He said the people of southern Volta should see the new region as a way of extending development to those of the north and by extension, every part of the region and not consider it as spite for the south.

“This new region that may well be created in the Oti Region is not being created as a matter of spite, dislike of hostility to all the people of the south.”

“It is very important for all of us to understand that the creation of regions in Ghana is not a new phenomenon,” he said.

He therefore hopes that the new region rather cements a stronger relationship between the people of south and north Volta, adding that there was never a time in the history of Ghana that problems erupted with the creation of new regions.

By: Ewoenam Kpodo/voltaonlinegh.com