Farmers in North Tongu unhappy with NRGP Irrigation Projects in the Area

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May 18, 2018

Farmers in three communities of Dafor Agorveme, Afawode and Volo in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region have expressed indignation at what they claim is unnecessary ceremony to hand over irrigation projects to the communities.

The residents, mostly farmers expressed their feelings at a ceremony at Dorfor Agorveme to officially hand over irrigation projects to the communities on Thursday, May 17, 2018.

The Northern Rural Growth Programme (NRGP) irrigation scheme jointly funded by African Development Bank (AfDB), International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), and Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), had been sited at Agorveme, Afawode and Volo to enable farmers there to engage in an all year round agriculture production to improve food security and reduce rural urban migration.

A durbar at Agorveme to hand over projects

According to the residents, the projects had been completed and handed over to the communities in August 2016, thus, did not see the reason for another handing over ceremony.

To them, what is needed is the repair of broken down parts of the project and reinstallation of stolen cables to get the facilities working because since the completion of the projects, they have not been put to use to benefit the residents in any way.

Secretary of Irrigation Farmers Association (IFA), also known as Water Users Association (WUA), Madam Grace Atta said members have never used the projects, citing, some faults detected at the facilities coupled with high expected cost of operation as reasons.

Regional Minister, Dr. Letsa (Centre), DCE, Mr. Arku (right)

Meanwhile, Regional Manager of Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA), Joseph Nartey in response said, the Authority has taken note of the issues and promised to resolve them.

He however, charged the people to take responsibility of the projects and help in the arrest of individuals who engaged in stealing of cables at the sites and other activities to undermine the purpose of the project.

Inside of the pump house at Volo, North Tongu

An earlier inspection of the project sites by the Regional Minister, GIDA’s team, contractors, District Chief Executive for the area, farmer associations residents and the media revealed no farming activities at the irrigation facilities comprising pump houses, reservoirs and canals expected to water 41 developed hectares of land out of 65 at Agorveme, 20 hectares of land out of 74 at Afawode, and 47 out of 86 at Volo, at total costs of 2.4 million, 2.6 million and 1.4 million Ghana cedis respectively.

By: Ewoenam Kpodo/voltaonlinegh.com

NETRIGHT advocates for Gender Inclusion in New Land Bill

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Volta Online

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May 17, 2018

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Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT) has urged the Parliamentary Select Committee on Lands and Forestry to push for the consolidation of the new Land bill to address systematic barriers that would enhance gender equality and social inclusion in land governance.

Similar, the civil society organization has underscored the need for policies in the agriculture sector to be responsive to gender.

Speaking on the sidelines of a round-table discussion in Ho on Tuesday, the Programme Manager of NETRIGHT, Ms Patricia Akakpo said, barriers to land acquisition, limited or no access to credit and lack of technology was affecting the growth of the sector and the quality of life for female farmers, hence should be appropriately addresed in the proposed land bill which is currently before parliament.

“NETRIGHT wants the gender inclusion issues in the provision should not be watered down, and some proposals that NETRIGHT have made to be included in the Land Bill should also be included.”

She indicated that, women who formed the majority of the workforce in the agriculture sector were faced with many challenges, a reason for embarking on nationwide round table discussions to raise awareness on the key issues on the land bill to solicit inputs from stakeholders, which would help tackle the challenges.

Some of the proposals raised by NETRIGHT Ghana included women’s right to land acquisition, land registration, gender consideration in staffing the customary lands secretariat and proper definition of gender and spouses.

The meeting brought together stakeholders from women rights advocate groups, traditional leaders, the media and legislators to discuss and make inputs into policy decisions on bridging gender gaps in the draft Land Bill.

The draft bill also takes into consideration ‘landguardism’, protection of Zongo lands, a direction on how foreigners could own land and protect the areas of common use like parks, as well as provisions to deal with spousal ownership of land.

By: Shalom Lumor/voltaonlingh.com

Asogli Features ‘Media Day’ in 2018 Te Za Celebrations

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Volta Online

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May 17, 2018

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Togbe Afede XIV, Agbgbomefia of Asogli State

The Planning Committee of Asogli Te Za (formerly Yam Festival) has set aside a day to celebrate Media in the Volta Region in a bid to project the festival.

The move dubbed “Media Day” will form part of activities to mark the annual festival of the people of Asogli where a health walk will be organised for journalists in the region amidst fanfare under the auspices of the Asogli Traditional Council.

Chairman of the Planning Committe, Brigadier Martin Koku Gameli Ahiaglo noted that the Council recognises the important role the media play, thus, wish to henceforth, nurture that relationship for the good of Asogli Te Za.

Brigadier Martin Ahiaglo (middle) addressing the mediapractitioner

This was disclosed during an interaction with media practitioners on Tuesday, May 15 at Asogli Palace in Ho.

Brigadier Ahiaglo said Te Za 2018 celebration coincides with the 15-year coronation anniversary of Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of the Asogli Traditional Area.

He added, the festival has been rebranded from Asogli Yam Festival to Asogli Te za to project its historical and cultural background to make it appeal to the international community so as to attract tourists.

Brigadier Ahiaglo hinted that plans are in progress to set up an office of the Secretariat where information regarding the festival will be obtained to open up the festival to expatriates.

Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr. Kafui Kanyi who led the media at the meeting welcomed the initiative and promised on behalf of his members to be of support and urged the Committee to ensure the safety of journalists during the celebrations.

Asogli Te Za, formerly known as Asogli Yam Festival is an annual festival celebrated in September by the chiefs and people of Asogli State in the Volta Region to thank God and also gods and ancestors for bumper harvest.

The celebration was brought into Ghana by the Ewes when they migrated from Notse in the Republic of Togo, where it is still celebrated.

By: Albert Kuzor/voltaonlinegh.com

NaBCo Personnel to Get First Employment in Public sector — Dr Frimpong

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Volta Online

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May 17, 2018

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The Technical Economic advisor to the Vice President, Dr Samuel Kwadwo Frimpong, has said beneficiaries of the Nation Builders Corps (NaBCO) will be the first to be considered for government employment should there be employment opportunities in the public sector.

His assertion was based on the fact that they would have the required skills and experience needed in public service to implement the various government policies geared towards building a strong economy.

He urged graduates to take advantage of NaBCo to gain the needed skills and experience and position themselves for permanent employment in the future.

Government, he said, had initiated a lot of policies focused on creating jobs and building a robust economy which would require experience and skilful personnel to take over and implement them effectively.

Dr Frimpong was speaking to some national service persons in Ho during the launch of the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA) Ho Municipal maiden Excellence Award over the weekend.

The economic adviser, who was part of the team that developed the NaBCo concept, advised people to focus on the opportunity NaBCo offered and ignore detractors whose ambition was to direct focus on the modest stipend being paid to rubbish the programme.

Unemployment situation

According to him, the high rate of unemployment was negatively affecting the economy of the country and for that matter something ought to be done to address the issue.

‘Every year, we have about 60,000 graduates doing national service. Out of this figure, only 10 per cent get employment, leaving a chunk of 90 per cent to survive on their own’.

He said the unemployment situation was high because people were not patriotic and also were not interested in volunteerism.

Credit: Graphic.com.gh

Dukɔme Lamesẽnyawo Dɔdzikpɔƒea Wɔ Tsaɖiɖi Tɔxɛ Aɖe Le Amuga Nutoame

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Volta Online

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May 17, 2018

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Dukɔme lamesẽ nyawo dɔdzikpɔƒea wɔ ŋkeke etɔ̃ tsaɖiɖi tɔxɛe aɖe le Amuga nutoame hena ŋkulele ɖe nutoame ƒe lamese menɔnyawo ŋuti. Tsaɖiɖi sia nye ɖoɖo tɔxɛ aɖe si lamesẽnyawo dɔdzikpɔƒea de tome le dukɔme godoa ƒe akpaɖe. Dɔdzikpɔlawo wɔ mɔnukpɔkpɔa ŋudɔ tsɔ se nya aɖewo me tso dɔnɔwo kple dɔnɔdzikpɔlawo sia gbɔ. Kɔsiɖa ƒe dziŋu atɔ̃a ƒe ŋkeke

wuietɔ̃a gbee ɖoɖoawo dze egɔme kaka ɖo Blaɖa, ƒe dziŋu atɔ̃a ƒe ŋkeke wuiatɔ̃a gbe.

Gbãa, Lamesenyawo dɔdzikpɔla siwo Ɖɔkta Yao Yeboah, amesi nye woƒe nunɔla nɔ ŋgɔ̃ naa, wodogo Amuganutome Lamesenyawo dɔdzikpɔlawo hafi dze woƒe tsaɖiɖiwo gɔme.Amuga nutome lamesenyawo dɔdzikpɔla ƒe kpeɖeŋutɔ Ɖɔkta Ofori Yeboah, amesi kpɔa dumeviwo ƒe lamesemenɔnyawo dzia, kpe ɖe Ɖɔkta Yao Yeboah ŋuti wonɔ ŋgɔ na wɔna bliboa.

Dɔdaƒe aɖe siwo tdaɖiɖia lɔ ɖe mea woe nye: Hohoe, Alavanyo Dzogbedze, Dzolo Gbɔgame dɔdaƒewo kpakple Amuga nutome dɔdaƒega. Kuxi aɖe siwo wotɔ asie na dɔdzikpɔlawoe nye: dɔnɔdzikpɔlawo ƒe agbɔmasɔmasɔ,mɔ aɖewo ƒe manyomanyo, dɔwɔnu veviẽ aɖewo makpɔmakpɔ kple bubuawo.

Ɖɔkta Yao Yeboah ɖeme be yewoa adze agbagba hena asitɔtrɔ le kuxiawo ŋuti kaba. Eyidzi hekafu Amuga nutome lamesenyawo dɔdzikɔlawo ɖe woƒe agbagbadzedzewo ta togbɔbe nukpekeame mawo ɖeto ɖe hã.

Kehã, eƒo koko na dɔnɔdzikɔlawo le nutoame be woana kadodo nyuie nanɔ woawo kple kɔdzidelawo domii ɣesiaɣi . Amuga nutoamee kpe nutome etɔ̃lia sime tsaɖiɖi sia fomevi eyidzi le.

Eŋlɔla: Shelter Gakpey/Voltaonlinegh.com

Nufiãfiã Hehexɔlawo Woaŋlɔ Dodokpɔ Tɔxɛ Aɖe Hafi Axɔ Woƒe Ɖaseɖigbalẽwo

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Volta Online

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May 17, 2018

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Hehexɔla siwo dodom le nufiãlawoheƒe vovowo fia ,woƒe ɖaseɖigbalẽwo asu wosi le dodokpɔ tɔxɛe aɖe si woɖe ŋkɔ nabe ‘Lincensure Examinations’ ŋɔŋlɔ vɔ megbe. Siamlɔm ƒe ŋkeke blaeve vɔ atɔ̃a gbee dodokpɔ ŋɔŋlɔ ayidzi le na ƒe sia me ƒe hehexɔlawo.

Nya sia dzego le nuŋlɔɖi aɖe yi dɔwɔha si kpɔa nufiãlawo ƒe nyadzi: ‘National Teaching Council’ he ɖe goa me. Ɖɔkta Evelyn Oduro amesi nye dɔwɔha ƒe agbalẽdziglã ye de asi nuŋlɔɖia te. Dɔwɔha ye wode dodokpɔŋɔŋlɔ dɔa asina .

Le nuŋlɔɖia nua, hehexɔla siwo akpɔ dzidzedzenyuie le dodokpɔ ma ŋɔŋlɔ mea, wosi koe ɖaseɖigbalẽ si aɖo kpe woƒe hehexɔxɔ abe nufiãlawo ene dzia asu.

Ewunu be, dɔdzikpɔlawo woaka nyata na gomekpɔlawo kuɖe fexeɖoɖo kple nububu siwo kuɖe dodokpɔaŋɔŋlɔ ŋuti le emegbe.

Eŋlɔla: Shelter Gakpey/Voltaonlinegh.com

Prospective Teachers to sit Licensure Exams, July 25

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Volta Online

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May 16, 2018

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Fresh teachers from the country’s Colleges of Education and other tertiary institutions will from this year sit licensure examinations to qualify for certification as professional teachers.

The National Teaching Council (NTC), the regulatory body mandated to license and issue Registered Numbers to all teachers in the country is set to conduct the maiden Professional Exams on Wednesday July 25, 2018 for the 2017/18 academic year.

A circular sent to the affected institutions and signed by Dr. Evelyn Oduro, Executive Secretary of NTC stated that, passing the Licensure Examination was a prerequisite for the issuance of the Professional Teaching License and Registration Numbers to qualified trained Teachers.

It further indicated that, fees and other charges related to the exams will be communicated in due course and urged prospective to contact their respective institutions for further information on the impending exams.

By: Voltaonlinegh.com

GHS Council tours Health facilities in Volta region

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Volta Online

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May 16, 2018

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The Ghana Health Service (GHS) Governing Council has paid a 3-day working visit to the Volta Region, as part of its nationwide tour of public health facilities.

The visit which took place from Sunday May 13 to Tuesday, May 14, 2018, formed part of the Council’s initiative to get closer to the service delivery points and interact with management, staff and patients on challenges affecting quality service delivery.

GHS Council members in a group photograph with officials of the Regional Health Directorate

Upon arrival on Sunday, the Council led by the chairman, Dr. Yao Yeboah and Director General of GHS, Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare had its meeting in the Region before proceeding to a tour of selected health facilities in subsequent days.

Dr. Ofori Yeboah, Deputy Regional Director in-charge of Public health took the entourage round the selected facilities including, the Hohoe Municipal Hospital, Alavanyo Dzogbedze CHPS compound, Dzolo Gborgame Health Centre, and Volta Regional Hospital in Ho.

Issues raised by the management and staff of the facilities visited in the region, were lack of staff accommodation, poor roads to health facilities, inadequate staffing due the refusal of healthcare professionals to accept posting to the region inadequate Ambulances, among others.

Response

The Director-General, Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare in response to the concerns, assured the staff of measures being taken to address the challenges of accommodation, staffing and ambulance service.

He indicated that continuous quality improvement should be a key in providing cost effective and efficient services and advice facility managers to use Internally Generated Funds (IGF) efficiently and judiciously.

Staff durbar at the Volta Regional hospital in Ho

“Various institutions should use innovative ways to attract and retain health professionals to the region, district and health facilities. GHS is poised to provide quality Universal Health Coverage especially at the Primary health level”, he added.

The Council chairman, Dr. Yeboah commended the Regional Health directorate and health facilities management for their commitment towards service delivery and the drastic reduction in Institutional Maternal Mortality rate in the region.

He however appealed to health workers in the region to ensure customer care, good interpersonal relationships with the patients and encouraged them to focus much on effective primary health care preventive health care service delivery.

The Council earlier visited the Eastern and Central regions in January and March respectively as part of the nationwide visit.

By: Voltaonlinegh.com

Over 85 Lives Lost in Protracted Alavanyo-Nkonya Conflict

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Volta Online

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May 16, 2018

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More than 85 lives have been lost to conflicts in two feuding communities, Alavanya and Nkonya over protracted land disputes there.

The age-long dispute had resulted in reprisal attacks that continued to claim lives of innocent people in the communities.

In a release by the Regional Peace Council (RPC) in Ho on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 and signed by the Regional Executive Secretary, David Esinu Yao Normanyo, the Council shares the pains of families who lost their loved ones.

“The Council recalls its 2017 audit of the nature of violence in the Alavanyo-Nkonya conflict since 1983 and concluded that over 85 lives that have been lost in the name of the conflict is enough for the conflicting parties to realize that violence will not resolve their grievances. The RPC stands in sorrow with and shares the pains of families of all those who have lost their loved ones by virtue of residing in the two communities.”

Related Story: One killed, Another Injured in latest Alavanyo Shooting

It condemned the incidence on Monday, May 14 when a 41-year old lady, Atta Yaw Rejoice had been gunned down with another, an 80-year old woman injured after an unidentified assailant reportedly opened fire into the Alavanyo town of Deme in the Hohoe Municipality.

The injured woman has been rushed to St Margaret Maquart Catholic Hospital at Kpando where she is currently receiving treatment.

The release deemed such senseless killing by few blood-thirsty individuals as an act of cowardice and requires concerted efforts of the majority peace-loving citizens of those communities, especially those in diaspora to arrest the situation.

It further appealed to chiefs in the two communities to call their people to order while calling on law enforcers to arrest individuals they suspect of commiting these crimes for peace to prevail.

By: Ewoenam Kpodo/voltaonlinegh.com

B.K Aklama quits Global FM

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Volta Online

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May 16, 2018

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The Morning Show host of Ho base, Global FM, Ben Korku Aklama has stepped down from his role at the radio station.

Voltaonlinegh.com has gathered the young versatile broadcaster officially packed out from the media outlet this week, after almost two years stay at the station, hosting one of the most listened morning shows in the Volta regional capital.

B.K Aklama, as he identified himself on the Global Morning Show, started as a co-host of the show with Torgbui Ahorgo I, when the station begun programming in August 2016.

He however took over the show following the resignation of the main host few months later and has since steered the ‘Global conversation’ in the municipality together with his in-house panelists, putting both residents and duty bearers on their toes.

Though, he didn’t assign any reason for his resignation, Ben Aklama in a Facebook post on Wednesday confirmed his exit, saying he was trying his hands on new things.

By: Voltaonlinegh.com

Related Story: One killed, Another Injured in latest Alavanyo Shooting