NPP Regional Office awash with various campaign banners
The High Court in Ho presided over by Justice Eric Baah has on Friday placed an injunction on the upcoming Regional Delegates Conference of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) scheduled for Saturday April 21, 2018.
The 10-day interim embargo on the conference, at which new regional Executives of the party would be elected, was as a result of a writ filed at the court by a disqualified Chairman aspirant, Mr. George Kofi Boateng, who was unhappy with the decision of the vetting committee to eliminate him out of the contest.
Mr. Boateng, a former Regional Secretary of the party was disqualified alongside three other aspirants for the regional executive elsctions by the 3-member vetting committee chaired by Mr. Bob Charles Agbontor on last month.
The Injunction Notice by the Court
In an ex-parte motion filed at Ho High Court for an interlocutory injunction, he stated that, he only knew the disqualification through a Whatsapp Messenger platform on March 30,2018 four days after he appeared before the vetting committee.
A situation, he noted came as a surprise to him, since he did not receive official communication to that effect, except for a verbal confirmation from the committee chairman.
He added that, efforts to seek redress through the party structures were unsuccessful, reason for his resort to the law court for justice.
Meanwhile, Voltaonlinegh.com can confirm officials of the NPP are going ahead with preparations for the conference at the St. Francis College of Education campus at Hohoe.
Sources, no injunction notice has been served on the party and as such the activities for Saturday will still go ahead as scheduled.
A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Penplusbytes with support from Strengthening Action Against Corruption (STAAC) held a focus group discussion (FGD) on a project, Metogu, aimed at giving citizens the opportunity to support the fight against corruption.
The FGD brought together citizens from all walks of life including civil society, religious bodies, trade association, traditional leaders, local government, political parties and the media.
Regional Director of the Project, Mr. Harrison Belley at the event in Ho Municipal Assembly said Metogu, a Guan phrase meaning “keeping the pressure up” is not motivated by any political party nor inclined to any political party but designed to raise awareness amongst citizens to hold governments accountable to deliver on their anti-corruption promises.
He mentioned Ho Municipal was identified in addition to two other districts, Adaklu and North Tongu in the Volta Region for the FGD on the project and appealed to the participants to be objective in their submissions.
The discussion centred on various indicators developed from anti-corruption promises made by the current government in the run-up to the 2016 general elections amongst which included the setting up of Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), passing into law of the age-long Right to Information (RTI) bill, amendment of the Assets Declaration Law, etc.
An Adapted Community Score Card was given to each participant to indicate likelihood of statements happening by indicating “low, moderate, highly” against them.
The participants gave justifications for the choices made and provided recommendations as well.
The Moderator, King Norbert Akpablie took participants through indicators such as creation of OSP, Assets Declaration, Passage of RTI bill, Value for Money Audit, compliance with the Public Procurement Act, Beneficiary Ownership Title, Attitudinal Change, Restructuring of NHIS, School Feeding Programme and General Corruption.
Speaking to voltaonlinegh.com, Jeremiah Sam, Programme Director at Penplusbytes said the Metogu forms part of a two-year project funded by DFID-Ghana which seeks to reduce the impact of corruption on poor citizens, saying, “corruption is taking resources from where it’s supposed to be for the benefit and growth of Ghana.”
He explained that citizens tend to forget promises made to them during campaign periods, thus, they are unable to hold governments to account for them, adding, the objective is to enable citizens to understand and get to know more about the promises government made with regards to the fight against corruption.
Mr Jeremiah Sam disclosed the FGD will be followed by a survey across the four regions (Greater Accra, Volta, Ashanti and Western) in which the project is being currently run to generate a national report that will be used to engage appropriate institutions on anti-corruption to enhance their work.
Penplusbyte since its inception has been committed to improving the governance process in African States and deepening citizen participation in the processes.
The Ho Aerodrome will soon be handed over to government for use, voltaonlinegh.com has gathered.
This came to light when the Aviation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah and Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa toured the facility last Thursday, April 19, 2018.
The Contractors, Amandi Construction assured the minister that they are almost done and will soon hand over the project to government for use by Ghanaians.
See Exclusive Pictures of the Aerodome captured by our Partner Photographer; JMA Photography
A team from the Ho Technical University (HTU) won the grand prize at this year’s Hackaton; a collaborative computer programming contest that seeks to challenge the skills of computer engineering, science and technical students in tertiary institutions across the country.
The team won the “Best Product Idea Award” for developing a secured electronic voting system using block chain technology, and was awarded a GH¢3,000.00 cash prize.
The epic competition organized by Hacklab Foundation was held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and attracted the participation of 112 teams from 15 tertiary institutions, which solved challenges using Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, and Block Chain technologies.
The project featured entrepreneurs and other industry stakeholders who mentored and shared expertise with the participants.
Mr Carlos Ankora, Head of the Computer Science Department, presenting the prizes to the Management of HTU, said the Institution produced five teams which won a total of four out of a possible eight awards at the event.
He said the feat included the “Most Promising Female Developers Award”, won by the University’s all-female team for developing an environmental monitoring system to help stakeholders deal with issues such as pollution.
Mr Ankora said another team won the “Vodafone Special Award” for a hospital crowd funding programme to streamline donations to health facilities.
Professor Emmanuel Sakyi, Interim Vice Chancellor of the University, said the success of the teams was evident of the “strong collaboration between lectures and students”, as well as a strong team spirit within the departments.
He said the Technical University would continue to ensure that students were equipped with “frugal innovative ideas that can transform society and impact Ghana’s development”.
Professor Sakyi said Information and Communication Technology must be utilized to enhance teaching, learning and research, and commended lecturers for helping elevate the image of the University “despite the institutional and logistical challenges”.
He promised management’s continuous support towards such activities, and asked students to endeavor to win more laurels for the Institution.
A total of GH¢6,800.00 was awarded to the HTU entrants, as well as a free Microsoft training course for the all-female team.
The Kpando Magistrate Court in the Volta Region presided over by Mr Tsitsofe Wornami has remanded into prison custody, a 32 –year old Lucas Siayor charged for murder.
Police arrested the suspect on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 after launching a search for him for days and immediately put before the Court.
Hohoe District Police Command early on, mounted a manhunt for the suspect after a report was made at Golokwati Police Station that he allegedly murdered his 74-year old father, Alfred Kwami Siayor.
According to Police report, Assembly-man for Liati-Odumasi Electoral Area, Mr Francis Dzidzovor lodged a complaint with the Police at Golokwati around 10:00am on April 14, 2018.
In his complaint, Mr Dzidzovor said victim’s lifeless body was found earlier around 6:30am in his bed same day after a quarrel between him (the deceased) and the son (suspect) the previous night about 09:30.
When Police got to the scene, the victim’s body was found with a swollen face and blood oozing out from his nostrils and mouth.
The police also recovered items including bloodstained pistol and a mattock stick from the murder scene.
A search was therefore launched for Lucas Siayor, the only person staying with the father and who had since fled from home following his father’s murder.
Hohoe District Commander, Supt Stephen Boadu said the suspect was arrested along the Tafi-Atome-Kpando road with assistance from community members and put before court.
Suspect is currently in prison custody, Kpando and will reappear in court on May 24, 2018.
Family of late Corporal Patrick Gagbale Attipoe has said it is high time heroes who paid their due to their motherland were celebrated at home and not always at the national level as has been the norm.
Mr. Divine Attipoe, Head of Events and Funeral, Obam Attipoe Family, said although heroes are celebrated in the capital, Accra, Attipoe family believes it is more inspiring if heroes are celebrated in their localities.
He made the disclosure at the unveiling ceremony of a bronze sculpture of the late Cpl Attipoe, who was a victim of the February 28 Christianborg Crossroads shooting incident in 1948, in his hometown, Kpota-Anyako, in the Volta Region on Saturday April 14, 2018.
The sculpture had the inscription: “In memoriam Corporal Patrick Gagbale Attipoe was the first of three gallant ex-servicemen who lost their lives at the 28th February, 1948 Christianburg Crossing Shooting Incident, a pivotal moment in Ghana’s march to independence. May this monument be a testament to your bravery and that of your comrades, Sergeant Adjetey and Private Odartey Lamptey. Xede nyuie, Rest in perfect Peace”.
The ceremony also saw a dedication of Nationalism Park, sponsored by the Royal Duklui Attipoe Family to preserve the memory of their son Cpl Attipoe.
Torgbui Sri III
According to Mr Attipoe, the family of late Cpl Attipoe is calling for support of the Anlo state and the region to annually celebrate their son, Cpl Attipoe at home.
“Family members are therefore proposing that around the time when the event is celebrated annually at the national level, a mini-event should take place here. We believe this will have the support of the people of the Anlo state and indeed of the entire Volta Region. We hope this laudable idea will be embraced by all.”
Board Chairman of Veterans Administration, Major General Clayton Naa Boanubah Yaache (Rtd), who unveiled the statue spoke well of the three ex-servicemen.
He said the monument of Cpl Attipoe would help inspire the current and future generations to fight a cause in the national interest.
“I believe this would encourage the youth to be patriotic with the hope that their contributions to the development of their traditional area, the region and country at large would not be in vain.”
In all, five wreaths were laid: one on behalf of Government and the people of Ghana, another for Security Services, third for Veterans, fourth, the Anlo State, and the fifth, families of the fallen soldiers, and four flags: the national, security services, the veterans and the Anlo State flags were hoisted.
In attendance were government officials, traditional rulers, security officers, Veterans Association of Ghana and families of the three ex-servicemen.
Christiansborg Crossroads Shooting Incident
On Saturday, February 28, 1948, a group of unarmed ex-servicemen who returned home frustrated after fighting for Great Britain in the World War II, were marching to the Osu Castle to present a petition to the Governor, Sir Gerald Creasy.
They defied the order of a contingent of armed policemen, led by British Police Superintendent Collins Imray to disperse or be fired upon.
Supt. Imray then ordered his men to open fire on them, killing the three ex-servicemen, Cpl Attipoe, Sergeant Adjetey and Private Odartey Lamptey.
The news about the death of the gallant ex-servicemen sparked riot in Accra and other parts of the country and was pivotal in the struggle for Ghana’s independence on March 6, 1957.
The NPP Regional Office awash with various campaign banners ahead of Saturday’s Conference at Hohoe
Members of of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Volta region are gearing for their annual Conference slated for Saturday, April 21, 2018 at Hohoe.
A major agenda at this year’s conference will be the election of new Regional executive officers to steer the affairs of party in the political world bank of the biggest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Among them are five contenders for the Regional Chairmanship slot, which include, a former regional manager of defunct Ghana Telecom and a party patron, Mr Douglas Kirk Wagba, current regional organiser, Mr Makafui Kofi Woanyah, a financier of the party, Mr David Agubiga, a private legal practitioner, Mr Ken Anku, and a veteran party strategist, Rev. Johnson Avuletey.
The vice chairpersons’ slot has two persons vying for the first vice Chairman, and five contestants for Second Vice Chairman position, which includes Mr. Albert Bediako of the Ho Technical University.
Regional Secretary Joseph Homenya, seeking re-election
Incumbent Regional secretary, Joseph Homenya is being contested by two other, including Enoch Amegbletor, the current deputy Regional Communication director of the NPP for the Regional chief scribe slot.
Also, the incumbent Regional Treasurer, Mr. Joseph Denteh is being challenged by one other for the post, whiles, four candidates, including Emmanuel Korsi Bodja and the Regional director of NADMO, Divine Bosson are battling for the Regional Organizer slot.
Joseph Denteh, Regional Treasurer, seeking re-election
The current deputy Regional women Organizer, Hannah Ashade, is vying for the substantive Women organizer position with two others, as the Nasara Coordinator contest is between avid party communicator, Zain Suleman and three other aspirants.
However, the Regional Youth Organizer slot is for the grab of a sole candidate, King David Ninkab Nkabonam through a Yes or No endorse of the party delegates.
Campaign
With the election just in sight, all 32 aspirants have deployed various campaign strategies across the 26 constituencies in the region, so as to get the nod of the about 350 delegates come Saturday.
Incumbent Secretary, Joseph Homenya aka Joe Wallace with Treasurer, Joseph Denteh
VoltaOnlinegh.com sources within the camps of some key contestants, such the incumbent Secretary, Joseph Homenya and Treasurer, Joseph Denteh, are very confident of retaining their seats, due to their instrumentality in the execution of the ‘NPP’s Agenda 3/30 and Operation Eagle eye’ in the region during the 2016 elections, which saw some appreciable gains in the party’s popular votes and the snatching of a parliamentary seat, in the opposition NDC stronghold.
Nonetheless, Enoch Amegbletor, a contender for the Regional Secretary slot, is also hopeful of pulling a surprise at the polls. He believes his years of service to the party as communicator has resonated with the party grassroot to reward him with the Chief scribe job.
On his part, Mr. Albert Bediako, a contender for 2nd Vice chairmanship slot, is optimistic of wading off stiff competition from other contenders, who are mostly former constituency chairmen to emerge victorious.
The onetime banker, turn lecturer, believes the current dynamics in politicking, do not only require career politicians to steer the affairs of parties but also needs the vital contribution of intellectuals including academics like himself to reposition and market the NPP in particular for continuous electoral victories.
He is therefore hopeful the party delegates will elect him and other visionaries, to work hand-in-hand to gain for political grounds for the party in the region, whiles at the same time serving the best interest of the rank and file of the NPP.
Regarding the Regional Organizer job, political pundits pitch as a two horse race between Mr. Emmanuel Korsi Bodja and the NADMO director, Mr. Divine Bosson. Both candidates tout themselves as grassroot person who have always worked with the party’s rank and file across the various constituencies.
For Bodja, his duty as the director of elections for the NPP 2016 campaign, placed him in a better position to lead the mobilization and coordination of the party’s structures for an effective electioneering campaign and victory.
Nonetheless, Mr. Bosson is said to be leaving no stone unturned as he deploys his ‘Submarine strategies’ to outwit other contenders at the polls.
With the curtains gradually drawing down on the campaigns, the delegates of the NPP are now faced with a daunting task to elect the best of the the candidates to efficiently runs the affairs of the elephant party in the volta region, come Saturday.
A German-based non-governmental organization (NGO), On The Move e.V., operating in the Volta Region has officially inaugurated Home of Brains, a rehabilitation and training centre for persons living with mental illness.
Home of Brains Rehab Centre
The modern facility sited in Aflao, capital of Ketu South Municipality is to give counseling, vocational/technical training, soft and social skills and rehabilitation to persons with mental health challenges free of charge.
The project which is the third initiative of the Organization is to take affected persons through 3 to 6 months rehabilitation process before discharging them. It is also aimed at discouraging stigmatization and discrimination of persons with mental illness and their families.
Home of Brain Learning Center
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Rick Wolthusen, a Medical Doctor and Country Director, On The Move e.V.-Ghana, said over 300 persons had been treated over the past years and currently, eight patients have been admitted and will undergo their services.
Home of Brain Canteen
He however, expressed worry over how mental illness is on the rise in the country yet less attention is being given to it.
“Mental illness is on the rise with more than 3 million affected Ghanaians and yet, looking at the Ghanaian health sector, with just three psychiatric hospitals (Accra, Pantang and Ankaful) and public perception of mental illness, one must come to the conclusion that mental health is still neglected for far too long.”
Home of Brain Skill Training Center
He appealed to the general public for substantial support for the Organisation to create a better world for recovered persons and not only to anticipate benefits from it.
“The community members should not only ask what the facility can do for them but also what they can do for Home of Brains and their communities.”
Home of Brain ICT Center
Deputy Director of Nursing Service, Volta Region Health Directorate, Vivian Nutassey, who toured the facility applauded the move and gave assurance of local partnership to Home of Brains.
Home of Brain Fitness Center
The NGO’s initiatives in the region include: “Brain Awareness and Brain Cycles” project in 2015, renovation of Denu Health Centre and other forms of support to the Ketu South Municipal Hospital among others since 2012.
The Hohoe District Police Command in the Volta Region has mounted a manhunt for a 32- year old Lucas Siayor for allegedly murdering his 74- year old father, Alfred Kwami Siayor.
Residents of Liati-Odumasi woke up to the news of the victim’s death on Saturday, April 14, 2018, hours after the deceased and the son, now on the run, quarreled.
Volta Regional Police Commander, DCOP George Tuffour who spoke with voltaonlinegh.com on the incident said the Assembly member for the area, Mr Francis Dzidzovor lodged a complaint with the Police at Golokwati later that morning at 10:00am.
In his complaint, Mr Dzidzovor said on the night of April 13, about 09:30, the suspect picked up a quarrel with his father whose body was found in bed the next morning.
When the Police moved to the scene and found the lifeless body of the victim, he had swollen face with blood oozing out from his nostrils and mouth.
Items recovered from the murder scene included bloodstained pistol and a mattock stick.
DCOP Tuffour said the suspect, the only person staying with the father, has fled from home following his father’s murder.
He added that the Police has launched a search for the suspect and called on the public to come forth with vital information that can lead to the arrest of the suspect to help in investigations into the murder.
Meanwhile, body of the deceased has been deposited at the Margaret Marquette Hospital Mortuary at Kpando.
The Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa has announced that contractors working on the Eastern Corridor Road and other roads started by the erstwhile administration have been instructed to go back to site within 14 days or lose their contract agreement.
Dr. Letsa said the roads have become impassable for both vehicles and other road users to ply, adding, the president is aware of the state of the Eastern Corridor Road hence making reference to it during the State of the Nation’s Address.
The Minister disclosed this when a Coalition of Transport Associations, Vehicle Owners and Civil Society Groups from the middle and northern belts of the Volta Region paid a courtesy call on him at the Volta Regional Coordinating Council.
Dr. Letsa said he got information from the Ghana Highway Authority that contractors including those working on cocoa roads have been asked to go back to site, saying, he would do his bit.
“What I have to do as a Regional Minister is to make sure that whatever we owed the contractors they are paid if not all, they receive some part payment so that they can also mobilize and go back to site as soon as possible”.
A petition signed by the Chairman of the Association, Mathew Agble, decried the poor nature of roads as greatly affecting the economic activities of a number of people and called on the President to deliver on his promises to get the road constructed.
“His Excellency we regret to say that the projects you have promised us to complete when you resume office have halted and this has virtually created a lot of inconveniences to all classes of people using that stretch of the road. Currently, most of the cars, busses and the trucks have been thrown out of business due to the poor nature of the road. Armed robbery is on the increase especially in the low coverage areas”.
The Coalition expressed deep concern about the deplorable state of roads in areas including Peki, Kpeve, Hohoe, Jasikan, Kadjebi, Dambai through Nkwanta and Damanko covering about twelve Municipal and District Assemblies of the region, saying, the roads are nothing but a death trap.
The statement continued that though the roads were not in good conditions prior to the coming into power of the current government, they were promised that roads already under construction shall be completed upon resumption of office.
“Yojur Excellency as a matter of urgency if nothing is not done about this Eastern Corridor Road which is the main route for carting timber, food stuffs, cocoa, and livestock among others to the cities, it will increase the already high cost of living in the country and impoverish the citizens of those areas,” it added.
