Ho Market to Be Commissioned Soon

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April 16, 2018

The Ho Central Market in the Volta Regional Capital is set to be commissioned soon to boost business activities in the region.

The Project which is an initiative of Ghana Urban Management Pilot Project (GUMPP) comprising the Ho Central Market, a landfill site at Akrofu and a modern abattoir at Sokode has been completed and will be opened to the public in few weeks.

The Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa has said following the completion and resolution of a court case against the project, the facility will soon be commissioned to serve the purpose for which it was undertaken.

According to him, the commissioning of the market had delayed as a result of a court case by some market women and shop owners regarding disagreements on the allocation of the market stalls.

The Minister’s disclosure comes on the back of agitations from a group, Concerned Citizens of Volta, demanding explanations for reasons the current government led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo fails to complete and/or continue developmental projects started across the region by the erstwhile John Dramani Mahama government.

The Group in a petition presented to the regional minister at the Volta Regional Coordinating Council on Thursday, April 12, 2018, mentioned among other things, the Eastern Corridor Road, Sokode-Ho Dual Carriage Road, Sokode-UHAS Bye-Pass Dual Road, Ho Airport and the Ho Central Market projects, as examples.

Dr Letsa in response said, the market project is completed and the court case delaying its commissioning has been resolved, thus, the commissioning will take place in few weeks time.

“The Ho market is completed. You see there have been some court cases. The market women association and the shop owners had gone to court which caused a delay in the whole process and now that allocation had been completed, the Minister will come so that we commission the place. So in the next few weeks, that market should be operational.”

The GUMP project which started in the era of the previous government has the Kumasi, Tamale, Sekondi-Takoradi metropolises and Ho Municipality as beneficiaries with Agence France de Development (AFD) supporting the project with 40 million euros and a grant of 500,000 euros for its successful implementation.

By: Ewoenam Kpodo/voltaonlinegh.com

Ho Gutters Turn Refuse Dumps

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Volta Online

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April 13, 2018

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IMG_20180409_093850 — One of the Gutters Filled With Garbage

The problem of solid, liquid, and toxic-waste management believed to have come with urbanization in developing countries like Ghana is attributed to rapid growth in population and general indiscipline.

Though Urban Waste Management is drawing increasing attention, it is evident that too much garbage lies uncollected on the streets, and in the gutters of our cities with little being done to change the trend, outcomes of which include: inconvenience, environmental pollution, public health risk among others.

The latest city to face fast growing rate in filth generation is the Volta Regional capital, Ho, where gutters being filled with garbage is becoming a normal phenomenon. This condition many fear if not dealt with urgently will cover the entire city in filth.

Areas such as the drain between the OLA and Market road through Anlokordzi is an eyesaw. Another place of concern is the drainage near the Goil Filling Station around SIC. The Housing Foot Bridge between Market and Dome and the Taso Foot Bridge between Civic Centre and K.K. House also leave much to be desired.

A shoe mender, Ametame Manya expressed worry at the situation saying, “The issue has become a headache to those of us living around gutters in Ho because people collect waste from their homes and dump it into the gutters. When we are working during the day we find it very difficult to breathe because of the stench coming from the gutters.”

Douglas Tornyemayor, a tailor lamented that “We are suffering. People do take away (human waste) from their homes and drop it in the gutters making every place smell like faeces. We are afraid that when the rains come the city will flood.”

Senyegbe Etsoravanyo, a JHS 2 pupil said “as the raining season is fast approaching, we are scared; if care is not taken, the poor disposal of waste will lead to a high incidence of sanitation related illness, such as cholera, intestinal worms and typhoid.”

The Deputy Municipal Environmental Health Officer, Divine Sokah said his outfit has over the years taken steps to keep the city clean but yielded little results.

According to him, the office engaged in radio and house to house education on proper waste management and also implemented house to house distribution of waste bin in the Municipality. However, people were adamant to pay and collect the bins.

He said a bin goes for 30 Ghana Cedis per month so he is unable to understand why it is difficult for households to own a bin. He therefore, attributed the improper disposal to the perception of waste as an unwanted material with no intrinsic value.

Although Mr. Sokah said the office will continue to engage residents to effect behavioural change, he warned that his outfit had taken and will continue to take punitive measures against perpetrators explaining, first time offenders are given notice of abatement, secondly spot fine is charged and for the last resort, victim is arraigned before court.

He commended the two waste management companies in the Municipality, Zoomlion, and Zattis and Fellis for their hard work and called on all to collect the waste bin being distributed across the city for use to promote government’s clean Ghana Agenda.

By Collins Anku/voltaonlinegh.com

Sogakope Police Grabs Man for Robbery, Rape

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Volta Online

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April 13, 2018

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Police in Sogakope in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region have arrested a 27-year old suspected armed robber from Nugblevi, Akatsi, named William Tovor after confrontations with him at Kudzekope, a suburb of Sogakope.

The suspect, according to the Tongu Divisional Commander, Chief Supt. Dennis Fiakpui, on Wednesday Apri 11, 2018 at about 10:30pm, attacked the victims, Esther Mawusi Afaglo, a nurse, Miss Adabla, an Immigration Officer and Emma Tengey, a trader, all female resident at Kudzekope, suburb of Sogakope in their separate rooms.

He said the suspect, armed with locally manufactured pistol, used cement block to break the doors of two of his victims to gain access to their rooms.

The Divisional Commander said the suspect shot the right arm of the nurse and robbed her of her mobile phone then proceeded to shoot through the door of the Immigration officer hitting her abdomen.

For the third victim, the suspect went ahead to attack her in her room, dragged her into a nearby bush and raped her.

Chief Supt Fiakpui said police had information and quickly moved to the village to launch a manhunt for the suspect with the assistance of the community which led to his subsequent arrest.

Some items found on him included mobile phone belonging to the nurse, pistol and AAA cartridges, 7 live and 3 used empty cartridges at the scene.

Meanwhile, all the victims along with the suspect who sustained injuries during the scuffle with the police, have been sent to Sogakope Government Hospital and are responding to treatment.

Chief Supt. Dennis Fiakpui said his outfit will continue with investigations to apprehend other persons who might be operating with the suspect.

By Ewoenam Kpodo/voltaonlinegh.com

Volta Wheelchair Basketball Calls Out to Potential PWDs

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Volta Online

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April 8, 2018

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The Volta Wheelchair Basketball Association (VWBA) has called on persons with disability (PWDs) who have the potential to represent the region in the forthcoming Wheelchair Basketball Competition to register their names with the Association before the end of April.

The Association in a release signed by its Secretary, Mr. FKM Duhoe said PWDs who have the interest in the sports should come forward because it has secured sponsorship from major stakeholders including the Volta Regional Sports Authority, Volta Regional Coordinating Council and other allied agencies to champion the course of PWDs in the region.

According to the release, disability sports is one of the most effective advocacy tools in bringing about tremendous socioeconomic transformation and empowering many (PWDs) to fulfill their dreams.

The release further said the newly constituted Executive Board and Management team have vowed to do their possible best to ensure that Team Volta records success in the competition because opportunities have eluded the region for too long.

“It’s time to bring Volta Region to the national and international stage to make a statement to the world and persons with disability must rise up to this challenge. Everything possible is being done to ensure success.”

The Association disclosed that series of activities have been lined up towards the hosting of the Republic Day Tournament in the Region on July 1, 2018 and the subsequent National Sports Festival to be held in the Central Regional capital, Cape Coast.

Wheelchair Basketball was founded in 1948 after World War II by Dr. Tim Nugent to serve as recreational activity for veterans of the war who were in hospitals going through rehabilitation. The National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) was formerly open to only World War II veterans but has now taken a global trend.

By: Collins Anku/voltaonlinegh.com

Adaklu Gets Fire Station

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Volta Online

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April 8, 2018

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The Ghana National Fire Service, GNFS has commissioned Fire and Rescue Station in Adaklu District of the Volta Region to tackle fire related issues.

The facility sited at the district capital, Waya is to address issues of fire outbreaks in the area as well as deliver on government’s commitment to establish fire stations in all districts across the country.

Speaking during the short ceremony to hand over the facility to the Assembly, the Chief Fire Officer, CFO Edwin Ekow Blankson said the move to build fire stations in every district throughout the country is to provide safety cover for the government’s one district-one factory (1D1F) program.

He said fire outbreaks continue to destroy lives and properties and in effect affected the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) over the years, thus, government has seen the need to prevent them by providing fire stations.

Mr. Blankson, therefore appealed to residents and traditional leaders to refrain from attempting to bail out culprits who are found guilty of fire related offences.

He charged the Fire Personnel at the newly built station to prioritise fire safety and education in the Adaklu area in order to help eradicate fire outbreaks and advised chiefs to regularly organise durbars for fire personnel in the area to educate the local folks on fire prevention.

Member of Parliament for the area, Hon. Kwame Agbodza who expressed gratitude to the GNFS said he will provide a 10,000-litre water tank as an emergency source of water for the station and called on the government to continue to work on channeling water from Adidome to the district.

The Volta Regional Fire Officer, DCFO Daniella Mawuse Sarpong disclosed that 24 out of the 25 districts in the Region have fire stations and assured that the GNFS will work to ensure the last district, Ho West, gets a fire station by the close of 2018.

According to her, the Service will continue to procure the needed equipment to fight fires in a quest to achieve their vision which is to record 0% of fire in the country.

By: Albert Kuzor/voltaonlinegh.com

Volta NPP Elections: Four disqualified, 32 cleared to Contest

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Volta Online

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April 7, 2018

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The hopes of some four New Patriotic Party (NPP) members to contest executive positions of the party in the Volta region have been crushed ahead of the elections slated for the later part of April, 2018.

The individuals who have filed nominations to contest various positions in the governing party were disqualified after their vetting by a 3-member panel, put together by the national council of the NPP to supervise the elections.

The vetting which took place on March 26 and 27, 2018 saw a total of 36 aspirants appearing before the vetting panel chaired by Mr. Bob Charles Agbontor, with Mr. Ken Ayim and Madam Agnes Okudzeto as member,, of which the four persons were disqualified for varied reasons.

The unlucky four, included Mr. Kofi Boateng, a former Regional Secretary, vying for Regional Chairmanship position, Mr. Joseph Kwaku Wilberforce, a first Vice regional Chairman aspirant, Joy Kumfo, assistant regional Secretary aspirant and Lambert Sefadzi Ahiadzu, also vying for the regional treasurer position.

A report issued by the vetting committee and sighted by VoltaOnlinegh ascribed reasons such as , ‘Aspirant not being a registered voter in any constituency in the region; Aspirant not being a known and active party member in the last two years, as basis for the disqualification.

Also, some of the aspirants were said to have made false claims before the committee, in addition to misconducts deemed to have tarnished the image of the party or its leadership. The report also cited the insufficient experience of aspirant to hold certain very key and sensitive positions in the party for their disqualification.

Qualified Aspirants

Meanwhile, 32 aspirants have been cleared by the vetting committee to contest the ten regional executive positions of the NPP at the regional conference slated for April 24-27 2018 at Hohoe.

In all five aspirants are battling for the chairmanship slot, with two and five aspirants vying for the first and second vice chairmanship positions respectively. One of the second Vice chairmanship contenders, is Mr. Albert Bediako, a lecturer at the Ho Technical University and a communicator of the party.

For the Regional Secretary slot, incumbent Mr. Joseph Homenya is facing competition from two other persons, including the party deputy communication director, Enoch Amegbletor.

Below is the full list of candidates for the various positions

CHAIRMAN*
*1. MAKAFUI KOFI WOANYAH
*2. KEN ANKU
*3. DAVID APUGIBA ABALOR
*4. DOUGLAS KIRK WAGBA
*5. JOHNSON KWAME AVULETEY

1ST VICE CHAIRMAN*
*1. KOFI ADJEI NTIM
*2. STEPHEN BENYASEH ALEWABA

2ND VICE CHAIRMAN*
*1. ABDALLAH MOHAMMED SADIQ
*2. OHENE FRIMPONG SETH
*3.KORNU NANA KWAKU
*4. ALBERT BEDIAKO
*5. AWUDI GABRIEL

* SECRETARY*
*1. ENOCH KWABLA AMEGBLETOR
*2. INNOCENT LYNFORD KWESI TETTEH
*3. JOSEPH HOMENYA

ASSISTANT SECRETARY*
*1. JANET EMEFA OBRO- ADIBO
*2. JOSHUA MAKUBU
*4. RONALD KAYKAY KODZO FIAKPUI

TREASURER*
*1. JOHN CUDJO DUNYO
*3. JOSEPH DENTE

ORGANIZER*
*1. EMMANUEL KORSI BODJA
*2. NESTOR ATTAH OYEH
*3. SOLOMON K. BODZAH
*4. DIVINE BOSSON

WOMEN ORGANIZER*
*1. SRODA FIATTOR NYAE
*2. AFI AGYAGBO
*3. HANNAH ASHADE

YOUTH ORGANIZER*
*1. KING DAVID NINKAB NKABONAM

NASARA COORDINATOR
*1. ALIU BASHIRU SHARUBUTU
*2. ABUBAKAR ISSAKA
*3. ZAIN SULLEYMAN
*4. SHAMSU MUDASIRU

By: Lambert Coffie/VoltaOnlinegh.com

No US Military Base In Ghana – President Akufo-Addo Clears Air

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Volta Online

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April 6, 2018

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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stated that though he has not offered USA Military Base in the country, keeping cooperation for the Agreement will strengthen Ghana’s defense capability and will help ensure peace in the country.

Addressing the state on Thursday evening, the President said that with challenges the country currently face in peace-related issues, his administration has seen the need to continue the country’s relationship with the USA.

“In consideration of the realities of our circumstances and challenges to peace in our region in our time, we have deemed it prudent to continue the Cooperation Agreement with the United States of America.”

“It is our firm belief that the Agreement will help enhance our defense capability and offer an important layer of support in our common effort to protect the peace in our region”, he added.

He however, made it known that the 2018 Agreement which has generated a lot of public outcry especially from members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has earlier been signed in 1998, 2000 and recently by his successor (Mr. John Mahama) in 2015 in “secrecy”.

According to him, for the sake of transparency, his administration chose to put the agreement in public domain as democracy demands unlike what his successors did.

“I was fully aware of how such agreement had been handled in earlier administrations but I decided that under my watch, any such agreements should be subject to the appropriate scrutiny of the people’s representatives in Parliament in consonance with the requirements of accountable governance and teaching of the constitution.”

The President then emphasized that despite keeping relationship with the USA, he has not given a place to the US Military Base and he will not sell the sovereignty of Ghana as being speculated.

“I will never be the president that will compromise or sell the sovereignty of our country. I respect deeply the memory of the great patriots whose sacrifice and toil brought about our independence.”

He debunked the assertion that a military base will be established in the country. “Let me state with the clearest affirmation that Ghana has not offered a military base and will not offer military base to the United States of America”, he assured.

WHAT IS THE AGREEMENT ABOUT?

Parliament last month in a drama that saw the Minority staged a walk-out, approved the Ghana-USA Military cooperation agreement which will allow the US forces to have access to some installations in the country for their exclusive use.

Cabinet accepted to provide the US forces a land near the Kotoka International Airport, the country’s famous airline facility.

Also in the deal, the US Military will not pay taxes on their equipment that are to be brought to Ghana and are expected to utilize the country’s radio spectrum free of charge.

In return, the US Military will offer training and equipment to the Ghanaian Military.

By: Albert Kuzor/voltaonlinegh.com

Workshop for Christian Teachers to Imbibe the Christian Faith in Students

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Volta Online

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April 5, 2018

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A Russian Educational Organization known as International School Project (ISP), has organised a two-day workshop to equip more than 25 Christian teachers drawn from various districts in the Volta Region to help shape the lives of their students through the Christian faith.

The workshop which took place in Ho, the regional capital had teachers schooled on how to use the curricula and other teaching and learning materials to meet the needs of the classrooms and equally groom the children to become responsible Christians.

Mr. Steven P. Ruffner, the Africa Area Coordinator of ISP said, “teachers are so strategic in influencing the direction of children in the world, thus, the need to grow the kingdom of God through teachers.”

According to him, the aim of the project is to make every teacher in the world, a believer of the gospel and to use his/her Christian life to positively impact the lives of children.

Mr. Steven said children can achieve their dreams in the future, explaining that “if a teacher believes in God and has love for others, he/she will use that love to teach that child in the classroom and through this, every child can achieve his/her dream of becoming a successful person in the future.”

Volta Regional Welfare Officer at Ghana Education Service, and a volunteer at ISP Ghana, Mr. Edem Kofi Kpotosu, lamented the abuse of students by some teachers.

He said ISP looks forward to training such teachers to have the love of God and to teach out of love to impact good deeds into the children’s life and appealed to Ghanaian teachers to be true believers of God.

International School Projects, started in 1991 in Russia and currently operates across the world in countries such as China, Thailand, Ukraine, Jordan among others with Ghana being the first country in West Africa.

It is expected that an additional 150 teachers will be trained to mark the official inauguration of ISP Ghana in April this year.

By: Albert Kuzor/voltaonlinegh.com

Traditionalists Mark Easter Festival with a Call for Love for One Another

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Volta Online

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April 5, 2018

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IMG-20180404-WA0021[1] — Awoamefia of Anlo, Torgbui Sri III with Former President Rawlings

Hundreds gathered on April 1, at Apetorku’s Shrine in Akatsi South District of the Volta Region for the celebration of 2018 Apetorku Easter Festival.

The ceremony which was held at a shrine in Dagbamete a suburb of Akatsi was characterized by cultural displays and sacrifices to the gods.

Most of the attendees who were clad in white clothes, beads and perfumed powders devoted their time to participate and played their roles in styles.

The reigning priest, “Hunor” Torgbui Apetorku noted that, the aim of this year’s gathering was to advance the role of traditional religion in enhancing national development.

He said the gods were built on principle of love, truth, justice, good neighbourliness and peace. He added that for the past ten years of his tenure, people (home and abroad) who sought his spiritual help had their wishes come true.

Huno Apetorku who deals in healing of sicknesses, protection of life and properties, protection against evil spirits, and promotion of development projects among others, has built a modern hospital to support the only CHPS Compound serving more than seven communities in the area.

The Awoamefia of Anlo State, Torgbui Sri III who graced the occasion used the medium to appeal to Ghanaians to respect one’s religion without discrimination.

The Awoamefia averred that the traditional believers are the few who obey the rules of life (the ten commandments) and need to be given attention and called on the government to reconsider the role of traditional practices especially pouring of libation during national events.

The gathering which was under the theme: “Love for one another, One of the Cardinal Principles of Torgbui Apetorku”, attracted several political bigwigs; Former President Jerry John Rawlings, Former MPs, Representatives from the Embassies of USA and Canada

Apetorku Easter Festival is an annual convention of traditional believers at Apetorku Shrine (the biggest shrine in the area with over 1,000 sitting capacity hall) in the Akatsi South District, to give thanks and sacrifices of animals to the gods for taking them through a year-long journey.

By Albert Kuzor /voltaonlinegh.com

We Need Water-Lume Residents

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Volta Online

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April 4, 2018

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The Chiefs and People of Lume Traditional Area in the Volta Region are calling on the government and philanthropists to come to their aid to fix their water crisis.

Residents in three communities in Ho Central, Lume Atsiame, Agorve and Ge with a total population of about 4,000 have been battling with potable water for years now especially in Lume Atsiame, the traditional capital with a population of 1,500.

The situation is making life difficult for the people in the area, causing rural-urban migration among the youth, some young people revealed.

However, speaking during this year’s Agogo Easter Festival held at Lume Atsiame, the Divisional Chief of Atsiame, Togbui Agbenyedzo VI described the situation as “a burden to their daily life.”

He said the unavailability of potable water in the community has affected the academic performance of their children because they do not have time to learn as a result of wasting time being in long queues every dawn and evening to fetch water from the only borehole serving the entire community (Atsiame).

He bemoaned how the elderly in the community instead of relaxing, also queue up for water in the absence of the young ones, describing it as frustrating.

Speaking to VoltaOnline, the Assembly Member of Lume Electoral Area, Togbe Xadzi II, noted that the area over the years depended on a stream but during raining seasons only.

According to him, the situation remained the same until an NGO’s intervention but that aid is at the moment struggling to stand.

“We have been moving to the next village called Dogbeme to get water. We in fact, had appealed to one of these NGOs to come and give us water. So, they came and gave us two boreholes but unfortunately, one is working the other is not working. The community is growing so all of us; school children, men and women going to get water from a single borehole is a challenge.”

He said the community will be glad to have the government, NGOs or philanthropists coming to the support of the community by mechanizing the borehole.

“We want them to mechanize that borehole so that water is sent to the community. We have four clans, so at least each clan with one pipe stand.”

The festival was celebrated on the theme: “Rekindling the Love for Community and Communal Spirit; the Role of the Youth” to foster youth empowerment and reshaping oneness among the three communities.

Agogo Easter Festival, which is an annual rotational ceremony among the three communities attracted a number of its citizens, home and abroad and was graced by Mr. Nelson Akorli the Municipal Chief Executive for Ho Municipality and other senior citizens of the area and is set to be celebrated at Agorve next year.

By: Albert Kuzor/voltaonlinegh.com