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

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April 6, 2018

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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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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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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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

Cede Management of Kalakpa Game Reserve to Locals-Gov’t Told

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April 4, 2018

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Abutia Development Union, a group of concerned citizens of Abutia Traditional Area in the Ho West District of the Volta Region have called on the government to cede Kalakpa Game Reserve, a wildlife forest reserve in the area to the traditional authorities to manage.

The Group alleged government is not using the forest for its intended purpose but rather allowing for all sort of illegal activities such as felling of trees and poaching of animals to go on in the full glare of wildlife officials.

Acting General Secretary of the Group, Mr. Michael K. Wayo made the call when he delivered a speech on behalf of the group at the durbar of chiefs and people of Abutia to mark 2018 Asafotu Easter Festival.

The Festival which was themed, “Promoting Sustainable Eco-Tourism in the Kalakpa Game Reserve”, aimed at uniting the youth in the area for social development. It attracted visitors from across the region clad in red T-shirts and cultural costumes led by the traditional warriors amidst singing and dancing through the principal roads in Abutia.

The Group believes the Kalakpa Game Reserve which covers about 32,020 hectares of land and serves as habitat for several species of birds and wild animals will be better managed when left in the hands of the locals.

Chief of the Area, Togbega Abutia Kodzo Gidi V backed the call of the youth and asked the wildlife officials to vacate the reserve if they cannot control the illegal activities,

He urged the youth to come together for the development of the area while advising them to remain good citizens in fighting that cause.

Meanwhile, Togbega Abutia Kodzo Gidi V expressed appreciation to the government in anticipation of the water project that his area is to benefit from and asked that government walks the talk by completing the project by the end of 2018.

He also appealed to the government through the Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa to bring back contractors to the abandoned Abutia-Juapong road to pave way for easy transportation of their farm produce to Accra and Tema.

By Albert Kuzor/voltaonlinegh.com

Anlos Enstool Fisheries Minister As Development Queen

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April 4, 2018

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Madam Elizabeth Afoley Quaye enstooled as Mama Dunenyo I

Chiefs and people of Anlo Traditional Area in the Volta Region have enstooled Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Madam Elizabeth Afoley Quaye as development queen, Mama Dunenyo I of Dzelukope for her sterling performance as Minister.

The Minister, also the Member of Parliament for Krowor Constituency in the Greater Accra Region was enstooled on Monday, April 2 at an Easter Homecoming Honouring Durbar held at Gobah Beach, Dzelukope in her honour.

Mama Dunenyo I in a procession to the durbar

The event which was under the theme: “Rekindling the communal spirit for clean and safe environment towards holistic development of Dzelukope” was to honour the proud daughter of the land for being the first female minister from the area.

The honouring of Madam Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, whose mother comes from Dzelukope, Keta was an initiative of Dzelukope Development Committee to serve as role model and to motivate other women from Dzelukope and Anlo to aspire to higher heights in Ghanaian politics.

The ceremony also saw the presentation of a citation to the minister and honouring of her husband for his supportive role.

The Awoamefia of Anlo Traditional Area, Torgbui Sri III who graced the occasion commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for making Anlos and the people of Nungua proud by appointing their daughter to serve in his government.

Torgbui Sri III said he is happy the ceremony took place because the Anlo state has recognised the good works of the Minister and planned to honour her. He therefore, urged all to come on board to make her work easy.

Mama Dunenyo and Torgbi Gobah at the durbar

Torgbi Gatsiko VI, Chief of Dzelukope who chaired the occasion charged Mama Dunenyo I to put in place measures to revamp the fishing industry in the area to secure the employment of people.

According to him, fishing, the main occupation for the people is no more a profitable venture because of illegal methods like light fishing and others being adopted causing the depletion of the fish stock.

He also called on Mama Dunenyo to facilitate the construction of roads in town leading to beaches to ensure easy tranportation of fish to homes and markets and also called for the dredging of the Keta Lagoon which is expected to increase the fish yield.

Mama Dunenyo in a speech expressed gratitude for the honour and assured the gathering of her best to address the issues raised and disclosed that the Ministry has plans aimed at reviving the fishing industry in the country.

Presentation of citation to Mama Dunenyo

In attendance at the honouring durbar were the Representative of the President, Mr Blankson, Volta Regional Minister, Dr Letsa, Anlo and Ga chiefs, Municipal Chief Executives from Keta and Ketu South, constituency executives of New Patriotic Party, among others.

By: Ewoenam Kpodo/voltaonlinegh.com

Shatta Wale, Stonebwoy Storm Aflao to Activate Zylofon Cash

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March 29, 2018

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Aflao hosts Stonebwoy, Shatta Wale and others in Zylofon Cash Activation Concert

Aflao Township will be electrified as it will be invaded by a number of Ghana’s finest in the music industry this Easter Sunday, April 1.

Leader of Shatta Movement (SM), Shatta Wale, and President of Bhim Nation, Stonebwoy are top on the list of artistes expected to perform on the night.

The two will be supported by other national and local musicians as Zylofon Media, one of the biggest and exciting brands in Ghana’s entertainment industry is set to launch its latest innovation; Zylofon Cash in the Volta Region.

The launch which will be heralded by a musical concert dubbed: “Zylofon Cash Activation Concert” at the Victoria Park in Aflao is one of several activations to be done across the country.

Other artistes from the Zylofon Record Label expected to perform on the night as circulated in posters on social media include: the Sensational Becca, “Betweener” hitmaker, Kumi Guitar, Gospel Singer, Joyce Blessing and Rap Monster, Obibini.

This concert will be used to educate the general public about Zylofon Cash; a system that intends to help talents or creative individuals to make money by means of royalties, serving as a local YouTube channel which will generate cash per number of views.

The Artiste of the Year at the just ended Volta Music Awards (VMA), Agbeshie will lead a formidable team of award winning musicians from the region; Keeny Ice and Kasare to excite patrons.

They have promised to let the big names know that the Volta region is a cradle for international music talents.

Other artistes from the region who will also be performing are the VMA Hip Pop Artiste of the year, Kula, Hip-life Artiste of the Year, Chief One, Performer of the year, Nuh Prince, Raggae/Dancehall Artiste, Kush Elikem and a lot more.

By voltaonlinegh.com

Akatsi North Farmers Get 60,000 Seedlings to Boost Agriculture

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March 29, 2018

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DCE for Akatsi North waving at the gathering

Famers in the Akatsi North District in the Volta Region are to benefit from over 35,000 cashew and 30,000 palm seedlings for free in May this year under the government’s flagship programme “Planting for Food and Jobs” (PFJ).

District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Dr. Prince Sodoke Amuzu who revealed this during a durbar of chiefs and people at Ave Dakpa to climax this year’s Ameshigbe Fesival that took place on Saturday, March 24, 2018. said the project is part of efforts to promote government’s agriculture and industrialization policy in the district.

The Ameshigbe Festival is celebrated annually by the people of Ave Traditional Area in the Akatsi North District to commemorate the relocation of their forefathers from the banks of the Volta Lake in then Tongu now North Tongu District to their present abode and also to mark the beginning of a new farming season.

Dr. Prince Sodoke Amuzu said oil palm is one of the cash crops in the area which has remained a source of income for many in the area therefore, vowed to make efforts to expand the oil palm industry starting with the initiative to supply the seedlings.

He however, bemoaned the situation where much focus is placed on just alcohol extraction from the oil palm when there are other valuable products that palm offers.

“As we speak there is a lot of oil palm in this district but almost all of them will end up being palm wine and akpeteshi meanwhile a lot of produce can come out of oil palm.”

Dr Amuzu disclosed cashew production is a new area he would encourage farmers in the District to venture into in addition to innovative ways in oil palm production and, saying, measures including agriculture extension services and sensitisation workshops for beneficiary famers will be adopted to ensure the initiative is a success.

Togbui Nyameko Glagbe V, Paramount Chief of Ave Traditional Area, commended the government for its flagship programmes such as 1 District-1 Factory (1D1F) and PFJ policy as well as the Assembly’s efforts in bringing progressive change to his area and charged the DCE to do more to facilitate development in the area in order to arrest the issue of rural-urban migration

By: Albert Kuzor/voltaonlinegh.com

Support Us, We Need Money- Elorm Beenie

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March 28, 2018

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Author and Publicist, Elorm Beenie has called on men and women of means from the Volta Region to support the arts and entertainment industry in the region to grow.

According to him, artists in the region have the talents but lack financial support and resources needed to take them places and there is the need to invest in them.

He made this call during the maiden edition of Volta Music Awards (VMA) which came off at the Ho Technical University (HTU) auditorium. The Awards which was on the theme: Celebrating Volta Excellence was initiated by Eventic Gh together with Volta Regional branch of Musicians Unions of Ghana (MUSIGA) to reward the efforts of musicians, individuals and institutions who are promoting Volta music.

The Publicist for Stonebwoy and Samini who is also playing the Consultancy role for VMA said though most of the big Ghanaian acts at the mainstream and international level are from the Volta Region, it is extremely difficult promoting Volta Music.

“Other regions are supporting their artists and putting money into them, what are our rich men and women in the Volta Region doing for our artists”, he demanded.

Elorm Beenie was however grateful for the presence of Member of Parliament for Ho West and two chiefs from Anyako Traditional Area who sat in throughout the event and appealed to other traditional leaders and stakeholders to support the development of the industry.

Meanwhile, Sammy Baah Flex, who speaks for Zylofon Media commended the organisers of VMA describing it as a great initiative. He disclosed his organization will be part of the 2019 edition of the Awards.

The event which witnessed wonderful performances by great artists from the Region had Agbeshie awarded as the artiste of the year with two other big winners, Kasare and Keeny Ice sweeping three awards each.

By: Ewoenam Kpodo/voltaonlinegh.com

Seek Medical Treatment for Mental Illness-Philanthropist

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Volta Online

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March 28, 2018

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Dr Wolthusen addressing the participants

A German philanthropist and founder of Volta Region-based non-governmental organization (NGO), Home of Brain, Dr. Rick Wolthusen has reiterated the need for the people to seek medical attention for the treatment of mental health illness, saying, is a health related problem which is not caused by witchcrafts and need to be treated by doctors not at prayer camps

Dr. Wolthusen however, said family and loved ones can socially support mentally challenged persons with prayers in the churches but not to keep the patients in the prayer camps for long in anticipation of miracles.

“You have people to go to churches; there is nothing wrong with it but same time we know, we need to understand that the longer the medical mental condition is untreated the more severe are the symptoms, the more the brain damages”

He advised that instead of physically and emotionally abusing the mental patients, limiting their rights and ignoring them in the streets, family members and volunteers should seek urgent medical treatment for such people, show them love in several ways and keep relationship with them as a process to speed up their rehabilitation.

Dr. Rick Wolthusen made this known at a workshop held on March 27, 2018 at the Ketu South Municipal Assembly Hall on Brain Awareness and Healthy Reporting to Promote Brain Health for Journalists in the Volta region.

The training which also aimed at dealing with issues confronting mentally challenged persons and ways to eradicate them, attracted several reporters from various media houses, health workers, officials from NCCE, the Assembly, and Volunteers.

Participants in a pose after the workshop

Reportage on Mental Issues

Mr. Courage Ahorlu, a Mental Health Practitioner suggested that journalists should be more circumspect in reporting stories relating to mental problems.

According to him, even in violent cases, “as professional journalists you need to withhold terrifying scenes and actual details of person and location involved in order to maintain the public’s confidentially especially, in the children.”

Mr. Ahorlu believes doing so will reduce chances of others attempting to engage in such practices (suicide cases especially) when they find themselves in similar situations and sometimes, out of curiosity. “A child who heard that a boy hanged himself to death, he/she will say let me also try to see what will happen”, he explained.

He therefore, appealed to journalists to avoid using shocker headlines to attract readers and keep it simple in order not to let the brain to attempt such violent act and asked that they are always conscious of the side effects the story will have on the readers and not their fame.

By Albert Kuzor/voltaonlinegh.com