2 Million Volta Residents Get Insecticide Nets to Fight Malaria

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March 26, 2018

The Volta Regional Health Directorate has received a total number of 1,414,62 long lasting insecticide nets (LLINs) for distribution to 2,240,202 registered people in the 25 districts in the Volta region due this week.

The 7-day campaign which starts from 27-29 March and 3-6 April, 2018 unlike the earlier campaign that saw volunteers hanging the nets in rooms for beneficiaries, will have designated points where beneficiaries will converge for the nets, two persons per net.

The campaign to replace the old nets distributed in 2014 which have outgone their three-year efficacy period is being championed by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in partnership with USAID, PMI, Vector Words and GlobalFund to eradicate malaria in the country.

Dr. Yaw Ofori Yeboah, Deputy Volta Regional Director of Public Health of Ghana Health Service (GHS), making this known at 2018 LLIN Point Mass Distribution Stakeholders Meeting ahead of the National Campaign launch said, the distribution of the net is free and no one should pay for them.

According to him, security measures have been put in place including logo of GHS, bold inscription of “Not for Sale” and contact numbers to call for information to prevent people from taking advantage of the campaign.

Wrong Use of Mosquito Nets

He advised beneficiaries to sleep under the bed nets and not use them for other purposes such as food preservation, fishing, etc. He also called on the public to sparingly wash the nets in order to maintain their efficacy.

Togbe Kweku Ayim IV, Paramount Chief of Ziavi Traditional Area, addressing the participants suggested that much education on the use of the LLIN should be channeled through religious and traditional leaders in the various communities in order to achieve the aim of the campaign.

The workshop which came off at Hotel Stevens, Ho was attended by representatives of Red Cross, Department of Children and Women, NADMO, NCCE, Media, Religious and Traditional leaders.

By Albert Kuzor/VoltaOnlinegh

Volta GJA Provides Free Health Care for Kpoeta-Ashanti

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Kwadwo Duodu

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May 6, 2016

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some of the nurses and volunteers at work

The Volta Regional Chapter of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) has undertaken a day’s medical outreach at Kpoeta in the Ho West District of the Volta Region.The medical outreach which saw over a hundred residents receiving free medical care for various ailments and diseases was organised on May 3rd, 2016 to commemorate the World Press Freedom Day in the region.The team moved to the community to interact with the residents and provided them free healthcare with assistant from nurses in the Ho-West District, particularly from the Kpedze Health Center and Kpoeta CHPS compound. There were three volunteers from Blu-Med, Africa who also assisted.

A group of journalists unpacking Mosquito Nets

The Press Fredom Day medical Outreach was funded and supported by the Ho West MP, Emmanuel Bedzra, the Volta Regional Coordinating Council, Gold Finger Restaurant, the Volta Regional Health Directorate, the Ho West Distract Assembly among others.After a free health screening and diagnosis, treatment was available to all who participated in the medical outreach. Medicines and medical supplies such as anti-malarial drugs and mosquito nets were distributed to the over 100 residents who were screened.Kpoeta is predominantly a farming area made up of four communities, including the popular Kpoeta-Ashianti and Kpoeta-Atsim due to the resemblance of the names to the Akem and Asante kingdoms in the Eastern and Ashanti regions respectively.“in fact some people erroneously call the two communities as Ashante-Kpoeta and Akyem-Kpoeta, but I always correct them,” says the Assemblyman of the area Constantine Agbo.

The Tsigame Waterfall

The community which also has a stunning, but untapped water fall called “Tsigame,” also grows forest crops and spices like nutmeg, xylopia (commonly known as African Grains of Selim).The Outreach was held at Kpoeta-Ashainti which is at the central point of the traditional area. According to Constantine, the health outreach was a timely intervention since most of the residents were often plagued by Malaria and other ailments.He said their farming and artisanal skills had not been able to sustain them as the living standard in the area remained low. This made it difficult for them to frequently visit the only CHPS compound in the area or the Health Center at Kpedze (about four km away), unless it was very critical.

Eric Uche Giving Health Education

The In-Charge at the Kpoeta CHPS Compound who also was leader of the medical Team, Eric Uche also noted that Malaria recorded the highest among OPD cases annually. He was excited that the medical outreach had come at just as the rains were about to set in a period which sees a lot of Malaria cases due to the geographical location of the area.The Acting Chairman of the GJA in the Volta Region, Anthony Bells Kafui Kanyi advised residents to be weary of Malaria and ensure they adhered to the advice of the community health nurses. They should also feel free and confide it the nursing regarding their health issues and always ensure they slept under treated mosquito bed nets.He also urged them to adhere to good personal hygiene and put up sanitary facilities in their homes to stop open defecation.Mr. Kanyi used the occasion to lament about level of unprofessionalism in the region due to the reluctance of media owners to employ well trained personnel. That notwithstanding, the Regional GJA is hopeful of undertaking a series of capacity building programmes for media personnel, especially as the general elections drew close.

Some Journalists descending the rocky path to the Waterfall

Mahama touts achievements on his ‘Accounting to the People’ tour

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Kwadwo Duodu

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April 20, 2016

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President John Dramani Mahama has on Tuesday justified his ‘Accounting to the people tour’, which is aimed at showcasing projects done by his government across the country and to interact with Ghanaians.

The tour which has already taken the President to the Western and Eastern regions in the past weeks, has been fiercely criticized by some critics including the opposition New Patriotic Party, describing it as an ‘abuse of incumbency’ which the President is taking advantage of to campaign ahead of the November 7, elections.

However, speaking on the third leg of the tour to inaugurate the Dodo-Pepesu to Nkwanta section of the Eastern Corridor road in the Volta region, President Mahama explained that, he is only rendering account to Ghanaians who gave him the mandate during the last election.

According to him, just as chiefs organized regular durbars to update their subjects about development in their areas, it is just prudent for him as the president to update Ghanaians about projects and programmes his government has undertaken in the last three years.

“When you are put in a position of leadership, it is necessary for you to account to your people and tell them how you have discharged that responsibility and also interact with them to ask them, what more they expect from you,” he noted.

He noted that, his government in the last three years has undertaken massive infrastructure projects in various sectors across the country, which has to be accounted for.

Touting his achievements at Hohoe on day one of his 3 days tour, the President stated that “in all the regions I have inspected and commissioned projects, be have interacted with the traditional leaders and the people to discuss other projects that they want government to undertake. If you look at the track record we have been able to achieve, it is phenomenal, from electrification, to water, healthcare, education, definitely the track record of this government is an enviable one.”

He however reiterated his government’s commitment towards the completion of various ongoing projects in the region including the entire eastern corridor road project to enhance the socio economic activities along the stretch.

The President also indicated that, 10km of roads within the Hohoe township will be asphalted as part of the urban roads improvement project.

Earlier, President Mahama and his entourage which include, the communication minister, Dr. Omane Buamah, Roads and Highways minister, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, the Volta regional minister, Helen Ntoso also inspected progress of work on Dapa- Pampawie- Ahamasu Junction Cocoa road project and met with Chiefs and elders of Kadjebi, where the President hinted of plans to distribute free cocoa seedlings to farmers to boast cocoa production in the area and other parts of the country.

Source: @Lambert_Coffie/Voltaonlinegh

President, EU Ambassador inaugurate Pepesu-Nkwanta road

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Kwadwo Duodu

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April 20, 2016

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President Mahama and other dignitaries cutting tape to officially open the road

President John Mahama together with the European Union Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. William Hanna have inaugurated the Dodo-Pepesu to Nkwanta section of the eastern corridor road project in the Volta region on Tuesday.

The 46.4km road project was funded by the European Union (EU) at the cost of 32.5 million Euros, and executed by a Burkinabe construction firm, Kanazoe Ferres between December 2012 and September, 2015.

Addressing a durbar to inaugurate the road as part of his Accounting to the People tour,President Mahama underscored the economic importance of the road, which he noted will facilitate the carting of food stuff from the northern part of the region to market centers, which hitherto was a night for most farmers and truck drivers.

Section of the road

He lauded the EU for funding the project which was neatly executed by the contractor and reiterated the government’s commitment towards the completion of the entire eastern corridor road project to enhance the socio economic activities of persons living along the stretch.

The EU ambassador to Ghana, William Hanna said the project is a consolidation of the partnership between the EU and government of Ghana. He said the socio economic benefits of the road is enormous and called for a proper maintenance culture on the road in order to extend its life span.

On his part, the paramount chief of Dodo Traditional area, Nana Dasebre Obroni Sebewia II, expressed gratitude to government and its partners for the road and said “our farmer can now have the peace of mind to cultivate crops, knowing that we now have good access road to transport the produce to market centres.”

President Mahama and his entourage including, the communication minister, Dr. Omane Buamah, Roads and Highways minister, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, the Volta regional minister, Helen Ntoso also inspected progress of work on Dapa- Pampawie- Ahamasu Junction Cocoa road project and later met with Chiefs and elders of Kadjebi, before heading to Hohoe.

Source: @Lambert_Coffie/Voltaonlinegh

Mahama takes ‘Accounting to the People’ tour to Volta region

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Kwadwo Duodu

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April 19, 2016

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President John Mahama is making a stopover with his ‘Accounting to the People’ train in the Volta region, starting today Tuesday, April 19 to Thursday, April 21, 2016.

The nationwide tour which has already been to the Western and Eastern regions, was to showcase development projects undertaken by government in the last three years, as he inaugurate some completed ones and inspect work on others.

While in the Volta region for the next three days, President Mahama will inaugurate some completed road projects including, a 46km stretch of the Eastern Corridor Road between Dodo Pepesu and Nkwanta funded by the European Union, the 70km Worawora to Dambai road, and a 17km Ho-Fume road.

He will also inspect work on some other roads such as, the Dapa- Pampawie- Ahamasu Junction Cocoa Road project, Dambai- Kete Krachi road as well as cut sod for the construction of the roads between Juapong- Abutia and well as the Juapong-Volo-Adidome.

In the education sector, President Mahama will officially open the region’s second Community Day SHS at Chinderi in the Krachi Nchumuru district and also commission a new Engineering Laboratory at the Ho Polytechnic.

During the tour, the President will pay courtesy call on the traditional leaders at Kadjebi, Hohoe and Kete-Krachi. He will also interact with cross section of residents in the region including traders at the Ho central market, to explain his programmes and policies as he seeks a second term in office .

Source:.@Lambert_Coffie/Voltaonlinegh

Man found dead in front of shop in Ho

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Kwadwo Duodu

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April 14, 2016

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The lifeless body

The lifeless body of a man was found lying in front of a shop around the Ho timber market, close to the former NDC park on the Central market (Asigame) road, Thursday morning.

The man believed to be in his 70s, has been seen in the last few days, roaming in the vicinity, according to eyewitnesses. A shop keeper in the area, told Volta Online that, the old man looked quite sane and has interacted with persons who get close to him.

He however disclosed that, the deceased fell down during his usual rounds last Monday and was carried to the front of the closed shop by some bystanders, one of whom has since been feeding the old man daily.

“The Good Samaritan changed clothes for the old man and bought him food every morning and evening. But yesterday, the man told us, the old man refused to eat and we came this morning only see his lifeless body,” the witness narrated.

Another witness who previously interacted with the old man, said the deceased only identified himself as Komla Lawrence from Hlefi, in the Ho West district.

The body which was covered with a piece cloth, was later conveyed to the morgue by a team of police men from the regional command, after a distress call was made to the command.

Source: @Lambert_Coffie/VoltaOnlinegh

Pope Francis confirm resignation of Keta-Akatsi Bishop

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Kwadwo Duodu

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April 14, 2016

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Bishop Emeritus Anthony Adanuty

The Head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Most Rev. Anthony Adanuty, the Bishop of the Keta-Akatsi Catholic diocese in the Volta region of Ghana.

Bishop Adanuty who was said to have tendered in his resignation a year ago, after attaining the ‘ canonical’ age of 75 years, had his resignation confirmed by the Pope on Thursday, April 7, 2016.

A brief statement from the Vatican to the church in Ghana stated, “the Holy Father, on 7th April 2016, accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Keta-Akatsi (Ghana), presented by His Excellency Most Rev. Anthony Kwami Adanuty, in accordance with Canon 401 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law.”

The statement also announced the Bishop of the Ho Catholic diocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu as interim head of the Keta-Akatsi diocese. “The Holy Father has accordingly appointed His Excellency Most Rev. Emmanuel Fianu, S.V.D., Bishop of Ho (Ghana) as Apostolic Administrator for the sede vacant et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the same Diocese.”

Bishop Emmanuel Fianu

The Canon Law, which is the body of laws and regulations that governs the Roman Catholic Church, states that ‘a diocesan Bishop who has completed his seventy-fifth year of age is requested to offer his resignation from office to the Supreme Pontiff, who, taking all the circumstances into account, will make provision accordingly.”

Most Rev. Adanuty, who is the Vice President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, was elected Bishop in December 1994 and has been in charge of the Keta-Akatsi Catholic diocese, which was carved out of the then Keta-Ho diocese in 1995. With the pontifical approval of his resignation, Bishop Adanuty formally begins his retirement as a ‘Bishop Emeritus.’

Source: @Lambert_Coffie/Voltaonlinegh

Nkwanta South finally gets a new DCE

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Kwadwo Duodu

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April 13, 2016

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Mr. Wokanya (in white) taking the oath of office

Mr. Alfred Kofi Wukanya, a retired teacher of the Nkwanta Senior High School has been confirmed as the new District Chief Executive for the Nkwanta South district in the Volta region.

He polled 34 votes to secure the mandate of the 42 member assembly at an emergency meeting held at the district assembly hall on Tuesday.

Mr. Wukanya who was nominated in November last year by President Mahama to replace the late DCE, Peter Kojo Kenyenso, had his confirmation delayed for several months due to some unresolved ‘security issues,’ according to the Regional Minister, Helen Ntoso. The district has been without a substantive chief Executive, following the gruesome murder of Mr. Kenyenso in November, 2014.

The delay, also compelled some youth of the governing NDC who went on protest two weeks ago and locked up the party’s office in the area over the seemingly inaction of the party executives.

Speaking to pressmen after his approval, the new DCE pledged to foster peaceful coexistence among the various tribes in the area and also work hand-in-hand with all stakeholders to ensure sustainable development in the district.

“I will use felt-need approach in delivering projects to the various communities in consultation with the assembly members, Chiefs and opinions leader,” Mr. Wukanya indicated.

The Deputy Volta regional minister, Mr. Francis Ganyaglo on his part called for maximum cooperation and support among stakeholders and the assembly in delivering President’s better Ghana Agenda in the area.

Source: Voltaonlinegh/@Lambert_coffie

Operation Smile provide free surgery to cleft victims in Ho

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Kwadwo Duodu

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April 12, 2016

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Before and after surgery of a cleft victim

Some 154 patients with various forms cleft conditions, have had their deformities corrected last week through a free medical operation undertaken by the world acclaimed medical charity, ‘Operation Smile’ at the Volta regional hospital in Ho.

The five day medical operation which had a 36,000 dollar support from Unibank, involved a team of 86 medical and non-medical volunteers who worked to put smiles on the faces of the patients, aged between 6 months and 73 years, with children dominating.

Cleft lips are lips that are not fully formed and cleft palates are holes in the roof of the mouth. This, experts say can create speech abnormalities and breathing problems sometimes resulting in death.

According to Dr. Opoku Ware Ampomah, leader of the surgical team, a total of seven surgeons operated on the patients drawn from various parts of the country within the five days.

“Seven surgeons were operating simultaneously for the one week. We ensure that we do the young children early in the day and the older one later in the day. It was very tedious but we have about the successful outcome of the operations.”

He said, despite the stress involved, the Operation Smile team which comprises of volunteers from 13 different countries across the globe was excited about the success of the operations and the joy it brings to the patients, their families and community.

“For every case that we handle, we put smiles on the faces of a family and a community, that is what makes us fulfilled and we glad to impacted these 154 lives,” Dr. Amponsah said.

The patients and their guardians were also offered free transportation, accommodation and feeding throughout the period as result of Unibank’s support.

Dr .Ampomah, who is also the director of the National Burns and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Centre, at the Korle- Bu Teaching Hospital, noted that in Ghana about one in every thousand (1:1000) child births, suffers Cleft lip and Cleft palate, which is one of the common birth defects across the world.

He however said lack of awareness about the condition has resulted in the stigmatization of cleft patients, most of who live in pain and isolation because they are demonized and excluded by their families.

“Some children born with this kind of anomaly do not even live beyond the first week, because of the misconception that they are spirit children and therefore must be killed,” he noted and called for increased public sensitization to get many more cleft patients to access medical treatment.

Mr. Clifford Mettle, Director of E-banking, Products and Marketing at Unibank said the bank supported the Operation Smile mission to restore hope to the underprivileged in society. He noted that, as an indigenous financial institution, Unibank ‘cares’ about the health and safety of Ghanaians, hence making a key tenet of its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

Justin Shaddrack, father of a 5 year old girl, who had her third successful surgery under Operation Smile to correct her speech, couldn’t hide his excitement and gratitude to the team, as he recounted the humiliation and agony her wife went through due to the daughter’s condition.

Little Deborah with a picture of her condition

Almost 800 cleft victims have so far benefitted from the free medical services of Operation Smile, since it started operations in Ghana in 2011 and the NGO is hopeful of transforming more lives in the country, according to Mrs Sabrina Ghiddi, the Regional Manager for West and Southern Africa, of Operation Smile International.

Source: Voltaonlinegh/@Lambert_coffie

VGMA: Ho to come alive with Nominees Jamz on Saturday

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Kwadwo Duodu

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April 8, 2016

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The Ho Jubilee Park is set to come alive this weekend, as the 2016 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) nominees jamz train makes a stop over at the Volta regional capital.

The event, which is the first of its kind to hit the capital will parade the hit makers in the Ghanaian Music industry on one stage to treat patrons with electrifying performances come Saturday night.

Top on the bill for the night are ‘sons of the soil’, Edem, EL and Stonebouy, the 2015 VGMA reigning Artiste. Gospel greats S.P. Kofi Sarpong and Patience Nyarko, Wisa of ‘ekiki me’ fame, ‘Ye wo krom’ hit maker, Atom, Jupiter, and ‘King of the Street’ Kwaw Kesse.

An array of budding artistes from region, including Hecta, Enamily, Keeny Ice, Kula, Agbeshie, Belce, as well as the Dorttyard ‘commandos’, Kush Elikem, Woyram, Mystro, and Kweku BiZkiT will also mount stage to showcase their lyrical prowess to the nation at the official Pre VGMA Party of the year, which will be cohosted by Sizzla One, of Kekeli Radio in Ho.

The VGMA 2016 Unsung artistes will also have their debut at the event to prove which of them deserves to perform at the main event slated for Saturday, May 7 at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).

Public Relations Manager for Charterhouse, organizers of the VGMAs, George Quaye told Bright Ellis, Host of Ultimate Drive on KUUL FM on Friday that, patrons should expect nothing short of spectacular performances from artistes on bill.

He said the rationale behind the nominees jams was to give music fans the chance to celebrate Ghanaian music and have a feel of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards experience before the main event. ‘Tomorrow is a big day for Ghanaian music and the people of Volta region should be ready to party with their favorite artistes at the Jubilee park in Ho.”

The VGMA nominees jams train, which has been to Accra, Koforidua, Kumasi, Tamale and Cape Coast in the past years, according George Oquaye also gives the platform to ‘Home base’ artistes to exhibit their talents. “The idea is to give this local Acts, the exposure to sell their talents to the world and I expect an exhilarating performances from them,” he noted in the interview.

As of the time of this report, the event crew members were at the Jubilee park feverishly setting up for the big party scheduled for 7:00PM on Saturday.

The 2016 VGMA which is sponsored by Vodafone, is on the theme, “Let the Music Play Live” and has 28 categories up for grabs.

Source: @Lambert_Coffie/ VoltaOnlinegh