Support Us, We Need Money- Elorm Beenie

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March 28, 2018

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

Volta Gets 10,000-Seater Capacity Sports Complex

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Volta Online

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March 28, 2018

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Rep of WILKADO taking dignitaries through the design

The Ministry of Youth and Sports has cut sod for 2.4 million dollars multi-purpose Youth Resource Centre to be constructed in the Volta Region as part of the government’s commitment to revamp the sport sector.

The project is one of the sports facilities the Ministry has promised to undertake in all ten regions in the country to help develop sports among the youth.

Speaking at a short ceremony to cut the sod for the project held at Adaklu Nuwunu, a suburb of Ho, Issac Asiamah, the Minister responsible for Youth and Sports said the facility would go a long way to providing more sports men and women from the region.

He said over the years, the unavailability of such infrastructure has hindered the development of talents among the youth, thus prompting the Ministry into providing such multi-purpose facility and assured sod is expected to be cut for similar projects in the remaining regions,

The facility when completed will contain: FIFA standard field, eight (8) athletic lanes, counseling centre, entrepreneurship and ICT centre, shop spaces, tennis and basketball field, swimming pool and a 10,000-seater capacity, the Minister said.

An aesthetic design of the sports complex

Hon. Issac Kwame Asiamah who is also Member of Parliament for Atwima Mponua Constituency, said the Ministry will ensure regular maintenance and monitoring to keep the facility in good shape at all time for generations to come and expressed gratitude to the chiefs and landlords who gave out the land for the move.

The Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa also present at the ceremony was grateful for the project and pledged to work hand in hand with the contractor (WILKADO Construction) in order to complete the project on time.

By: Albert Kuzor/voltaonline.com

Pencils of Promise Builds More Schools To Improve on Education

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Ewoenam Kpodo

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March 28, 2018

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Pencils of Promise, a non profit group based in Volta and Eastern regions of the country has built over 100 basic schools to improve upon education.
The country director Mr. Freeman Gobah revealed this at a Stakeholders Meeting held in the Volta Regional capital, Ho to review the Organisation’s progress in 2017 and plans for 2018.
He said in 2017, the Organization also known as PoP built 129 schools in the country’s two regions, Volta and Eastern, with eleven (11) ongoing and six (6) about to kick off in March 2018.
Mr Gobah said under his management, PoP was able to provide E-learning equipment to schools, initiated Water and Sanitation Projects, Girl Child Education and Health programmes which to him, made learning and teaching in the beneficiary schools satisfying.
He further said PoP is planning to open its Western Regional branch this year in an attempt to extending its reach to more remote communities in the country.
Some head teachers who attended the meeting confirmed activities of PoP, saying, its initiatives facilitated teaching and learning in their schools.
A representative of the Volta Regional Education Directorate at the event in a speech admitted that many schools in the Region have benefited from PoP programmes and also commended the Organisation for its role in promoting girl child education.
Member of Parliament for Agortime Ziope, Hon Charles Agbeve, also expressed gratitude to PoP for their interventions, saying, several schools under trees have been redeemed by them and promised to always make his office available to the Organisation.

By: Albert Kuzor/voltaonline.com

MALISANAT; Your Best Easter Destination In Volta

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Volta Online

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March 28, 2018

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Easter is approaching and it is that time of year when most Christians reflect on the death of the Saviour Jesus Christ, and his resurrection heralded with the celebration of Good Friday, Resurrection Sunday and Easter Monday (usually used for picnics).

For most people, Easter presents a perfect time for reconciliation, family reunion and relaxation in an environment that connects the soul with nature. If part of your plans for this season is to visit the Volta Region, then I would recommend my discovery for this year’s Easter; and so it is for those who are yet to decide where to celebrate the season.

From my last year’s exciting experience at the African Hill Resort on the hills overlooking the Volta Regional capital, I have this year settled on a place known as the Gate-way to Ho.

Located at Sokode-Gbogame -; just by the main road that leads to the Regional Capital, Ho; MALISANAT Hotel would give you a refreshing hospitality experience.

Built with bricks and attractive green lawns and flowers, MALISANAT is a home away from home; providing decent accommodation for its clients.

They provide varieties of sumptuous local and continental cuisines for inhabitants and revelers.

At night a lightening cable laced around the locally designed pentagon hut exudes enough beauty and style. There are smaller huts too. Inside the main hut are a bar and a lounge with Afrocentric furniture and artifacts that portray the culture of the people of Volta.

As we celebrate the season, the CEO of MALISANAT Hotel, Mr. Frank Adetor is promising exciting Easter Nights at the “gateway” to Ho.The vehicle parking space is spacious enough to host a concert and Mr. Adetor is promising some good surprises.

On Holy Saturday and Picnic Monday evenings, the Hotel would stage a Borborbor performance; a popular music dance and a Pork Festival at its premises. The event promises to be exciting and irresistible.

So when you run from the buzzing cities and on your way to the Volta Regional capital, all you need is a rhythmic sound of Borborbor with women wiggling their waists and backsides to make the most prolific dance steps; accompanied with other memorable services of MALISANAT Hotel at the mouth of Ho to take off all boredom.

By King Nobert/voltaonlinegh.com

Volta Colleges of Education Cry For Help

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Ewoenam Kpodo

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March 26, 2018

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President of Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana (TTAG) Volta Chapter, Mr. Bright Ababio Akpemada has appealed to the government to come to the aid colleges of education in the provision of water and other issues confronting some colleges in the region.
He bemoaned the problem of water which has persisted in E.P College of Education, Amedzofe, Dambai College of Education and Peki’s Govco all in the region without any redress.
“Till date, there are still instances where colleges of education, which have long attained tertiary status, get access to water from the most bizarre sources”
Mr. Ababio complained that stakeholders are not doing enough to help the situation citing parts of the Girls Dormitory of Akatsi College of Education which are yet to be rebuilt months after fire gutted the dormitory. Also, work on St Francis College of Education in Hohoe which recently got its roofing sheets ripped off as well as other GetFund projects in the region have stalled.
He however, commended the New Patriotic Party government for restoring the teacher trainee allowance and clearing feeding grant arrears and suggested that policies be made at addressing trainees’ needs to inspire others to take up the teaching profession.
“Things that are needed for the trainees to have a successful training in the colleges should be made available”, he said at the grand durbar of this year’s Women Empowerment Summit held on March 17, 2018 at Akatsi College of Education.
The programme which took place from 14th-17th March attracted a number of trainee teachers from all the seven colleges of education in the region and various stakeholders to the annual event celebrated by the Association to empower female teacher trainees.
By Albert Kuzor/VoltaOnlinegh

2 Million Volta Residents Get Insecticide Nets to Fight Malaria

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Kwadwo Duodu

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March 26, 2018

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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