Teacher trainees beat ‘war drum’ over unpaid feeding grants

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March 17, 2016

Elikem Derrick Melesusu

Trainee teachers across the country are very upset over government’s inability to promptly release funds towards their feeding and utility in school.

According to them, following the cancellation of allowances to trainees in 2014 and a new policy to cater for their feeding grants and utilities, government has defaulted in releasing such funds for the past three semesters.

A situation, President of the Volta sector of the Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana (TTAG), Elikem Derrick Melesusu, said is hampering the effective running of all 38 colleges of education nationwide.

Speaking at a press conference in Ho on Wednesday, Mr. Melesusu noted that government’s failure to promptly honour its obligation to the institutions has compelled some college principals to adopt unauthorized means to raise funds from students for their feeding and utility payment.

According to him, some the colleges have billed each student GHc 560 as feeding fee as well as between GHc 50 and GHc165 for utility.

“It will interest everyone to note that, from the inception of this new reform by government, three semesters feeding grants are still in arrears. Because of this, some principals continue to bill students for utility and feedi at the expense of the subventions they receive from government,” he noted.

This, he said has overburdened trainees who are struggling to make ends meet under the prevailing harsh economic conditions.

TTAG-Volta executive members

Mr. Melesusu also chided government communicators, who the group claimed are playing propaganda with their situation, ‘what beats our imagination is the continuous dust that government communicators continue to throw into the eyes of Ghanaians that, they are indeed catering for the feeding of trainees.”

The association has therefore urged all stakeholders including the mother teacher unions, GNAT and NGRAT to put pressure on government to as a matter of urgency release all funds in arrears to various colleges before the situation gets out of control.

The group is also demanding the payment of allowances to the final year trainees who are on out programmes just as in the case of National service personnel, in order to alleviate their struggle in paying rent, utility and feeding as well as buying teaching and learning materials to aid their work.

Meanwhile, some final year teacher trainees have begun wearing red armbands as part of activities to press home their demand, including an intended nationwide street protest against government over their predicaments.

Source: Voltaonlinegh/LA

First Sky to commence asphalting of Ho town roads

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Kwadwo Duodu

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March 15, 2016

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Test run of asphalt on 150metres stretch of road

Work is set to the start on the asphalting of some roads within the Volta regional,Ho.

This follows the successful installation and test run of the asphalting plant and equipment by the contractor, First Sky constructions Ltd.
A 150 metre stretch of the road linking SSNIT flats and Goshen city was also asphalted as part of the test run over weekend.

The project, which forms part of the government’s urban roads improvement project, is aimed at giving facelift to roads networks in all regional capitals and selected major towns in the country.

The minister of roads and highways, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini who witnessed the test run of the plant and equipment, said 25 kilometers of roads in Ho will be asphalted with Keta and Hohoe roads also receiving similar facelift of ten and five kilometres respectively.

He however appealed to both motorists and residents to cooperate with the contractor since the project will create some inconveniences on the roads.

Project engineer (L) briefing the roads minister

“These are existing roads that we are working on, so we should expect some inconveniences. Sections of the roads will have to be blocked at various points in time for the asphalts to be laid. So I urge residents to cooperate with the contractor.”

The Project Engineer at First Sky constructions, Enoch Anyimado said the asphalt works which will begin on the Sokode-Lokoe to Civic centre, will be completed in two months. He however said most of the work will be done at night in order to reduce the inconveniences to road users.

The asphalt plant

The Volta regional minister, Helen Ntoso, who accompanied the roads minister, with her deputy, Francis Ganyaglo and some Chiefs of Ho, expressed gratitude to the ministry for fulfilling President John Mahama’s promise to the chiefs and people of the area.

This asphalt project comes on the back of concerns expressed by some residents and elders of Ho in recent past over the poor state of roads in the regional capital. An issue, the Agbogbomefia Togbe Afede XIV put before President Mahama during a visit to the region in January this year.

Source: Voltaonlinegh/LA

Volta Regional Hospital gets dialysis centre

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Kwadwo Duodu

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March 11, 2016

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inside the dialysis unit

After almost 15 years of its existence, the Volta Regional hospital in Ho has finally gotten a dialysis unit to cater for patients with kidney problems.

Kidney patients in need of dialysis services hitherto have to travel to Accra every week for the service due to the absence of that unit at the regional hospital, which is the major referral health facility in the entire region.

Dialysis machine

A dialysis machine is thought of as an artificial kidney which filter a patient’s blood to remove excess water and waste products when the kidneys are damaged, dysfunctional, or missing.

A campaign launched by the Asogli queen mothers Association to get such a machine at the hospital, had a favorable response from D.Med Healthcare AG Limited, a leading provider of medical equipment and consumables, which donated four dialysis machines to the hospital at a cost of GHc 200,000.

Also, indigenous oil marketing company, GOIL Energy Ghana procured a GHc 28,000 water treatment plant for the unit to enable the machines function.

Speaking at a ceremony to commission the unit, the coordinator of Asogli queen mothers Association,

Mama Atratoh II, the challenges kidney patients in region go through weekly to access the treatment elsewhere with its associated cost and risk prompted her outfit to embark on this initiative.

Mama Atratoh

“We have been dreaming to get this machine in the region, until one Harry Sedor of D.Med came to tell us they will give us four dialysis machines but we needed a water treatment plant for the machines to function. Gratefully, we approached GOIL Ghana and they accepted and got plant for installed,” she stated

She went on further, saying “ with this centre here, we can reduce the high risk and cost associated with traveling to Accra and elsewhere to seek treatment.”

Medical director of the hospital, Dr. John Tampore, said the facility is expanding and the demand for dialysis services in the region has been on the rise. He noted that about nine patients in need of dialysis service are referred to Accra every month due to the absence of the unit.

He therefore assured that the installation of the equipment will bring relief to kidney patients and save them the cost and risk of traveling to Accra weekly for treatment.

Dr. Joseph Teye Nuertey, the volta regional director of health services lauded the initiative of the Asogli queen mothers and called for more of such collaborations between stakeholders to improve healthcare delivery in the region.

The Volta regional minister, Helen Adjoa Ntoso who commissioned the dialysis unit, urged the hospital management to cultivate the culture of maintenance to elongate the lifespan of the equipment.

A patient using the machine

Source: Voltaonlinegh/LA

Nigerian truck impounded with smuggled goods

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Kwadwo Duodu

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March 10, 2016

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Some of the items impounded

Custom officers at the Aflao Sector command have impounded a Nigerian registered truck transporting smuggled goods towards Accra.

The officers who were on their routine patrol Tuesday evening, intercepted the articulated truck with Lagos registration number MUS-139-XQ between Akatsi and Dabala junction on the Aflao-Accra highway.

Mr. Confidence Nyadzi, Aflao sector commander of Customs revealed that, though the bucket of the truck was empty, a critical examination revealed that, metallic compartments were created beneath the vehicle in which the smuggled goods were hidden.

The impounded truck

Items found on the vehicle, according to him are mostly bales fabrics and assorted drinks. These include 320yards of poly cotton materials, 335 pieces wax prints, 78 cartons of Hollandia yogurt, 100 crates of Maltina drink and five crates of assorted soft drinks. Seven cartons of cooking oil and 15 pieces of mosquito net were also part of the consignment.

Mr. Nyadzi also noted that, the driver, Razak Osman and his conductor, Salam Nuhu have been detained with truck and are assisting with investigations.

Source: Voltaonlinegh/LA

Let’s work to retain President Mahama- John Dumelo to NDC youth

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Kwadwo Duodu

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March 9, 2016

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John Dumelo with some NDC supporters

Popular Ghanaian actor, John Dumelo has hit the grounds running for President Mahama re-election campaign, charging the youth wing of the NDC to work hard to secure a second term for the president in the November 7, general elections.

Addressing enthusiastic supporters in the Volta region during a health walk dubbed ‘Walk for JM’ on Monday at Hohoe, Mr. Dumelo said, ” I’m glad that you have all joined in the walk, that’s the same way we will walk to maintain this present government.”

The actor who is also a native of Likpe-Bala in the Hohoe constituency further stated that “you have to keep the fire burning, you don’t have to loose guard. They will throw punches at you, don’t have to worry. You have to hold the fort because at the end of the day, we want development for the country and it’s the youth that will make it happen, we hold the power.”

The walk which was organized by the regional youth wing of the party, was to reenergize the party’s grassroot ahead of the general elections.

Top government officials who participated in the walk included , the Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, his predecessor and now Interior minister Prosper Bani, former transport minister, Dzifa Attivor and Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah.

Add caption

Source: Voltaonlinegh/LA

NDC chairman blames officials for misleading President on Hohoe roads

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Kwadwo Duodu

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March 8, 2016

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One of the abandoned town roads

The Volta regional chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kwadwo Gyapon Kudjoe has blamed officials of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) and Urban roads Department for misleading the president on state of road works in the Hohoe municipality.

President Mahama in his recent state of the nation address in parliament, listed several road projects, he said are progressing steadily in the Volta region, including the Ve-Golokwati to Hohoe and the Hohoe township roads.

An assertion, which angered some residents, ostensibly because the contractors have abandoned the projects many months ago with very little work done.

The roads and highways minister, Inusah Fuseini who also defended the president’s assertion, quoting 68 percent of work done, had to virtually eat humble pie, when he visited area last Wednesday and realized the reality on the grounds is far different from what is on paper.

But speaking to Journalists on the sidelines of a health walk dubbed ‘ walk for JM’ at Hohoe on Monday, the NDC chairman said, that blunder would have been avoided, if the technocrats in charge of supervising the projects provided accurate and right to the president.

“The position that Hohoe roads were done was not just taken from anyone, it was taken from the technocrats. The highways director should have known, there is a problem that the contractor has abandoned the project and not to provide wrong information just to embarrass the president.”

Mr. Gyanpon Kudjoe also urged political leadership in the region to keep eyes on contractors working on projects to ensure that they deliver the projects in time.

Source: Voltaonlinegh/LA

Teenager stabbed to death in Ho

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Kwadwo Duodu

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March 8, 2016

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Deceased Wisdom Amu

A nineteen year old boy has met his untimely death Sunday afternoon, after he was stabbed by some youngmen in Ho, the Volta regional capital.

The incident is said to have occurred around the Ho sports stadium at about 5:00pm, when the victim, Wisdom Amu, was returning from the 59th Independence Day celebration at the Jubilee park.

According to an uncle of the deceased, Dr. Winfred Naccortsey, his nephew, who is a tailor-apprentice was stabbed on the left breast by one of the four young men who were said to have accosted him, which resulted in a scuffle.

He said bystanders who went to scene to separate the fight, found Amu unconscious with the knife stab and rushed him to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead and the incident has since been reported at the Ho central police station.

Meanwhile, the four suspects have been arrested and are assisting in police investigations.

According to a source, three of the suspects were arrested immediately at the incident scene by some bystanders and handed over to the police while the fourth person who absconded was later arrested by the police on Monday.

The body of the deceased is currently at the morgue for autopsy.

Source: voltaonlinegh/LA

‘Stray’ ship washed ashore at Aflao

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Kwadwo Duodu

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March 2, 2016

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Photos from Facebook

A strong tidal storm which hit the coast of Aflao in the Ketu South municipality has washed ashore a ‘stray’ ship, on Tuesday.

The ship with the inscription ‘Barca Lome’, is believed to have been abandoned on the high seas with no crew on board.

Some residents who trooped to the scene to catch a glimpse of the ship, expressed varied opinions about how the ship made its way to he area, with some putting a political twist to it.

“This ship here, is probably telling our government that, we need a mini habour in Aflao,” one resident retorted.

Meanwhile, a combine Togolese and Ghanaian naval team have successfully towed the ship back onto the high seas.

A security source at the Aflao border who disclosed this, said the ship which was anchored on the sea between the Togolese capital Lomé and Aflao, had its anchors broken by strong tidal winds, which drifted it onto the shores of Aflao.

‘A Combine team of Ghanaian and Togolese naval officers however manage to tow the stray ship back using another vessel later in the day,’ the source stated.

Source: Voltaonlinegh/LA

Rainstorm destroys transmission masts in Ho

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Kwadwo Duodu

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March 1, 2016

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Collapsed mast

A strong wind which accompanied a downpour in the Volta regional capital of Ho, on Monday afternoon has colapsed some transmission masts belonging to some radio stations and a telecom company in the area.

The rainstorm which started at about 4:00pm and lasted barely 40 minutes brought down the masts of Ho based KuulFM and ToshFM as well that of telecom operator Glo Ghana, which were all situated on top of the Galenkui mountain near Ho.

The situation has compelled the stations to go off air for the mean time, while they assess the extent of damage. An electricity transmission pole located within the same vicinity was also affected, leading to cut in power supply to some parts of the municipality.

Checks in other parts of the municipality revealed that, the rainstorm also ripped of portions of the roofings of the Vodafone Ghana regional office, while some bill boards have also been pulled down. No casualty was however reported in the disaster.

Source: Voltaonlinegh/LA

Congestion at Mawuko Girls SHS, as Getfund projects stall

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Kwadwo Duodu

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February 29, 2016

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Authorities of the E.P Church Mawuko Girls Senior High School in Ho in the Volta region are having tough time in providing quality education to students due myriad of challenges confronting the school.

The school with students population of about 1,780 is battling with inadequate classrooms and dormitories, among others.

A recent visit by this reporter to the school revealed that some Getfund projects began in the school, are at a standstill, with classes being conducted in some of the uncompleted structures and part of the dinning hall.

There is congestion in the dormitories as students pack their trunks and chop boxes on the corridors.

Assistant headmistress of the school in charge of welfare, Rose Nyawuto said, the situation has become a ‘headache’ to management.

An abandoned Dormitory project

She said in anticipation of the completion of some of the projects, first year students that were posted to the school for the 2015/16 academic, far exceed the vacancies declared during the computerized selection process.

“We were assured that, the projects especially the dormitory will completed by September/October [of 2015], that is why we absorb all the girls that were given to us. But as of now the contractor has not come back to site. If these projects were completed, it will alleviate our challenges.”

She also lamented about the difficulty in maintaining discipline among students, especially those in the boarding house as only two teachers are staying in the school premises due to lack of staff accommodation.

“We need bungalows for our staff, currently the headmistress doesn’t stay on campus. Only two female teachers are here taking care of the over 1000 girls. The rest of the teachers have to come from town every evening to supervise preps and ensure discipline on campus,’ Madam Nyawuto said.

Meanwhile, the school’s estate officer has revealed to start news that two of the contractors have return to site after several follow ups and they to complete work on some of the stalled projects, which consist of a science laboratory, Home economics department.

Mr. Samuel Kwame, however noted that the dormitory project which was abandoned since 2012, will be repackage and re-awarded to a new contractor.

He is therefore optimistic that, two of the projects will be completed by the end of the year.

Source: voltaonlinegh/LA