First year Ho Poly student murdered

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December 1, 2015

Police in Ho are investigating the gruesome murder of a female student of the Ho Polytechnic by an unidentified assailant(s), Monday dawn.

The body of Naomi Kpodzro, a first year HND Fashion student was found in a pool of blood by her mates on Monday dawn at ‘Divine Star’ – a private female hostel- with knife and gunshot wounds on her body.

She was however pronounced dead at the regional hospital in Ho, where she was rushed for treatment.

An assistant registrar in-charge of Public relations at the Polytechnic, Mr. Isaac Meyir who confirmed the incident, said the family of the deceased have also been contacted.

Though, It is unclear what led to the killing, reports indicate the deceased may have offended a lover.

According to anonymous sources , a call made to the victim’s phone was answered by the suspected killer who asked the caller to let the victim know that, “it’s not everyman’s money you spend and go for free.”

However, a contrary report indicated that, the lady might have been a victim of a mistaken identity, whose roommate might have been the actual target.

New Police station commissioned at Sokode-Bagble

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Kwadwo Duodu

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November 26, 2015

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As part of efforts to enhance security as well as maintain law and order within the Ho municipality of the Volta region a new police station has been commissioned in the area.

The facility located at Sokode-Bagble along the Ho-Accra highway, was solely financed by a Ho based businessman and philanthropist, Mr. Joe Ayivor popularly known as ‘Afelotto’.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Mr. Ayivor said the increasing incidents of robbery and burglary including recent attacks on fuel service stations within the area necessitated his intervention.

According to him, the absence of a police installation in the area hinders the early response of the police to crime alerts, and recounted how he had to drive several kilometers at night to Ho to get a police patrol team to respond to a robbery attack on his fuel service station a year ago.

“From Sokode-lokoe to Anyinawase, there is no police post, so all communities within that stretch are in danger in terms of any criminal attacks. That’s why I decided to support the communities here.”

The new police station which is the third in the municipality, comprises of a charge office, office for the station officer, male and female cells with modern washrooms. The offices are fully furnished with, computer set, furniture, air-condition, television, refrigerator set, potable water with a reservoir among others.

Mr. Ayivor and his wife

The Regional Police Commander, DCOP Peterkin Yentumi Gyinae on behalf of the Ghana Police Service and the Inspector General of Police, COP John Kudalor commended the gesture and urged others to emulate.

He reiterated that security is a shared responsibility and the era of waiting on only government to provide infrastructure for security agencies are far gone. He therefore welcomed all forms of support from the public to make policing in Ho and the entire region smoother.

The Deputy Regional Minister, Francis Ganyaglo described the Police station as timely considering the increasing population of the municipality. While commending Mr. Ayivor for his intervention, he also urged well meaning individuals, groups and communities to initiate some development projects since government alone cannot provide it all.

NDC Primaries: Four MPs tumble, Seven new faces join ticket inVoltaregion.

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Kwadwo Duodu

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November 22, 2015

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Four incumbent members of parliament tumbled in the just ended parliamentary primaries of National Democratic Congress in the Volta region.

They include. Hon. Joe Gidisu, MP for Central Tongu and former minister for roads and highways, who was beaten by Mr. Gabby Hotordze with almost 5000 votes in a three man contest. Hon. Gidisu polled 3,123 votes as against Mr. Hotordze’s 8,088 votes.

In the North Dayi constituency, Hon. George Loh set the record as a one term MP, as he was toppled by a female aspirant, Joycelyn Tetteh, a student of the University of Cape Coast. She polled 3,037 votes as against Mr. Loh’s 2,207 votes.

Hon. Edem Asimah also suffered defeat in the South Dayi constituency, where he Lawyer Rockson Defeamekpor, who polled 2,422 votes, as against Mr. Asimah’s 1,585 votes.

The 4th causality was the Incumbent MP for Biakoye, Hon. Emmanuel Bandua also lost to Nyanpon Aboagye.

In all, Seven new faces have made their way onto the NDC’s ticket for the 2016 general elections. They are include Charles Agbeve for Agortime/Ziope, and Angela Alorwu-Tay (DCE) for Afadjato South.

Below is the list of winners in the NDC primaries in Volta region.

1. Mr. Charles Agbeve – Agortime/Ziope (New)

2. Hon. Peter Nortsu – Akatsi North

3. Hon. Kwame Agbodzah – Adaklu

4. Hon. (DCE) Angela Alorwu-Tay – Afadjato South (New)

5. Hon. Bernice Adiku Heloo – Hohoe

6. Hon. Dela Sowah – Kpando

7. Hon. James Klutse Avedzi – Ketu North

8. Hon. Bernard Ahiafor – Akatsi South

9. Hon. John Majisi – Krachi Nchumuru

10. Rockson N. Defeamekpor – South Dayi (new)

11. Ms. Jocelyn Tetteh – North Dayi (new)

12. Hon. Kofi Humado – Anlo

13. Hon. Richard Quarshigah – Keta

14. Hon. Emmanuel Bedzrah – Ho West

15. Hon. Kobby Woyome – South Tongu

16. Mr. Gabby Hotordze – Central Tongu (new)

17. Hon. Helen Ntoso – Krachi West (unopposed)

18. Hon. Benjamin Kpodo – Ho Central (unopposed)

19. Hon. John Oti Bless – Nkwanta North (unopposed)

20. Hon. Wisdom Gidisu – Krachi East

21. Mr. Nyapon Aboagye – Biakoye (new)

22. Mr. Abdul Aziz Muniru – Akan (New)

23. Hon. Daniel Ashiamah – Buem

The NDC has however put on hold primaries in the Ketu South, North Tongu and Nkwanta South constituencies.

NDC suspends disqualified Ketu South MP aspirant

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Kwadwo Duodu

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November 18, 2015

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Koku Anyidoho, Deputy NDC General Secretary

The Volta regional branch of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has suspended one of the disqualified parliamentary aspirants for the Ketu South constituency Jim Yao Morti.

The party in a statement Wednesday said the decision has become necessary following the “unacceptable” behavior of Yao Morti and his supporters after his disqualification from the upcoming primaries.

Morti is in court seeking to place an injunction on the Saturday primary in the constituency.

According to the writ, he said he met all laid down requirements stated in the NDC’s guidelines for the election, hence could not understand his disqualification.

“Even though no communication has been channeled to the plaintiff directly, the plaintiff got to know that the reason for the delay and actions of some of the executives of the 1st Defendant [Fifi Kwetey] to stall his candidature is to assist the 5th defendant who has lost touch with the constituency,” the writ stated.

The NDC goes to the polls on Saturday to elect its Presidential and parliamentary candidates for the 2016 elections.

Credit: StarrFMonline

Mahama climax ‘changing lives’ tour in Volta region ahead of primaries

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Kwadwo Duodu

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November 18, 2015

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President Mahama will climax his ‘changing lives, transforming Ghana’ tour with a 2days visit to the Volta region, the ‘world bank’ of the governing National Democratic Congress.

As part of the visit which begins today, the president will commission one of the community day Senior High Schools in the Nkwanta South district and later inspect work on the Hohoe-Pepesu section of the eastern corridor road project at Jasikan.

He will then have a meeting with regional party executives and MMDCEs at the residency in Ho later Wednesday evening.

President Mahama is also expected to commission the permanent campus of the university of health and allied sciences at Sokode-Lokoe near Ho on Thursday morning, before meeting with members of the Volta regional house of Chiefs.

The visit will be climax with a mammoth rally at the Ho jubilee, where president will address thousands of party supporters in the region ahead of Saturday’s presidential and parliamentary primaries of the party.

UHAS Land owners to demonstrate over unpaid compensation

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Kwadwo Duodu

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November 17, 2015

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Individuals, whose lands were taken for the construction of permanent campus for University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) at Sokode-Lokoe near Ho in the Volta region, are up in arms against government for long delay in the payment of their compensations.

Government through an Executive Instrument (EI) compulsorily acquired the lands for the first public university in the region, which was established an Act of Parliament in 2011.

Though the construction of permanent structures on the land, which begun in 2013 have been completed this year, the land owners are yet to be compensated.

To this end, the individuals who have come together under the UHAS land owners association have resolved to demonstrate at the permanent campus on Wednesday, November 18, same day President Mahama is expected to commission the campus.

“We are compelled to demonstrate on Wednesday, November 18 at the university premises to make government and the general public aware of the unfair and illegal treatment of UHAS land owners, with regards to the compensation which we are constitutionally owed,” the group said in a press release on Monday.

According to the aggrieved land owners’ efforts since 2013 to get their compensation from government have not been successful, though they have submitted all document required for payment to the relevant authorities.

They also stated that, a promise made by the regional minister, Helen Ntoso at a meeting with them in June, 2015 that their compensations will be factored into the 2016 budget, has also not been fulfilled, as there was no mention of their compensation package during the recent budget presentation by the Finance minister, Mr. Seth Terkper.

“In a response to our threat to go on a demonstration, the director of the Volta regional coordinating council invited the association to a meeting at the regional minister’s residence on 25th June, 2015. At the said meeting the regional minister promised that, the compensation owed us will be added to the provisions in the 2016 national budget.”

“Recently, the 2016 budget statement was made public without any mention of UHAS land owners association’s compensation. This necessitated the press release to officially show our displeasure about the failure of government to adhere to article 20(2) of the constitution,” the statement signed by the association chairman, Mr. Benoni Glalah emphasized.

Volta NPP suspends two executives for misconduct

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Kwadwo Duodu

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November 14, 2015

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The Volta Regional Executive Committee of the NPP have suspended two of its constituency executive in the region.

The decision follows two separate petitions filed against, Godfred Kudalor and Pope Yao Yevoo, organizer and secretary in the Akatsi North and Ketu North constituencies respectively.

The duo who took part in the recent demonstration at the party national headquarters demanding the reinstatement of suspended chairman, Paul Afoko, are said to have made comments deemed to be derogatory of the party in public.

At a regional executive committee meeting on Friday, the two gentlemen were suspended with immediate effect, pending further action by the regional disciplinary committee.

Mr. Enoch Amegbletor, deputy regional communications director of NPP who confirmed suspension of the two party officers news, said they were not suspended because they participated in the demonstration but rather their utterances to section of the media contravenes the party’s constitution.

Monsignor Emmanuel Fianu ordained new Catholic Bishop of Ho

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Kwadwo Duodu

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October 3, 2015

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The ordination and installation of the new Bishop elect for the Catholic diocese of Ho in the Volta region region,Monsignor Emmanuel Fianu is underway at Jubilee park in Ho.

Monsignor Fianu who is an SVD priest was elected by Pope Francis in July 2015 as the successor to the first Ghanaian Bishop of the then Keta-Ho diocese, and now Ho diocese, Most Rev. Francis Kofi Anane Lodonu.

Bishop Emeritus, Lodonu was in charge of the Roman Catholic Church in the Volta region for the past four decades and over.

Thousands of Catholic faithfully across the Volta region and the country have thronged the Jubilee park in Ho to witness this special event.

Other dignitaries including members of the GHANA Catholic Bishops conference are also in attendance. Traditional leaders including president of the Volta regional house of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV and top government officials led by the the Speaker of Ghana’s parliament Rt. Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho are also in attendance.

Togbe Afede XIV (2nd L) flanked to his left by Hon. Helen Ntoso (Volta regional minister)

There are missionary priests, bishops and other religious from parts of Africa, including Togo, Bennin, Nigeria among others in attendance. The Superior General of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) at Vatican is also presence to support of his members, who until his appointment, was the Secretary General of the SVD.

The principal consecrator at this ceremony is His Eminnce, Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, Archbishop merit us of Cape coast in Ghana and the current President of the Pontifical council for Justice and Peace at the Vatican.

He will be assisted by the Apostolic Nuncio to GHANA, Most Rev. Jean-Marie Speich and Bishop emeritus of Ho Most Rev. Francis Lodonu.

Scroll down for more updates.

15:15GMT: the new bishop of Ho diocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Fianu addressing the congregants. He expresses gratitude to all and sundry for their well wishes and prayers. Calls for everyone’s support in his ministry as the new leader of the Catholic Church in Ho.

Bishop Fianu extols the good works of his immediate predecessor, Bishop emeritus, Francis Lodonu and expressed profound gratitude to him for successfully leading the church in last 40 years and more.

He promise to organize a grand event in the near future to honour the bishop emeritus.

Bishop Fianu, in shades, flanked by Apostolic Nuncio (L) and Cardinal Turkson (R)

14:25: Mass celebration over, delivering of goodwill messages to the new bishop underway.. First message from Ho diocesan priests association, followed by the Apostolic Nuncio, traditional leaders and a host of many other recognized groups.

13:30GMT: Bishop Fianu now takes over the continuation of the Holy mass with the celebration of the Eucharist

13:05GMT: Priests in the Ho diocese paying homage to the newly ordained bishop…

12:55GMT: Most. Rev. Emmanuel Fianu now consecrated as the new bishop of Ho Catholic diocese.. Peter Cardinal Turkson wears the mighter and hands over the crozia to him.

12:45GMT: Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, the Apostolic Nucio and Bishop emeritus Lodonu as well as other bishops laying hands on the Bishop elect Fianu to consecrate him.

12:30GMT: consecration rites underway, bishop elect lies postrate in front of the alter , as the litany of saints is being recitated..

11:42GMT: ArchBishop of Accra, Most Rev. Palmer Buckle delivering the homily of the day. His message is about the good shepherd. He expresses confidence in Bishop elect, Fianu to lead the Lord’s flock in the Ho diocese.

11:15GMT: ordination rites start with the reading of Pope Francis’ letter, appointing Monsignor Fianu as Bishop Elect for Ho diocese to the congregants. Monsignor Hilary Senoo read the Pope’s letter to the congregation.

Earlier, Monsignor Anthony Kornu, Administrator of the Ho diocese, show the Pope’s letter to the thousands of congregants.

10:25GMT: Holy mass begins with Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, President of the Pontifical council for Justice and Peace being the main consecrator..

10:00GMT: Procession of priest and bishops to the event grounds.. Hundreds of priests are leading the Bishops and Cardinals .

Bishop elect Emmanuel Fianu flanked by two priests

Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, official consecrator .

Bishop emeritus Francis Lodonu and Apostolic Nuncio

Knights and ladies of St. John International and their counterparts from the St. Marshall are also present.

Pencils of Promise removes schools under tree in Adaklu

By

Kwadwo Duodu

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September 30, 2015

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Hundreds of school pupils and their teachers in selected basic schools in the Adaklu district of the Volta region can now carry out their academic activities in a better and conducive classrooms, thanks to the benevolence of a non –governmental organization, Pencils of Promise(PoP).

Due to inadequate infrastructure over the years, some of the school were compelled to hold classes under trees and thatch structures, leaving the pupils and staff at the mercy of the weather.

A total of seven communities benefited from various units of classroom blocks constructed by the NGO, Pencils of Promise with support from the district assembly and the MPs common fund, at the cost of GHC 1.8million.

The projects executed within a record time of 4months, according to Mr. Freeman Gobah, country director of PoP, is aimed at boosting educational activities in the area by increasing school enrollment in the seven beneficiary communities.

He therefore charged school authorities to make good use of the infrastructure in improving academic performance of the pupils.

A teacher in one of the beneficiary schools at Adaklu-Kpeleho, where the projects were commissioned, Ernestina Akpe expressed gratitude about the project, saying it will help reduce the high attrition rate among staff due to poor infrastructure.

“We use to be under sheds and whenever the cloud gathers, we have to earlier. Sometimes too, we get beaten by the rain. .Most teachers have left [the school] because of this problem. So we’re grateful this problem have been resolved,” she stated.

One of the thatch structures use fr classroom

UHAS is making steady progress- Prof. Binka

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Kwadwo Duodu

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September 28, 2015

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The vice chancellor of the University of health and allied science (UHAS) in the Volta region, Professor Fred Binka has noted that, the university is progressing steadily in delivering on its mandate of training world class health professionals to meet the country’s healthcare needs.

According to him, the university which is in its third year, has a seen a “steady but huge increase in the number of applicants who wish pursue their dreams of becoming health professionals.”

“Last year we received 2011 applications for the 2014/2015 academic year and we were only able to offer places and enrolled 458 students. This year the total number of applicants have doubled. We had 4124 applications to which 829 have been enrolled”

Speaking at the fourth matriculation ceremony of 829 fresh students for the 2015/16 academic at the university’s newly completed permanent campus at Sokode-Lokoe in Ho, Prof. Binka also underscored the impact of the first public funded university in the region, is making on people across the a cross the region through its community service programme and assured the students of wholistic theoretical and practical training.

“We are really proud of our vocational training programmes.. This is a pillar of our community service pillar, through which we’ve successfully deployed close to over thousand students to work in the region this year. Bringing us closer to the people of the region and forging the necessary partnerships that we desire.”

“You will all experience the vocational training activity this academic year when you go to work in the districts in July of 2016. This will give you the opportunity to acquire the skills you need in your career development.”

He also lauded the support, the infant university is receiving from Municipal and district assemblies in the region,towards the provision of facilities at the various hospitals to aid the on the field training of students.

Prof. Fred Binka, who is foundation Vice chancellor of UHAS further hinted of ongoing processes to introduce more programmes including Masters (Mphil) and doctorate (PhD) programmes to the existing fifteen undergraduate programmes being run in the university.

According to him, the “innovation programme” which will be offered at the school of public health in Hohoe, would have five areas of concentration; Monitoring and Evaluation, Health Systems, Reproductive Health, Public Health Nutrition, and Epidemiology.

Prof. Binka said the University also planned to start its Pharmacy Degree Programme in the School of Pharmacy in the 2016-2017 academic year and also run certificate courses for national teams in the School of Sports and Exercise Medicine (SSEM).

UHAS currently operates five out eight schools, comprising School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, School of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Allied Health Sciences and school of Public Health.

Established by an Act of Parliament, Act 828 in December 2011, the University which currently operates from campuses in Ho and Hohoe, will comprise eight schools and three institutes dedicated to health-related issues.