OUR LOYALTY, NOT WEAKNESS – VOLTA QUEEN TELLS GOV’T

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December 2, 2011

The Queenmother of Alavanyo Traditional Area, Mamaga Ametor II has called on the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and politicians from the Volta region to be sincere with their countrymen and stop throwing dust into their eyes to win votes.

She added that over the years Voltarians have voted for the NDC due to the trust they have in the party, yet the NDC has returned their trust with dishonesty, lies and fruitless promises.

Mamaga made the disclosure in an interview with Daily Guide during which she threw her weight behind the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, led by the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV for rejecting NDC’s ‘World Bank’ title.

She criticized the NDC government for making the people believe enrolment for the Volta University will begin in September, this year despite knowing very well that there was no money and proper legislation to execute the project.

“See the Eastern Corridor Road, another major manifesto promise yet to be fulfilled. I used the road only a week ago and to tell you the truth, work is as sluggish as nothing at all. The least talk about the road from Hohoe to my hometown Alavanyo the better, not to talk about the Aflao road enough is enough,” she exclaimed.

Mamaga said “now the Volta region is wide awake, the time that goats were presented to us as glorious white cows are in the past and now they should be sincere to us and tell us the goat is a goat and a cow is a cow and not opposite…if we will vote, we will vote.

“They should stop apologizing and tell us the truth behind the President’s delayed tour, what do you mean by torrential rains, is it not the same period that he was touring the Greater Accra region?” she quizzed.

She urged the Regional House of Chiefs not to relent in its efforts to get fair share of development.

She also called on the House to come up with a bye-law that will bind all chiefs in the region to ensure that parliamentarians, MDCEs, Regional Minister and other government appointees and public office holders show commitment to the development of the region.

Mamaga Ametor said all chiefs should have a development plan consistent with those of their constituencies and districts.

She also called on citizens of the region not to vote for candidates because of the party they belong to but consider their competence and loyalty and commitment to the region’s development.

Mamaga asked people not to misinterpret her comments, adding, “I am saying this because it is the truth and I am saying this as a traditional leader who is fighting for the development of my people and my area…anyone who wishes to read politics in it is free to do so…in any case what do I gain from keeping quiet, nothing. Therefore I will rather fight for my people and gain nothing done seat idle.”

Credit: Fred Duodu, Dailyguide newspaper

GLORY RETURNS TO MAWULI SCHOOL

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Kwadwo Duodu

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November 30, 2011

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Mawuli School has begun taking it rightful place in tandem with great schools in the country as a beacon of high academic and disciplinary standards and this has been manifested in the excellent performance of students in the recent West African Secondary Schools Certificate Examinations.

According to Mr. J.M.K Osei Nyansah, the headmaster of Mawuli School, the school presented 418 candidates for the 2011 WASSCE; out of which 90.6% representing about 377 students passed in 7 or 8 subjects, thus qualifying them for tertiary education as compared to 70% qualification in the previous examinations in 2009.

Mr. Nyansah also noted that four (4) students had aggregate 6 as compared to one (1) student in 2005.

Mr. J.M.K Nyansah disclosed this at a brief ceremony to give thanks to God for their sterling performance in the 2011 WASSCE and also to officially welcome both fresh students and staff into school in Ho on Monday.

In all, 417 new students consisting, 253 boys and 164 girls has been admitted as of now but according to the headmaster, there is still vacancy for 100 girls because of the completion of a new girls’ dormitory.

Also, 10 new teaching and 13 non-teaching staff have also been engaged to consolidate the current staff strength of 94 teaching and 87 non-teaching staff. He added that, 20 interns from University of Education Winneba and University of Cape Coast with 10 service personnel as well as one German are also in the school to support the teaching staff this year.

Mr. Nyansah therefore challenged the students especially those in the final year to defy all odds to attain the 100% qualification, urging them to study in groups in order to assist one another in difficult subjects. He also advised them to always solve their problems through dialogue.

Rev. Frank Kwame Anku, the board chairman of the school commended both the students and staff for their relentless effort in bringing back glory to the school and advised them not to be complacent with the current situation and achievements of the school but to continuously strive for the attainment of the best for the school, adding that, God rewards faithfulness and not complacency’.

Rev. Why Azornu, the general manager of Evangelical Presbyterian Schools asked the students to eschew laziness, and adopt the virtues of hard work, discipline and honesty so as not to fall prey to the school’s disciplinary code. He also advised the teachers to be dedicated to the delivery of quality teaching and learning in the school.

Rev. Azornu suggested to the school board to liaise with the church to institutionalize the thanksgiving service for it to be organized annually.

Mrs. Lydia Adajawa, a member of the board, on her part urged the students to make good use of the enabling environment the school provides to excel adding that Mawuli School is noted for its high academic and disciplinary standards.

COMMODITY EXCHANGE FOR AGRIC PRODUCE IN THE OFFING

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Kwadwo Duodu

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November 28, 2011

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Hannah Tetteh giving her address

The Minister for Trade and Industry Hannah Tetteh has disclosed that an agricultural produce clearinghouse that will connect all parts of the country will soon be introduced to create the platform for farmers to lodge their produce in warehouses and silos at vantage points where they will be traded and exchanged as in the case of stock exchange.

Hon. Hannah Tetteh said this at the official launch of the third Volta Trade, Investment and Cultural Fair, in Ho in the Volta Region on Friday.

She said the project which will be known as the “Ghana Commodity Exchange” will actively use mobile phones to disseminate information among market players and farmers and this will cut out the activities of middle men and ensure that farmers get the right prices for their produce.

Ms Tetteh said a billion-dollar of food produce was traded within three years of a similar project in Ethiopia, giving indications that the benefits to Ghana can be tremendous adding that the legal framework is being developed for the project to take off possibly next year.

The Trade Minister also announced that the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF) Act have been amended to include funding for the agriculture sector.

She also said the rural technology project has been renegotiated to cover more districts and under the project, technology enclaves will be established as nucleus for technical services build-up in the districts.

Ms Tetteh also said a Kente craft village is on the drawing board for the Agortime-Kpetoe area, and stressed the need for improvement in Ghanaian made goods, including kente, to stand competition.

She noted that the biggest challenge to industry and investment in Ghana is the unavailability of land in the required stretches for profitable business operations and the multiple claimants to those available. She appealed to traditional authorities to readily make land available in large stretches for the development agricultural and agro-processing industry to enhance the development of the region.

The Deputy Volta Regional, and chairman of the fair committee, Minister Cyril Necku, on his part, said has come to stay and commended the sponsors for their loyalty.

He also disclosed that a website will soon be launched to promote the fair worldwide and also attract investors and businesses to region.

Dr Bernard Kwesi Glover, a member of the council of state and chairman for the event asked exhibitors to add value to their products by improving on their quality and packaging. He suggested the construction of a permanent trade fair centre in the region.

Mr Joseph Amemowode, Regional Minister said the ideal of the Fair, which is on the theme: “Volta Region: Investors Destination” is aimed at stemming the cycle of the region being the provider of labour for industries to other regions.

Awards were presented to Sponsors, including Agricultural Development Bank, Ghana Cocoa Board, Volta Prairie Limited, Rolider constructions and Diamond Cement for their contributions towards the success of the fair in the last three years.

The two-week fair which began on Tuesday, November 24, ends on Sunday December, 4 2011.
click link and listen to Hannah Tetteh

GOV’T’s ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT IS “COSMETIC”- MINORITY LEADER

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Kwadwo Duodu

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November 23, 2011

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Hon. Kyei Mensah-Bonsu

The Minority Leader in parliament, Hon Osei-Kyei Mensah-Bonsu has described the single-digit inflation and the stabilization of the economy being touted by government as an efficient economic management, as ‘Cosmetic and artificial’.

Inflation in recent times has being on the decline, from 18.5% in 2008 to 8.56% in October this year which the government has described as unprecedented economic management. But According to the minority leader, the continues decline in inflation is due to the government’s cushioning and subvention of fuel prices which undermines the use of the Automatic Price Adjustment System to review fuel prices monthly.

He also cited the non payment of arrears owed contractors, and statutory funds such as District Assembly Common Fund, GETFund among other to the tune of 3.9 billion dollars as reasons for the single digit inflation.

Hon. Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, who was addressing members of the Ho Polytechnic Chapter of the Tertiary Education Students’ Confederacy (TESCON) of NPP on Sunday evening, noted that, the current inflation trend does not reflect the true economic indices on the ground as he highlighted the high cost of living and doing business as well as high interest rates charged by commercial banks in the country.

“If the decline in inflation is not artificial, why is it not reflecting in interest rates” he asked.

Hon. Mensah-Bonsu also noted that, government has missed out on its targets this year for the agricultural sector, he said aside the cocoa subsector, food production has declined and the fisheries sector has grew by 1.7% as against 5% target for the year.

Touching on employment, the minority leader noted that contrary to the deputy information minister’s assertion that government has created1.6 million jobs, only 125,000 have been created according to the 2012 budget. Adding that, for the first time, there is an association of unemployed graduates because of the untoward hardship the government has brought to Ghanaians with its cosmetic management of the economy.

He therefore called on TESCON members be disciples of the party and preach the good news of the NPP’s achievements to Ghanaians and also work extra hard so as to wrestle power from the NDC saying, “it’s not easy for a government in power to surrender easily”

HO POLYTECHNIC TO RUSTICATE THREE STUDENTS

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Kwadwo Duodu

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November 20, 2011

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Dr. Afun Addressing students

Three students of Ho Polytechnic are to be rusticated for misbehaving during a street float to mark the Student Representative Council week celebrations last semester.

Dr Victor Jakpasu Afun, Rector of the Polytechnic, disclosed this at the 19th Matriculation of 1,930 fresh students in Ho on Friday.

The offending students, whose identities were not disclosed, were said to have indecently assaulted some student nurses and a tutor of Nurses Training College during the float.

Dr Afun expressed regret about the rowdy and unthinkable behavior of those students and urged the fresh students to thoroughly read the Students hand book on rules of the Polytechnic and abide by them since ignorance of the law is no excuse.

“You are free to do what you want to do, but remember, everything you do will be scrutinized” he emphasized and also expressed concern about increase in street attack around the Polytechnic community with the arrival of students.

He advised the students not to engage in acts that society frowns upon, stating that homosexuality is not human enough, for it to be regarded and defended as a human right.

“If you decide to go homosexual, you can call it some right, but I don’t think that’s human enough for it to be defended as human right” he said.

Dr. J.V.K. Afun, also expressed concern over the lack of interest by female students to pursue science and technology related courses at the polytechnic; he noted that out of 1,930 fresh students admitted, 37 per cent were admitted for science and technology programmes, with only four per cent being females. He therefore appealed to female students to develop more interest in science and technology programmes.

Section of Fresh Students

Dr Afun said that a website is being designed for the polytechnic to facilitate information dissemination, as the Polytechnic is also working hard to increase student’s access to internet facilities as well to provide more furniture in the lecture halls to alleviate the problems of inadequate furniture. He therefore called on the students to take their studies seriously so as not to ruin the huge investment being made in them by their parents. click link and listen to Dr. J.V.K Afun

ADAKLU ANYIGBE NHIS TO REACH OUT TO REMOTE AREAS

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Kwadwo Duodu

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November 15, 2011

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Mr. Charles Agbeve, the Adaklu Anyigbe Mutual Health Insurance Scheme Manager has called on Ghanians particularly natives of the districts to register with the scheme as a way of alleviating their financial burden in times of ill health.

Mr. Agbeve made the call during an orientation for national service personnel in the Adaklu-Anyigbe district on Tuesday. The NHIS he said is a measure introduced by the government of Ghana to abolish the cash and carry system and also give special attention to children, the aged and expectant mothers.

He acknowledged the low level of education on the scheme in the district and indicated that vigorous efforts are being made to reach out to remote areas in the district to make health care accessible to the poor and vulnerable.

He also advised National service personnel in the district to register with the scheme and be agents of change in their respective areas and also work hard, worthy of recommendation should there be the need for them to be absorbed into their respective institutions after their service.

When asked about the proposed one time premium (OPT), Mr.Agbeve re-echoed the commitment of the National Health Insurance Authority to introduce the policy as an optional one but advised that people should be patient since there are further consultations on what should be paid as premium.

“The option of the one time premium is still at its consultation process and any development will be communicated to Ghanaians”. He said.

The Regional Director of the National Service Scheme Gabriel Nyokeh and the District Director Mr. Josiah Lomotey both advised Personnel to live good lives worthy of emulation than indulging in acts that will bring the name of the service into disrepute.

Service Personnel recounted poor transportation, no potable water, electricity and the difficulty in communication with school children in the English language as some of the challenges being encountered in the district.

Credit: Rustum Gameli Senorgbe, Kpetoe.

GHANAIANS URGED TO RESIST ANY FUTURE COUP ATTEMPTS

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Kwadwo Duodu

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November 15, 2011

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Lt. Col. Abass

Lieutenant Colonel Abass Seidu, Commanding Officer of the 66 artillery regiment has called on Ghanaians to resist any attempt by anybody, be it a soldier or a civilian to overthrow any constitutionally elected government.

According to him, the overthrow of governments by soldiers contradicts the military profession since they are obliged to support and be subservient to the government in power.

Lt. Col. Abass Seidu made the call at the launch of the Ghana Armed Forces- Community Relations Week at in Ho on Monday on the theme “The Ghana Armed Forces-Facilitator of Peace and Order for National Development.

He noted that, due to persistent military interference in national politics in the past, the civil-military relations have suffered as the civilian population has perceived the military with extreme suspicion and distrust. He said the celebration of the community relations week is therefore meant to foster the cordial relationship between the military and civilian public in contributing towards the development of the nation.

Lieutenant Colonel Abass Seidu also reiterated the military’s commitment to assisting communities in the region irrespective of the open show of disrespect and provocations by some civilians towards the soldiers. He explained that some youths in the Region were fond of tempting military men on national duty.

Lt. Col. Seidu cited instances of civilians at Aflao and Kete Krachi who often hauled insults and stones at soldiers on patrol.

Lt. Col. Seidu therefore appealed to the media to help deepen civil-military relations in the region.

L-R, ACP Bedie, Hon. Amenorwode & Lt. Col. Abass

Hon. Joseph Amenowode, Volta Regional Minister, commended the 66 Artillery Regiment for helping maintain peace and order in the region and advised the military personnel to get more involve in social activities to deepen their relationship with the civilian population.

Hon. Amenowode said unlike the Police and other security services; the military is feared by the public and urged them work more on its ties with civilians and suggested that more social programmes such as civilian-military games be organise to promote effective relationship.

Hon. Amenowode also praised the regiment for rendering community services across the region and urged it to expand those services.

Some activities planned to mark the community relations week are tree planting, medical outreach, donation to inmates of Ho Central Prisons and a route march in Ho.

66th REMEMBERANCE DAY MARK IN HO

By

Kwadwo Duodu

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November 13, 2011

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Wreaths laid

A parade of contingents from the Armed Forces, Police Service, Immigration Service, Prisons Service, Fire Service and Customs, Excise and Preventive Services, have taken place at the jubilee park in Ho on Friday to mark the 66^th Remembrance Day celebration of veterans who fought in the 1st and 2nd world wars.

Veterans on parade

Also on parade was a contingent of the Veterans Association of Ghana (VAG) who thrilled spectators with quick and slow marches in their smartly dressed attire with some in shorts with long socks to match their neatly polished black shoes.

The parade was under the command of Captain Gyekey Danso of the 66 Artillery Regiment and SWOI Emmanuel Fiaworte commanding the veterans.

Hon. Amenorwode laying a Wreath

Wreaths were laid in remembrance of the fallen heroes by Hon. Joseph Amenowode, Volta Regional Minister, on behalf of the President and people of Ghana, Lieutenant Colonel Abbass Seidu, Commanding Officer of the 66 Artillery Regiment, on behalf of the Security Services in Volta Region while Togbe Koku Ayim IV, Paramount Chief of Ziavi Traditional Area, laid one on behalf of the chiefs and people of the Region and Major Adzraku (rtd), Volta Regional VAG Chairman, laid a wreath on behalf the veterans.

Prior to the wreath laying was Traditional, Christian and Muslim prayers said for the fallen heroes and at exactly 11am, Amidst blaring of the siren, gunshots by the 66 Artillery Regiment, the last post was sounded and the reveille blown after which a one-minute silence was held.

The Remembrance Day is an annual event, which is observed worldwide to commemorate the end of the Second World War and to honour war veterans.

Present at the ceremony were, Col. Cyril Necku, (rtd) Deputy Volta Regional Minister, and heads of security services and departments and agencies.

Bellow are shots from the event.

Military on parade

Veterans at the event

‘Once a gunner, always a gunner’

Lt. Col. Abass

togbe Kwaku Ayim

Police on Parade

Fire Service on Parade

ECG/GWCL WORKERS URGED TO BE ABREAST WITH REGULATORY PROVISIONS

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Kwadwo Duodu

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November 10, 2011

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Mrs. Dufie Ofori

Mr Kwasi Anokye, Legal Services Manager, at the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC), has asked workers of ECG and GWC to be abreast with their responsibilities and the regulatory provisions to enhance service delivery. He said that it is illegal for service providers to disconnect defaulting customers without giving them at least 28 days and an additional 14 days notice.

Mr. Anokye made the call at a two day workshop organized by the PURC for ECG/GWCL District and Commercial Managers from the Volta and Eastern Regions last week in Ho on the theme ‘Enhancing Performance’.

According to Mr Anokye, service providers could only disconnect their consumers from Mondays to Thursday between 8am and 5pm but said the service providers were permitted to disconnect customers on Fridays provided they were ready to re-connect at the weekends.

Mr Anokye said they could, however, disconnect their customers without notification in case of illegal connection or for safety and emergency purposes.

He said the law also provided that people above 65 years and consumers living with disabilities must be given a grace period of 30 days and an additional seven days notice before disconnection was effected.

Mr Anokye said consumers could demand compensations and penalties from the service providers if they do not comply with these legal provisions.

Dr. Simons Akorli, Director at the Regulatory Economics and Research Directorate of the PURC, said the re-introduction of the Automatic Adjustment Formula (AAF)-a PURC quarterly pricing mechanism, was to help resolve all tariff related issues.

He said the “PURC tariff policy was in the context of government policy” and called on all to support it.

The workshop according to Mrs Mami Dufie Ofori, Director of Consumer Services of the PURC, is intended to examine and discuss the commission’s regulatory strategies and benchmarks and how they impact the delivery of quality services to the customer.

She noted that previous workshops have impacted positively on the quality of customer service with the establishment of call centres, toll-free and the development of complaints code by service providers.

Mrs Dufie Ofori acknowledged the challenges being faced by service providers such as lack of adequate investment, poor consumer support, illegal connections and political interference and affirmed the PURC’s commitment to supporting the service providers.

She said more work needed to be done on consumer education, faults management, revenue loss control and staff attitude.

She therefore urged customers to be watch dogs and give the PURC periodic feedbacks on the service delivered by the utility providers.

Click link & listen to Mrs Dufie Ofori

MPs SCHOOLED ON COMPOSITE BUDGET

By

Kwadwo Duodu

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November 1, 2011

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The third Annual Parliamentary Workshop on Local Government Reforms has been organized in Ho at weekend on the theme “The Roadmap to Administrative Decentralization (2011) and the Composite Budgeting (2012): The Role of Parliament”.

Mr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, the Local Government Minister who opened the workshop noted that the workshop is to build the capacity of parliamentarians on administrative decentralization and composite budgeting.

He said for the first time the budgets of decentralized departments which hitherto have their allocation embedded in their mother ministries budget will be integrated into the district assemblies’ budget to enhance the capability of assemblies to improve local service delivery.

In a communiqué signed by Mr Dominic Azimbe Azumah, Mr Kwame Osei-Prempeh and Mr Emmanuel Kwesi Bandua, chairpersons for Parliamentary committees on Local Government and Rural Development, Subsidiary Legislation and Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs respectively at the end of the workshop, lauded the composite budgeting and said it was about the best to deepen fiscal decentralization and promote good public financial management systems and called for the adoption of the “required legal framework for its effective delivery” of what looked like an “efficient, effective and transparent process that will facilitate efficient service delivery”.

The communiqué said the approval of the composite budgeting process to begin in 2012 was refreshing and urged all “stakeholders to fully support this endevour” and advised that “decentralization transfers of funds to the District Assemblies should include releases from the Getfund and the Road fund”.

The communiqué also pledge Parliament support to vigorously exercise its oversight responsibilities over the process (composite budgeting) which would attain full implementation in 2013, leading to administrative as well as fiscal decentralization”.

It said Parliament should through similar workshops build its capacity to oversee the effective transfer of administrative power and resources to the local level.

The communiqué urged that the process of decentralization be quickened and recommended the adequate resourcing of the Local Government Service to carry out its mandate under the requisite laws and also call on Government to as a matter of urgency “consider increasing the threshold of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) from 7.5 per cent to at least 10 per cent.

It also commended the German Development Cooperation for its support of decentralization reforms over the past three years.

The workshop which was organized by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural dev’t, Parliament, the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Institute of Local Government Studies with support from the German Development Cooperation tackled the status of administrative and fiscal decentralization, various organizational structures and reporting relationships of the local governing areas, economic development in local governance among others.

In another development, the local government minister, Mr. Ofosu Ampofo has indicated that government will still stick to the new districts that have been announced though there were agitations from some communities where these new districts were created concerning the location of the district capitals. But Mr. Ampofo said the location of the new district capitals were based on the recommendations of a technical committee after considerable consultations were made. He therefore assured that every community in the new districts will have their fair share of development.

click link to listen to Hon. Ofosu_Ampofo