‘Ministers must declare assets at vetting’- Governance Expert

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August 28, 2014

Harrison Belley

A governance consultant and a member of the Right to Information (RTI) Coalition in the Volta region, Mr. Harrison Kofi Belley has called for a review of the Assets Declaration Law to compel Public officials especially Ministers and their Deputies to declare their assets before the appointment committee of Parliament during vetting.

This, he said would ensure timely declaration and eliminate the tendency for false declaration by appointees, noting that ‘the law in its current form do not promote transparency as officials only list their assets on paper ,seal it in an envelope , and send it to the Auditor General, who is also not permitted to verify the information presented .‘

Article 286 (1) of the1992 Constitution requires “a person who holds public office to submit to the Auditor General a written declaration of all property and assets owned by or liabilities owed by him directly or indirectly.”

Speaking at a stakeholder forum in Ho last Wednesday on the Right to Information (RTI), Mr. Belley posited that public declaration of assets by appointees would ensure greater transparency and accountability in governance, as it will empower the populace to verify and monitor the activities of such officials.

The forum organised by the Right to Information (RTI) Coalition with support from STAR-Ghana was on the theme ‘Promoting the passage of an effective RTI law in Ghana; Mainstreaming RTI into the Local Governance Structure’ and attended by members of various interest groups from both formal and non-formal sector.

Mr. Tenaso Kofi Gbedema, the Volta regional RTI focal person underscored the importance of the right to information bill but said passing it in its current state will not serve its intended purpose, noting that ‘the RTI a fundamental human right and the torch stone for all freedoms.’

Participants at the Forum

According to him, the current bill which covers certain state institutions in its implementation must be amended to include Private institutions and Non-governmental Organisations that are providing services to the public as well as traditional authorities who are the custodians of community resources to ensure accountability.

Mr. Martin Dzikunu, another member of the coalition said the current Bill contains so much ‘blanket exemptions and if passed into law would impede access to information and calls for the redefinition of such exemptions.

He also reiterated the coalition’s call for the establishment of an Independent Information Commission to monitor the implementation of the RTI law when finally passed and not leave it to the Attorney General department.

Participants, including Mama Agblatsu III who chaired the forum called on parliament to the streamline of all ambiguities in the RTI bill to ensure its immediate passage to promote transparency and accountability.

They also urged public institutions adopt proper record keeping methods including the use of electronic means and fire proof cabinets to safeguard public documents.

201 Cholera outbreaks recorded in Volta region

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Kwadwo Duodu

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August 27, 2014

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Mr. Draffor with Mr. Dogbegah

The Volta region has so far recorded 201 cholera cases with five casualties as of Tuesday, August 26, Mr Mathew Drafor, Head of Disease Surveillance Unit at the Regional Health Directorate has stated.

According to him, the Ketu-South district recorded the highest number of cases, with 110 cases and two deaths, a sharp increase in 60 cases recorded on Friday, August 22. Also the Nkwanta South recorded 67 cases with three deaths, Ho-West, 12 cases, Ketu-North 10 cases and the Ho Municipality with two cases.

Mr. Draffor disclosed this on Tuesday at a public sensitization forum organised by the Ho Rotary Club in conjunction with the Royal Hospital at the Ho central market on the theme: “End Cholera Now.”

He noted that the increasing pace of the disease is getting out of hand and called for concerted efforts from stakeholders to tackle the menace.

He also urged the public to practice good personal hygiene and also be careful in handling dead persons.

Mr Richard Ahiagbede, Municipal Environmental Officer said the Assembly is fumigating some areas in the communities to halt the spread of the disease.

The Ho Municipal Director of NCCE, Mr Kenneth Kponor, said despite regular education on radio, some individuals remain adamant to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene and calls for the prosecution of such persons.

Mr Rockson Dogbega, President of Ho Rotary Club said the sensitization campaign was necessitated by the fast pace the disease is spreading, stating that “this is to help educate ourselves and our mothers who sell foodstuff to us to prevent the spread of the disease.”

He tasked the participants to become health ambassadors and preach cleanliness, while refuse collectors should step-up their operations.

The recent cholera outbreak has caused havoc in parts of the country, especially in the Greater Accra region where over 3,000 cases have been recorded with at least 40 lives lost.

‘We’ll work with Stakeholders to drive development’

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Kwadwo Duodu

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August 27, 2014

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Rev. Dr. Agidi

The Moderator-Elect of the Evangelical Presbyterian (E.P) Church, Ghana Rev. Dr. Seth Senyo Agidi has disclosed that, the church under his tenure will strengthen its collaborative efforts with other stakeholders to uplift both the spiritual and social status of individuals in the society, in order to drive the socio-economic development agenda of the country.

Reverend Dr Agidi, who is the church’s Director of Programme, Ecumenical and Social Relations, was elected at the just ended 6th General Assembly meeting and will take over from Right Reverend Francis Amenu, in January 2015 for a six years term.

At a cocktail reception organised in his honour by the Rotary Club of Ho, of which he is member, Rev. Dr. Agidi noted that core tenets of Rotary is in sync with the church’s mission of improving the well being of individuals, since it is not enough for the church to only feed people spiritually with the gospel.

“When the spirit is strong and flesh is weak, the flesh will draw back the spirit and vice versa” he said and pledged to work with all stakeholders including the Rotary club to improve the welfare of every individual.

He also announced his intention to engage in unity talks with the Global Evangelical Church, which broke ranks with the E.P church some years ago.

Rev. Dr. Agidi further disclosed his intention to embark on a membership expansion drive so as to double the church’s membership by intensifying and extending the gospel of Christ to every ‘nook and cranny’.

Mr. Rockson Dogbegah, President of the Ho Rotary said the election of Rev. Dr. Agidi to the high office of Moderator of the E.P Church is symbolic to the club’s core value of ‘Service above self’, and congratulated him on his elevation.

He assured Rev. Dr. Agidi of the club’s unflagging support throughout his tenure in driving the socio-economic development of the region and Ghana as a whole.

Rev. Agidi in a toast with Mr. Dogbegah

Noise Making in Ho banned at Night

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Kwadwo Duodu

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August 16, 2014

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Ho M.C.E

After several public complaints over excessive noise making in the Volta regional capital of Ho, the Municipal Assembly on Thursday banned ‘excessive noise’ making in the municipality after 10PM.

Consequently, churches, mosques, drinking bars, corn mill and sawmill operators, hawkers and individuals are not expected to make ‘excessive noise’ deep into the night or face sanctions.

Mrs Fafa Adinyira, Ho Municipal Chief Executive at a stakeholder meeting on noise making in the Municipality, said the Assembly continued to receive complaints from the public on noise level in the Ho Township and said the Assembly would soon start enforcing its laws on noise making.

Togbe Akliku Ahorney, Volta Regional Manager of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), said stress associated with noise making was “great” and urged churches to help ‘shape’ attitude of society.

He also called on operators of night clubs to install sound proof systems and ensure that the noise they generated was within their precincts.

Mr Kofi Tenasu Gbedemah, a Human Right Activist, said excessive noise in churches could kill worshipers.

“I am not against the churches but the noise they generate can kill their worshipers and affect the sick and aged who live around the churches. They must also not forget that there are hospitals around them and essential workers work at night,” he stated.

Reverend Robert Kwao, Volta Regional Chairman of Ghana Pentecostal and Christian Churches (GPCC) enumerated socio-economic benefits society derived from churches and said churches did not make noise deliberately to make others uncomfortable.

“We are sensitive to society and we will go by the directive not to make noise after 10PM,” he promised.

The EPA says noise pollution is sound that is disordered and irregular, producing an unpleasant sensation that is unwanted or that interferes with the ability to hear.

Motor vehicle, blowing of sirens and horns, hawkers, sawmills, corn mills, social gatherings and religious bodies are the main sources of noise creation in Ho.

Noise is said to cause emotional upset and ailments such as indigestion, ulcers, heartburn and gastrointestinal malfunctions in the body.

Industrial noise exposes workers to high blood pressure and heart abnormalities and can affect vision, circulatory and nervous systems.

Credit: GNA

Education Ministry to Publish approved fees for new Academic Year

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Kwadwo Duodu

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August 14, 2014

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Alex Kyeremeh

The Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Pre-Tertiary Education, Alex Kyeremeh, has announced that, the ministry will soon publish the approved fees for all Public second cycle schools for the 2014/2015 academic year.

The publication which will be carried on all major media platforms, according to the deputy minister is to safeguard parents and guardians from paying unapproved fees, which some school Heads in the country have been charging first year students.

‘We will be tough on school heads who charge unapproved fees… Education should not be the preserve of a privileged few but affordable to all’ he stated and appealed to all stakeholders including chiefs report any recalcitrant school head for the necessary sanction to be applied.

Mr. Kyeremeh who is also the MP for Techiman North was speaking at Kpeve in the Volta region, during the commissioning of an ultra-modern office complex for the South Dayi District Education Directorate, constructed at the cost of 800 thousand Ghana cedis with funding from Department for International Development (DFID).

He also noted that, measures are in place to ensure prudent utilization of the recent 156 million dollars World Bank loan facility acquired to build 23 new Senior High Schools, upgrade 125 existing schools and provide scholarship to over 10-thousand poor students from deprived communities in the country.

As parts of the measures, he said an independent fund administrator will be appointed to liaise with communities in selecting eligible beneficiaries.

On the issue of using part of the money to supply sanitary pads for female students, the Deputy Minister explained that government will not buy the pads and distribute, but instead the money will be given to such students to buy what will keep them in school and their eligibility for the next trench will be based on a proof of purchase.

The Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Francis Ganyaglo on his part asked education officers to strengthen monitoring and supervision in the schools so as to improve the quality of education delivery in the area. He also urged the stakeholders to cultivate proper maintenance culture to safeguard the life span of the building.

The South Dayi district, according to a speech read on behalf of the outgoing District Director of Education, Mrs. Veronica Adzato-Ntem, is ranked the second in the Volta region at 2013 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), after being first consecutively in the 2011 and 2012.

While commending government for the edifice, she also appealed for the provision of computers to facilitate the work of the directorate and also assured that the edifice will be properly maintained.

GRAFT Foundation Provide free Surgery to the underprivileged

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Kwadwo Duodu

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August 12, 2014

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A patient being prepared for the Surgery

The Ghana Reconstruction of Anomaly and Trauma Fund popularly referred to as the GRAFT Foundation , a non-governmental charity medical organisation, as part of its Hope Projects, have restored the lives of 106 underprivileged persons in the Volta region, who were suffering from various medical deformities and complicated anomalies acquired from birth or accident.

The NGO led by its founder Dr. Kwame Abrokwaa Yankyera with his team of volunteer Ghanaian Plastic Surgeons, Anesthetics, Urologists, Orthodontists and Nurses conducted free Reconstructive Plastic Surgeries on patients (including babies), some of whom travelled from Kete-Krachie, Dambai, Nkwanta and other parts of the region to the Volta Regional Hospital in Ho.

The exercise which begun on August1-9^th, saw the team work tirelessly to rectify anomalies such as, Cleft lip and Palate, Burn related complications, (Ectropion and Contracture) Syndactaly (fused fingers), Tumours and Swellings as well as Genital Filariasis (Abnormal Swelling of the Scrotum).

Dr. Kwame Abrokwaa Yankyera, who is also head of the Plastic Surgery and Burns department of the 37 Military Hospital in an exclusive Whatsapp message to this reporter, said ‘We finished surgeries (with the 106^thperson) on Saturday, 9^th August at exactly 4:19PM.. We take glory not in the numbers but giving hope to these people and making them productive again, all to the glory of God’.

In July, Dr. Abrokwaa Yankyera and his team of volunteers screened over 250 Patients with such medical conditions at both the Regional and Hohoe Government hospitals and those who conditions do not required surgery were given medications.

He explained that, the foundation initiated the Hope Projects in 2013 with the aim of bringing hope to the medically hopeless in the country, who have no idea that such anomalies can be corrected and as well cannot afford the cost plastic surgery.

The GRAFT foundation, through its first Hope Projects in 2013 change the lives of 92 persons in the 3 northern regions, Central and Western regions. A feat that won Dr. Abrokwaa Yankyera a cash prize of 50,000 Ghana Cedis, after he was nominated and adjudged the winner of the first ‘MTN Heroes of Change’ programme organised by the MTN-Ghana Foundation.

The success of last year’s project, according to the benevolent Plastic Surgeon motivated the foundation to include the Volta and Eastern regions this year’.

Dr. Abrokwaa Yankyera expressed gratitude to the staff and management of the Volta Regional Hospital for their support during the exercise and also appealed to benevolent individuals and institutions to support the GRAFT foundation financially and materially to sustain the Hope Project.

Aflao robbers Grabbed

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Kwadwo Duodu

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August 10, 2014

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The Aflao Police with assistance from the Military and National security last Wednesday evening arrested seven persons suspected to be part of an armed robbery gang who have hijacked the country’s eastern border and terrorising innocent individuals including immigration officials.

Their arrest comes barely 24 hours after the Volta regional Minister, Helen Adwoa Ntoso, visited the area and charged the security personnel to take drastic measures to clamp down on the increasing criminal activities along the border.

The suspects which include two hardened criminals on the radar of the police are Freeman Obed, 28 years old; Anani Atoku, 26; Samuel Amedzoneku, 26; Eric Henyo, 25; Kudanu Kroshie, 36; Sewornu Emmanuel, 25 and Koffie Henyo, 28.

Briefing the Minister and her Deputy, Francis Ganyaglo, the Regional Police Commander, ACP Peterkin Yentumi Gyinae, said the suspects were brought to the Regional Police Headquarters brought by the Regional Security Coordinator, Esseney Yentumi and William Akator of the National Security, accompanied by some military and police officers from Aflao in the Ketu South district.

According to ACP Yentumi Gyinae, the suspects were arrested after a distress call was made to the Aflao Sector Commander of the Military concerning an ongoing robbery at a place called Flihokpe, near the Diamond Cement Factory.

The suspects, who had in their possession one machete, three knives and a parcel of dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, had allegedly attacked Festus Atisu and Atsu Kweku at Flihokpe, which is along the Ghana-Togo border and seized an amount of GH¢100.00 and CFA15,000.00 from them.

Madam Ntoso commended the collaborative efforts of the security agencies that led to the arrest of the suspects and urged them to continue until sanity prevails in the area.

She disclosed that steps are being taken to beef up the number of the security personnel at the Aflao border and its environs.

Meanwhile, sources say the suspects had been transferred to the regional police headquarters due to purported interference by some opinion leaders in the area.

Nigerian Human Traffickers

In a related development, two Nigerians, Francklin Chinezie, 25 years old and Kingsley Ochukwu Onyeji, 28, who were allegedly trafficking seven Nigerians aged between 20 and 22 years from Edo State to Abidjan in Cote D’voire, were nabbed on Wednesday at the Immigration checkpoint at Sogakope.

They have admitted to the offence of human trafficking in their caution statement and have been duly arraigned before a court of law. Victims say the suspects told them that they were being sent to France for ‘greener pastures’ only for them to find themselves in Ghana.

‘We owe you a lot’ Minister tells Pensioners

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Kwadwo Duodu

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August 8, 2014

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The Volta Regional Minister, Madam Helen Ntoso has stated that the nation owed pensioners a lot of appreciation for their immeasurable contributions to survival of the country.

Speaking to members of the Ghana Government Pensioners’ Association at their get-together in Ho on Wednesday, Madam Ntoso said the pensioners ‘were committed and dedicated’ in their time of active service and urged them to have a positive approach to life so that they could maintain their strength beyond 80 years.

She appealed to them to regularly pray and advise the young ones, many of whom were falling foul of the law and had become “jail birds”. She also promised to create a bigger platform for more pensioners in the Region to fraternize and share their experiences.

Madam Celestine Vehe, Local Chairperson of the Association, advised members to exercise moderation in whatever they do, exercise regularly and pay attention to their health and share their experiences with the younger generation.

Low turnout renders registration officers idle in the Volta region

By

Kwadwo Duodu

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August 7, 2014

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The ongoing 10-day limited Voter Registration exercise continues to experience low patronage by prospective first time voters across the Volta region.

A tour of some registration centres on Wednesday by the Volta Regional Minister Helen Ntoso saw most registration officers idling with some having a nap due to the dull nature of the weather.

The Regional Minister first stop was at the Ho Municipal Assembly registration centre, where, the Registration officer said since the start of the exercise on Monday, a total 19 people were registered as of 12:30PM. At the Dzolokpuita and Amedzofe registration centers in the Ho West District, a total of 23 and 12 people were registered as of 1:00pm respectively.

In the South Dayi District, the Regional Minister accompanied by the District Chief Executive visited the Peki-Wodome L/a JHS and Peki Blengo E.P. church registration centres, where a total of 15 and 28 people were registered respectively.

Registration officers at the centres visited disclosed that, because of the recent Supreme Court invalidation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) cards for use in the exercise, majority of persons who were registered brought along guarantors.

Mr. Gbagbo Charles, a member of the Ho West district Assembly blamed the low turnout at the Vane and Amedzofe areas on the distance people in adjourning communities have to travel before registering.

He said, people in communities such as, Gbadzeme, Dzogbefeme, Biakpa and Dzokpe have to travel between 2-10km to the nearest registration centres at Amedzofe, Vane or Fume.

He therefore appealed to the Electoral commission to rotate the registration centres between the communities to enable prospective voters to register.

Also only agents of two politic all parties, the NDC and NPP were present at all the centers visited.

Madam Ntoso urged the chiefs, Assembly members and agents of the various political parties to spread the message through the beating of the gonggong, seeking audience at church sessions and social gatherings and through the information Vans in the districts to get the prospective first time voters to register their names onto the voters roll.

Ho Rotary Club launches education award scheme

By

Kwadwo Duodu

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August 4, 2014

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The Rotary Club of Ho has launched an education award scheme to help improve academic performance of basic schools in the Volta Region.

A statement signed by Mr Fred Duodu Takyi, Public Relations Officer of the Club, said the “Rotary Best Basic Schools and Teachers Award Scheme,” would be operational next academic year.

It said the scheme was in line with the Club’s theme of “Lighting up Education in the Volta Region,” and expected to motivate teachers to renew their commitment to the teaching profession, and foster healthy competition among communities, schools and pupils.

The release quoted Mr Rockson Kwesi Dogbegah, President of the Ho Rotary Club as saying it was “unacceptable” for the Region to place last in the last Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and pledged the readiness of the Club and its partners to help address the situation.

Mr Dogbe said eligibility for the award would be based on hard work, commitment and performance.

Mr Bright Dey, Planning Officer at the Volta Regional Education Directorate, commended the Club for the initiative, and hoped it would improve learning outcomes, skills and performance in BECE results across the region.

Statistics from the Regional Education Directorate indicate that since 2009, the performance of school children in BECE had been decreasing with the average percentage pass of the region falling from 48.8% in 2009 to 43.7% in 2010. It further dropped to 38% in 2011 and again fell to 27% in 2012 but went up slightly to an average of 39%.

Credit: GNA