NPP Making Steady Progress in Volta- Reg. Organizer

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August 22, 2013

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has been making steady progress in its electoral fortunes in the Volta region since 1992, said Mr. Ken Kodjo Ayim, Volta regional organizer of the party.

According to Ken Ayim, the party in the last election had fifteen percent of votes in the region, as against eight percent in 1996 and four percent in 1992; a trend he said is an indication that the Volta region is the future of the New Patriotic Party.

“People think Volta is the weakest for the party, but while other regions are at their peaks and declining, Volta is still increasing”, Ken Ayim said and noted that, it is an indication of how formidable the NPP is becoming in the region.

He however said the party’s doors are still opened for the good people of the region to join.

Mr. Ken Ayim was speaking at a flag-raising ceremony to mark the 21st anniversary of the NPP at the party’s regional secretariat in Ho on Thursday. Present at the ceremony were the some executives and leading members of the party in the region.

He said the NPP as the biggest the political party in the country since 1992, has contributed tremendously to the multi-party democratic dispensation of the fourth republic. He stated the NPP’s 8years in government, led by President Kuffour brought the numerous social interventions programmes such as National health insurance scheme, school feeding programme, capitation grant, youth employment, among others which brought a great relieve to Ghanaians.

“The party is so proud of President Kuffour, for the numerous social intervention programmes, which is without any doubt impacted the lives of ordinary Ghanaians”.

He also said the NPP is a pacesetter in the Africa, stating that “in Africa today, NPP has the largest electoral college to elect its leaders”.

Mr. Ken Ayim further stated that, it is only by divine orchestration that the NPP is marking its 21^st anniversary exactly a week to the historic Supreme Court verdict on the election petition. “Those who believe God rules in the affairs of men should judge for themselves”, he said.

Announce acceptance of SC verdict within 30 minutes-Togbe Afede

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Kwadwo Duodu

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August 21, 2013

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Togbe Afede

Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of Asogli, on Tuesday appealed to parties in the 2012 Election petition case to announce their acceptance of the Supreme Court verdict within 30 minutes after the ruling.

He said such a pronouncement would avert chaos and demonstrate the parties’ commitment to peace in the country.

Togbe Afede, President of the Volta Region House of Chiefs, said this at the third general meeting of the House in Ho.

He said the peace of the country was non-negotiable and urged the citizenry to accept the ruling of the Supreme Court.

“It is sad that everyone is calling and praying for peace. It is so sad that even the US is advising its citizens…but we must know that the peace of this country is non-negotiable,” Togbe Afede said.

He said the country should be able to go through elections without fear and must not allow the ambitions of a few politicians to disturb the nation.

Togbe Afede said throughout his travels, he noted that investors preferred Ghana to other countries because of the country’s peaceful nature and urged the citizenry to uphold this value.

He appealed to chiefs to talk to the youths to be peaceful.

Togbe Afede said the Volta Regional House of Chiefs would settle all 29 cases before it by the end of 2014 to ensure peace in the Region and the country.

Dr. Henry Seidu Daanaa, Minister for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs now on a week’s working tour of the Region, appealed to the Volta Regional House of Chiefs to resolve disputes in Anlo, Peki and Akpini.

He reiterated the importance of chieftaincy in the socio-economic development of the country and said the Ministry was addressing issues of membership and jurisdiction of chiefs.

The House presented some gifts to Dr. Daanaa, who is billed to visit Ve, Gbi, Anfoega, Tapa , Aflao and Klikor Traditional Areas.

Source: GNA

Health Service Ambulance Crashed In Ho

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Kwadwo Duodu

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August 20, 2013

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The crashed Ambulance

An ambulance carrying a patient to the regional hospital in Ho crushed with a Kia carnival yesterday evening, as the two vehicles were negotiating the Ho-Ahoe round-about in opposite directions.

The ambulance with registration number GR 7596-13 was crashed at the passenger side of the front seat by the Kia Carnival with registration number ER 840-13, somersaulted and landed upside down. Onlookers at the scene immediately rushed in to convey the accident victims in a taxi to the Regional Hospital. There were however no casualties, this the onlookers described as a miracle.

The ambulance driver, 40 year old Francis Manu narrating the incident to US FM later at the regional hospital, said they were transferring a 10 year old boy who had a swollen tummy from the Kete-Krachi District Hospital to the Volta Regional Hospital popularly called ‘Trafalgar’. On board the ambulance was a nurse, the boy’s father and his auntie.

According to the driver, as they approached the roundabout from the Ho stadium road, there was a traffic jam from an adjourning Glala Street Junction towards the roundabout and just as he was negotiating the roundabout in the opposite direction, the Kia Carnival from nowhere hit the passenger side of the ambulance.

Mr. Manu said in order not sweep through some people and a house close by upon the crash, he quickly directed the steering wheel in the opposite direction, causing the vehicle to somersault and fell upside down.

The Ahoe roundabout is a very busy area surrounded with lots of houses, shops and a variety of venders. This makes the area quite busy with people of all walks of life moving in different directions due to the roads connected to the roundabout and services provided in the area

All persons involved in the accident escaped unhurt, including the driver of the Kia carnival William Offei who is also a staff of the Ghana health service in Ho.

William Offei also 40 years described the ordeal as a miracle. He said he was also on the lane from the Glala street junction towards the roundabout. Just as he was negotiating the roundabout he heard the ambulance’s siren and before he could say jack the ambulance was amazingly crossing in front of him from the opposite direction.

The ambulance has been towed to Municipal Police command, where investigations have already begun.

Customs Recruit Collapsed and Died at Training

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Kwadwo Duodu

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August 19, 2013

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Alex Aidoo

Mr Isaac Kofi Toffah, Commandant at Ghana Revenue Authority’s Customs Division Training Academy at Kpetoe, has confirmed to US FM on Monday, that Alex Aidoo, a Customs recruit died after he collapsed during a routine welcome training exercise on Saturday.

The 35 years old Aidoo reported together with 32 other driver-recruits at the Academy for a two-week training course.

According to Mr Toffah, the recruits were asked to carry their luggages and trek from a distance to the Academy after a roll call was conducted. He said exercises such jumping running, and press-ups, are routine for all recruits during the walk.

The commandant further disclosed that prior to the exercise, the Physical Training Instructor (PTI) asked if anyone had a medical condition to which one of the recruits with multiple fractures responded affirmatively and was excused after examination.

Mr Toffah said after sometime, the PTI and his assistants observed that Aidoo was having difficulties with the exercise and asked him to take a rest at the entrance of the Academy. He said after sometime, Aidoo was found shivering and a nurse was called in and he was conveyed by ambulance to regional hospital in Ho, Where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Mr Toffah has however dispelled reports suggesting that the recruit died out of molestations during the exercise and said checks indicate that the deceased had some health problems.

Eye-witnesses Account

Eye-witnesses described the last Saturday’s exercise as ‘life-threating’ claiming that recruits whose luggages were deemed by the officers, as not heavy enough, were given cement blocks to carry in their luggages and run with it, including the deceased recruit.

“The recruits were instructed to remove their shirts and roll on the hot asphalted road, those of them who resisted, were flogged with logs to comply” an eye-witness narrated with a teary eyes.

The exercise got the recruits visibly weak and tired but they were not allowed to take rest or drink some water, even those who attempted resting, were ‘flogged and forced to continue the exercise’ a lady witness narrated.

The deceased eye-witnesses said, collapsed with his luggage in front of the training school, after about three hours of enduring the alleged ‘brutalities’ from the instructors.

The medical team which followed the recruits with an ambulance during the exercise rushed to resuscitate the young man and later conveyed him to the Volta regional hospital in Ho, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Another eye-witness described the exercise as a sheer wickedness rather than training, “how can you take a fellow human being through this torture in the name of training. Even military training is not like this’ he said angrily.

South-Dayi Chiefs rejects re-nominated D.C.E

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Kwadwo Duodu

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August 19, 2013

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Paramount Chiefs from three out of four traditional areas in the South-Dayi District of the Volta Region have expressed their outmost displeasure over the re-nomination of Hon. Semanu Kafui Bekoe as the chief executive of the area.

A press statement jointly signed by, Torgbui Asuo Kwesi V, Torgbui Adza Wiah Kwesi II and Torgbui Aku Dompeh XI, paramount chiefs of Tongor, Kpalime and Kpeve traditional areas respectively, and issued at a press conference held in Peki, last Friday, the chiefs said the re-nomination Of the DCE, came as surprise to them especially when they (chiefs) have petitioned the government through the Volta regional minister Hon. Nii Laryea Afottey-Agbo and the NDC party hierarchy both in the region and at the national level, against the chief executive’s re-nomination.

According to the statement read by the Regent of Tongor-Tsanaakpe, Torgbui Dompreh Aboagye, the chiefs said, they can no longer work with the DCE, who they said has an “insulting behavior” towards them, citing an instance in 2011 at a festival at Todome-Kpalime, where the DCE described the chiefs as ‘insatiable lots’.

“We can no longer work with the out-going DCE because of his insulting behavior towards us, chiefs”

The statement also accused the DCE of not consulting them (chiefs) and other opinion leaders from the three traditional areas on key developmental issues; this the chiefs said is contributing to ‘the existing suspicion and disunity within the district’.

The chiefs are however, accusing the Member of Parliament for the area, Hon. Edem Asimah for manipulating the system to get the incumbent DCE, Hon. Kafui Bekoe re-nominated though, according to the statement, the DCE openly stated that ‘he is no longer interested in the position on health grounds’.

“No single person within the district/constituency has the mandate to determine who the DCE should be. His actions are very dangerous, without honour and could impact on peaceful co-existence” the statement noted.

The chiefs further stated that political positions must be equitably distributed among the four traditional areas of Tongor, Kpeve, Kpalime and Peki.

“Both Peki and Kpalime traditional areas have held the position of District Chief Executive before. For equity to prevail, it should now be the turn of Tongor and Kpeve traditional areas to contest for the position of District Chief Executive.”

The chiefs through the statement are strongly appealing to the President Mahama to reconsider the re-nomination of Hon. Kafui Bekoe as DCE; else they will be compelled to advise themselves.

“We hope we shall not be boxed into a corner that brings no comfort, peace and cooperation but distress and conflict” the statement ended.

Meanwhile, the three paramount chiefs in the statement also call on the president to as a matter of urgency to investigate the implementation of a water project in the area, alleging impropriety on the part of the DCE, Kafui Bekoe and MP, Edem Asimah, which led to a shoddy execution of the project. According to the statement, water has never flow through the pipes since the project was commissioned.

“Evidence abounds that inferior materials were used to carry out the project at a huge cost. Sadly, water failed to flow through the pipes up till today”.

Police assures Krachie Teachers of their safety

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Kwadwo Duodu

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August 16, 2013

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The Volta Regional Police Commander, ACP Fred Agyepong Asare has said investigations so far into the death of one Manasseh Mensah, a headteacher at Hurnokope in the krachie-Nchumuru district of the Volta region, have shown no foul play as been suggested by the regional executives of GNAT.

Briefing the media in Ho, ACP Agyepong Asare said, a postmortem carried out by a pathologist at the police hospital in Accra, revealed that the head teacher died as a result of drowning.

Based on the pathologist’s report, ACP Asare said the three persons, who were initially arrested on suspicion of murder, were granted bail by the court since they cannot be linked with the drowning.

The commander, however said investigations is still on-going and called on persons with contrary information about the death of the headteacher to come forward and assists the police in its investigations.

He assured the teachers in the three Krachie districts of their security and call on them to not embark on their threat to abandon the schools in the area when the 2013/2014 academic year resumes.

“I want to reassure the teachers that their protection is paramount to us, we have them in sight and we’ll monitor their safety” ACP Asare emphasized.

Last month, Marshal Manasseh Mensah, was reported missing, a situation which forced his colleague teachers in the Krachi Nchumuru to wear red arm bands and declare an indefinite strike.
But after several days of searching, his lifeless, decomposed body was discovered floating on river Oti close to the town.

At a press conference last week, the Regional Chairman of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) Mr. Mawusi Alexander, told journalists that they suspect foul play because the deceased once fled the town after his life was threatened – but he later returned to the area.
He also said the teachers have threatened to leave the district over unexplained murders involving their members, stating that two teachers died in similar manner in 1996 and 2002 but no perpetrators were found and prosecuted.

GUMPP project to commence 2014- Baba Jamal

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Kwadwo Duodu

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August 16, 2013

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The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) and Agence Francaise De Development (AFD) in collaboration with Ghana Urban Management Pilot Project (GUMPP) steering committee held its second meeting in Ho to deliberate on state of the project to be implemented in Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi and Tamale Metropolitan Areas and Ho Municipality on pilot basis for five years.

Hon Baba Jamal who chaired the meeting said, project procurement is completed and physical work will commence early 2014.

He said the public should be rest assured for the crucial projects and proper utilization of the fund. “The program is now in its implementation phase with most of the bidding documents to be finalized” he stated.

GUMPP which was launched in June last, is aimed increasing investment into urban infrastructure, improve planning and ensuring financial autonomy. The initiative, which would be executed with 40 million Euro loan Euro grant for capacity building from AFD, has various programmes for urban infrastructure development and support measures tailored for each of the participating areas.

The physical projects identified to be executed include market development, bus and lorry parks, solid waste management and treatment, roads development, community upgrading and construction of storm drains. Others are improving institutions and financial management, planning and programming of infrastructure development, which would involve street naming and addressing system, spatial planning and enhancement of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies’ management system.

Meanwhile, the proposed dual carriage road between the OLA traffic light and Deme, which was announced as part of the GUMPP project by the then Vice President John Mahama when he launched the project in Ho last year, is no more part of the official project design because of funding challenges said Mr. Francis Sogbe, finance officer of the Ho Municipal Assembly.

But he said road project would be constructed by the urban roads department of the assembly.

The steering Committee meeting was attended by Regional Minister Northen Region, Hon Bede Zedeng, Deputy Regional Minister Volta Region, Hon Francis Ganyaglo, Department of Agncies and the French Development Agency (FDA), represented by MS. Mareva Bernard-Herve others include representatives from the ministries and the three municipalities.

Story: Enyonam Mortey, US Fm, Ho

Join Night Patrols; ACP Asare tells District commanders

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Kwadwo Duodu

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August 16, 2013

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As part of efforts by the Volta regional police command to stem the spate of highway robbery in the region, the Regional Commander, ACP Fred Agyepong Asare has directed all district commanders in the region to partake in the night patrols within their jurisdiction.

“We have sent directives to all district commanders; you the district commander must take part in the patrol” ACP Asare, said in at a media briefing, in Ho.

The directive followed the increasing spate of highways robberies, with the most recent occurring between Tsito and Kponvi barrier on the Ho-Accra highways two weeks ago, involving Mrs. Juliana Azumah Mensah, Member of Parliament for Ho East and a former Minister for Women and Children Affairs.

The regional commander noted that because of the deplorable nature of some portions of the roads in the region, arm robbers have resorted to plying their illegal operations within those bad and bushy stretches of the roads.

He however, said the police have intensified their patrols on the roads especially, within the deplorable portions to ensure maximum security for motorists. “We have increased our presence on the roads in the night, along where we suspect robbers can easily congregate and operate, especially where the road is very bad”.

ACP Asare also sent a caution to district commanders who may defy this directive saying “am not going to take No for an answer; if anything should happen, am going to knock you first before, before I go to the boys, because if me as the regional commander goes on night patrol with the men, I don’t expect you a district officer to be sleeping in the house”.

Meanwhile The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Fred Asare also disclosed at the media briefing that, the Volta regional police command will be embarking on an operation very soon to arrest and prosecute motorists who fall foul of the road traffic regulations so as to ensure sanity on the roads.

He asked taxi drivers to display the taxi signage on top of their vehicles to ensure proper identification of their vehicles especially at nights. “We’re going to undertake an operation very soon to arrest all of them (traffic offenders) to bring sanity on the roads”.

He also cautioned commercial motorbike (Okada) operators to desist from their activities, since the road traffic a regulation abhors the use of motorbikes for commercial transport, stressing that “when I take you, we’re going to court. You’ll go straight to face the magistrate or the judge; there must be discipline in the system”.

“Don’t Give All Doctors Same Pay” -Health Director

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Kwadwo Duodu

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August 9, 2013

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Dr Joseph Teye Nuertey, Volta Regional Director of Health has stated that it is unfair to pay all medical doctors the same salaries whether they work in the urban or rural areas,

According to him, the salaries of medical doctors should be graduated in favour of those working in the rural areas.

Dr Nuertey said medical doctors in the rural areas are under constant pressure to serve several thousands of patients daily, without any respite.

He noted that the doctors also face a number of disadvantages and challenges because of where they engage their services.

Dr. Nuertey made the remark at the just ended National Forum on the sustainability of the Single Spine Pay Policy (SSPP) in Ho on Tuesday.

He further noted that the practice of paying allowances to trainees in health training institutions including medical students should be stopped.

According him, students should rather be encouraged to take loans to meet their financial commitments.

“We are paying people in training allowances, why don’t we let those in training go to the private sector for loans. And after the training we pay them salaries?” Dr. Nuertey quizzed.

But the General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) Dr. Frank Serebour, disagreed with Dr. Nuertey’s proposal and said as part of the single spine pay policy, there was an incentive aspect for rural doctors which have not been implemented. “If that aspect has been implemented, that issue of all doctors taken the same salary wouldn’t have come on board” he stated.

He further noted that medical training is not just classroom training but rather on the job training which requires students to go to the wards and attend to patients day and night just like other medical officers; therefore it will be unfair for students to take loans to facilitate their training. “They are supposed to be sponsored and even given more because they do work as residents; they are at the hospital around the clock” Dr. Siribour emphasized.

Meanwhile, the Forum on the Single Spine Pay Policy (SSPP) implementation review ended on Wednesday with a communique, jointly signed the minister of employment and labour relations, Nii Armah Ashietey, Kofi Asamoah of Ghana TUC and Mr. Alex Frimpong for Ghana Employers Association.

Among the recommendations is the removal of Public Universities and other government subvented agencies from the Single Spine Pay Policy as part of measures to deal with mounting government wage bill.

ECG Staff and Ho NASPA, donates to Madamfo Ghana Children’s home

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Kwadwo Duodu

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August 9, 2013

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ECG Staff with some of the rescued children and Care givers

The Senior Staff Association of the Electricity Company of Ghana,(ECG) Volta region and the Ho Municipal Chapter of the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA) have, in separate activities, donated educational materials and assorted food items, respectively to the Madamfo Ghana orphanage home in Ho yesterday.

The ECG senior staff, led by the Acting Regional General Manager, Mr. Bernard Tetteh, presented educational materials including, school bags, books, foot wears, among others worth over GHC 1,500.

The donation according to Mr. Tetteh was in fulfillment of a promise made to the orphanage during an earlier donation to the home when ECG senior Staff had their quadrennial national conference earlier this year.

The acting manager said the association was touched by the plights of the children at the orphanage and promise the association’s continues support for the upkeep of the children.

Led by their vice president, Ms. Comfort Agyare, the executives of the Ho municipal NASPA presented items including bags of rice and toiletries, valued at GhC 1,000.

Mr. Lawrence Ayivi, NASPA organizer, said the association deemed fit as part of their national service week celebrations, to reach out to the less privileged by donating their widow’s mite to help put smiles on the faces of children who have been rescued from child slavery.

Ms.Dzamesi receiving the items from Ho NASPA Executives

Ms. Happy Dzamesi, the home director, who received the items on behalf of Madanfo Ghana expressed her profound gratitude to both associations for their kind gestures and appealed to other benevolent organizations to support the orphanage to carter for the over 100 children rescued from slavery by Madamfo Ghana in collaboration with the department of Social Welfare.

Currently there are 26 rescued children between ages 8 and 16years at the orphanage receiving care and formal education and the remaining also schooling under the care of the social welfare department in Kpando.

The orphanage which started in 2012 was built by Madamfo Ghana, an NGO with support from Rotary International to provide accommodation and a place to take care of children, who were rescued from slavery in communities along the Volta Lake.

Story by: Lambert Atsivor