LACK OF TECHNICAL INSTITUTE AT HO CREATES VOID IN SKILLS ACQUISITION

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April 10, 2012

The nonexistence of a Technical Institute in the Ho Municipal area at present has created a big void in the human development process in the area.

Mr Nelson Akorli, Principal of the Kpando Technical Institute, stated this at a Ho Development Association (HDA) Colloquium in Ho on Easter Saturday.

He said lots of young people from the area, needing vital employable skills, had no training opportunities within their vicinities and were thus left with difficulty in choosing careers.

Ho had a Technical Institute in the past but this was upgraded into the current Polytechnic.

Mr Akorli recalled the popularity of that technical school from which, he said, many functional artisans in the area today trained.

Mr Emmanuel Keteku, Ho Municipal Director of Education, briefed the colloquium on the reasons for the falling standards of students in public schools in the Municipal Area. They recorded 53.7 per cent passes in the 2011 Basic Certificate Examinations.

He said performance in schools, going by the national benchmark, was not good, and that the Education Directorate had a grasp of the factors responsible for this situation.

Mr conceded that many teachers in the Ho area were doing part time courses in tertiary schools in town and could be using pupil-teacher contact hours for their private studies.

Dickson Pi-Bansah, Secretary of the Planning Committee, told the GNA that the colloquium was being revived as a yearly affair to tackle pertinent developmental issues of the area.

He said there would be committees to deliberate decisions taken, with evaluation teams tasked to ensure they were implemented.

Other topics discussed include The Role of Small-Scale Businesses in Development.

Mr Isaac Kodobisah, Ho Municipal Chief Executive, and Captain George Nfodjoh (rtd), Ho Central Member of Parliament, were at the meeting which also attended by chiefs.

INADEQUATE DACF LIMITS DEV’T IN HO MUNICIPALITY-MCE

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Kwadwo Duodu

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April 8, 2012

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Hon.Isaac Kodobissah

The Ho Municipal Assembly’s net receipt of GH¢398,384.28 from the District Assemblies Common Fund in 2011 was insufficient “for any meaningful development programmes and projects”. This is according to Mr Isaac Kodobisah, the Municipal Chief Executive at the Assembly’s first Ordinary sitting of second session in Ho on Thursday.

The “Ho Municipal Assembly had comparatively unfair deal, taking into consideration that the Municipality has two constituencies with a very large rural setting” but “treated on the same bases as other one-town municipalities.”Mr Kodobisah emphasized.

This situation, Mr Kodobisah said has challenged the Assembly to mobilize sufficient funds internally to meet “the huge financial challenges.”

Notwithstanding this challenge, the Assembly according to the chief executive has executed a total of five projects and these included renovation of a slaughter house, construction of septic tank, the re-enforcing of a concrete poly-tank support at the Jubilee Park, renovation and conversion of urinals into Water-Closet toilet and bath houses at the Central Market, all in Ho.

He also noted that more than 218 projects were executed in the Municipality under different funding arrangements and policy initiatives in the last three years.

These were in the health, education, rural water and sanitation, roads and commercial sectors.

The rest were Information Communication Technology (ICT) centres, street lighting and youth employment projects.

He said a total of 47 projects were undertaken at the basic school level over the period; 24 projects in 2010-2011 and 23 projects from 2011-2012.

At the Senior High School level, a total of 43 projects were undertaken to improve on facilities, while 14 others were executed under the Urban Poverty Reduction Project (UPRP).

Mr Kodobisah said 34 major and minor roads in the municipal area have seen improvement between 2010 and 2012.

He said 42 kilometres of street lights were also completed in the Ho Municipality, adding that, “The Assembly also supplied more than 250 streetlights to some communities across the municipality for street lighting” with more such lights planned for 2012.

Mr Kodobisah said the seemingly delayed Ho Central market project under the Ghana Urban Management Pilot Project GUMPP “is well on course and would meet the deadline.”

On education and sports, Mr Kodobisah said the Assembly collected GH¢21,251.50 in education levy as at the end of November 2011, out of which GH¢17,000 was given to the Municipal Education Directorate to conduct the 2011 “common exams” for basic schools.

He said 37 schools are benefitting from the School Feeding Programme in the Municipal area with 4,800 school uniforms distributed to basic schools in 2011.

The Assembly has meanwhile presented 10 haemoglobinometers worth GH¢5,000.00 to the Municipal Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service.

The gadgets would be given to health facilities in the municipality to check blood levels of patients, adding that, it formed part of the promises made by the Assembly towards improving maternal health delivery.

HO TRADERS OPTIMISTIC OF EASTER SALES

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Kwadwo Duodu

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April 5, 2012

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As the Easter festivity approaches, traders within the Ho Central market have expressed mixed feeling about sales during the period. While some complain of poor sales, others say sales have rather been good.

A vegetable seller, Dela Dodie in an interview said though sales have improved during the period, sales during the yuletide have been better. She however hoped that sales will further improve by the days. A cold store operator, Sitso Ahorlu and a boutique owner, Grace Annobel shared the same opinion. A textile dealer, Forgive Avorgbedor said many customers complain of the non-availability of money in the system which she said has affected patronage.

Also, during this period, most people travel to their hometowns to mark the period with their families. However, the story seems to be different this year as some drivers at the Ho lorry station who spoke to the reporter said passengers are not at the station as compared to the previous years. They noted that driver who ply the Ho-Accra road are no longer making return journey from Accra but they are optimistic that the situation will change in the coming days as most workers will break for the festivity by close of work on Thursday. Meanwhile a visit to some saloons and tailoring shops revealed that business is booming than ever before as most people were trooping in to put on new looks.

story; Maclean Nordzi-V.S.R

MORE TURNOUTS & FEWER HITCHES ON DAY TWO OF BIO-VOTER REGISTRATION IN HO

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Kwadwo Duodu

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March 26, 2012

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A registration centre at Ho-Kpodzi

Long queues have been recorded at various centers on Sunday, Day two of the biometric voter registration exercise in Ho, with some applicants getting to the registration centres as early as 5:30am to partake in the National exercise which will run for 40 days.

At the Ho-Heve E.P Primary School registration centre, applicants complained bitterly of the slow pace of the registration process, which some furious ones blamed on the lackadaisical attitudes of some of the registration officers towards the exercise but a Registration Assistant Seth

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Atsrim refuted the allegation and noted that 85 persons have been registered as of 1:00PM. This according to him constituted an average of 12 persons per hour as compared to 66 persons recorded by the close of day one. He also disclosed that aside, the bad weather condition which prompted the early closure of the exercise at 4:30pm and low battery on the day one of the registration, there has been no problem encountered on day two.

The situation was not different at the Ho-Deeper Life church registration centre, as 88 persons got registered as of 5:20pm as against 75 persons on day one. According to the registration officer, Raymond Akposoe, aside the hand-head scanner which posed a problem on the first day, no other problem has been encountered.

The registration centre at the Ho-Bankoe L.A. J.H.S, registered 194 persons as of 3:00pm as compared to 102 persons that was recorded on day one of the exercise. Meanwhile, the New Patriotic Party parliamentary candidate for Ho central, Dr. Archibald Letsa has said that, he has received reports of attempted registration of minors at the centre which his party will officially report to the municipal electoral officer for the appropriate actions to be taken.

He also noted that the process was too slow and that the officials undertaking the registration did not seem to have mastered their work but expressed the hope that the officials would pick up their acts as the exercise progressed.

The exercise has been generally smooth at the other Registration Centres visited within the Ho Municipality with the representatives of the two main political parties, NDC & NPP observing the process.

Click link to listen to Report on Day 2 of Bio registration & Dr. Letsa’s complains of the registration of minors

POTAG to call off strike

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Kwadwo Duodu

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March 22, 2012

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Dr. Akpotsi

It appears the indefinite strike by the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) could be called off by the end of the week.

The leadership of POTAG has said it has almost reached an agreement with government on the way forward to their request.

They have been meeting with the national security coordinator since Monday in a bid to resolve the impasse over salary levels.

Dr. Richard Akplotsi, Ho polytechnic POTAG chairman in an interview with Volta Premier Fm yesterday, Stated that POTAG has gone beyond the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the ministry of employment and the leadership is having fruitful discussions with the national security coordinator, col. Larry gbevlo lartey, stating that he cannot see strike going beyond this weekend.

“those threatening to stop our salaries, are only doing so to cause fear & panic; I’ll like to assure the polytechnic community that we’ve moved beyond those stages and the national security coordinator has come in and is very friendly with us, very open and transparent with us and we believe that he’s giving us all the goodwill and if this trend continues, I cannot see this strike going beyond the weekend” Dr. Akplotsi said.

COMMON FUND PROJECTS NOT FOR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS ALONE- CAPT NFODJOH

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Kwadwo Duodu

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March 12, 2012

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The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ho-Central Captain (rtd) George Nfodjoh, has disclosed that, the MPs Common Fund which is meant to support projects in the constituencies, is not a preserve of public institutions.

He noted there are private institutions which are serving the public interest that deserve to be supported with these grants.

Captain Nfodjoh was speaking at a durbar to climax the fifth Anniversary of the Wallahs Academy Senior High School, in Ho on the theme: “Five Years of Quality Education: Successes, Challenges and the Way Forward.”

He said students in private schools with the requisite needs and qualifications also deserve support from the funds.

The school which was born out of Wallahs academy remedial school, started five years ago in hired classrooms with nine students and seven teachers had grown into a regular SHS with 335 students, 27 teachers and 19 non-teaching staff.

Captain Nfodjoh said many private institutions, such as Wallahs Academy, are venturing into molding the future of the youth and need to be support.

He pledged to give the Academy 50 dual desks, besides the computers and sports equipment he had presented to the school.

Mr Maxwell Worlanyo Affram, Rector of the Academy, said growth, which had been steady but difficult, was worth the effort, as the school had been able to absorb many young people, who were turned away from public schools, for lack of space.

He said in the coming years the school would keep to its motto of “Producing excellent students, leading to a higher caliber of human resource base for the country,” by offering special innovative programmes to open opportunities to many people.

Mr Affram said the school, which offers courses in General and Visual arts, Business and Home Economics, had 100 per cent pass in 2010 and 2011 West African School Certificate Examinations and has currently introduced courses in General Science.

He said the Academy is performing well in the areas of sports, culture and discipline and that, students and teachers who compromised the disciplinary code of the school were promptly punished.

Mr Affram said the school management had dismissed 10 students, withdrew 12 from the boarding system for indiscipline, and also laid off four teachers “for various degrees of moral standards that can best be described as unwholesome”.

He said the Academy is expanding, building dormitories, and additional classroom blocks and housekeepers’ bungalows.

Mr Affram said the school however suffers frequent water shortages because of its location on high grounds and needs support to tackle the problem and support to equip its libraries and science laboratories.

Mr Emmanuel Keteku, Municipal Director of Education, who presided over the function, in a comment on the theme, said quality education should be a watchword, as “low education is tantamount to no education”.

Awards were presented to deserving students and teachers while the old students association presented a table top refrigerator to the school to be used at the Staff Common Room.

VRRC TO SUPPORT FAMILY OF ETORNAM GONI

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Kwadwo Duodu

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March 7, 2012

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Ho Fiave SDA JHS marching in red band

A package has been put together by the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) and the Regional Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES), to support the family of Miss Etornam Goni, a 14-year-old pupil of the Ho Fiave SDA JHS who collapsed and died during rehearsals for the Independence Day parade.

Mr Joseph Amenowode, the Volta Regional Minister, who announced this at the Independence Day parade in Ho on Tuesday, where a minute silent was observed in her memory, also extended the President’s condolences to the family of the young lady, saying the young lady was a patriotic citizen.

In all Twenty-three officers and 252 men and women from the security services, four institutional cadet corps and a total of 1,396 pupils and students of the junior and senior high schools were on parade.

Major Anthony Setorwu of the 66 Artillery Regiment was the parade commander and the Volta Regional Police Band under Inspector Samuel Asamoah was in attendance.

Mr Amenowode saluted Ghana’s forebears who fought for and sustained Ghana’s independence, stating that the significant gains chalked must be protected.

Joseph Amenorwode Addressing the Parade

The minister also reiterated president mills’ commitment towards ensuring peace before, during and after the December elections.

Traditional, Christian and Muslim prayers before the parade asked for peaceful elections.

A contingent of members of the Ho Municipal Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) also took part in the march, holding placards preaching tolerance and decorum in the coming elections.

BITTER-SWEET RESULTS AT NDC PRIMARIES IN THE VOLTA REGION:

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Kwadwo Duodu

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January 23, 2012

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Results from the ruling NDC’s parliamentary primaries in its world bank, the Volta region on Saturday have claimed a number of losses and produced surprises.

For instance, in the Keta constituency the Propaganda Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Richard Quashigah beat the incumbent MP Larsey Agbenyefia to win the slot to represent the party the 2012 elections.

Richard Quashiga had 95 votes whilst Agbenyefia Lassey managed 85 votes. Kwame Gakpe and Rocky polled 53 and 54 votes respectively.

In the Ho Central, incumbent Capt. George Kofi Nfojoh lost his seat having polled 52 votes. He was beaten in the Ho Central constituency by Mr Benjamin Komla Kpodo, finance officer of the University of Education, who had 270 votes. Fafa Adinyira had 104 votes, Steven Adom 17 votes and Kodzo Akpadi 15 votes.

In the North Tongu constituency, Deputy Information Minister, Okudzeto Ablakwa, polled 157 votes to wallop the incumbent MP Charles Hodogbey who got only 26 votes. Whereas at South Tongu, incumbent MP Korbla Mensah Woyome won with 328 votes as against his challenger Maxwel Lukutor who had 66 votes.

Edem Asiama also won the South Dayi primaries with 144 votes, followed by Dr. Kwame Ampofo who had 40 votes and Rockson Dafeamekpor with 20 votes.

At Hohoe South, Volta Regional Minister and incumbent MP Joseph Amenorwode won with 186 votes as against Angela Allo Tey who polled 102 votes.

Minister of Youth and Sports, Kofi Humado has been elected as the NDC’s candidate for the Anlo constituency. He polled 269 votes. His closest contender Gandi Mawuenyega polled 44 votes whilst Kafui Agbleze had 30 of the votes counted.

Also, Minister for Road and Highways Joe Gidisu polled 230 votes to retain the seat in the Central Tongu. His contender Alex Gabby Hottordze had 121 votes.

In the Akan constituency, also in the Volta Region, Gyapong Kudzo won the seat with 175 votes leaving his closest contender Joseph Ofori with 159 votes whilst the other challenger Edem had 21 votes.

Mr James Avedzi, MP for Ketu-North, also retained the NDC ticket with 247 votes beating Dr Stephen Ahiawordor, a lecturer, who polled 68 votes and Mr Kwaku Treme, a Mining consultant, who also got 6 votes.

The MP for Krachi-East, Mr. Wisdom Gidisu, MP for Buem, Mr. Henry Kamel Ford, MP for Ho-West, Mr. Emmanuel Bedzrah, and the MP for Ave-Avenor and first deputy speaker of parliament, Mr. Doe Adjaho had popular acclamation.

Mr Adjaho has held the Ave-Avenor seat since 1992, making him one of the longest serving legislators in the country.

Elections in the Ketu south, Adaklu-Anyibe and Hohoe north constituencies have been suspended, due to the creation of new districts, and expectations that new constituencies would be created.

Meanwhile Madam Anita De-Sosoo National Women’s Organiser of the NDC told delegates after the declaration of results in Ho-Central that the orderly conduct of the elections and the results affirmed the victory for the NDC.

She therefore called on all party members in the constituency to gird their loins behind the winner to prosecute a vigorous campaign to claim more votes for the Party in the Presidential and Parliamentary elections in December

She acknowledged that Captain Nfodjo has achieved a lot for the Party in the constituency and should be accorded great respect among party members.

Captain Nfodjo and the other contenders pledged to support Mr Kpodo.

Mr Kpodo, on his part, said he shared his victory with his opponents and their supporters and called for collective action towards winning the December elections.

He promised to include his opponents in his campaign team and make resources available to keep the party active in the constituency for a resounding victory in December.

INTER-PARTY DIALOGUE COMMITTEE INAUGURATED IN HO

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Kwadwo Duodu

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January 12, 2012

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An Inter-Party Dialogue Committee task with the mandate of promoting peace and resolving conflicts before, during and after the 2012 general elections has been inaugurated in Ho on Wednesday.

Mr Anthony Belley, the Volta regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), speaking at the inauguration noted that, the committee will provide an effective platform for key stakeholder to engage with political parties, the NCCE and the Electoral Commission in ensuring violence- free elections.

He said though, Ghana is acclaimed internationally as the beacon of democratic governance in Africa, there is the need to consolidate and deepen the nation’s democratic tenets by forming the inter-party dialogue committees to act as a buffer zone for constituencies to curtail unnecessary suspicions among political parties.

Mr. Belley said the committee would focus on mediation and resolution of petty conflicts, monitor the enforcement of the code of conduct of political parties, promote peace and identify issues that have the potential to trigger election related conflicts.

The committee which comprise of representatives of political parties, faith based organizations, civil society and community based organizations, the police, traditional authorities, independent governance institutions and the media has Mr Joseph Nuertey of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) as chairman, Mama Agblatsu II as vice chairperson, Mr. Enoch Amegbletor as secretary and Mr. Edem Yao Torsah of Volta Premier Fm as organizer.

Similar committees according to Mr. Belley will be inaugurated at the district, constituency and zonal levels across the region to put in place an effective conflict prevention programme to prevent election related violence.

‘EXHAUST AVENUES FOR ADDRESSING GRIEVANCES’- RECTOR ADVISES STUDENTS

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Kwadwo Duodu

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January 9, 2012

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Dr. J.V.K

Dr. J.V.K affun, the Rector of Ho Polytechnic has asked students of the polytechnic to exhaust every avenue available for addressing grievances before engaging in any act(s) that will be detrimental to them and polytechnic.

“Not until you exhaust all avenues of addressing a particular issue, to ascertain that you are right and the other party is wrong, you don’t engage in any act that will be detrimental to you” the rector emphasized.

The rector’s comment follows rumors that some students are planning to boycott the second semester examinations which begins today because of the inconsistent changes in the examination time table for at least three times.

The examination which was earlier scheduled to last for two weeks later saw an extension to three weeks after the Student Representative Council (S.R.C) executives have appealed and negotiated with the timetable committee for the extension in order to give ample time to students to write the exams.

However in sharp twist, the time table was reverted back to two weeks at the eleventh hour which Starred frustration among students.

But, Dr. Affun in an address to students and staff of the polytechnic at the End of Semester church service on Sunday, explained that the back and forth changes in the timetable was because, the timetable committee did not communicate to management their decision with the S.R.C to extend the duration of the examination by an additional week.

The rector also explained that, as of the time the changes were made, the Polytechnic academic calendar has already been drawn and approved by the academic board and circulated to all stakeholders including the Ministry of Education.

Dr. Affun however expresses the hope that, the issue of the extension will be addressed at the next sitting of the academic board for it to take effect from next semester.

He therefore urged the students to bear with management and not to boycott the examinations even though it is within their right to do so, adding that any such action will lead to the re-starting of the academic year with its dire consequences on both students and management.

The rector also advised the students to abide by all rules and regulations pertaining to examination in the polytechnic to avoid being ousted out due to examination Mal-practice.