HO MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY EXCEEDED 2010 REVENUE TARGET

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July 14, 2011

Hon. Isaac Kodobisah- Ho MCE

The Ho municipal assembly has improved in its revenue mobilization efforts as the assembly exceeded its 2010 revenue target of GH¢ 600,432.00 by GH¢ 650,089.24 being 108% of the budgeted revenue.

This was disclosed to assembly members by the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Isaac Kodobissah at the assembly meeting in Ho on Wednesday.

According to the MCE, the 2010 revenue performance inspired the assembly to peg tits 2011 estimated revenue at GH¢ 848,730.00, of which GH¢ 318,539.63 forming 38% of the estimated figure have been collected in the first half of the year.

Mr. Kodobissah said measures are being taken to step up mobilization during the second half of the year since revenue collection within the first half of every year among assemblies is generally slow.

Among the measures being adopted include, public education, refresher course for revenue staff and the formation of revenue task force.

Touching on the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), the MCE said a total of GH¢ 459,994.51 being the 3rd and 4th quarter disbursement for 2010 has been received from the common fund secretariat and disbursement for 2011 has not yet started. The delay in the DACF disbursement according to Hon. Kodobissah hinders smooth implementation of planned programs and projects but said the sector ministry is putting in pragmatic measures to arrest the situation.

He therefore called on assembly members to device measures to mobilize sufficient internally generated funds to implement the assembly’s plans.

The MCE also touched on various projects being undertaken by the assembly, these include among others, the construction of 19 six-unit classroom blocks to remove schools under trees and a 5 four-unit teachers quarters in the various communities in the municipality. Others include the construction, reshaping and upgrading of various road networks, the patching of potholes in the Ho Township and also the commencement of the second phase of the street lightening project of 10km.

Under the government social intervention programs, a total of 1,745 pupils from seven clusters of schools are benefiting from the school feeding program, like wise 6,100 uniforms were distributed under the free school uniform program with 1,800 more yet to be distributed and a total of 46,241 exercise books have also been distributed under the free exercise books program.

Also, a total of 1,076 youths have been engaged in 8 modules under the national youth employment program.

Hon. Kodobissah also announced to the assembly members that negotiations are underway between the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), Ministry of local government & Rural Dev’t and the Administrator of the District Assembly Common fund to purchase motor bikes for them.

SECOND QUARTER SECURITY SERVICES ROUTE MARCH ORGANIZED IN HO.

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Kwadwo Duodu

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July 3, 2011

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A total of 235 personnel drawn from the 66 artillery regiment, the Ghana Police service, Prison service, Immigration service, fire service and the Custom Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) took part in the second quarter Volta regional security services combat route march in Ho last Thursday.

According to the commanding officer of the 66 artillery regiment, Lt. col. Abass Seidu, the route march is aimed at assessing the fitness of security personnel in the region and also to send a strong signal to the criminals and the public in general, their readiness to combat any act of lawlessness in the region.

Lt. col. Abass said the route march is also to create the platform for the security personnel to socialize and exchange ideas.

The march begun from the Volta barracks and ended at the Ho sports stadium where the personnel were addressed by the Volta regional minister, Hon. Joseph Amenorwode. He commended them for their efforts in maintaining peace and security in the region and expressed the hope that the route march will lead to a better collaboration among them.

Hon. Amenorwode also urged the security personnel to treat their civilian counterparts well since they will become civilians once they retired. He as well asked them to involve their wives in subsequent route marches.

At a reception for senior officers, Col. Rtd Cyril Neku, the deputy Volta regional minister, entreated them to be vigilant especially as the 2012 elections approaches since it is a very critical one coupled with the production of oil in the country.

He also suggested to the officers to consider organizing seminars to educate the public on the various roles they play as security services.

YOUNG ROSELYN DONATES TO HO CURED LEPERS

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Kwadwo Duodu

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June 25, 2011

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Roselyn (R) presenting the items to a cured leper

In an obvious departure from the traditional cake cutting and gifts presentation from family and friends, accompanied with the usual birthday party, Miss Roselyn Numarce, a resident of Ho Bankoe on Thursday, 23rd June 2011, decided to celebrate her 21st birthday with the cured lepers of Ho leprosarium.

Accompanied by her senior brother, Shakespeare and some friends, she donated items ranging from toiletries, used clothes, provisions, bags of rice and other assorted food items to the cured lepers.

According to Miss Roselyn Numarce, the items were from friends and families as well as some benevolent people in the community who bought into her idea to assist the cured lepers on her birthday.

Mr. Frimpong, the administrator of the Ho leprosarium and Mr. Nelson Atito, the Supervisor of the Cured Lepers Village, who received the items on behalf of the cured lepers, thanked Miss. Roselyn for putting smiles on the faces of the cured lepers through her donation, and called on other people to emulate the kind gesture of Miss Roselyn Numarce.

Some of the cured lepers who were present at the presentation were full of praises for Miss. Roselyn for remembering them on her birthday and prayed for God’s blessing upon her and her benefactors.

The Ho Cured lepers’ village was put up to home cured lepers whose families have abandoned them.

The village also has a clinic provided by the Cured Lepers Foundation, an NGO with joint sponsorship from the Bonita Foundation and Madamfo Ghana Foundations of Germany to cater for the health need of the cured lepers.

VOLTA REGION CNC APPEALS TO GOVERNMENT

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Kwadwo Duodu

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June 25, 2011

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The Volta regional director of centre for national culture (CNC), Mr. Emmanuel Quao has made a passionate appeal to government to complete the regional theatre which has being under construction for the past 21 years.

Mr. Quao who made the appeal at the opening of jubilee first oil exhibition in Ho on Wednesday, June 22, 2011, said the construction of the theatre which started in 1990 is only 59% complete and therefore called on government to speed up the completion of the theatre in order to revive the theatre art in the region noting the importance of arts and culture in the development of the nation.

Col. Rtd. Cyril Neku , the deputy regional minister, who shared in the sentiments of the CNC director said the completion the project is long overdue and assured him of government’s support to complete the project.

JUBILEE FIRST OIL EXHIBITION OPENS IN HO

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Kwadwo Duodu

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June 22, 2011

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CRUDE OIL

A 3 day exhibition of Ghana’s first oil dubbed “Jubilee First Oil Exhibition”, has opened in Ho in the Volta region, on Wednesday, June 22, 2011. The exhibition which is being organized by Centre for National Culture in collaboration with Nubuke Foundation with support from the Jubilee Partners is to showcase various aspects of Ghana’s oil finding and its effects for the country’s socio-economic development.

The exhibition, showcases captivating photos and text information about how the country’s oil was discovered, explored and developed.

The objective of the exhibition, according to Mr. Kennedy Nunoo, a representative of the Jubilee Partners, is to educate the citizenry to understand all there is to know about the oil industry in the country.

He said the oil industry is an emerging one with lots of prospects, hence Ghanaians should be cautious about their expectations of the industry saying, and ‘it will not be the solution to all the developmental challenges of the country. He also said the oil find should not lead to the neglect of agriculture sector since it is not replaced but rather complement that sector to improve the standard of living of every Ghanaian.

He therefore called on the youth to pursue petroleum related courses so as to take up opportunities in the industry in the future.

Col. Rtd. Cyril Neku, Deputy Volta Regional Minister asked, Ghanaians to invest in the various sectors of the industry especially the services sector which provides a lot of job opportunities by taking advantage of the local content policy put in place by government.

He also called on Voltarians to invest in the region towards the future exploration of oil in the Keta and Voltarian basins.

On his part, Mr. Emmanuel Quao, the Volta regional director of centre for national culture said the exhibition is a vindication of the excitements and opportunities the oil industry has brought to Ghanaians therefore called on all and sundry to show keen interest in the development of the oil industry. He therefore urged all to visit the exhibition centre and learn more about the country’s oil industry.

The exhibition is expected to end on Friday, June 24, 2011.