HO BIOMETRIC PASSPORT CENTRE COMMISSIONED

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August 30, 2011

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni has commissioned a new Biometric Passport Application Centre in Ho with an appeal to those holding “machine-readable” passports not to rush to obtain the new passports since they would be in use until November 2015.

Alhaji Mumuni said the new passports which have high security and bio-data features would require prospective applicants to be personally available at the Centres to complete the application processes and requirements.

The new passports according to the minister permit any Ghanaian to travel to any ECOWAS country without a visa and also stay in that country for three months without a resident permit.

He therefore urged Ghanaians to protect the integrity of the biometric passports by reporting any foreigner who might attempt to obtain it and that no middle-men would be required to obtain the new passports.

Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode said the opening of the Centre was a welcome relief to prospective passport applicants in the region since the acquisition of the passport is a right to every Ghanaian.

The opening of the Ho centre brings to six after Accra, Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi, Tamale and Sunyani centres.

PRESIDENT MILLS BEMOANS THE USE OF VULGAR WORDS

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Kwadwo Duodu

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August 22, 2011

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Prez Mill & Rev. Amenu

President John Atta Mills has expressed concern over the use of vulgar words and the high level of immorality in the country.

The president said the tongue is the smallest part of the body but very powerful thus any word that comes from it has potency of building or destroying the nation.

He has therefore called on the Church and Ghanaians to guard against these cankers which are eating into our social fabric.

The President said this at the just ended 3rd General Assembly of the E.P. Church, Ghana in Ho.

He also complained fervently about the actions of charlatans who call themselves men of God saying the that both the church and the nation are under attack as the Church which serves as a succor for the depressed and vulnerable in society, is no longer safe as a result of the activities of these charlatans.

On the 2012 general elections, President Mills promised that the government will ensure free, fair and transparent proceedings but also cautioned that government would not sit down and allow any person or groups of persons to disturb the national peace in their quest to win political power.

On his part, the moderator of the General Assembly of the E.P church, Rev. Francis Amenu said the E.P Church, abhors homosexuality but not the actors and said the act is a complex and a serious issue which have to be handled as such. He therefore expressed believe that those who engage in the act can be forgiven and have their lives transformed through the use of a Christ-centered approach.

Rt. Rev. Amenu said homosexual marriage was without Biblical theological precedent and that the phenomenon today like in Biblical times was as a result of distortions brought about by sin.

Click link to listen to attached audios Prez Mills on the use of Vulgar words,Prez Mills assured peaceful elections & Rev. Amenu on Homosexuality

FIRST REGIONAL POLICY FAIR OPENS IN HO

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Kwadwo Duodu

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August 18, 2011

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Vice Prez- John Mahama

Vice President John Mahama has given the assurance that the Eastern Corridor and the Volta University projects will commence before the end of this year. He said the projects are dear to government and will be executed in due course.

Mr. Mahama said this when he opened the 1^st regional Policy Fair at Ho in the Volta Region on Wednesday, August 17.

The annual policy fair was instituted by government to showcase ideas and possible policy alternatives for the development of the nation.

The vice president therefore urged citizens of the region especially critics who said the region has been neglected to visit the fair to abreast themselves with government policies, programs and projects that are being undertaken in the various districts across the region. He also asked the public to attend the various dialogue sections during the fair to listen and provide constructive criticisms that will lead to the formulation of human centered policies that can live the test of time.

Hon. John Akologo Tia, minister of information said the fair is in line with president mills’ policy of running open, transparent and accountable governance as well as encouraging grassroots’ participation in governance.

John Tia also said the call by some people for the scraping of the information ministry in the midst of the proliferation of various media organizations cannot hold since the ministry’s core mandate is to provide accurate information from government to the public and also take the concerns of the public through its agencies to the attention of the government for appropriate actions to be taken.

The Volta regional minister, hon. Joseph Amenorwode was grateful to government for starting the regional policy fair in the region which he described a ‘very reliable’ and therefore called on citizens in the to participate actively in the fair.

The fair which is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Information in conjunction with the Volta regional coordinating council and the various MDAs and MMDAs will end on Saturday, August 20.

Click on link to listen to attached audio John Mahama on Eastern corridor & Varsity

Story by; Lambert Atsivor VP fm.

‘RIGHT TO INFORMATION, TOO MANY BLANKET EXEMPTIONS’

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Kwadwo Duodu

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July 30, 2011

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Parliamentary Logo

Participants at a public forum organized in Ho, on the Right to Information bill have expressed concern about the blanket exemptions in the proposed bill which they believed will thwart the purpose of the right to information. The bill under section 5 to 18 contains number exemptions including information from the office of the president, vice president, cabinet as well as information concerning national security among others.

The forum was the first in the series of regional forums being organized by the parliamentary joint committee on the constitution, legal and parliamentary affairs and communications with support from the World Bank.

Participants who were drawn from civil society, academia, clergy, educational institutions, security services, traditional authorities, local government, departments and agencies among others also expressed reservations about the requests fees to be paid before accessing information, which they considered as a hindrance to information access while others believe it will broaden the scope of corruption in the system.

Other concerns raised include poor records keeping in country and also the setting up of an independent body to oversee the administration of the law when passed.

Mr Felix Twumasi Appiah, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Constitution, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and communications, said the purpose of forums is to solicit views from the public in order to have an effective law that can stand the test of time.

He also explained that the Bill was based on the internationally accepted declaration, that the right to information was a basic right of the individual and said the bill when passed will lead to availability of information that will enrich public discourse and bring about greater transparency in governance.

click link to access The Right to Information Bill

HO MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY EXCEEDED 2010 REVENUE TARGET

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Kwadwo Duodu

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July 14, 2011

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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.