Philip Nii Teye Lomotey, a popular police-referee in Ho, has died after collapsing during a football match at the Ho stadium on Sunday.
Known popularly as PNT Lomotey, the police inspector and a retired referee, was watching the finals of the Volta FA Division Two middle league between Home Stars FC and Inter Allies FC when he collapsed at the VIP stand.
The response to the emergency was however observed to be haphazard by this reporter, as there was no ambulance on site to attend to the situation. This led to the use of crude means by early responders to resuscitate him. Some poured water on him, while others rubbed their hands on the head.
It took some time for first aiders from the pitch side to arrive at the scene and convey the victim on a stretcher into a nearby police vehicle, which then rushed him to a hospital.
Unfortunately, shortly after the match ended with Home Stars FC emerging as winners, news of his sudden demise reached the stadium, leaving many people distraught.
The deceased was an instructor at the Ho Regional Police Training School and also served as the Ho District Chairman of the Referees Association of Ghana.
The incident has raised questions among some patrons about the emergency response arrangements at such sporting events, especially considering the large crowd attendance.
The iconic black star arch located at the heart of Ho.
BY: Dr. Jemimah Etornam Avornyo Kassah
Ho, the town with one of the shortest names in Ghana, is the capital of the Volta region and also of the Asorgli state. The Asorglis are made up of four sub-units, which are also towns (with allied villages): Ho, Akoefe, Kpenoe, and Takla. The Asorglis pride themselves, and justifiably so, in being the people who actually broke down the walls of Notsie during the reign of Agokorli the tyrant, leading to the escape of the various Ewe sub-groups present in Ghana today. Under the leadership of Torgbe Kakla, they broke down the fortified walls with an implement and helped the Ewes escape. Togbe Kakla is said to have had three sons (Akoe, Letsu, Asor) and a daughter, Esa. The descendants of Akoe and Letsu founded Akoeƒe and Kpenoe, and later, Takla. The descendants of Asor founded present-day Ho, and Esa founded Saviefe, close to Ho. “Asorgli” refers to the nature of the fortified wall they broke down in Notsie before their migration.
“Asor” refers to a particular species of thorn used in mixing with clay before constructing the defense wall at Notsie. To date, during the Yam festival, delegates go to the modern-day Notsie in Togo to commemorate the historic departure.
Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of Asorgli
According to both oral and written history (Spieth, 1906; Reindorf, 3rd edition; Amekpordi, 2012), the Asorglis were once at a point vassals of the Akwamus and used to pay tribute to them in the form of slaves. This went on for several years until several chiefs rebelled and refused to pay the tribute. The Akwamu chief, Akoto, was sorely vexed and declared war. After heavy losses on both sides, Dangme settlers in Ho-Dome, led by Howusu, helped the Asorglis defeat the Akwamus in 1833. Sorely vexed, a stronger Akan army now comprising the Ashanti, Akwamu, Anlo, Adaklu, and other allies decided to wage a second war in 1869 to punish the Asorglis for the earlier defeat. The beginning of the battle went in favour of the Akan and allies, but not for long. The old German bell at Ho-Kpodzi still bears the scar of a bullet from that war to date.
The German Bell
In the heat of the war, the Asorglis had to seek refuge in surrounding towns such as Sokode, Matse, Takla, Agortime, etc., for safety, but they strewed grass leftover after weeding (known as “Ho”) over their settlements and properties before escaping. Other allies came to the rescue of the Asorglis, and the people of Kpenoe and Takla were instrumental in turning the fortunes of the war around and crushing the Akan army. The Akan army was forced to flee, but a few were captured to serve at court. This explains the prevalence of Akan words, customs, and names among the Ewe of mid-Volta.
According to Amekpordi (2012), Bankoe was pronounced as Banyakɔ (“muddy area”), referring to the muddy nature of the land at the time. Banyakɔ was later corrupted to become Bankoe. They describe themselves as “Hoɖemakɔwo” – “Ho that cannot be carried.” In Ewe, the word “ho” refers to the rubbish that is collected and packed after a parcel of land is cleared by weeding. ‘Hoɖemakɔ’ means “packed rubbish that cannot be carried or collected‟ due, in part, to the fact that dangerous creatures can be found lurking underneath packed mounds of cleared vegetation. In like manner, the Hos will destroy you if you dare touch them. They are therefore like ‘ho’ that cannot be touched or carried, but they can carry other people’s ‘ho’. And if they can carry your ‘ho’, it means they have superior power.
A street of Ho Bankoe
I hope you enjoyed reading! Be proud of where you are from.
Source: Dr. Jemimah Etornam Avornyo Kassah, a Fisheries Scientist & Historian.
The abandoned GETFUND project located at Hordzo, in the Ho Municipality is set to be repurposed as a satellite campus for the University Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS). The facility will be converted into an Environmental Science Campus of the university.
The Municipal Chief Executive of Ho, Mr. Divine Richard Bosson, revealed this information during an exclusive interview with local radio station Swiss FM. He explained that the idea to transform the project into an educational facility stemmed from discussions on the development of the Ho Municipality.
Initially, there were considerations for an agricultural college or a college of education, but with further deliberation, it was decided that an Environmental Science Campus would complement the ongoing Oxygen City Project, the MCE stated.
The chairman of the Norvisi Development Union’s festival celebration, Togbe Abimah Fiator of Hordzo, appealed to the government, through the Municipal Chief Executive, Member of Parliament, and Regional Minister, to consider converting the abandoned school into a college of education since the municipality lacked one. The MCE, Hon. Divine Bosson, stated that building a senior high school in the area would be a misplaced priority, given the proximity of existing schools. Instead, an Environmental Science Campus would facilitate more research and contribute to the Oxygen City Project.
One of the abandoned facilities
To assess the feasibility of acquiring the facility, the Vice Chancellor, Registrar of UHAS, and the Works Engineer of the Ho Municipal Assembly visited the site. Expressing interest in acquiring the property, the Vice Chancellor and his team addressed a letter to the Regional Minister, who subsequently forwarded it to the Minister of Education. The MCE mentioned that the letter received significant attention and resulted in a meeting between the Chief of Hodzo and the Education Minister in Accra.
The MCE also noted that during their visit to the facility, they requested the youth of Hodzo to clear the area, which had become overgrown. The community responded swiftly, clearing the forest within a day. Recognizing the economic benefits of having the UHAS satellite campus in Hordzo, the MCE appealed to the local chiefs to provide additional land for parking and a mini-market accessible to the students.
Confirming these developments, Togbe Abimah, the chief of Hordzo, expressed gratitude for the efforts of the MCE, Member of Parliament, and Regional Minister. He revealed that a visit to the Minister for Education confirmed that the facility would become a permanent satellite campus for UHAS. Togbe Abimah urged the community to take ownership of the school, emphasizing that it was under their care.
Telecoms operator, AirtelTigo has announced a change in brand name, effective Thursday, June 22.
The company will now be known as AT, marking a significant shift in its brand identity.
The rebranding will extend to all sub-brands under AirtelTigo, including AT Money, AT Business, AT Premier, and AT Insurance. While the brand name and logo will undergo a transformation, the brand colours will remain intact.
At a media engagement to announce the new paradigm, Leo Skarlatos, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AirtelTigo, noted that, the rebranding effort will solely affect the brand name and logo, without any alterations to the company’s management structure, products, or services.
Skarlatos expressed the importance of the new brand identity, stating that it signifies a significant milestone for the company and reinforces their commitment to providing exceptional and streamlined services.
He added that the company was committed to ensuring that all marketing materials accurately reflect the new brand name, AT.
AirtelTigo is one of three mobile telecoms companies currently operating in Ghana. The company came into being after a merger between the then Tigo Ghana and Airtel Ghana.
In 2022, the government of Ghana through the ministry of communications and digitalisation acquired the merged entity from its owners Bharti Airtel, which announced its exit from the Ghanaian telecom market.
The Catholic Diocese of Ho has unveiled a bust in honour of Most Rev. Francis Anani Kofi Lodonu, the longest-serving Catholic Bishop in the Volta region.
The ceremony took place at St. Aloysius Catholic Church at Gbi-Atabu near Hohoe, the home parish of the now retired bishop, as part of his 50th Episcopal anniversary celebration.
Bishop Emeritus Lodonu cutting the tape to unveil his bust
The event was attended by priests, religious individuals, and faithful from the Catholic Diocese of Ho, as well as the Volta and Oti Regions, where Bishop Lodonu served as a Catholic bishop for over 40 years.
Rev. Fr. Dr. Azarias Benuyenah Schueller celebrated the Thanksgiving Mass, with Rev. Msgr. Joseph Nsiah, the Vicar General of the Jasikan Diocese, and over 30 priests in attendance.
During the Mass, Rev. Msgr. Joseph Nsiah delivered a homily, praising Bishop Lodonu’s dedication and likening him to a biblical shepherd. He commended the Bishop’s evangelization efforts and expressed gratitude for the individuals who were inspired to join the priesthood through his influence.
Bishop Lodonu expressed gratitude to God and everyone present, emphasising that his appointment as a Bishop was a result of divine calling rather than personal qualities. He urged the youth to take responsibility for the Church’s well-being.
Bishop Emeritus Lodonu
Born on November 19, 1937, in Gbi-Atabu Hohoe, Bishop Emeritus Francis Anani Kofi Lodonu is the twelfth and youngest child of Mr. Emmanuel Koku Allala-Lodonu and Madam Akosua Lodonu. He was ordained a priest on May 18, 1964, and later became the Titular Bishop of Mascula on May 14, 1973, before being consecrated as a bishop on June 29, 1973, by Pope Paul VI.
The Ho Municipal Assembly has cautioned the general public against the unauthorised use of road reservations within the municipality.
In a press statement signed by the Acting Public Relations Officer, Richmond Abake, the assembly expressed concern over the mounting of billboards, signage, and the use of reservations for commercial activities, such as trading and other artisanal works, without permission from the assembly.
Consequently, the assembly given a July 1 deadline for all individuals involved in such unlawful activities to acquire the appropriate authorisation or face legal consequences.
The statement also warned individuals engaged in the illegal rental and sale of road reservations, as well as those involved in trading within these spaces, to immediately cease their actions.
After a nine-day absence from work, the staff of the Ho Municipal Assembly have resumed their duties on Monday, June 19, 2023.
The Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) had instructed the workers to stay home over ‘unsafe working environment’ following a protest by Assembly members who locked out the Municipal Finance Officer, to demand his removal on June 7.
However, following constructive engagements between CLOGSAG and the authorities, assurances have given regarding the safety and security of the staff members, leading to the call-off of the directive to stay home.
In a circular issued by the Deputy Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG, it acknowledged the intervention of the Regional Minister, which resulted in the involvement of the police to investigate the conduct of the assembly members, with necessary action to be taken accordingly.
The circular also urged the assembly staff to resume their normal duties in accordance with the relevant rules of engagement, indicating that the dispute had been resolved and the working environment deemed conducive once again.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Divine Bosson, at a staff durbar on Monday, assured them of a conducive working environment, while, entreating them to perform at their optimum best in delivering services to the public.
The recent impasse within the assembly has disrupted its operations and denied services to the public in the past few days.
Further details have emerged regarding the fatal accident that claimed the life of 8-year-old school girl, Christlove Sedem Osei last Wednesday on the Sokode-Ho dual carriage road.
According to eyewitness accounts from commercial tricycle (Camboo) riders who were present at the scene, the vehicle involved in the crash near the Total Filling station was being driven by a police officer stationed at the Regional Police Command in Ho.
Accident scene
They revealed, they saw the young girl attempting to cross the road after disembarking from a car. In response, they signaled other motorists to stop and allow her to cross. However, as she reached the inner lane of the Ho-bound side of the road, a speeding salon car suddenly appeared and collided with her.
The impact of the collision, according to them, was severe, propelling the young girl into the air before she landed on the car’s bonnet and eventually bounced onto the asphalt road surface.
This resulted in the victim sustaining critical injuries to her head and other parts of her body and was immediately rushed to the Ho Teaching Hospital. Tragically, she passed away in the early hours of Thursday while being transferred to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra for further medical attention.
Christlove, who celebrated her 8th birthday on June 3, 2023, was said to be the only child of her mother and a student at the Beginners Foundation School Complex near Datalink in Ho.
The news of her untimely death has left her family, neighbours, and schoolmates overwhelmed with grief.
Meanwhile, the family is making preparations for her burial on Tuesday June 20, as they await the outcome of the police investigation and subsequent actions against the driver.
There has been change in command at the Naval Training Command of the Ghana Navy, located in Nutekpor near Sogakope, South Tongu District.
At a colourful military ceremony last Friday, Commodore (Cdre) Godwin Livinus Bessing formally handed over command to Cdre Bright Emmanuel Kojo Atiayao, who assumed the role of Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) of the Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC).
Cdre Bessing handing over to Cdre Atiayao
Cdre Bessing, in his farewell address, expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders both within and outside the armed forces for their unwavering support during his tenure of just over one year as the FOC of the training wing of the Ghana Navy.
He highlighted the Command’s notable achievements in fulfilling its mandate of producing well-trained and qualified personnel for the navy. Among these achievements, he mentioned the establishment of affiliations with three reputable public universities in the country, allowing for course accreditation and certification for the various schools operating under the Command.
In addition, Cdre Bessing mentioned the self-help initiatives undertaken by the Command, such as the establishment of a sachet water production factory, cattle ranching, and vegetable farming, aimed at generating internal funds to support its operations.
Cdre Bessing thus, entrusted his successor to build upon the progress made, assuring him of his unwavering support whenever required.
In recognition of his friendship and support, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA Volta/Oti) presented Commodore Bessing, the outgoing FOC, with a citation. The citation was presented by Mr. Emmanuel Agbaxode, the Regional GJA Chairman.
Meanwhile, Cdre Bessing is set to assume a new role at the Ghana High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria, as a Defence Advisor.
Profile
Commodore Godwin Livinus Bessing is a highly accomplished military officer with an extensive career. He joined the Ghana Military Academy in January 1991 and became a Sub-Lieutenant in the Ghana Navy Executive Branch in August 1992.
He received further training in India and served as a Watching Keeping Officer and later as the Executive Officer of Ghana Navy Ship SEBO. He also held various staff and command positions both nationally and internationally, including roles in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Lebanon, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Nigeria.
He has completed multiple military staff and career courses, including courses in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Commodore Bessing holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Statistics, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Public Administration, and a Master of Arts Degree in International Affairs.
His previous appointment before assuming the FOC position at NAVTRAC, was Chief Staff Officer at the Naval Headquarters.
In a collaborative effort, the Ho CSOs platform on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) partnered with the Young Urban Women’s Movement and Activista to organize a highly informative Capacity Building session.
The session focused on harnessing citizen-generated data for sustainable development and highlighted the ‘Let’s Talk Ghana’ app and ‘Clean App Ghana’ as key tools for achieving the SDGs. The event took place on June 16, 2023, at the LoveAid Foundation in Ho.
Miss Princess Lovia Tetteh, Executive Director of Love Aid Foundation, in her welcome remarks, emphasised the importance of citizen-generated data in achieving the SDGs. She provided insights into the objective of the training and highlighted the key actors involved in the process.
According to her, the focus of the training was to empower citizens with a comprehensive understanding of the Let’s Talk Ghana app and Clean App Ghana. The collected data, facilitated by the Ghana Statistical Service and supported by GIZ, will serve as a valuable resource for achieving the SDGs.
It will guide policymakers and development plans in addressing the challenges related to gender-based violence and solid waste effectively, she added.
Mr. Joshua Ayayi, Director of Youth Alliance for Sustainability, presented an overview of Clean App Ghana and the Gender-Based Violence app for participants to gain a deeper understanding of these innovative applications and their potential in addressing gender-based violence and solid waste management challenges.
The session also included practical group presentations where participants discussed the causes and potential solutions related to gender-based violence and solid waste. These interactive sessions fostered collaboration and knowledge sharing among the attendees.
To ensure hands-on learning, Mr. Ayayi concluded the training with a practical demonstration of using the app and reporting incidents. This aimed to equip citizens with the necessary skills and knowledge to report instances of gender-based violence and solid waste effectively.
