A young man was last Sunday night attacked by suspected criminals on the road behind Ho Technical University towards the Gemfuga hostel, within the Bosontoe electoral area.
According to information gathered by Volta Online, the young man, believed to be in his 20s was heading towards the HTU Campus in the company of a lady at about 9:00pm, when they were accosted by three other young men, demanding their phones and other belongings.
Sensing some resistance from the gentleman, the criminals reportedly inflicted deep machete wounds on his head and left shoulder, sparing the lady.
A resident by name Seyram, who chanced on the incident while driving, rushed the victim to the Ho Technical University Clinic, where he is currently receiving treatment.
The victim receiving treatment at HTU Clinic
Seyram later made a Facebook post on the incident, which reads, ‘Ho is becoming increasingly dangerous. Just this night I chanced upon this young man who was being butchered by 3 other young guys wielding machetes at Ho poly small gate because of a Techno spark 5 phone!’
Further checks by Volta Online revealed the victim was neither a student nor staff of HTU.
Nonetheless, the incident has triggered fear and anxiety among residents, including students of both HTU and UHAS, living in the area.
They are therefore appealing to the authorities, especially the Police Command to take immediate steps to address the creeping insecurity situation in the area.
Six persons died on the spot after a Ford Transit passenger bus collided with a motorbike on the Asikuma-Peki stretch of the Eastern corridor road on Sunday.
Two of the victims were policemen of the Peki District Police Command, who were on the motorbike heading to their duty post at Opukuase near Asikuma junction.
They were indentified as General Corporal Evans Quansah and Constable Richard Dadzie.
The other four victims were three males and a female.
According to a Police report, there were 17 passengers onboard the Ford transit bus with registration No.GJ 729-21 traveling from Accra to Kpassa. Opon reaching, a section of the Asikuma – Peki road, the bus burst its tyres, causing it veer into the opposite lane and crashed head-on with APSONIC motorbike being ridden by G/Const. Richard Dadzie with G/Cpl. Evans Quansah as a pillion rider.
Both the vehicle and the motorbike somersaulted and landed in the offside bush, killing the six persons, and injuring 11 others, including, a 25-year old bus driver, Asupah Kwame.
They were since rushed to the Peki Government Hospital for medical attention.
Police Command’s Visit
Following the accident, a team from the Volta Regional Police Command,led by the Regional Commander, COP Edward Oduro Kwarteng have visited the area to empathise with victims on admission and also encourage and uplift the morale of colleagues of the deceased.
They also visited the wife and family of one of the deceased officers – Evans Quansah at Dzodze to inform them of the sad incident, while, the IGP, George Dampare personally commiserated with them via a phone call.
Meanwhile, A Police Clinical psychologist has commenced psychological support to the wife of Corporal Evans Quansah in this difficult time.
This follows a visit to the Regional Command on Monday, by a delegation from the Police Administration, led by the Director-General(D-G) National Patrol Department, COP Mr. Paul Mainly Awini to sympathise with them on the death of two officers.
He assured the bereaved family of the Police Administration’s maximum support in these trying moments and also wished the injured persons a speedy recovery.
He expressed the Administration’s appreciation to all doctors and staff of the Peki Government Hospital for their dedicated care to the injured.
The delegation also commended the Volta Regional Police Commander and his deputy as well as the Emergency Services for their timely response to the incident.
COP Awini was accompanied by D-G Motor Traffic and Transport Department, COP Mr. Francis Aboagye Nyarko, D-G Welfare DCOP Mrs. Habiba Twumasi Sarpong, and other Senior Police Officers.
Football fans who trooped the Ho Sports Stadium Sunday afternoon to watch a friendly match between Ho based, Home Stars FC and the National Under-17 team – the Black Startlets, were left disappointed after the game was rained off.
The match which was 10 minutes into play, was halted by referee Rustum Gameli Senorgbe with the onset of the rain.
The about 20-minutes of downpour heavily flooded the pitch, forcing officials to call off the much anticipated game , to the displeasure of fans.
The match was consequently rescheduled to the next day.
But unhappy with the turn of events, some patrons began chanting and hailing invectives on authorities for failing to maintain the pitch after using it for other social gatherings in the last few months.
The visibly angry fans particularly called out the Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa for not keeping to his promise of restoring the pitch back to shape, after hosting the 2021 Volta Fair at the stadium.
“They will host all sort of events here and left the pitch in a bad shape after the trade fair was held here. The Regional Minister promised they will fix it but nothing has been done,” they lamented.
The Regional Minister in a radio interview in November, 2021 assured of reversing the damage caused to the football pitch few weeks after the end of the Volta Fair, but almost three month down the lane, action is yet to be seen.
The Volta Regional Police has launched a manhunt for a hit-and-run driver who crushed a 4-year old girl to death at Kudzra in the Kpando Municipality.
The victim was knocked down by a yet-to-be identified driver, whilst crossing the road in the company of her peers on Thursday, February 10, 2022.
According a brief from the Volta Regional Police Public Relations Unit, the little girl was with her friends on an errand when the unfortunate incident occurred at about 5:30pm on Thursday.
‘Unfortunately, the driver did not stop and left her to her fate,’ the police stated, adding that, the victim who sustained serious injuries was later confirmed dead at the Margret Marquart Catholic Hospital Kpando.
The body has since been deposited at the Hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy.
Meanwhile, the Police has advised parents to handle their children with care and not leave them under the care of other minors who are immature in guaranteeing their safety when the need arises.
School children at Saviefe-Gbedome, a farming community in the Ho West district can now rub shoulders with the counterparts in the urban areas in learning of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Thanks to the benevolence a Non-governmental organisation, VIMA, the community can boast of an Library cum Computer Lab.
Christened, Hezel Community Computer Laboratory and Library, the facility was provided at the cost of 32,000 dollars.
Founder and Executive Director of VIMA, Mr. Francis Agbemafle speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Wednesday, February 8, 2022, said the intervention forms part of the organization’s objectives to find lasting solutions to challenges of deprived communities in the area of education and health care.
Ho West DCE, (L) inspecting the library
He urged the beneficiaries make good use of the facility to improve education outcomes in the area, and also be innovative and creative as the world was moving into a new era.
The District Chief Executive for Ho West, Ernest Appau who was the Guest of Honour express gratitude to VIMA for their intervention and called for more collaboration in the future.
He also assured of assembly’s efforts to provide the needed amenities and infrastructure in the various communities of the district.
Madan Celestine Korsi-Agordo, the District Director of Education appealed to the teachers and pupils of Saviefe Gbedome D.A Basic school to judiciously use the facility to enhance tesching and learning, and also ensure a good maintenance culture.
A meeting to elect a new Presiding Member for the Ho Municipal Assembly on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, ended in a fiasco.
This was due to the failure of any of the two contenders to secure the required two-thirds majority vote for the position.
The incumbent, Mr. Jonny Akpakli, whose 2-year tenure ended, is being contested by Mr. Mawunyo Agbe.
However, after two rounds of voting, both candidates failed to secure the required two-thirds majority vote of the 43-member assembly. The two respectively polled 20, 23 votes in the first round and 18, 25 votes in the second, hence fallen short of the atleast 30 votes requirement.
Consequently, Mr. Augustus Awity, Coordinating Director of the Assembly who presided over the election adjourned the meeting to the next 10 days where the nominees will have another chance at the polls. They will however have step down for new nominations should they fail to attain the two-thirds in that poll.
In a reaction, Togbe Koku Tsru II, of Ziavi Traditional Area, expressed disappointment with the turn of events but was hopeful that within the next 10 days, things will be different and the overall interest of the assembly will supersede that of every individual or group.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Divine Bosson, who spoke prior to the voting, urged the assembly members to conduct the electoral process in a spirit of togetherness and love as well as elect a unifier who has the interest of the municipality at heart.
The Local Government ACT 936 of 2016, stipulates a two year tenure for a presiding member, and also two-thirds majority of the entire membership for the election of same.
The Nkwanta South Municipal Fire Commander, Mr. Francis Agbavitor has cautioned residents to be careful about the use of electrical gadgets in their homes to avoid fire outbreaks in this hamattan season.
His caution comes on the back of the numerous fire outbreaks in the area believed to be caused by electrical gadgets.
Speaking in a media interview, Mr. Agbavitor noted that these occurrences were due to the fact that residents leave home without switching off their gadgets.
He further cautions landlords and other electricity users to avoid the use of quack or unqualified electricians, as well as buy quality and approved electric materials to avoid loss of lives and properties.
‘Avoid keeping highly flammable substances like petrol at home and constantly check your gas cylinders for leakages to avoid a trigger’, he noted.
He also urged them to create fire belts around their farms to avoid setting fire to other adjoining farms and bushes.
Also, he advised estate developers to respect space outlays in-between building plots for easy access during emergencies.
He further assured all that his office is ready to curb the fire situations in the area.
The Volta Regional office of the National Disaster Organization (NADMO) has provided some relief items to victims whose houses were razed down by bushfire.
The disaster which spans two districts – Agortime –Ziope and Akatsi North, affected three communities and twenty households.
A total of 63 people were rendered homeless in Xakorfe and Yevi while 30 people were affected in Dzalele.
Presenting the items, the Deputy Regional NADMO Director, Madam Ivy Amewugah admonished residents to be mindful of life and property when embarking upon land clearing activities which involves bush burning.
‘it is good to know that no life was lost but these properties lost were investments made over a long period of time, when burning bush don’t forget to create fire belts to prevent the fire from going beyond the designated area.’
The items presented include 20 pieces of mattress, three packs of used clothing, six cartons of soap, 20 packs of mosquito coil, 40 pieces of blanket, twenty buckets, five basins and 60 cups.
A victim, Anthony Agidi who spoke on behalf of the victims narrated the unfortunate occurrence of 25th January 2022, stating that they had all moved to their farms to prepare the land only to be called back home that disaster had struck. He added that they tried all they could but could not salvage any item. ‘Properties worth hundreds of Ghana cedis were destroyed by the fire but we thank NADMO for the prompt response,’ he said.
Speaking in Yevi and Xakorfe, the District Chief Executive of Agortime-Ziope appreciated the prompt response from NADMO and advised people living in these farming communities to deploy best farming practices in the dry season to save livelihood.
Seventeen persons are in the grips of the Volta Regional Police Command in connection with suspected narcotics substances retrieved during separate swoops across the region.
According to the Police, on February 3, 2022, 13 suspects were arrested in an intelligence-led operation at Juapong, in which they retrieved quantities of dried leaves, and slabs of compressed dried leaves, all suspected to be Indian hemp, in addition to quantities of substances suspected to be cocaine, and other implements such as pairs of scissors, folding paper (Rizla), and brown paper. Five motorbikes abandoned at the ghettos were also impounded.
Similarly, three suspects including a woman were on February 2, 2022, arrested by the Dzodze District Police and quantities of narcotics substances were also retrieved in an operation led by DSP MR. Christian Dogbatse, the Dzodze District Police Commander.
In all, 281 wraps of substances suspected to be Indian hemp and assorted narcotics induced preparations; 622 pieces of toffee, bitters, and other implements used in processing narcotics substances; rolling paper; (Rizla) pairs of scissors, brown paper, and Lighters were retrieved from the suspects.
At the Abutiakope beach at Keta, a 59-year-old male suspect is in police custody after his attempt to escape arrest failed when they were swooped on. His accomplices managed to escape in a fishing boat at the Abutiakope beach abandoning two sacks of narcotic substances and a Pajero SUV on February 3, 2022.
DSP Effia Tenge, Regional Police PRO who made these briefs available to the media, said the Keta District Command was following other leads to get those who escaped arrested, while, all 17 suspects will be screened and those found culpable after investigation will be put before the court.
Founder of Kama group of companies, Nana Dr. Michael Agyekum Addo has charged young graduates to embrace the entrepreneurial revolution, that have taken over the 21st century era.
According to him, this era was set to become the most complex and dynamic the world had experienced, and that countries such as Ghana need to find a grip at takes off.
Nana Dr. Agyekum Addo
The accomplished business man who was addressing the 22nd congregation of the Ho Technical University, and said the nation must not “sit and watch it pass by”.
He told graduands, “I came to inform you that we have entered a new century, and that new century has come with a different revolution. It’s no more industrial revolution, but entrepreneurial revolution. So don’t sit down and watch it pass by. We already in 21 years, gone, and Ghanaians are not aware.”
Dr. Agyekum opined that, the entrepreneurial revolution would grow more aggressive than the peaking industrial revolution, and would leave many behind those who do not endeavor to get a hold.
“If you don’t embark on it, you are going to be the poorest human being on earth even though you have a certificate. It will not wait for you and it’s moving,” he added.
He called for the making of certain disciplines such as entrepreneurship and engineering as core subjects, through which young people would be developed into multi skilled industrialists.
He noted also that the full potentials of the African continent remained untapped, and encouraged the graduates use their skills to generate income streams for themselves.
“Don’t stick to whatever you studied alone. Have the entrepreneurial mindset,” he said.
In all, 1,041 students who succefulky completed their Bachelor Degrees and Higher National Diploma programmes in the 2020/21 academic year were graduated.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Ben Honyenuga in his report, said the University’s “carefully drawn” curricula, helped produce graduates of industrial repute, and noted the speedy development of its most recent faculties, including the Built and Natural Environment.
He noted also that more faculties continued to win accreditations to pursue more programs, and assured that management would persist at keeping up with the vision of becoming a world-class institution.
Prof. Ben Honyenuga, HTU VC
Counting the successes of the University, which included victories at several local and international tech and entrepreneurial competitions, the Vice Chancellor assured that, together with the Council, the institution would continue to emerge through challenges.
He welcomed that the University found the Government’s one-year engineering course for non-science students, as an area technical universities could excel, and appealed that they were considered in the rollout.
Professor Emmanuel James Flolu, Chairman of the University’s Council, asked graduates to consider the congregation an “initiation ceremony into the world of work”, and appreciate the training attained in contributing to the development of the nation.
Prof. Flolu, HTU Council Chairman
Nineteen departmental awards were presented to deserving graduands, with the overall best Graduating Student award going to Mr. Jonathan Akoto, a graduand of HND Agro Enterprise Development.
Jonathan Akoto, Valedictorian & Overall Best Graduating Student
