Cheques Written In The Presence Of The Media,Chiefs and Assembly-Salt Company React

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February 22, 2021

BY: Akpabli Daniel Yao I Voltaonlinegh.com |

Public Relation Officer (P.R.O) of the Seven Seas Salt company, Mr. Adam Mensah, has said that, the company was surprised when they received a copy of the press release letter from some assembly members regarding the disbursement of compensation package to some affected communities in the salt mining concession

According to Mr. Mensah, The cheques were written in the open and payment and pictures taken in the presence of the media, so there was nothing secret about the compensation process adding that the company did not know exactly where they (Assembly) are getting their facts from.

“There is no secret account which we know of as a company and monies for this compensation is not paid into any secret account neither shall it be paid into a secret account created by any individual”

The seven seas salt company described the press statement from the Assembly members as not completely factual adding that the consultant who undertook the evaluation exercise was contracted by the Municipal Assembly, for the sole purpose of determination of compensation to the Communities.

Your Press release full of concoctions- Sóme Chiefs to 6 Assembly Members

6 Assembly Members Call For Probe Into Seven Seas Salt Money Saga

“Because they are fully aware that the company did not engage a consultant, the consultant was engaged by the Municipal Assembly. It was the company who was supposed to pay for the consultant; I mean the services rendered by the consultant” He said

He said, the decision to engage the service of a consultant came as a result of petitions to the Municipal Security Committee, when it was resolved that appropriate compensation be determined so the Municipal Assembly contracted a consultant to undertake that exercise.

The Municipal Assembly further presented the report to the company for implementation by a letter dated 16^th Dec 2020, signed by Alhaji Yusif Ibrahim, Municipal coordinating director for the Municipal Chief Executive which contained the monies supposed to be disbursed.

“When we were satisfied, we wrote back to the municipal to give us details of the community accounts, which was also done in the morning of the disbursement and the various cheques were written. We didn’t receive any detail from any chief, but they are alleging we deposited money in a secret account, so the responsibility is now on them to prove it. I will plead with you to contact the assembly for any information if there is any secret account name” he quizzed

The Company also noted that, they do not have any issue to discuss with the assembly members in relation to compensation because the compensation offer letters were made to the chiefs of Agbeve community, Kpedzakope community, Alagba community, Blekusu community, Amutinu community, Salakope community, Agavedzi community and not with any Assembly member.

“We learnt that they’ve been meeting with their chiefs, the issue is about compensation, we cannot meet with the assembly members and discuss about this issue. The offer itself is in the name of the chiefs. They also accordingly wrote acceptance letters, so the offer was given to the chiefs on behalf of the community and the acceptance was also written in the name of the chiefs on behalf of the communities. They signed the agreement and the person who signed is the chief so they supposed to receive the cheque which was given in the presence of the assembly members and everyone. If any Assembly Member want to pick this cheque at all cost then they should pick it from their Chiefs because it is a community compensation agreement”. He explained

“So when they are negotiating on how much a person should take is their own cup of tea in their various communities. What we are supposed to do as a company is to pay and we did that. We did not write any cheque into any secret account as they are alleging” he added

The company further asked the Assembly Members to contact their chiefs to resolve their issues and not include the company for their job as a company is to mine salt through a natural way, adhere to the laws regarding the right methods and practices and create job opportunities.

Checks from the Seven Seas Salt Limited reveal that, document regarding agreements and issues of disbursement of fund is between Seven Seas Salt and Chiefs (Communities) of the affected communities.The various Assembly Members are only witnesses while the Ketu North Municipal assembly is playing a mediating role between the Company and the Chiefs (Communities).

Source: voltaonlinegh.com

Your Press Release Full Of Concoctions- Sóme Chiefs to 6 Assembly Members

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February 22, 2021

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BY: Akpabli Daniel Yao I Voltaonlinegh.com |

To get reaction from the Paramountcy on the press release from some 6 Assembly members regarding disbursement of compensation by Seven Seas Salt Company, Voltaonlinegh.com engaged Torgbi Atiane IV, the chief of staff to the paramountcy where he denied all the allegations.

However, further engagement with the Paramount Chief of the area, Torgbi Adamah III said, the statement and the media engagement that by the Assembly Members contained a lot of misinformation, concoctions, half-truth and insinuation that needs to be addressed

He explained, the process that culminated in the disbursement event on February 19, 2021 had been a very long, torturous and eventful one which was initiated by his predecessor Torgbi Hor II.

The Paramountcy recalled that, some lives were lost, others maimed and hospitalized with some properties been lost by the Seven Seas Salt company and individuals.

Cheques written in the presence of the media,Chiefs and Assembly-Salt company react

6 Assembly Members Call For Probe Into Seven Seas Salt Money Saga

They stated that, article 267 clause 1 of the Ghanaian constitution explained that, all stool lands in the country are vested in the appropriate stool on behalf of, and trust for the subjects of the stool in accordance with customary law usage.

They said, the traditional authority only control natural resources of their area in trust for the people/the Government hence Traditional Authorities do not have the power to sell or lease any natural resources, therefore, the So’me Traditional Authority has not sold or leased the salt lagoon to the Seven Seas Salt Company adding that, it is the government of Ghana that has done so.

They said the payment and disbursement of compensation which has generated the concern raised by the Assembly Members was in accordance with the Mineral commission act 703 of 2006 clause 4 (a) which states that, compensation shall be paid for the depravation of the use or a particular/partial use of the natural surface of the land or part of the land.

The paramountcy being the custodian of the said lands could have decided to take total control of the negotiation with the company and compensation accruing but they felt the need to let the communities bordering the concession also benefit, hence their involvement in the process.

“Owing to the limited time at our disposal before the presentation of the cheques, I had discussions with the chiefs of the communities bordering the concession and came to the decision that a temporal bank account be opened at the Agriculture Development Bank Limited at Denu, and Torgbi Atiane IV, the chief of staff of the Paramountcy shall be a signatory to all the temporary accounts to enable the Paramountcy monitor the initial management of the account”.

He further added that, after the lodgment of the fund in the accounts, three new signatories (two selected by the community and one by the chief) be selected to replace the initial temporal signatories (the chief will not be a signatory to any account), the chief in consultation with the Assembly Members in the various communities shall form a five-member committee including a woman to liaise with a Central Development Committee of the Paramountcy to plan and monitor the use of the fund to the benefit of the communities.

They also discussed that (1) 10% of the compensation due each community shall be given to the chiefs for the upkeep of the stool, a decision supported by the 1992 constitution (Ref: Article 267 (6)), (2)a consultant working on the compensation package shall be paid some money for the preparation of a site plan (a private task for the Consultant aside the major works given him) for each community after the payment of the compensation but no money has been deducted from the compensation to pay for this service and (3) a 300-meter buffer zone allowed by the company shall be used to promote aquaculture in the communities.

They noted that, somewhere during the negotiations, the So’me Traditional Authority in consultation with the Consultant involved the Assembly Member of the concession communities in the discussions since they are representatives of the people but did not want to involve them in the operation of the community account because of several reasons.

They noted some of the reasons are; the Assembly members are not permitted by law to operate or be a signatories to community accounts, some of the Assembly Members are cited to have engaged in fraudulent activities in the management of the resources and funds accruing to the community necessitating huge bailout from the Seven Seas Salt Company and some Assembly Members came have been conniving with the community members to steal the property of the Seven Seas Salt Company.

They noted that, during the negotiation process, the Assembly members come to the paramountcy with a request of 5% of the compensation accruing to each community to be given to each of them but after a consultation with the Chiefs, it was decided that GHC1, 500.00 be given to each of them across board after which a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was drawn in respect of the Paramouncy, the Chiefs and the Assembly members relating to the disbursement of the compensation but the Assembly Members declined to sign.

“Later, a community account was opened and the account details forwarded to the Ketu North Municipal Chief Executives to be forwarded to the Seven Seas salt for the writing of the various cheques, however, to our surprise on the day of the presentation of the cheques, we realized the cheques had been written in names unknown to the traditional Authority”

They stated that, their investigations revealed that, the Ketu South Municipal Assembly had written letters authorizing the Assembly members to open community account to which they the Assembly Members, a woman and another community member (representing the Chief) will be signatories and to them, this was done on the blind side of the paramount Chief and other Chiefs even though they were aware an account have been already created for such purpose.

The Paramouncy said, this issue brought a misunderstanding between the chiefs and the Municipal Assembly during the handing over day of the various cheques of the compensation as they noted that, it beats their imagination why the Municipal assembly is trying desperately hard to control funds accruing to the communities as though it is their rights to do so.

In all these, the paramountcy stated that, the Municipal Assembly led by the Chief Executive, Eliot Agbenorwu showed blatant disrespect to the Traditional authority making it to look as if the paramountcy is under their control.

Source: voltaonlinegh.com

Boy, 6, In Critical Condition After Adetsewui Church Building Collapses

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February 22, 2021

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BY: News Desk I Voltaonlinegh.com |

A 6 year old boy, Justice Kekeli Biedo, is in a critical condition after an uncompleted church building collapsed on him at Adetsewui in the Akatsi South Municipality of the Volta Region.

Justice was quickly rushed to the St. Anthony hospital in Dzodze after part of an building collapsed on him and his brother.

His brother, Kingsley Biedo, 13, who is said to have sustained a fracture, is also responding to treatment.

The building, has been identified as Divine Healing Church branch at Adetsewui in the Akatsi South Municipality of the Volta region.

Mr Kennedy Biedo, father of both victims, who is also the Assembly member of the area, explained that his sons, who are pupils of Akatsi Duawodome Basic school left Akatsi on Friday to visit their grandmother at Adetsewui when the disaster struck them.

He said on Sunday February 21 at about 05:30 am, his sons together with their Aunt went to the Church premises to get it ready for service.

He added that part of the building, which has no pillars, gave way and fell on his sons.

However, the Akatsi South Municipal Office of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) is yet to assess the situation for any possible action.

Source: GNA

The Rebecca Foundation Commissions Another Library To Support Reading Development In Ghana

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February 19, 2021

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BY: KOD I Voltaonlinegh.com |

First Lady of the Republic, H.E. Mrs. Rebecca Naa Okaikor Akufo-Addo, has commissioned and handed over a newly constructed library in Kumawu to the Sekyere Kumawu District Assembly and the Ghana Library Authourity in the Ashanti Region.

The library which will serve the Kumawu Anglican cluster of schools and its environs was constructed, furnished and resourced by the Rebecca Foundation, with the support of the Ghana Education Service, Ghana Library Authority and Book Aid International.

In a brief speech read on her behalf at the commissioning, Mrs. Akufo-Addo said reading is one of the surest ways to acquiring quality education, as it exposes children to the immense knowledge contained in books and other reading materials.

She said since assuming office in 2017, the NPP administration under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo has implemented several policies aimed at making education affordable and accessible to all Ghanaian children.

“Government has invested huge resources in implementing policies such as Free SHS, free hot meals, free text books, and free uniforms among others all aimed at ensuring equal access to education, to break the vicious cycle of inequalities”, Mrs Akufo-Addo said.

According to Mrs. Akufo-Addo however, these laudable policies stand the risk of bearing little fruit if the foundation of reading, is not strengthened.

It is in this light, she said, that the Rebecca Foundation has so far through its “Learning to Read Reading to Learn” Initiative constructed, furnished resourced and commissioned libraries in Wenchi in the Bono Region, Sefwi Debiso in the Western North Region, Moree in the Central Region, Daffiama Bussie Issah in the Upper West Region, Amansaman in the Greater Accra Region and Kumawu in the Ashanti.

The First Lady also announced soon-to-be completed libraries at Bortianor in the Greater Accra Region and Dambai in the Oti Region to bring the total number of libraries constructed by the Rebecca Foundation, to eight.

She said the Rebecca Foundation will continue to support government’s effort to make education accessible and attractive to the youth.

Mrs. Akufo-Addo urged parents and other stakeholders, to encourage their wards to patronise these reading facilities, emphasising that literacy is the means by which lifelong learning and a child’s ability to learn to the highest levels remain possible.

The First Lady also used the occasion to advise the people to continue adhering to the Covid-19 safety protocols in all their daily activities, warning that the deadly disease is no respecter of persons and boundaries as has been witnessed in the many lives which have been lost to it worldwide.

The Member of Parliament for Kumawu Hon. Philip Basoah thanked the First Lady for her support and congratulated her on her immense contribution in empowering the youth through education.

Also present to grace the occasion were the Ashanti Regional Director of the Ghana Library Authority, DCE for Kumawu Mr Samuel Addai Agyekum as well as Traditional leaders.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com/The Rebecca Foundation

Nkwanta South Assembly To Clamp Down On Residents Who Flout Nose Masks Directive

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February 19, 2021

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BY: Benjamin Owusu I Voltaonlinegh.com |

As part of measures to control the spread of the new waive of COVID-19, the Nkwanta South Municipal Assembly in the Oti Region has announced that, recalcitrant residents who ignore precautionary measures shall be arrested soon.

They hinted that, their outfit shall collaborate with the Ghana Police Service from Monday, February 22, 2021, to commence arresting residents who will refuse to put on nose masks across the municipality.

In an interview with voltaonlinegh.com, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), John Thasun, lamented on the low compliance on the wearing of the nose masks in the municipality which suggest to use the law enforcement agencies to arrest recalcitrant residents who will disregard the directive.

The MCE made this known when he distributed Veronica buckets, nose masks, dustbins, and hand sanitizers to food vendors, transport unions, market women fitting shops, Schools, Mosques, Churches and some other individuals as part of steps towards the fight against the virus.

He, however, advised that residents adhere to wearing of the nose mask and also take other precautionary measures serious to chain down the spread.

The Municipal Environmental Health Officer for Nkwanta South, Cynthia Sekyere addressing residents

The Municipal Environmental Health Officer for Nkwanta South, Cynthia Sekyere, also warned all food vendors to practice the wearing of the nose to advert any possible spread among them.

She warned the environmental unit together with the assembly task force and the police who shall comprise the Monday team, to arrest persons who will fail to wear the nose masks regardless of who they are.

Some residents who received the nose masks and and other personal protective equipment (PPE) thanked the assembly for their contribution.

They pledge to ensure that all the safety protocols of COVID-19 are strictly adhered to, charging the assembly and the police to arrest who ever will flout the law.

Records revealed that, the Nkwanta South Municipality is leading with the spread of the corona virus in the Oti Region.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Farmer, 55, Allegedly Murdered and Dumped in River Asukorkor

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February 18, 2021

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BY: KALD & Akpabli Daniel YaoI Voltaonlinegh.com |

Report reaching voltaonlinegh has it that, , a 55 year old farmer has been allegedly murdered by some 5 young men and the body dumped in River Asukorkor on Friday 12th February, 2021.

The deceased by name Jomiba Donkor, according to the report, chanced on these men fishing in the said river with a chemical which is against a law well known in the area.

The victim confronted these young men and an altercation ensued leading to the men allegedly hitting the victim with a stick on the chin killing him instantly.

They said, relatives of the victim were not informed until between 10 to 11pm when they heard the rumor and decided to ascertain the fact from other people who were onlookers to the incident.

The matter was then reported to the Dodo Amanfrom police and the body was retrieved on Saturday 13th February, 2021.

However, the cousin of the deceased, Ben Mamah, said both onlookers and the alleged killers have all been picked up by the police but there is a serious grand scheme to set these alleged murderers free by their relatives by way of influencing investigations.

Calls to Mama Ben today, Thursday February 18, 2021 indicated that, the police are yet to process the case after statements have been taking from the 5 alleged suspects and the other 5 eyewitnesses.

The deceased left behind a wife and 7 children.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Kechiebi-Asuogya School Cries For Classrooms As Pupils use Classes Hours To Build Structure

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February 18, 2021

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BY: Benjamin Owusu I Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Kechiebi-Asuogya M/A Basic School in the Nkwanta South Municipality of the Oti Region is crying for urgent solution to their infrastructure challenge to enhance quality education in the school.

A visit to the school revealed that teachers and pupil’s were using part of their lessons hours to construct their own classroom with makeshift after the temporal structure which housed pupil’s for studies has been brought down by rainstorm.

It was also observed that school lacks text books, desk, computer and science laboratories, teachers common room, and other teaching and learning materials.

As a result of the unavailability of classrooms, the Kindergarten pupil’s study under a skeletal structure roofed with thatch while those from primary 1 to 3 go through the daily ordeal of sitting and writing on the floor.

In an interview with the Head teacher of the school, Benjamin Alhassan, he disclosed that the lack of basic educational materials especially classroom infrastructure was seriously affecting academic activities as teaching and learning in the school took place in unfavorable environment.

He lamented that the situation was disadvantageous to the pupils who often got distracted during lessons due to the lack of classroom and furniture.

He therefore appealed to government and individuals to help provide furniture for the pupils.

A teacher who was spotted helping the students to roof one of the classrooms, Augustine Amenvenyo, also added to the head teacher’s call by appealing to government and individuals for classrooms, desks, textbooks, staff common room and other infrastructure to boost academic works of the school.

Some of the pupils who spoke to voltaonlinegh about the situation appealed to the district assembly, non-governmental organisation, philanthropists and well meaning Ghanaians to come to their aid to provide the school with infrastructure and other essential needs to enhance teaching and learning in the school.

However, the chief of Kechiebi-Asuogya, Nana Sei Ngbanpouah II and some members of community lamented over the situation and called on government for support.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

6th March Parade Suspended

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February 17, 2021

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BY: Akpabli Daniel Yao I Voltaonlinegh.com |

Management of Ghana Education has notify the public regarding the cancellation of this year’s 6th March celebration and all its related activities across the country.

The suspension according to a press statement signed by Anthony Boateng, Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), is due to the high prevalence rate of COVID-19 in the country.

The GES further entreated all Regional Directors to bring the directive to the notice of heads of institutions under their area of operation for strict compliance.

This year’s parade will be the 64th independence anniversary celebration since 1957

Below is the full Statement…………….

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

GroomDatGirl Donates to Ho Female Prison

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February 17, 2021

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BY: News Desk I Voltaonlinegh.com |

GroomDatGirl, a Girl-Empowering movement in the Ho municipality, has donated assorted items to inmates of the Ho Female Prisons, in Ho.

The donation which cost thousands of cedis included underwears bar, liquid and powdered soaps, sanitary pads, toilet rolls, tooth pastes, tooth brushes, sanitizers, face masks, bleaches and antiseptics.

According to Miss Tilda Elinam Acorlor, Leader and Project Visionaire of GroomDatGirl, the gesture is to show love to the vulnerable female prisoners and to also highlight the first anniversary of this budding girl’s group.

She said prisoners were vulnerable people who needed to be shown love and not shunned.

”In as much as, most of them, perhaps deserve to be behind bars for some reasons, the sisterhood in prison still needs to be shown love,” she said.

She noted that, benevolent individuals, retail and gift shops, and the Leo of Lions Club supported the group with some of the items.

Miss Acorlor added that as a group ,they were inspired by the stories of these inmates which could serve as lessons for young girls who loiter about in the town particularly at night.

”The purpose of this initiative is to inspire and we are hopeful that the stories of the inmates would inspire our girls out of the streets” she added.

The Queen of Ho Dome, Mama Attrato II, who was at the presentation, urged inmates to take skills training seriously, so that they could become self-reliant when out of confinement.

She commended the GroomDatGirl project and pledged her continuous support in all their activities.

Receiving the items on behalf of the Ghana Prison Service, DSP Beatrice Mensah expressed her profound gratitude for the kindness shown, adding that the items would aid a successful reformation of the inmate.

”i wish to state that your visit and support to this outfit is of blessing which will aid a successful reformation of the inmates” she added.

GroomDatGirl is an initiative by some female media practitioners aimed at helping vulnerable young girls from age 13-20 years in the Ho Municipality who loiter around at night from the hours of 10:00 pm -2:00 am

The objective of the group is to counsel these young girls and provide them with career guidance to help curb these societal menace in the municipality.

So far, four entrepreneurs, D-Reine, a fashion home, Erijem Institute floral design and Culinary Arts, Golden King, a beauty palour and Amevivina Care, producers of soaps, detergents, and body creams have volunteered to train these girls at no cost.

The GroomDatGirl team is jointly spearheaded by Belinda Bredzei, Tina Dzreke, Edward Amenu, Mrs. Yvonne Harlley-Kanyi, and other female media practitioners in the Volta region.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

GISH foundation donates to Volta Red Cross Library

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February 16, 2021

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BY: Akpabli Daniel Yao I Voltaonlinegh.com |

Ghana ICT Skills Hub (GISH) Foundation has donated books and other stationary to the Ghana Red Cross Society library in the Volta Regional capital, Ho, as part of their Ubuntu project activities.

According to Mr. Evans Gyakye, the Content and Programs Manager, GISH foundation is embarking on a program dubbed “Ubuntu” to seek and connect classrooms of different learning and different cultures across borders so that, they can be able to exchange our learning abilities from one place to another.

“We chose the Ghana Red Cross society (GRC) to donate some of the learning materials because Ghana Red cross is a national asset which has connection to many of the schools in Ghana” he stated.

He said, since it relates with humanitarian services, their outfit believed that handling these books to the students through the GRC will enable the students inculcate the habit of reading.

He said the foundation also hopes that, schools in the United Kingdom will be able to have a relationship with schools in Ghana and more especially the deprive ones so that, they will be able to exchange their learning cultures

They noted that, “many students here in Ghana don’t really understand why they have to go to school. In fact there is little pressure to go to school because they would want to be street children who are hustling doing their own stuff outside of school. So this project is going to connect the brains of students to have a desire for school, desire to learn and to know”

Receiving the items, the Regional manager of the Volta Ghana Red Cross Society, Mr. Gershon Koffi Dzokoto, expressed his gratitude to GISH foundation for their kind gesture and appeal to the foundation for more collaborations.

He explained that “The books are going to help our young ones a lot because, before, they have been coming here willing to read but most at times when they come, they don’t find books that will interest them in the office but with the arrival of these material it will help them a lot”

He noted that, GISH has been very kind to the GRC adding that, the book will go a long way to help the young ones as it is the expectation of the office that, their library is going to be enriched which in effect is also going to help the youth groups who always come to ask for books to study.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com