Dededo Benefits CHPS Compound from Japan Government’s Grant

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August 11, 2019

By: Abert Kuzor | Voltaonlinegh

As part of efforts to achieve goal number 3 of the United Nations Sustainable Developmental Goals, the government and people of Japan have built an ultra-modern Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound at Dededo, a farming community in the Ho West District of the Volta Region.

The about $90,000 facility with an adjoining four apartment nurses’ quarters (fully furnished), formed part of eight projects funded by the Japanese Government’s Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGHSP) across the country.

Speaking at a durbar to commission the facility, the Chief of the town, Togbe Azadagli Dededo I was full of appreciation and prayed the good Lord to bless the donors.

Hon. Bedzrah (right), Togbe Dededo I and Amb. Himeno commissioning the project

Togbe Dededo indicated that health delivery in Dededo, made up of over five communities with a population of about ten thousand was a challenge due to inadequate health facilities, befitting accommodation for staff, equipment, proximity among other hindrances.

He noted that there was just one nurse with her assistant providing health care for the entire population in an outmoded structure coupled with lack of working equipment which compelled residents to travel to Asikuma, Peki, Tsito or Ho which are distances away from the community for health care.

Togbe Azadagli disclosed that the community made some attempt to improve the situation but failed, thus, approached Volta-based non-governmental organisation called Avatime Gemi-Otago Eco Tourism Society (AGOETOUSO) for help.

He said AGOETOUSO through the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, made a report to the Japanese Government leading to the release of the grant for construction of the facility in 2018.

The Chief called on the government and the Ghana Health Service to upgrade the CHPS compound to a clinic or hospital status to ensure quality health delivery to the growing population of the area and appealed to management of Zoomlion Company Limited to provide the community with waste bin to help improve sanitation.

Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Tsutomo Himeno who commissioned the facility was full of joy and commended the community for the spirit of communal labour saying, the project was motivated by Japan’s relationship with Ghana, the spirit of communal labour exhibited by the people of Dededo and the day to day collaboration of their MP, Hon. Bedzrah.

Amb. Himeno said health was needed in every aspect of life hence government and people of Japan were ready to contribute to ensure the well-being of the people and urged Dededo resident to take good care of the facility in order to motivate the Japan government to do more.

MP for the area, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah assured of his readiness to support constituents and work with chiefs and people of Dededo to ensure the right thing was done always.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

NDC Volta Gears into Campaign Mood

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Volta Online

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August 11, 2019

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By: Sepenyo Dzokoto | Voltaonlinegh |

The National Democratic Congress (NDC), Volta Region has commenced interactions with targeted groups in readiness for campaigning to oust the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2020 elections.

The first of such overtures was to the Volta Regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) on Thursday at the Press Centre in Ho.

Regional NDC Chairman, Henry Ametefe told executives and some selected members of the Association that the Party was about “hitting the ground running,” preaching its “transformational agenda,” and expected the messages to seep through the media to target groups.

Mr. Ametefe stressed that the party regarded the grouping of journalists as a key stakeholder in national development.

He said the Volta NDC already had some good bonding with journalists covering the region, which it was endeavouring to sustain and improve.

He said the NDC was an ardent supporter of press freedom in essence and not rhetorically.

Chairman of Volta GJA, A.B. Kafui Kanyi expressed worry about politicians reflecting pettiness in their opinions about journalists.

Mr. Kanyi wondered why a picture at a public function showing a journalist with a regional minister should ignite murmurings about that journalist’s political leaning.

He said the same journalist was branded differently by another political party for authoring a news item deemed critical of it.

Journalists in their contribution during interactions, stressed the role of the media to objectively inform, educate and analyse happenings, always reflecting and championing the national interest.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

NABCO Trainees to Start National Digital Addressing System Project

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August 9, 2019

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By: Rita Kafui Nedjoh | Voltaonlinegh |

The Volta Regional branch of the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) has trained 135 research and training corps (RTCs) from the 25 districts of the Volta/Oti Region to kick-start the implementation of the National Digital Property Addressing System (NDPAS) project.

The trainees with different qualifications in Information Technology (IT) were trained in installation and registration of the app with the use of a tablet which will be used for data collection and to identify and tag properties across the region with Digital Address plates.

The project which is scheduled to last for six weeks will engage 12,750 NABCO trainees nationwide with 1,250 of them in the Volta/Oti Region out of which 50 will be posted to each district.

Addressing the media after the training, a member of the technical team, Vera Dankwa noted that the project was targeted at tagging four million houses across the country with their house number, digital address and a street name plates.

Madam Dankwa explained that the project was aimed at eliminating the system where landmarks and inscriptions were used to give directions to one’s house and to help in revenue generation, identification of locations for emergency service delivery as well as facilitation of smooth business transactions.

She differentiated between the previous GPS address generated by an individual and the new Digital address to be generated by the trainees saying, the previous code was basically not verified after generating the code in the system by an individual hence the work of the trainees to generate the GPS of the house, verify and tag the property with a digital address plate.

The Volta Regional Coordinator for NABCO, David Lovely Davis noted that the training section engaged three research and training corps, a district coordinator, and a planning or technical officer each from every district who were expected to go back and train the Civic Corps or trainees in their various districts to kick-start the national digital addressing system.

Mr. Davis said NABCO was just providing the workforce for the project expected be launched on Thursday, August 8, 2019 by the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in Accra, adding that the trainees were being paid the same stipend they are entitled to by the government.

He explained that the trainees would be moving from house to house with the gadgets given to them, standing at specific locations where the app will generate the various information required to be sent to the central system for the data to be managed.

The NDPAS was introduced by President Akufo-Addo in 2017 aimed at generating a unique code for houses, businesses, streets and properties with a geographical area in order for easy identification and quick response in cases of emergency.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

I’ll Do a Clean Campaign Devoid of Insults-Parliamentary Aspirant

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August 6, 2019

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By: Tabitha Kugbonu | Voltaonlinegh |

Research Assistant to Senior Advisor to the President and Parliamentary aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the South Tongu Constituency, Innocent Lynford Kwesi Tetteh popularly known as “Chief Supremo” has said he would eschew insults from his political activities.

Mr. Tetteh indicated that per his experiences in politics, he would focus on how best to move the South Tongu Constituency forward in terms of development rather than playing politics of insults.

Chief Supremo who was speaking to Voltaonlinegh after filing his nomination form over the weekend said he was the best candidate to represent the constituents in Parliament as he had their interest at heart.

He mentioned some achievements in that regard which included recruiting some people into the security agencies, helping to donate some equipment to Sogakope District Hospital and other developmental projects he had lobbied for as an individual in the district.

Mr. Tetteh was certain that with his lobbying skills, when wins the primaries and gets elected as the Member of Parliament for the area, his vision of “New Leader, New Vision and New Direction”, would make South Tongu District receive its fair share of the national cake.

He called on the other two aspirants in the upcoming NPP Parliamentary primaries in the constituency to carry out a clean campaign in the interest of the party.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Let’s Desist from Politics of Acrimony and Intimidation-Parliamentary Aspirant

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August 5, 2019

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By: Rita Kafui Nedjoh | Voltaonlinegh |

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary aspirant for Anlo Constituency, Dr. Bless Dzakadzi has advised his political opponents to avoid politics of acrimony and intimidation and rather focus on the development of their communities and the country.

Dr. Dzakadzi gave the advice when he addressed the media after he filed his nomination at the NPP office in Anloga to contest in the upcoming NPP Parliamentary primaries in September.

He noted that the Anloga District being an infant district deserved to have a leader with vision to lobby for developmental projects to develop the district and argued that he was the right choice for the job.

He said even though the Anlo Constituency is acclaimed to be dominated by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), he was prepared and ready to change the tradition and canvass votes for the NPP by getting everyone involved to ensure development of Anloga.

The lecturer said when given the nod, his focus would be on bringing jobs to the people through establishing a food processing factory in the constituency for local consumption and for export, thus, ending the post-harvest loss.

He explained that “prior to my aspiration I went to Norway to lobby a company in Norway to come and establish some factories in the constituency but land tenancy became the problem and I think it is now time to reactivate that initiative to give employment to the youth and also help the farmers to produce more.”

Dr. Dzakadzi noted that the time had come to change the face of politics in Anloga, a change of focus and dynamism and a change to develop the youth saying, he would get the youth developed and empowered to reach greater heights.

“It is time for selflessness and not selfishness, a time for empowerment and not disempowerment, a time for dynamism and change and development of the youth and creating employment opportunities for the youth is what I stand for.”

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Keta MCE Confident of Breaking NDC’s Record Since 1992

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Volta Online

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August 3, 2019

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By: Rita Kafui Nedjoh | Voltaonlinegh |

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Keta and Parliamentary aspirant of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Keta Constituency of the Volta Region, Godwin Edudzi Effah is hopeful that his party will end the dominance of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the area in the 2020 general elections.

Mr. Effah said, “the time has come for the NPP to take the Parliamentary position from the NDC to lobby for developmental projects for the people of Keta.”

The MCE made this known when he submitted his nomination form at the party office in Keta after satisfying requirements to contest the upcoming Parliamentary primaries of the party.

He noted that the NDC has been ruling in Keta since 1992 but the Keta Municipality has since not seen enough development under their leadership hence his move to contest for the Parliamentary seat for the municipality to ensure the needed development.

He called on the people in the area especially women and the youth to vote for him as their Member of Parliament (MP) to change the trend in the constituency and lobby for developmental projects.

The aspiring Parliamentary candidate who is being contested by one other candidate said when given the opportunity to represent the people in Parliament, he would focus on issues such as development of the youth, education, agriculture and employment.

Mr. Effah said as an MP for the area, he would lobby for two tractors for the people of Wego, fertilisers and seedlings for farmers in the constituency adding that he would lobby for more educational materials and infrastructure for the various schools currently lacking them to raise the standard of education in the municipality.

According to him, he was on a mission to develop the municipality as the MCE and was among other things, working on deploying more security personnel to the municipality to increase police visibility to help in fighting and detecting crime thereby ensuring peace and security.

He therefore asked people to endorse him as the MP for the area to continue the work he started and do even more in the interest of Keta.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

NPP Primaries: Peter Amewu Must Be Our MP- Group

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Volta Online

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August 3, 2019

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By: Albert Kuzor | Voltaonlinegh |

Members of a group calling itself Agenda for Development in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta Region have called on Minister for Energy, John Peter Amewu to contest in the upcoming New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary primaries for the Hohoe Constituency.

The group in a press conference mentioned some developmental projects believed to have been initiated by the Minister in the municipal capital, Hohoe and neighbouring communities saying, he was the suitable person to represent the constituency in Parliament to better serve the interest of the constituents.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the group, George Dogbey indicated in the presser that the group which was barely a year old and with membership from across the political divide had observed and examined notable persons in the Hohoe Constituency and settled on Mr. Amewu as the most qualified to advance development in the area.

“There is a new wind blowing in Hohoe, many people believe that it is time Hon John Peter Amewu was given the chance to bring about the needed development to the area. He has proven a track record of a workaholic, someone who loves and cares about his people and someone who when given the slightest opportunity extends his hands towards the development of the area,” he said.

Members of Agenda for Development at the press conference

Mr. Dogbey touched on some initiatives of the Minister which included championing modern solar system street lights across the municipality, funding the renovation of Hohoe Sports Complex and providing jobs for the teeming youth in the constituency over the years.

He added that Mr. Amewu provided financial support to some 400 basic and high school leavers who could not pay their school fee arrears to obtain their certificates, and liaised with the Ministry of Health to convert the Hohoe General Hospital to a regional status following the conversion of the regional hospital in Ho to a teaching Hospital.

The group also known as ‘Dunenyo Haborbor’ noted that they had on two occasions approached Mr. Amewu with the request to contest the Hohoe Parliamentary seat but he showed no interest, thus, compelling them to fall on the media to get the “visionary person” to avail himself.

The group praised the incumbent Member of Parliament for the area, Dr. Bernice Adiku Heloo for her contributions but said it was time for Mr. Amewu to take over from her.

The group members numbering about 500 who came from different parts of the municipality including Alavanyo, Liati and Hohoe with others travelling from Accra for the conference which could be mistaken for a mini durbar were clad in branded T-shirts with photos of Mr. John Peter Amewu.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Church of Pentecost Donates Visibility Post to Police

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Volta Online

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August 2, 2019

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By: Rita Kafui Nedjoh | Voltaonlinegh |

The Church of Pentecost, Ho Area has completed and handed over a police visibility post and a washroom to the Volta Regional Police Command.

The Area Pastor, Apostle Moses Kwame Ahiakor along with other pastors handed over the facilities to the Volta Regional Police Commander, DCOP Edward Oduro-Kwarteng on Wednesday, July 31, in Ho in a short ceremony.

The GH¢12,000 police visibility post project at Mawuli Estate was an initiative of the Ho Area branch of the church while the about GH¢3,000 washroom project at Ho Central Police Station was by the Ho-Dome branch.

The church also donated some blankets, toiletries and detergents to the police to be used at the two facilities.

Area Pastor, Apostle Moses Kwame Ahiakor explained that the church was a stakeholder and needed to support the police provide security and fight crime in their locality and Ghana as a whole.

Apostle Ahiakor indicated that the church deemed it appropriate to take the initiative after a tent which was mounted at the site as the police visibility post was ripped off by rains some time ago compelling the police to stop coming to the area.

On the urinal, the Area Pastor said “cleanliness is next to Godliness” hence the decision to renovate the structure.

He said the church realised that members of the community were urinating around which was unhygienic making the area uncomfortable for the police to stay and discharge their duties.

He commended the police for ensuring peace and security in the municipality and asked that they keep it up while calling for the maintenance of the facilities to make them stand the test of time and serve the purpose for which they were constructed.

Volta Regional Police Commander, DCOP Edward Oduro-Kwarteng who commissioned the facilities commended the Church of Pentecost for their immense support for the Ghana Police Service and assured that the facilities would be maintained and used for their intended purposes.

DCOP Oduro-Kwarteng called on other faith-based institutions and individuals to emulate the gesture of the church to support the police to help them provide security and ensure peace in the region.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Gender Dept Holds Girls Empowerment Camp, Calls for Action

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Volta Online

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August 2, 2019

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By: Ewoenam Kpodo | Voltaonlinegh |

The Volta Regional Director, Department of Gender, Lena Alai has called for concerted efforts by key stakeholders especially parents and guardians to help empower girl children in the region to guarantee the future of the region and the country at large in terms of human resource.

Madam Alai bemoaned Volta Region currently recording first position in teenage pregnancy prevalence in the country as “a very bad story” which needed to be addressed through empowering the girls with the right information to ensure they make the right choices.

She warned that if nothing was done to mitigate the increasing rate of teenage girls becoming pregnant, “at the end of it, the poverty cycle gets intensified” and the region would ultimately suffer “because these children coming from dysfunctional families will grow up in some ways and cannot develop completely to contribute to the development of the society.”

Madam Alai said even if the girls would not further their education, they should learn skills to be self-reliant.

“There are skills these girls can learn so that they can fend for themselves. We know that some of these girls who became pregnant needed little little things like pad for example and that’s how come they had fallen victims to boys and/or men.”

The Director was speaking on the sidelines of a 2-day Girls’ Camp for out of school adolescents held on July 30 and 31 at Ave Dakpa Senior High School in the Akatsi North District of the Volta Region.

The camp organised by the Department of Gender under the auspices of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council formed part of its implementation of the 7^th Country programme of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to educate girls on their reproductive rights to empower them make the right choices for a brighter future.

The mentoring camp which had about 60 adolescent girls, teenage mothers and pregnant teenagers drawn from Ho, Agotime-Ziope and Akatsi North districts, saw various activities and presentations on sexually transmitted infections (STIs), sexual and gender-based violence in schools and community, meeting with role models, open forum, introduction to vocational skills, film shows among others.

Project Officer at Savana Signatures, a non-government organisation, Richard Bonny who was the resource person educated the campers on how to take proper care of themselves and shun promiscuity to pursue their education/vocation to the highest level devoid of any obstruction.

Mr. Bonny insisted that those sexually active girls who would at all cost indulge in sexual activities use condoms to prevent them from becoming pregnant and contracting STIs but added that the best way was to stay away from sex.

He introduced the girls to SHE+, a mobile platform created by Savana Signatures to provide opportunity for young people in Ghana to access private and confidential Sexual Reproductive and Health Rights information and services through direct interaction with health professionals.

Akatsi North District Girl Child Education Officer, Augustina Aku Modzakah called for self control among teenage girls saying, without it, girls could sleep with anything as they climbed ladders in life which they would later suffer for.

Madam Modzakah observed that though there were numerous factors contributing to teenage pregnancy including broken homes, poverty and lack of parental control, girls needed self control to surmount such challenges else the future would be bleak as there would not only be broken homes but “scattered and flying homes.”

She disclosed that there were school-based facilitators in the schools taking girls through money-generating activities in order to support themselves financially “so that those of them who follow men just because of pad, those issues can also be things of the past,” to ensure Akatsi North did not remain on top of the district teenage pregnancy league in the region.

She appealed to teachers and peers of pregnant teenagers to make the school environment friendly for them so they could remain in school saying, some of these pregnancies were by accident while advising pregnant girls to overlook their current situation, regain their confidence and resolve to make their dreams come true.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Be Guided by Motto of ‘Service with Integrity’ at All Times – COP Yeboah

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August 1, 2019

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By: Rita Kafui Nedjoh | Voltaonlinegh |

The Director-General Administration of the Ghana Police Service, COP Ken Yeboah has called on recruits to at all times be accountable for their actions to the people they serve and be guided by the motto of the Service in performing their duties.

COP Yeboah said, “at all times, be guided by the motto of the service, ‘Service with Integrity’ which calls for honesty, respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights, professionalism, dedication, effectiveness and efficiency.”

He made the call at the passing out parade of 141 new recruits who underwent a six-month intensive training at the Ho Police Training School in the Volta Region on Tuesday, July 30, 2019.

The all-male recruit squad was trained in Criminal Law and Investigation, Community Policing, Practical Police Duties, Criminal Procedure, Law and Evidence, Basic Officer Skills, Police Service Instructions, Arts and Decrees, Professional Policing Ethics and Report Writing.

Other academic disciplines included English and French language, Fundamental Human Right, Child Friendly Policing, Map Reading, First Aid, Client Care and Weapon Training.

COP Yeboah who reviewed the parade stated that the unprofessional conducts exhibited by some personnel in the Service such as extortion and brutality had resulted in loss of public confidence in the Service hence bringing the image of the Ghana Police Service into disrepute.

He however, charged the new recruits to be agents of change to strive and uplift the image of the Service, increase public confidence and coherent partnership with the public.

The Director-General indicated that crime prevention was a shared responsibility and that the public must take it upon themselves to feed the Police with information which would assist them in providing security for the citizenry.

He congratulated the recruits for a successful completion of their training while warning that people whose conducts and performances would be recorded contrary to the ethical and professional expertise of the Service during their 18-month probation period would be discharged and dismissed.

Deserving recruits were awarded in the various disciplines with Randolph Alexander awarded the overall best trainee.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com