I Never Lied about 1D1F Initiative in South Tongu-DCE

July 7, 2019

By: Tabitha Kugbonu | Voltaonlinegh |

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for South Tongu in the Volta Region, Emmanuel Louis Agama has insisted that through the district assembly, a banana farm project was awarded to RADIKAL Ghana, an Indian company in line with government’s 1 District-1 Factory (1D1F) initiative.

Mr. Agama said he was not lying to the good people of the district when he said his administration had lobbied for development projects including the banana farm project to come to the district.

In October 2018, the DCE together with DCEs for Central Tongu and Ada East cut sod for the commencement of a 5,000-acre banana farm at Kpotame in the district aimed at giving employment to over 600 indigenous citizens for the first phase which would be mainly for export purposes. There was to be a second phase which would process the banana from the farm into chewing gum among others for local consumption and for export.

Meanwhile, almost a year later, nothing could be seen by the residents and this got most of them talking and wondering if indeed the project was really under the government’s flagship programme, the 1D1F especially when the company was wholly private-owned.

The comments by the residents became even louder when the DCE during the Volta Regional Town Hall Meeting on Friday, June 28 at Ho Technical University, touted his tenure’s achievements in bringing development projects to the area and among other things, referred to the banana farm project.

In reaction, Mr. Agama told Voltaonlinegh that the project was a Public-Private Partnership and assured the people that work had already started on the land and called on those playing politics with the issue to stop.

He explained that the 1D1F did not mean that government would establish these factories but rather, it would partner with private entities and provide the enabling environment to facilitate the establishment of these factories just as the South Tongu District Assembly was providing support to the banana plantation by making it possible for a tractor to plough the land with pumping of water from the Volta Lake into the farm ongoing.

According to him, these activities had been facilitated by the assembly to ensure that the project came into being to provide jobs for the teeming youth in the area and said that was what the 1D1f initiative was all about.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Bawumia Honours Ramadan Tour Promise to Kwamekrom Muslims

Volta Online

July 7, 2019

By: Benjamin Owusu | Voltaonlinegh |

The Vice President of the Republic, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has honoured his Ramadan tour promise by donating an amount of GH¢10,000 to the Muslim community in Kwamekrom, Biakoye District of the Oti Region.

The donation on Friday, July 5 was in fulfillment of a promise the Vice President made towards the renovation of Kwamekrom Central Mosque when he paid a special visit to the region as part of his nationwide Ramadan tour.

Presenting the money on behalf of the Vice President, the Deputy Minister, Oti Region, Maxwell Kofi Blagodzi indicated that religion was a major tool for transforming Ghana and the government would continue to support all religions in Ghana.

Mr. Blagodzi entreated the Muslim faithful in the area to rally behind the President AKufo-Addo led administration because it had their welfare at heart adding, the establishment of the Zongo Development Fund was the evidence.

District Chief Executive (DCE), for Biakoye, Comfort Attah urged the Muslim community to continue to support Nana Akufo-Addo’s government to affirm government decision and commitment towards developing zongos.

Madam Attah further disclosed that the assembly was working hard to disburse its first MASLOC loan to empower women in the area to improve upon their living conditions.

Speaking in an interview with Voltaonlinegh, the assembly member for Kwamekrom, Ibrahim Amidu on behalf of the Muslim community, thanked the Vice President Alhaji Dr. Bawumia for fulfilling his promise within a short period of time and promised to make good use of the donation to serve the intended purpose.

He appealed to the government to create sustainable jobs for the youth to eliminate poverty among them.

Chief Imam for Kwamekrom, Omar Alhassan also thanked Dr. Bawumia for fulfilling his promise and pledged their support for the New Patriotic Party in the 2020 general elections.

Leader of the Muslim women’s wing, Ibrahim Zaria, also pleaded with the DCE to create jobs for the youth in the area to curb criminal activities and to support women with the MASLOC loans to enable them improve on their living standards.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Kpando MP Calls for One Old Student-One Desk/Bed

Volta Online

July 7, 2019

By: Rita Kafui Nedjoh | Voltaonlinegh |

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Kpando, Dela Sowah has charged old students of Bishop Herman College (BIHECO), Kpando in the Volta Region to give back to their alma mater and called for a “One Old Student-One Desk/Bed” campaign to help develop the school.

Hon. Sowah noted that government alone could not provide the needed infrastructure to all schools in the country hence, the need for old students to also support their former senior high schools (SHS) with infrastructure to reduce the congestion in the schools.

She said with the introduction of government’s flagship programme, the Free SHS policy and subsequently the double track system, there was the need for old students to join hands with school managements to improve academic work and provide conducive environment for teaching and learning.

The MP made the call at the 67th Speech and Prize Giving Day celebration at the premises of BIHECO themed, “Discipline, Hard work and Creativity: Key to Academic Excellence.”

Also in attendance were District Chief Executive (DCE) for North Dayi, Kudzo Attah, DCE for Adaklu, Donkor Phanuel Kadey, representatives of PHOGA (1991/1992), old students of Ola SHS among others.

President of the 1991-1993 (sponsoring year group) of the Bishop Herman Old Boys Union (BHOBU), Fred Avornyo called on government to consider old students as partners in the affairs of the school and not sideline them in decision making.

Mr. Avornyo also urged the staff to be very dedicated and make it their uncompromising goal to produce best students adding that, “Bishop Herman College is a great school and that legacy must be carried on, not only in terms of good grades but total development of students.”

He noted that as part of contributions from the 1993 year group, they instituted and christened a special award termed “The Monsignor Eleeza Award” to be given to exemplary an student who is disciplined and committed to all school activities aimed at immortalising the name of the former headmaster of BIHECO.

Headmaster of the school, Mathias Setornyo Attimah commended the government, the MP and BHOBU for their immense contribution and support towards the academic and infrastructure development of BIHECO over the years.

Mr. Attimah however, noted that the school was faced with some challenges and appealed for 1,000 mono desks, a well equipped Visual Arts Department, rehabilitation of dormitories, a 70-seater school bus, a pick-up vehicle and laboratory equipment to help improve on academic work and infrastructure development of the school.

Meanwhile, the 1992-1994/O/A level group who received the baton for the sponsorship of the next (the 68^th) celebration, donated 100 3/1 metal beds and 500 mono desks and books to the school.

President of the year group, Francis Dela Ofori said they had accepted the baton and promised to do more than their predecessors.

The celebration saw some students, teaching and non-teaching staff awarded with plaques, books, phones, laptops, refrigerators and cash prizes for their hard work and commitment to the school.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Edem Criticises New Parliamentary Chamber in New Release

Volta Online

July 6, 2019

By: Albert Kuzor | Voltaonlinegh |

Volta Regime Music Group (VRMG) Boss, Edem has waded into the controversial new parliamentary chamber issue by advising the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo against same through his new rap song, Drop that Chamber.

The song (in pidgin English) released in the night of July 4, provided reasons why government must forgo its decision to build new parliamentary chamber worth $200M in favour of providing more pressing needs for the citizenry.

The rapper in his first lines drew the President’s attention to reconsider building the parliamentary chamber saying, “I be your son I no for lie to you.”

Edem in his trending song called on the President to consider the poor and deliver his promises made to Ghanaians and highlighted the plights of the people saying, “fuel price dey high dumsor still dey dollar get wahala I go biz you another day” while adding, “One District-One Factory that be the matter you talk, you for do am” in a deep voice.

Edem in Drop that Chamber, asked the President to instead, construct roads, see to the energy crisis, provide decent accommodation, create jobs, and remove schools under trees.

The award-winning rapper in the chorus suggested that the parliamentary chamber was not needed at a time when majority of Ghanaians were facing lots of developmental challenges emphasising, “drop the chamber drop the chamber, ebi want ebi want eno bi need.”

The famous rapper, born Denning Edem Hotor, in his finishing lines wanted the President to make efforts that would improve the living conditions of his people advising, “any move we go make, poverty we for defeat.”

Edem in a dramatic twist, called on Ghana’s award winning radio broadcaster, Kwame Sefa Kayi to “buy some incubators so babies go survive make the momies no be wailers

About the 450-seater Chamber Project

Ghana’s Parliament is considering building a new modern chamber to serve the lawmakers. Parliamentary Service Board in the past few days had received the architectural work for the new chamber from the same person who designed the National Cathedral, David Frank Adjaye.

The 450-seater chamber is expected to have a mosque, church hall, museum and restaurant, attached to the current 275-seater capacity chamber.

Meanwhile, the new chamber has received uproar from many Ghanaians including celebrities, young and old, and civil society organisations who are suggesting that monies for the project can redeem the country from several challenges most especially in the areas of road construction, removing schools under trees and creating jobs.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

MTN Powers Voltaonlinegh with a TurboNet Router

Volta Online

July 5, 2019

By: KALD | Voltaonlinegh.com |

Your credible regional news and information hub, Voltaonlinegh has received a boost for its operations with a donation of a high speed Internet router from telecom giants, MTN Ghana.

The recently outdoored MTN TurboNet device, was gifted to the news outlet during the 2019 annual Regional Editors’ forum, organised by the country’s largest telecom operator.

Mr. Sam Koranteng, MTN Corporate Services Executive, who presented the equipment on Wednesday, explained, the TurboNet was designed to provide reliable lightspeed 4G internet connectivity to small and medium enterprises as well as homes.

The plug and play device, which connects up to 32 devices at-a-go, was also presented to the Volta chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA-Volta) to be installed at its recently commissioned Press Centre in Ho.

Mr. Koranteng, said the gesture was in recognition of the work of the media in the region and also to cement the already cordial relationship between the two entities, i.e. the media and MTN.

Touching on other innovations from the staples of the telecom leader, the Corporate Services Executive mentioned, the extension of fibre broadband services to homes, which they intend to scale up to cover about 45,000 homes by end of 2019.

He noted that, MTN was investing as much 160 million dollars in capital expenditure this year to upgrade, expand and improve its network across the country.

This, according to Mr. Samuel Duku, MTN Network Manager for Volta/Eastern, would see the rolling out of hundreds of cell sites, including 600 4G sites, 350 new greenfield and 100 rural sites.

He also hinted of plans to rectify ‘known gaps’ in the network, which makes call connectivity in parts of the regional capital, Ho quite difficult for susbscribers.

This areas include, Poly down, Area 52, Lokoe Diamond cement, Godokpui regional capital, and barracks New town.

Meanwhile, MTN in 2018 has paid about of GHS 1.3 billion in taxes and GHS184 million regulatory charges to government through the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), National Communication Authority (NCA) and the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC).

This, earned the telecom giant a Platinum Award from GRA as a good corporate citizen and the highest tax payer for 2018.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

MTN Holds 2019 Editors Forum in Ho

Volta Online

July 4, 2019

A cross section of journalists at the forum

By: Ewoenam Kpodo | Voltaonlinegh |

Editors Forum, one of the avenues that MTN, telecommunication giants in Ghana, engages to solicit feedback from the public in order to provide specific products to suit its customers and improve upon its services, came off at Volta Serene Hotel in the Volta Regional capital, Ho.

The forum which is an annual event brought together senior media practitioners from various parts of Volta/Oti Region to learn of MTN’S operations in the region, amplify the challenges of customers for redress and share ideas on the way forward to benefit both the company and the customer.

Speaking at the event on Wednesday, July 3, Corporate Services Executive, MTN Ghana, Sam Koranteng gave an operational review and the innovations and technologies the company had deployed from 2018 till now and what it planned for the year ahead with focus on delighting the customer.

Mr. Koranteng disclosed that MTN Ghana invested a total amount of Gh¢825 million in Network Technology and IT Systems and implemented 600 2G, 1,100 3G and 250 4G sites among others aimed at delivering quality service to their customers.

He touted the company’s achievement including being declared the Best Network in Ghana, exceeding the 20 million in total customers on the network and the only Ghanaian company to achieve Investor in People (IIP) Gold status which all helped earn the company over 45 national and global awards.

The Corporate Services Executive said MTN was still in the business of leading innovations in the sector, mentioning 4G+ as “another first for MTN” by which the company among other things, delivered speeds of up to 300Mbps while deploying 1,092 4G LTE sites by March 2019 with 600 of those 4G sites located across the country especially regional capitals and key towns and as well, “plans for full national coverage ongoing.”

He also touched on some completed projects in the Volta Region through the social responsibility wing of the company, MTN Ghana Foundation which included science sets distribution at Akatsi, Bright Scholarships for students, Kpedze Health Center, Tsito SHS Library, scholarship for persons with disability at St Theresa School, Abor aimed at giving back to society.

Network Manager for Volta/Eastern, MTN, Samuel Duku mentioned fibre cuts which mostly resulted from road construction works (with less cases recorded in Volta Region recently) as well as erratic power supply, battery theft and fading on microwave transmission infrastructure as some major challenges confronting the company.

Acting Commercial Manager, Volta/Eastern, Raymond Tibson spent considerable time taking participants through MTN Mobile Money (MoMo) service which has been around for 10 years and touched on consumer promotions which set aside handsome rewards for customers to mark the 10^th anniversary of the service.

Mr. Tibson admitted the company’s knowledge of MoMo fraud and indicated that it had taken some measures to deal with it which included the re-introduction of allowing cash out, blocking the wallets of agents for repeated cash-out attempts, introduction of agents IDs and QR Codes and consumer lens radio interviews.

He said there was no way these fraudsters could be successful without the owners’ initiatives and so, advised that they look out for cash in SMS fraud, airtime reversal fraud among others and while asking customers to always check their account balance after receiving payment coming from MoMo, keep pin codes confidential, read confirmation messages before finalising cash out processes, and never to enter pin codes in response to messages unless performing transactions and more importantly, seek clarity from MTN offices when in doubt.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

MTN Briefs Regional Minister on Operations in Volta

Volta Online

July 4, 2019

By: Ewoenam Kpodo | Voltaonlinegh |

A team from the regional and head offices of MTN Ghana led by Enyonam Adinyira, in charge of Regulatory Affairs has called on the Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa for briefings on some of the company’s products and activities aimed at impacting positively on the people of the region and the nation as a whole.

The visit on Wednesday, July 3 was necessitated by the telecommunication giants’ desire to touch base with the political leadership of the region every year.

The team spoke about projects and programmes designed by the company with about 21 million subscribers purposely to delight its customer and give back to society in the areas of health, education and economic empowerment through its social responsibility wing, MTN Ghana Foundation.

In terms of education, the team revealed that there were 22 students from the region awarded scholarships by MTN. Similarly, 9 teachers also benefitted from some scholarship packages among others.

Socially, the company has been providing sponsorship packages for festivals in the region including Asogli Te Za and Hogbetsotsoza of the Anlos while noting there were two people from the region among the finalists in the MTN Heroes of Change, Season 5.

Network Manager for Volta/ Eastern, MTN, Samuel Duku disclosed that network coverage in the Volta had been expanded to rural areas with the Rural Sites Initiative of MTN whereby Solar Energy was used to power cell sites and assured that additional sites would be constructed in 2020 to improve on coverage.

Mr. Duku lamented the company’s challenge of fibre cuts on the part of especially road contractors and appealed that the technical team of MTN be made aware of road construction works and also allowed to work with the contractors to address the challenge.

He asked for the harmonisation of fees and charges of the various municipal/district assemblies and regional departments and agencies which have something to do with Right of Way and Permitting saying, “if this is done early enough and made known to MTN,” it would aid the company in budgeting.

Acting Volta/Eastern Commercial Manager, MTN, Raymond Gibson spoke on some of the company’s products including KaiOs (MTN smart feature phone),Turbonet (a router which can take up to 32 devices), and Mobile Money (MoMo).

Mr. Tibson cautioned customers to beware of fraudsters in order not to fall victims, insisting that under no circumstances should they give out their MoMo pin numbers to people and that they should regularly change their numbers.

Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa acknowledged that MTN Ghana was a major contributor to the development of the country.

Dr. Letsa admitted having an excellent working relationship with the officers of MTN in the region and appreciated the good work of the company, entreating them to continue same, for they have the full support of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC).

He said he had taken notice of their challenges and assured that the VRCC would work towards having the challenges addressed.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Oti Region Pensioners Appeal for Allowance Increase

Volta Online

July 4, 2019

By: Benjamin Owusu |Voltaonlinegh |

The Oti Region branch of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust ( SSNIT ) Pensioners Association, has appealed to government to adjust their monthly allowance upwards to enable them improve upon their living standard.

The Association on Monday, July 1, said SSNIT had invested their contributions and was making a lot of profit hence the need for the Trust to give pensioners bigger dividends.

Speaking to Voltaonlinegh, Chairman of the Association, Pius Amewu complained that most of them earned less than GH¢300.00 as monthly allowance which he described as woefully inadequate.

Mr. Amewu added that the Association was established as a charity fund to help pensioners cater for their health needs but has since been struggling to meet its target since there was not enough health facility in the Oti Region to cater for their health needs.

He made this known when they observed senior citizens day celebration in the Nkwanta South Municipality.

He therefore, appealed to government to consider increasing their monthly allowances allocated to them to cushion their lives in order for them to live a decent life.

Meanwhile, some pensioners who spoke in an interview pleaded with public servants to be more dedicated to their work and avoid spending much time with their mobile phone while at work to attain the blessing of God.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Rotary Club of Ho Commissions Water Project in Fievie

Volta Online

July 2, 2019

By: Rita Kafui Nedjoh | Voltaonlinegh |

The Rotrary Club of Ho in partnership with Rotary Club of Manchester has commissioned a water project at a cost of $37,000 to provide potable water for the people of Fievie Dugame and its environs in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region.

Fievie, the traditional capital of Sogakope is a farming community where indigenes involve in crop and animal farming.

Before the commissioning of the project, the community had two sources of water, a dam constructed in 1961 which is shared by both humans and animals and the Volta River which is some distance away from the community.

Though the Assembly provided pipe-borne water to the community some time ago, the pipelines were only two inches, causing difficulty in flow of water to the community.

Founder of Kids Foundation, Joseph Kove through the Rotary Club of Manchester planned to provide water to Fieve and in 2016, rolled on the Rotary Club of Ho, a local rotary club to secure a global grant for the project.

President of Rotary Club of Ho, Joseph Dzamesi indicated that the two inches pipes provided to connect water from Sogakope to Fievie was inadequate and so, the club in collaboration with contractors from the Ghana Water Company decided to make some changes in the project plan to include expansion of the pipelines to three inches to ensure consistent flow of water to the community.

“The initial need assessment for the water project basically called for the provision of four elevated water tanks with a total of about 20,000 litres of water and extending water to other nearby communities but at the time of getting the grant for the project, water was not flowing in Fievie hence the change in the project plan,” Mr. Dzamesi noted.

He said the club still provided four elevated tanks of 40,000-litre water storage to help ensure enough water supply for the people of Fievie and the surrounding communities.

Mr. Dzamesi hinted that for purposes of sustainability of rotary club-funded projects, a second phase of the project would include training of selected individuals to manage the project in order to raise fund to pay water bills to keep the water flowing adding, galvanized fencing with chippings for the ground would be provided to secure the project.

President of Rotary Club of Manchester, Robin Graham noted that, “the kind heart and good Samaritan act of Mr. Joseph Kove is what has changed the lives of the people of Fievie.”

Mr. Graham said his friend, Adell Harper, a nursery teacher and her students helped to raise fund for the project by dropping a coin in a money box any time they fetched water to drink at home and school.

He commended the Rotary Club of Ho and the Chief and people of Fievie for their support and appealed to the community to ensure the sustainability of the project.

Chief of Fievie Dugame, Togbe Ayitey Awaga IV expressed his profound gratitude to Mr. Kove, the rotary clubs of Manchester and Ho for their immense contribution and support.

Togbe Awaga said the issue of good drinking water has been a headache to the Fievie community and described the kind act of the rotary clubs as an end to their nightmare while assuring that the project would be well taken care of.

Meanwhile, the President of Rotary Club of Manchester, Mr. Graham was conferred with the title of Togbe Yingor I and his colleague Adell Harper, Mama Dunenyo I.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Awusco PTA Seeks Support to Complete Dinning hall Project

Volta Online

July 2, 2019

The stalled Dinning hall project initiated by the PTA — The stalled Dinning hall project

By: KALD | Voltaonlinegh.com |

In a quest to complement government’s effort in providing adequate infrastructure to enhance quality education delivery, the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) of Awudome Senior High School in the Ho West district has initiated a dinning hall project in the school.

The 2000-capacity hall, is intended to take off the pressure on the existing dinning hall, which now serve more than double, the initial 450 student capacity.

Madam Felicity Ahiafianyo, PTA chairperson told Voltaonlinegh.com, on sideline of a PTA meeting over the weekend that, the project, which begun in 2017, came to a standstill as a result of a temporarily ban on the collection of PTA dues by the Ghana Education Service.

But after several engagements between the National council of PTAs and the GES, she noted that, new modalities were reached for subsequent collection of PTA levies, which would not affect academic activities in the schools.

Per the new modalities, the PTA would use its own systems to collect the levies, independent of the schools’ administrative structures, while no student would be sent home for non-payment of such levies, in accordance with GES directives, madam Ahiafianyo explained.

As a result, parents at the just ended meeting, resolved to resume contributions towards the dinning hall project, which would be collected directly by the association through Mobile Money and bankers draft.

Appeal

That notwithstanding, the PTA chair appealed for external support from benevolent individuals and organisations to aid the early completion of the project.

According her, they need building materials including bags of cement and roofing sheets to help make the structure inhabitable for the about 2000 student population within the shortest possible time.

“We want to give some respite to our children as soon as possible, because the inconveniences they experience during dinning is very unpleasant,” she stated and further appealed for more beds and classroom furniture to meet the increased students numbers.

Appreciation

The Awusco Headmaster, Mr. Emmanuesl Amu in his address to the gathering, acknowledged the immense support of the PTA towards the provision of infrastructure and other facilities in the school over the years.

He commended and encouraged the parents not to rest on their oars, but continue to support the education of their wards, as a shared responsibility.

The headmaster also expressed gratitude to Mr. Joe Ayivor popularly known as Afelotto for donating 300 bags of cement to support the construction of a fence wall around the school, to safegaurd life and properties.

Similarly, he thanked government for allocating to the school, two of the SHSs intervention projects, i.e. a boys dormitory and a classroom block, which are currently under construction.

Boys dormitory being constructed by government

Mr. Amu further assured parents of the school’s management commitment towards giving their wards, quality education and good moral upbringing.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

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