A driver with the Amedzofe Technical School is reportedly in critical condition at the hospital, after a bus load of students he was transporting plunged into a deep valley on the mountaineous Amedzofe Road in the Ho West district.
The students were said to be returning from an ongoing inter schools sports festival in Ho when the accident occurred late Tuesday afternoon.
Information picked by Voltaonlinegh.com, suggested that, the school bus was climbing the steep road to Amedzofe when it suddenly began to reverse, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle, leading to it falling off into the valley.
This has left dozens of students on board the bus with various degrees of injury, with that of the driver said to be the most severe.
They are however responding to treatment at the Ho Municipal hospital, where they later sent for medical attention.
Some 40 youth drawn from parts of Volta Region are undergoing skills training under 21 Days of Y’ello Care campaign, MTN’s Corporate Social Responsibility.
Twenty of the youth are receive training in Digital Marketing, 10 in Bead Making and the rest in Make-up Artistry.
The training which started on Monday June 10 at Ho Municipal Digital Centre saw the enthusiastic youth in their best moods ready for the skills acquisition.
One of them, Promise Afari who enrolled for the Make-up Artistry module said she had looked forward for a time when she would have that training and become a great Make-up Artiste in future and so, expressed gratitude for MTN 21 Days of Y’ello Care for giving her and her colleagues such a great opportunity.
The 10-day training by MTN in partnership with National Youth Authority (NYA) and Ho Municipal Assembly and expected to empower the youth by equipping them with skills to earn them a livelihood, is in line with this year’s theme, “Creating a Brighter Future for our Youth”.
Participants being briefed before the training
The 21 Days of Y’ello Care is a 21-day long staff volunteerism programme in which thousands of MTNers across the 21 operating countries give their time to touch the lives of people in their various markets.
Speaking at the launch of the training, Regional Director of NYA, Yao Semorde commended the telecommunication giants in the country for supporting the cause of the youth with such employable skills.
Mr. Semorde said it was important to empower the youth who are the backbone of the nation and mentioned that though government was making efforts in that regard, there was the need for support from corporate Ghana in addressing youth unemployment.
He explained the criteria used to arrive at the 40 beneficiaries saying, they sent information to various youth groups registered with the Authority and the groups sent the list of names of their members to participate in the training.
Speaking in an interview with Voltaonlinegh, Volta Regional Team Lead, MTN, Mawuli Katahena disclosed that the 21 Days of Y’ello Care is an annual programme from 1st to 21st June instituted 12 years ago to encourage staff to physically get involved in activities that would uplift the communities they operated in to make lives better for people.
Mr. Katahena said the programme was all about giving back to society and that MTN Ghana would continue to roll out activities meant to improve lives of people in communities it existed.
“Last two years, we were at a town close to Hohoe called Wegbe. There’s a special school there. We rehabilitated their dormitory, equipped the staff common room with computers. And last year, we were at Akatsi to deal with sanitation at Akatsi Market. This year, we’re giving skills training to our youth in Ho. So, next year will be something else.”
He therefore encouraged customers of MTN to continue using the services of the company bearing in mind that whatever the company would get from them would be channeled back into making society a better place.
As part of government’s effort to make education sector more attractive in the country, candidates writing this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Oti Region, will receive free hot meal daily from government to enable them stay focused to write the examination.
Speaking to Voltaonlinegh, Deputy Minister for Oti Region, Maxwell Kofi Blagodzi explained that the decision was part of incentive package to enable inspire candidates stay at school for the second paper.
He encouraged them to put in their best and come out with good results to enable them benefit from government’s flagship programme, the Free Senior High School (SHS).
Some candidates who spoke in an interview thanked the government and promised to perform creditably in the ongoing BECE.
The supervisor in charge at Bonakye Centre in the Nkwanta South Municipality, Lawrence Antwi, complained that due to the bad road network to the area, examination materials arrived 30 minutes late which delayed the process but candidates were able to finish within time.
Meanwhile, of the 377 candidates expected at the Centre, 3 were absent on the first day of the examination with one reported dead.
Western Region Division 1 team, Nzema Kotoko ousted Volta Region’s Kpando Heart of Lions in the Normalisation Committee (NC) Special Competition in a quarter final match played at the Kpando Sports Stadium on Sunday, June 9, 2019.
The very entertaining football game saw both teams display supremacy at each half with good chances of scoring but no killing edge to finish the game.
The game had to be decided from the spot after a barren result in regulation time.
Lions’ first kick from the foot of skipper Frank Akoto was saved. The visitors went on to score all three penalties, while Lions got just 1 from defender Tetteh ending the game and giving the away side a vital 3-1 win progressing them into the Semis.
Kpando Heart of Lions’ run in the competition had ended and was the best team in open play with an unbeaten record.
Gender Advisor to former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma and former United Nations staff, Naasu Fofanah has called on the public especially the youth to always be focused on things they are passionate about and give off their best to help transform society.
Madam Fofanah said there was the need to overlook obstacles and commit to support the cause of humanity and help others in times of need saying, such acts of charity always paid off in the long run.
She used herself as testament from how she returned home from her studies in London, offered her services during the civil war in her country, mobilised support for Haiti in times of need which earned her a role at the UN and how former President Koroma sourced her to serve in his administration.
The Gender and International Development specialist was addressing students of Tsito Senior High Technical School in the Volta Region as the Guest Speaker at a motivation outreach programme dubbed “Inspiration-on-Wheels” organised by non-profit youth organisation, Girls Excellence Movement (GEM) with support from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The interactive and engaging programme on Saturday, witnessed varied talks from GEM mentors (males and females) and activities including breakout session, question and answer time and sanitary pad education.
Madam Fofanah charged the students, girls especially to aspire for the best and not permit any form of abuse to derail them from their path to greatness.
The Board Chairperson, Sierra Leone Rugby Union narrated how she lived with the trauma of sexual abuse in her childhood by two trusted persons, her pastor and her uncle yet managed to go through her studies and remained focused to attain her current status in society before recently breaking the silence on her abuse leading to her overcoming the trauma.
I.T. Engineer, Lahadi Samira who spoke on self esteem, revealed the ordeal she went through because of a medical condition, spot baldness which took her hair and advised young people to “be you, love yourself” and not give others the chance to talk them down.
Lahadi Samira
Madam Samira said “it took me over a decade to learn to accept myself” underscoring the essence of the GEM programme saying, if she had had that chance, it would not have taken her that long to accept herself.
Executive Director of GEM, Juliana Ama Kplorfia speaking to Voltaonlinegh said GEM “exists to inspire, motivate and inform to transform girls into great women of excellence.”
Ms. Kplorfia explained it was inspired by the desire to provide platform for girls to share problems they could not tell their parents.
“I grew up from that environment (Kwamekrom, Oti Region) where I saw my friends drop out of school. They went through rape, and other forms of abuse which they couldn’t tell anyone. So, I’ve always had the desire to have that listening environment for girls to speak so they can get support and develop into better and greater women.”
She said the event had for the first time brought together boys and girls explaining, it was so because Madam Fofanah through her organisation, 50th Speaker Series would usually speak to both sexes on such issues.
She explained sanitary pad distribution and education on outreaches saying, GEM had cause to believe that some girls did not know its usage while distribution of mathematical sets was to make a statement that girls should “go and smash Maths.”
Assistant Headmistress of the school, Victoria Achoribo described the visit of GEM team as timely and “have come to open up the eyes of the youth” to lots of issues which could be helpful to them on their journey of life.
Some students in an interview, were grateful for the event saying it was inspirational, educative and revealing.
One of them, Emmanuella Gbesiagbe said the experiences the various mentors shared were encouraging especially that of Madam Fofanah which was about her determination in difficult times and not allowing her poor family background deter her from attaining her goals in life.
Concerned Citizens of Akpafu, Lolobi, and Likpe Traditional areas of Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lolobi and Likpe (SALL), the four communities carved from Hohoe Municipality in the Volta Region and added to Oti Region are demanding from President Akufo-Addo to allow them remain under Hohoe Municipality and the Volta Region.
According to the Group, they never petitioned government to be part of the new region and so could not understand why they were forcibly added and that too without the entire municipality.
At a press conference organised on Saturday, June 8 at Lolobi Kumasi, Spokesperson for the Group, Ireneus Yaotse said the current situation created by the Justice Brobbey Commission report had put the SALL communities in an indeterminate state making it difficult for them to exercise their legal rights in terms of participating in the Limited Voters registration, Ghana Card Registration, party executives elections at constituency and regional levels.
He lamented the situation of being part of Oti Region yet under a municipality in the Volta Region saying, “we cannot benefit from the District Assembly Common Fund and teachers and farmers are unable to lodge complaints as we don’t know where we belong.”
The Group explained that SALL communities were not against the creation of the Oti Region rather their addition to it and insisted to remain with Volta Region.
They argued that citizens of SALL communities who could not speak and understand English would rather be better at understanding any translation in “Ewe” while translation into Twi or any Guan language would be a challenge to them.
Besides, the Group said, “the SALL traditional areas stand to benefit better under Hohoe because of the proximity of Hohoe as an administrative capital.”
The people denied knowledge of a group calling itself Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) purporting to have jurisdiction over Lolobi and Akpafu traditional areas adding that such a group was “419” as it did not represent the people of SALL traditional areas.
They also demanded to know why the Brobbey Commission refused to consider the submission made by the Paramount Chief of Lolobi Traditional Area, Nana Akoto Masakyi III that his people did not petition to join Oti Region at the Commission’s meeting with the Volta Regional House of Chiefs dated January 17, 2018 in Ho.
To them, by carving out the four non-Ewe-speaking traditional areas in Hohoe Municipality while rejecting petition for the entire Hohoe Municipality to be part of Oti Region suggested that the region was created along tribal and ethnic lines which was in contradiction with the 1992 Constitution.
Keta Aborigines Beach Resort’s media department, Aborigines Promotions has signed Volta Region-based hip-hop, hiplife music icon, JJ Gonami for five years.
The growing organisation which initially promoted sports only has now delved into music production and signed the deal last week as its first music initiative.
Explaining why they decided to sign JJ Gonami onto its record label, the Chief Executive Officer of Aborigines Promotions, Mitch Woolams popularly known as Uncle Mitch said he had over the years, monitored JJ Gonami’s works, a definition of creativity and talent and “deemed it strategic to sign the Afro beat artiste and his Management under our label for a period of 5 years.”
Mr. Woolams said the move would go a long way to enhance the artiste’s work and promised the artist of success in his career saying, “as we mark the beginning of our 5 years journey, we wish to congratulate the entire Management team of the artiste and welcome them officially into Aborigines Promotions.”
“We wish to state here and now that the artiste is yet to chalk historic success in his music career with Aborigines Promotions. Our expectations are high and we can’t wait to see them come to reality,” he added.
The contract covers JJ Gonami’s promotions, production and management for the five years.
The Dzidzorkporkpor hitmaker born Jacob Gonami Agbenuvor from Tegbi in the Anloga District expressed gratitude to the Management of Aborigines Promotions and the entire Aborigines business organisation.
The great talent from the region with large following has a couple of hit songs to his credit and remains one of the best sought after artistes in the region.
Aborigines Promotions has over the years, chalked success in promoting Ghana’s s boxing trio, Agbeko, Bukom Banku and Ayitey Powers with the vision to do more.
Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa has on his own behalf and on behalf of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) and chiefs and people of the region, wished candidates writing the 2019 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) at various centres in the region, the very best of luck.
Result of the week-long examination (Monday, June 10 to Friday, June 14) according to Dr. Letsa, “to a very large extent, determines your progression on the academic ladder” and therefore entreated all candidates “to go all out and give your best.”
In a press release dated June 9 and signed by the Public Relations Officer, VRCC, Foster Huno, the Minister was hopeful that the candidates would obtain good grades “in order to get placement at your first choice schools, and enjoy the Free SHS introduced by His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the President of the Republic of Ghana.”
The 2018 Best Performing Minister however, warned the candidates against engaging in any examination malpractices that would “cast a slur on your image, that of your school and the region.”
A total of 517,332 final year junior high pupils are sitting for this year’s BECE nationwide with 37,785 of them comprising 19,978 males and 17,807 females across the Volta Region.
Meanwhile, Dr. Letsa will visit each of the three examination centres in the capital, Ho, which are Mawuli School, Mawuko Girls SHS and Kabore School Complex on the first day of the examination.
Mr. Annang-La receiving motorbike key from Dr. Letsa (in spectacles)
By: Rita Kafui Nedjoh | Voltaonlinegh |
President of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), Felix Mensah Nii Annang-La has expressed his intentions to contest for the Presidency of the Association for a second term.
Mr. Annang-La who is also the Mayor of Tema Metropolitan Assembly in the Greater-Accra Region made this known at a press conference held on Thursday, June 6 at the Ho Municipal Assembly in the Volta Region.
Speaking at the conference, he said, “it is with humility that I want to announce my intention to contest for the position of the president of NALAG by submitting myself to delegates at the 4th Biennial National Delegates’ Conference slated for the 12th to 15th of June 2019 at Sunyani.”
The NALAG President said his vision was to build a solid and resilient Association responding effectively to its core mandate adding that, he would roll out programmes which would enable members of the Association to effectively discharge their duties.
According to him, when given the mandate to serve the Association for a second term, he would focus on vigorous training and capacity building for members to equip them with the requisite skills to be relevant after their term of office.
The Mayor noted that he would set up a robust welfare fund through the allocation of 10 per cent of members’ dues to the scheme and advocate for by-elections for assembly members who are either deceased or no more at the assemblies to aid the continuation of developmental programmes at the assemblies.
He also assured, “I will focus on initiating the process leading to payment of ex-gratia from the consolidated funds instead of the internally generated fund (IGF) which will ensure equity, fairness, prompt payment and motivate members to give off their best.”
Mr. Annang-La however, noted that his journey as the President of NALAG had not been easy as the Association had some inherited challenges including incessant conflicts between presiding members and chief executives of the assemblies and poor representation of women at the assemblies.
According to him, he was able to tackle the challenges and made some achievements, the biggest being the procurement of motorbikes for assembly members.
Motorbikes being handed over to NALAG Prez for onward distribution to assembly members in Volta/Oti regions
He indicated that “these achievements energise and encourage me to do more and to take the Association from where it is now to higher heights where it deserves when given the mandate with the experience and the exposure.”
Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa with his Deputy Rev. Johnson Avuletey handed over keys to 1037 motorbikes to the NALAG President to be distributed to all assembly members in the Volta and Oti regions.
Dr. Archibald cautioned assembly members to observe maintenance culture on the motorbikes and also use the motorbikes for their intended purposes.
The Agortime Senior High School’s Hockey team is poised to better their last year performance at the upcoming Citizens International Inter School (CIIS) Fiesta at the Theodosia Okoh Hockey Stadium in Accra slated for June 13-15, 2019.
AGORSEC who will be making their second appearance in the 4th edition of the annual school tournament, failed to progress to the quarter-finals last year but managed to win the Fair Play Award.
The school was privileged to be the first to have a feel of the trophy on Saturday, May 25, 2019, during a trophy tour amidst fun fair and a warm reception of organisers of the tournament including Chairman of the Citizen International Hockey Club and officials of the Ghana Hockey Association.
Assistant Headmaster, Ernest Vodzi was delighted for their inclusion in the tournament for the second time and thanked the regional association for their support.
“I am so happy that as the only school playing the game in the region, you have considered us for the second time. We, the Administrators of the school will do everything possible to assist the team to raise the flag of the school and the region as well. I want to as well, thank the Volta Regional Hockey Association for their countless support to the team.”
In preparation for the 3-day tournament, AGORSEC had improved upon their training schedules and expanded their playing pitch using hoes, pick axes, rakes and spade.
Head Coach of the school, Wisdom Ofori, who doubles as Coach for the Volta Regional Hockey Association in an interview said, the trophy tour had energised them to bring back the trophy to the region.
“We have been preparing feverishly for the tournament and I must say that the trophy tour has gingered us for glory. It has boosted the morale of the players to put in more effort to perform better than last year. We are sure of bringing back the trophy.”
The 16-team tournament, which has the likes of PRESEC, Adisadel College and Prempeh College and sponsored by the Ghana Hockey Association and the Ghana Revenue Authority, has “Pay your Taxes, Support our Education” as this year’s theme.
