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.
Global poverty has reduced considerably between 1990 and 2015. While this is remarkable, it contrasts sharply with declining reduction in extreme poverty in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The World Bank reports that the number of people living in extreme poverty in the SSA region increased from 278 million in 1990 to 413 million in 2015.
Also, of the world’s 28 poorest countries, 27 are in SSA, with poverty rates all above 30 per cent of the respective populations.
Some reasons identified for these worrying statistics include conflicts and political instability, corruption, and illiteracy rates. Aside these, there is strong evidence pointing to climate change and global warming as a contributing factor in increasing poverty in the SSA.
Climate change accounts for increase in aridity or dryness of arable lands for farming and also decrease viability of same going a long way to affect livelihoods of the largely small holder farming population in the region.
In her words, the then Chief Executive Officer of the World Bank, Georgieva Kristalina summarised the ordeal a warmer world will as we see now, put the world’s poor through saying, “our climate is changing and the impact will be felt hardest by the millions of poor and vulnerable people in the world.”
With each degree Celsius increase in global temperature, water as a primary resource of agriculture will become scarce. Floods, decreasing economic opportunities in agriculture, and increased pest activity are areas in which impacts shall be hard hit.
SSA accounts for 60 per cent of the world’s arable land but uses only 43 per cent of its arable land with rain fed potential (FAO). For a region which is heavily agriculture dependent as high as about 30 per cent share in GDP, and with high segments of its population into small holder farming, disruption in rainfall patterns leads to high incidence of crop failure and hence low food security; a causative factor of poverty.
With climate change, Africa will see an increase in crop pests and diseases in addition to altered soil fertility. (FAO, Climate Change in Africa; The threat to Agriculture, 2009).
This can be attested to by the recent increase in the activities of fall army worms in many areas of Ghana. Several acres of maize were affected, sending many small holder farmers into poverty. This was so because most of the farmers accessed loans from family and friends and to some extent, microfinance institutions to finance their farms.
Warmer climates also means more bushfires destroying farmlands, crops and fodder for grazing animals hence, eroding livelihood for a large number of people engaged in pastoral activities.
In SSA, poor infrastructure, inadequate governmental policies to ready the population against the risks of natural disasters, and lack of good climate financing makes poor people more susceptible to the impact of natural disasters such as flooding, increased sea tides among others. It was in the news recently how indigenes of parts of Anlo in the Volta Region of Ghana were forced out of their homes due to the sea tides “encroaching” on their settlement.
Finally as a cause of poverty, conflicts over limited natural resources is also a factor that pushes a good number into poverty. Climate change ensures limitations in some important natural resources such as water, forests and arable land. For instance, the recurring conflicts between some indigenes of some parts of Ghana and nomadic herdsmen can largely be traced to the availability or absence of fodder to feed livestock.
It is evident that the role of global warming and climate change cannot be overlooked as it is an important determinant of poverty rates. It is important that governments and other stakeholders take advantage of the many resources at their disposal from international organisations in the area of Climate finance and adaptation to help alleviate the plight of the suffering poor.
This is instrumental in the attainment of the most important Sustainable Development Goal of extreme Poverty eradication by 2030.
NB: The writer is an Environmentalist and a Climate Change Advocate
A newly constructed six-unit classroom block with teachers’ quarters and other auxiliary structures at Nabu D/A Basic School in the Nkwanta North District of the Oti Region has been abandoned for over a year after completion.
A visit to the school by the reporter revealed that the classroom building was among eight other projects constructed under the Social Investment Fund (SIF) to improve on education and health care in the area.
While the 6-unit classroom block with its auxiliary structures remains under lock and wastes away, the teachers and pupils of the school are forced to use the only dilapidated structure as their classrooms.
A teacher in the school, Jagri Unajah Sani said the school had no desk and other education materials to enhance teaching and learning, adding, pupils had to sit on stones and wood logs to learn.
Some pupils of Nabu D/A Basic School using stones for desks
Mr. Sani lamented the school usually shut down any time it threatened to rain, thus, impacting negatively on academics works in the school
According to him, there were high hopes the problem of classroom infrastructure would be addressed upon completion of the classroom block yet that remained to be seen as the completed project had not be commissioned to serve the purpose for its construction.
He called on authorities to as matter of urgency commission the building to offer a conducive environment for teaching and learning to take place.
Head teacher of the school, Paul Iddrisu also decried the situation and called on the assembly to commission the school for them to improve class attendance.
Speaking in an interview, pupils of the school appealed to the district assembly to do their best to ensure the building was put into immediate use to enable them have access to quality education for a better future.
Meanwhile, there were complaints from residents of Azua, another community in the Nkwanta North District of failure by the authorities to commission a health centre constructed to serve the people and pleaded for swift measures to get the place operational to improve health care delivery in the area.
In his reaction, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Jackson Kwame Jakayi explained, the projects had not been commissioned because the assembly could not pay monies it owed SIF contractors as a result of debts inherited from the previous administration which the current one had to clear.
Mr. Jakayi however, assured that the assembly was in talks with the contractors to allow for the projects to be commissioned and put to use to serve the purposes for which they were initiated while it took steps to clear the outstanding debts owed them.
The Central Zone School Sports Association is set to begin their 45th edition of the Annual Inter School Sports Festival from Saturday, June 8 to Friday, June 14, 2019 at the Ho Sports Stadium in the Volta Region.
About 25 Senior High Schools in and around the Ho Municipality are battle ready to compete in games like Table Tennis, Netball, Basketball, Handball, Volleyball, Soccer, and Athletics for bragging right, honours and selection to represent the zone at the Inter Zones.
As the journey to unearthing and training talents from the zone begins on Saturday, Secretary of the Zone, Kofi Atiso said schools yet to pay their sports quota will not be allowed to participate.
“We are starting the Sports on the 8 at the Ho Sports Stadium. All schools are participating apart from that, schools that have not paid their quota fee will not participate.”
Mr. Atiso, a Physical Education teacher at the Sokode Senior High Technical School revealed that their biggest challenge to organising the sports festival is funding, outlining their inability to secure sponsorship from the corporate world.
“Currently, our challenge is funding and corporate bodies too are not willing to help. When you write the sponsorship letters, they will receive it alright but as to how to come out and help, they actually don’t do it, except a few ones that give something little but the rest, they will only give you an excuse.”
The expert soccer Coach however, believed increment of the sports quota was the best solution, as defaulting schools would pay penalties.
“The government can help but I think the executive must come to an agreement to increase the sports quota, so that we can adequately finance the activities. That is the only option we have. If you don’t pay, we will record it and you will pay penalty the next year, so it is better you pay now and be free.”
Athletes from the various disciplines will be selected to represent the zone at the Inter Zonal to be held at Nkwanta, Oti Region from July 12 to 18 for onward selection to represent the Volta/Oti regions at the National Sports Festival at Bolgatanga slated for July 23 to August 2 this year.
Mawuli School last year, swooped 6 trophies as they dominated the festival, with a total medal haul of 23; 15 Gold, 7 silver and 1 bronze, and emerged overall winners.
