The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Dzamesi, has asked politicians to desist from polluting the minds of the electorate, as if the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has done nothing for the Volta Region.
He said it was simply hypocritical and a way of taking the people of the Volta Region for granted because they thought the region was a stronghold of a particular political party, and therefore could continue to belittle and demean them.
‘They believe that whatever they say and do the people of the region will vote for them, no matter what hence their misinformation and disinformation about the region,” he said.
Mr Dzamesi said this at the opening of a VRCC meeting embracing all heads of department and the management of the regional education endowment fund at the residency in Ho.
He said, “as a government, we are duty bound to counter such negative and unholy pieces of information in order to set the records straight,” he said.
He said the government had achieved a lot in physical development, ranging from the construction of roads, school, health facilities, and that it would be unfair, most deceitful, dishonest, insincere and unfortunate for any one to claim that the NPP government had done nothing for the region.
The minister said apart from physical development, the government had implemented social programmes such as the National Health Insurance Scheme and youth employment programme which had brought a lot of relief to thousands of people in the region.
On the endowment fund, he appealed to members of the VRCC to help build the fund to promote formal education in the region.
Mr Dzamesi affirmed the wish that the regional education endowment fund would be one of the main legacies that his administration would leave for the region.
He advised the management board to be proactive to enable them to move into a higher gear to raise money to establish the fund in order to start the disbursement soon.
He called on Voltarians to unite and put an end to chieftaincy and land conflicts and move forward to build the region for future generations.
The President of the Volta Regional House of chiefs, the Agbogbomefia of Ho-Asogli, Togbe Afede XIV, pledged the commitment of chiefs to work closely with the VRCC to justify the notion that development was an important part of their calling.
He asked all Ghanaians to work towards peace rather than desire it in order to protect what the nation had achieved to make it unique in the sub-region.
The Chairman of the endowment fund, Professor John Aheto, said it was the hope that the fund would award scholarships to reverse the continuous decline of education in the region.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
NPP ATTRACTS BIG CROWD IN HO (SPREAD)
THE flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has assured the people of the Volta Region of massive development of the region under his leadership as President of Ghana.
He expressed belief that there was oil in the Keta Basin which his government would endeavour to find to help accelerate the development of the region.
Nana Akufo-Addo gave the assurance last Monday when he addressed a regional rally of the NPP at the RTC Park in Ho.
Turnout was very encouraging and underlined the in-roads being made by the NPP in a region considered to be the “World Bank” of the main minority party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“If the crowd here is anything to go by, then it’s clear that there is a new wind of change in the Volta Region. Four years ago we could not have seen such a crowd,” a leading member of the NPP, Mr Alan Kyerematen, said.
Although political watchers in the region are not excited by the size of crowds at rallies as a reflection of the strength of political parties on the ground, they nevertheless admit that the NPP has been more organised in the region, particularly in Ho Central, for this year’s elections than ever before and that will most likely change its political fortunes in the region at the December 7 polls.
The gradual and effective penetration of the NPP in the region is said to have caused the NDC to revise its strategy in order to consolidate its overwhelming hold on the region.
Traditionally, the Volta Region has been the stronghold of the NDC since the advent of the Fourth Republic in 1992. Currently, out of the 22 parliamentary seats in the region, the NPP has only one — Nkwanta North.
While acknowledging the difficult political terrain in the region, NPP insiders are confident that the party will make a huge impact there at the December 7 polls by improving on its fortunes. The party’s strategy in the region for Election 2008 is to increase its parliamentary seats and its presidential votes.
That was the expectation with which Nana Akufo-Addo invited the electorate in the Volta Region to join forces with the NPP to help accelerate the development of the region and build a new Ghana that held enormous promise for the youth.
Outlining his vision for that new Ghana, he said a government under his leadership would pursue policies such as free education to the senior high school level, science and technology, information and communications technology (ICT), modernised agriculture, industrialisation and the spirit of oneness among the people.
Commenting on the agenda for change, which had been the campaign message of some political parties, Nana Akufo-Addo cautioned Ghanaians not to be swayed by such a clarion call because change could be good or bad.
He asked the people not to accept any change that would take the nation back to the era of the “cash-and-carry” system, human rights abuses, the Criminal Libel Law, bad economic management and a change that would abolish good policies such as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding Programme.
He said he would continue the good policies of the NPP administration since it took office in 2001 to improve the lot of Ghanaians.
He said he was not in politics for personal gain.
“I’m a famous lawyer and if I want to make money, I will stay in my chambers,” he remarked.
Nana Akufo-Addo urged the electorate to go out in their numbers in a peaceful manner to vote on election day, adding that Ghanaians must demonstrate to the world that the Black man was capable of managing his own affairs.
A leading member of the NPP, Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, said Election 2008 was a straight contest between the NPP and the NDC, and that comparing the records of the two parties in government, particularly their management of the economy, the NPP was far ahead of the NDC.
He, therefore, urged the electorate to retain the NPP in power to enable it to continue its good works.
Speakers who mounted the dais at the rally included Mr Kyerematen and the Campaign Manager of the party, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey.
He expressed belief that there was oil in the Keta Basin which his government would endeavour to find to help accelerate the development of the region.
Nana Akufo-Addo gave the assurance last Monday when he addressed a regional rally of the NPP at the RTC Park in Ho.
Turnout was very encouraging and underlined the in-roads being made by the NPP in a region considered to be the “World Bank” of the main minority party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“If the crowd here is anything to go by, then it’s clear that there is a new wind of change in the Volta Region. Four years ago we could not have seen such a crowd,” a leading member of the NPP, Mr Alan Kyerematen, said.
Although political watchers in the region are not excited by the size of crowds at rallies as a reflection of the strength of political parties on the ground, they nevertheless admit that the NPP has been more organised in the region, particularly in Ho Central, for this year’s elections than ever before and that will most likely change its political fortunes in the region at the December 7 polls.
The gradual and effective penetration of the NPP in the region is said to have caused the NDC to revise its strategy in order to consolidate its overwhelming hold on the region.
Traditionally, the Volta Region has been the stronghold of the NDC since the advent of the Fourth Republic in 1992. Currently, out of the 22 parliamentary seats in the region, the NPP has only one — Nkwanta North.
While acknowledging the difficult political terrain in the region, NPP insiders are confident that the party will make a huge impact there at the December 7 polls by improving on its fortunes. The party’s strategy in the region for Election 2008 is to increase its parliamentary seats and its presidential votes.
That was the expectation with which Nana Akufo-Addo invited the electorate in the Volta Region to join forces with the NPP to help accelerate the development of the region and build a new Ghana that held enormous promise for the youth.
Outlining his vision for that new Ghana, he said a government under his leadership would pursue policies such as free education to the senior high school level, science and technology, information and communications technology (ICT), modernised agriculture, industrialisation and the spirit of oneness among the people.
Commenting on the agenda for change, which had been the campaign message of some political parties, Nana Akufo-Addo cautioned Ghanaians not to be swayed by such a clarion call because change could be good or bad.
He asked the people not to accept any change that would take the nation back to the era of the “cash-and-carry” system, human rights abuses, the Criminal Libel Law, bad economic management and a change that would abolish good policies such as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding Programme.
He said he would continue the good policies of the NPP administration since it took office in 2001 to improve the lot of Ghanaians.
He said he was not in politics for personal gain.
“I’m a famous lawyer and if I want to make money, I will stay in my chambers,” he remarked.
Nana Akufo-Addo urged the electorate to go out in their numbers in a peaceful manner to vote on election day, adding that Ghanaians must demonstrate to the world that the Black man was capable of managing his own affairs.
A leading member of the NPP, Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, said Election 2008 was a straight contest between the NPP and the NDC, and that comparing the records of the two parties in government, particularly their management of the economy, the NPP was far ahead of the NDC.
He, therefore, urged the electorate to retain the NPP in power to enable it to continue its good works.
Speakers who mounted the dais at the rally included Mr Kyerematen and the Campaign Manager of the party, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
MINISTER CUTS SOD FOR TWO LANDING SITES AT DZEMENI (PAGE 23)
THE Minister of Fisheries, Mrs Gladys Asmah, has cut the sod for the construction of two landing sites on the banks of the Volta Lake at Dzemeni in the South Dayi District and Tapa Abotoase in the Jasikan District.
The projects form part of the infrastructural development agenda for the fisheries sector by the government under which 14 fishing harbours and landing sites are to be constructed.
She also inaugurated the Lake Region Fishermen Association embracing inland fishermen around the Volta Region from Akosombo to Buipe in the north.
Mrs Asmah said the prosperity envisioned in providing those landing sites should make the lives of fishermen comfortable and successful and provide them a long-term future, adding, “With the provision of these facilities, fish will no longer be thrown into the sea during bumper harvests but preserved to cut down on post-harvest losses.
She said the projects also underscored the need to strengthen food security as a component of poverty reduction in fishing communities and asked the beneficiary communities to support the projects to a smooth completion.
Mrs Asmah announced that the ministry had developed a national fisheries and aquaculture policy document expected to serve as the blueprint for the management of fisheries resources and the development of aquaculture, adding that it would be the first comprehensive policy document on the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
In an address, the Deputy Minister for Transportation, Mr Magnus Opare-Asamoah, cautioned fishermen against the over-exploitation of children in the fishing industry and said they should rather send their children to school.
He said the ministry was committed to the improvement of roads from fishing and farming communities to link marketing centres, saying roads from the Volta Lake and the Afram Plains would be tackled as priority.
The Interim Chairman of the association, Mr Castro Mediale, said the association was a historic formation, adding that the biggest challenge was to ensure sustainability in production through simple fishing practices.
He said the association would also focus on the development of an alternative livelihood for fishermen during the fishing off season and that they could diversify into dry season farming to make life comfortable for members.
Mr Mediale appealed to the authorities to extend credit facilities to the members for the procurement of outboard motors and fish processing equipment.
In a welcoming address, the South Dayi District Chief Executive, Mrs Woyram Boachie-Danquah, said a landing site for the district was long overdue, adding that undertaking such a project in a viable Dzemeni market along the Volta Lake would enrich the people in the district.
The projects form part of the infrastructural development agenda for the fisheries sector by the government under which 14 fishing harbours and landing sites are to be constructed.
She also inaugurated the Lake Region Fishermen Association embracing inland fishermen around the Volta Region from Akosombo to Buipe in the north.
Mrs Asmah said the prosperity envisioned in providing those landing sites should make the lives of fishermen comfortable and successful and provide them a long-term future, adding, “With the provision of these facilities, fish will no longer be thrown into the sea during bumper harvests but preserved to cut down on post-harvest losses.
She said the projects also underscored the need to strengthen food security as a component of poverty reduction in fishing communities and asked the beneficiary communities to support the projects to a smooth completion.
Mrs Asmah announced that the ministry had developed a national fisheries and aquaculture policy document expected to serve as the blueprint for the management of fisheries resources and the development of aquaculture, adding that it would be the first comprehensive policy document on the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
In an address, the Deputy Minister for Transportation, Mr Magnus Opare-Asamoah, cautioned fishermen against the over-exploitation of children in the fishing industry and said they should rather send their children to school.
He said the ministry was committed to the improvement of roads from fishing and farming communities to link marketing centres, saying roads from the Volta Lake and the Afram Plains would be tackled as priority.
The Interim Chairman of the association, Mr Castro Mediale, said the association was a historic formation, adding that the biggest challenge was to ensure sustainability in production through simple fishing practices.
He said the association would also focus on the development of an alternative livelihood for fishermen during the fishing off season and that they could diversify into dry season farming to make life comfortable for members.
Mr Mediale appealed to the authorities to extend credit facilities to the members for the procurement of outboard motors and fish processing equipment.
In a welcoming address, the South Dayi District Chief Executive, Mrs Woyram Boachie-Danquah, said a landing site for the district was long overdue, adding that undertaking such a project in a viable Dzemeni market along the Volta Lake would enrich the people in the district.
CLUB ORGANISES PLATFORM FOR PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATES (PAGE 13)
The Silver Youth Club of Agotime Traditional Area in the Adaklu-Anyigbe District has organised a platform for parliamentary candidates in the Ho-East Constituency, with a view to offering opportunity to the electorate to assess the candidates and make informed choices in the December 7 elections.
Present were the incumbent Member of Parliament of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, and the independent candidate, Dr Samuel Baume, a lecturer and legal practitioner, out of the six candidates who had filed to contest on the ticket of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) and the People’s National Convention(PNC).
The immediate past President of the club, Mr Elvis Ativoe, said the electorate in the constituency should exercise decorum and listen to the messages of the candidates.
He commended Dr Buame for honouring the invitation for the first time, adding that it was the third function organised by the club prior to elections, but this time round it was only two interested groups that had responded to the invitation.
In his presentation, Dr Buame said his presence at the function was the expression of the desire to represent the people of the constituency, adding that his aim was to unify the three traditional areas and to open up the area through the construction of all-weather roads.
He also said education was a priority for the area because it was considered a premium in an area, that was not noted for the production of gold or cocoa.
Dr Buama also promised to improve on water and sanitation facilities, expressing regret that it was appalling that humans and cattle shared water from the same source.
He also said he would tackle the problem of electricity to end a situation where some communities were ready with poles, but had not been connected, and said it would serve as an impetus for micro-enterprise in tomato and okro as well as Kente production in the area.
For her part, Mrs Azumah-Mensah renewed her commitment to the development of the area, adding that the needs of the people ranged from the provision of potable water, good roads, and good schools to poverty alleviation.
She said she had identified all vulnerable areas in the three traditional areas that made up the constituency and had done her best to address the problems on a gradual and sustainable basis.
She said she had lobbied the executive for some of the proposals to be accepted very soon and the need to retain her to attain maturity of her plans.
During the forum, a participant said a lack of communication was the cause of animosity among the three traditional areas, adding that such a forum should be replicated in all the three traditional areas for at least twice a year.
While Mrs Azumah-Mensah championed the cause for compromise and reconciliation, Dr Buame declared that he believed in meritocracy.
Present were the incumbent Member of Parliament of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, and the independent candidate, Dr Samuel Baume, a lecturer and legal practitioner, out of the six candidates who had filed to contest on the ticket of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) and the People’s National Convention(PNC).
The immediate past President of the club, Mr Elvis Ativoe, said the electorate in the constituency should exercise decorum and listen to the messages of the candidates.
He commended Dr Buame for honouring the invitation for the first time, adding that it was the third function organised by the club prior to elections, but this time round it was only two interested groups that had responded to the invitation.
In his presentation, Dr Buame said his presence at the function was the expression of the desire to represent the people of the constituency, adding that his aim was to unify the three traditional areas and to open up the area through the construction of all-weather roads.
He also said education was a priority for the area because it was considered a premium in an area, that was not noted for the production of gold or cocoa.
Dr Buama also promised to improve on water and sanitation facilities, expressing regret that it was appalling that humans and cattle shared water from the same source.
He also said he would tackle the problem of electricity to end a situation where some communities were ready with poles, but had not been connected, and said it would serve as an impetus for micro-enterprise in tomato and okro as well as Kente production in the area.
For her part, Mrs Azumah-Mensah renewed her commitment to the development of the area, adding that the needs of the people ranged from the provision of potable water, good roads, and good schools to poverty alleviation.
She said she had identified all vulnerable areas in the three traditional areas that made up the constituency and had done her best to address the problems on a gradual and sustainable basis.
She said she had lobbied the executive for some of the proposals to be accepted very soon and the need to retain her to attain maturity of her plans.
During the forum, a participant said a lack of communication was the cause of animosity among the three traditional areas, adding that such a forum should be replicated in all the three traditional areas for at least twice a year.
While Mrs Azumah-Mensah championed the cause for compromise and reconciliation, Dr Buame declared that he believed in meritocracy.
Friday, November 21, 2008
TOYOTA GHANA RECOGNISES GERCO AUTO VENTURES (PAGE 20)
A MOTOR mechanic company in Ho, Gerco Auto Ventures, has been accredited by the Toyota Company (Ghana) Limited as a one stop shop for the servicing of all kinds of Toyota vehicles in the Volta Region.
The facility has components such as spare parts shop, diagnostic machines, electrical department, gas and electricity welding, reception and administration, among other sophisticated modern departments.
Inaugurating the centre, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Toyota Ghana, Mr Masato Kumata, said the staff of Gerco had obtained enough professional skills through mechanical training in addition to the philosophy of customer satisfaction.
Mr Kumata commended the management of Gerco for investing in its staff through various training programmes that generated team work, and urged it to sustain the discipline and build on it to satisfy the principles of “Toyota Way”.
The Ho Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Mawutor Goh, commended Toyota for taking the lead among motor industry players to expand its services and products to Ho.
He said the hard work by Gerco had earned them partnership with Toyota, adding that it was in consonance with the mission to increase and accelerate private sector activities in the Ho Municipality by attracting corporate entities to transform the economic environment.
Mr Goh suggested that the new partnership should foster a linkage with the Ho Polytechnic to facilitate the sharing of useful information and practical experience.
He added that the new scheme would also open up employment avenues and transfer skills to garages and fitting shops.
In an address, the Managing Director of Gerco, Mr Gershon Doe Gakpetor, said his centre started at a modest level as a vehicle repairing shop under a coconut tree with a small wooden structure.
He said its vision was to be the best corporate service centre in the country. Mr Gakpetor pledged best practices and services as he was determined to make the sky the beginning and not the limit.
Present at the ceremony were a representative of Ho Asogli Traditional Council led by the chief of Ho-Heve, Togbe Kwasi Afele.
The facility has components such as spare parts shop, diagnostic machines, electrical department, gas and electricity welding, reception and administration, among other sophisticated modern departments.
Inaugurating the centre, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Toyota Ghana, Mr Masato Kumata, said the staff of Gerco had obtained enough professional skills through mechanical training in addition to the philosophy of customer satisfaction.
Mr Kumata commended the management of Gerco for investing in its staff through various training programmes that generated team work, and urged it to sustain the discipline and build on it to satisfy the principles of “Toyota Way”.
The Ho Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Mawutor Goh, commended Toyota for taking the lead among motor industry players to expand its services and products to Ho.
He said the hard work by Gerco had earned them partnership with Toyota, adding that it was in consonance with the mission to increase and accelerate private sector activities in the Ho Municipality by attracting corporate entities to transform the economic environment.
Mr Goh suggested that the new partnership should foster a linkage with the Ho Polytechnic to facilitate the sharing of useful information and practical experience.
He added that the new scheme would also open up employment avenues and transfer skills to garages and fitting shops.
In an address, the Managing Director of Gerco, Mr Gershon Doe Gakpetor, said his centre started at a modest level as a vehicle repairing shop under a coconut tree with a small wooden structure.
He said its vision was to be the best corporate service centre in the country. Mr Gakpetor pledged best practices and services as he was determined to make the sky the beginning and not the limit.
Present at the ceremony were a representative of Ho Asogli Traditional Council led by the chief of Ho-Heve, Togbe Kwasi Afele.
603 HO POLY STUDENTGS RECEIVE HNDs (PAGE 11)
THE Ho Polytechnic has held a congregation during which it awarded 603 students who completed various programmes last year with Higher National Diplomas.
They comprise Hotel Management, 49; Catering and Institutional Management, 18; Statistics, 10; Fashion Design and Modelling, 206 ; Accountancy, 70; Marketing, 49; Secretaryship and Management Studies, 16; Agricultural Engineering, 34; Auto Engineering, 77; Building Technology and Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 74
Addressing the congregation, the Chairman of the Ho Polytechnic Council, Professor Frank Obed Kwami, said polytechnics in the country needed to affiliate with older universities for a few years during which period they could exercise oversight responsibilities over their degree programmes.
He pointed out that affiliations with universities could change the direction of polytechnic education.
Seriously, this should not be allowed to happen, else the vision of polytechnics will be lost.
Prof. Kwami said polytechnics must have their own stream of progression which guaranteed the production of a workforce imbued with deep knowledge and advanced skills tailored for specific careers in industry.
Prof. Kwami called for a change of attitude and perception towards Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in order to move towards rapid and sustainable industrialisation, economic growth and national prosperity.
He said this change of attitude would make TVET to be regarded as a progressive parallel system of education which is good for everybody as a first choice educational opportunity.
Prof. Gyasi stressed the need to develop the TVET system as a whole and to offer polytechnic staff competitive salaries and conditions of service.
The Rector of the Ho Polytechnic, Dr K. A. Dzisi, announced that the first batch of students admitted to the access programme for graduates of technical and vocational institutes had been offered admission to pursue HND programmes in Applied Science, Applied Arts and Egineering.
In an address read on his behalf, the Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Prof. Dominic Fobih, said the government was determined to improve the salaries and conditions of service of polytechnic lecturers.
He appealed to industries to offer avenues for polytechnic graduates to help enhance their competencies.
Present at the function was the Agbogbomefia of Ho Asogli and President of the Volta Regional house of chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV.
They comprise Hotel Management, 49; Catering and Institutional Management, 18; Statistics, 10; Fashion Design and Modelling, 206 ; Accountancy, 70; Marketing, 49; Secretaryship and Management Studies, 16; Agricultural Engineering, 34; Auto Engineering, 77; Building Technology and Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 74
Addressing the congregation, the Chairman of the Ho Polytechnic Council, Professor Frank Obed Kwami, said polytechnics in the country needed to affiliate with older universities for a few years during which period they could exercise oversight responsibilities over their degree programmes.
He pointed out that affiliations with universities could change the direction of polytechnic education.
Seriously, this should not be allowed to happen, else the vision of polytechnics will be lost.
Prof. Kwami said polytechnics must have their own stream of progression which guaranteed the production of a workforce imbued with deep knowledge and advanced skills tailored for specific careers in industry.
Prof. Kwami called for a change of attitude and perception towards Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in order to move towards rapid and sustainable industrialisation, economic growth and national prosperity.
He said this change of attitude would make TVET to be regarded as a progressive parallel system of education which is good for everybody as a first choice educational opportunity.
Prof. Gyasi stressed the need to develop the TVET system as a whole and to offer polytechnic staff competitive salaries and conditions of service.
The Rector of the Ho Polytechnic, Dr K. A. Dzisi, announced that the first batch of students admitted to the access programme for graduates of technical and vocational institutes had been offered admission to pursue HND programmes in Applied Science, Applied Arts and Egineering.
In an address read on his behalf, the Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Prof. Dominic Fobih, said the government was determined to improve the salaries and conditions of service of polytechnic lecturers.
He appealed to industries to offer avenues for polytechnic graduates to help enhance their competencies.
Present at the function was the Agbogbomefia of Ho Asogli and President of the Volta Regional house of chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
DESIST FROM POLLUTING MINDS OF ELECTORATE — DZAMESI (PAGE 16)
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Dzamesi, has asked politicians to desist from polluting the minds of the electorate in Volta Region to the effect that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has done nothing for the region.
He said it was simply hypocritical and a way of continuing to take the people of the Volta Region for granted because those politicians thought the region was a stronghold of a particular political party, and therefore could continue to belittle and demean its people.
‘They believe that whatever they say and do the people of the region will vote for them, no matter what, hence their misinformation and disinformation about the region,” he said.
Mr Dzamesi said this at the opening of a VRCC meeting embracing all heads of department and the management of the regional education endowment fund at the residency in Ho on Monday.
“As a government, we are duty-bound to counter such negative and unholy pieces of information in order to set the records straight,” he said.
He said the government achieved a lot in physical development, ranging from roads, school projects and health, and that it would be unfair, most deceitful, dishonest, insincere and unfortunate for any one to claim that the NPP had done nothing for the region.
The minister said apart from physical development, the government had implemented social programmes such as the national health insurance scheme and youth employment programme, which have brought a lot of relief to thousands of people in the region.
On the endowment fund, he appealed to members of the VRCC to help build the fund to promote formal education in the region.
Mr Dzamesi affirmed the wish that the regional education endowment fund could be one of the main legacies that his administration would leave for the region.
He advised the management board to be proactive to enable them to move into a higher gear to raise money to establish the fund in order to start the disbursement soon.
He called on Voltarians to unite and put an end to chieftaincy and land conflicts and move forward to build the region for the generations to come.
The President of the Volta Regional House of chiefs, the Agbogbomefia of Ho-Asogli, Togbe Afede XIV, pledged the commitment of chiefs to work closely with the VRCC to justify the notion that development was an important part of their calling.
He asked all Ghanaians to work towards peace rather than desire it in order to protect what the nation had achieved to make it unique in the sub-region.
The Chairman of the endowment fund, Professor John Aheto, said it was the hope that the fund would award scholarships to reverse the continuous decline of educational standards.
He said it was simply hypocritical and a way of continuing to take the people of the Volta Region for granted because those politicians thought the region was a stronghold of a particular political party, and therefore could continue to belittle and demean its people.
‘They believe that whatever they say and do the people of the region will vote for them, no matter what, hence their misinformation and disinformation about the region,” he said.
Mr Dzamesi said this at the opening of a VRCC meeting embracing all heads of department and the management of the regional education endowment fund at the residency in Ho on Monday.
“As a government, we are duty-bound to counter such negative and unholy pieces of information in order to set the records straight,” he said.
He said the government achieved a lot in physical development, ranging from roads, school projects and health, and that it would be unfair, most deceitful, dishonest, insincere and unfortunate for any one to claim that the NPP had done nothing for the region.
The minister said apart from physical development, the government had implemented social programmes such as the national health insurance scheme and youth employment programme, which have brought a lot of relief to thousands of people in the region.
On the endowment fund, he appealed to members of the VRCC to help build the fund to promote formal education in the region.
Mr Dzamesi affirmed the wish that the regional education endowment fund could be one of the main legacies that his administration would leave for the region.
He advised the management board to be proactive to enable them to move into a higher gear to raise money to establish the fund in order to start the disbursement soon.
He called on Voltarians to unite and put an end to chieftaincy and land conflicts and move forward to build the region for the generations to come.
The President of the Volta Regional House of chiefs, the Agbogbomefia of Ho-Asogli, Togbe Afede XIV, pledged the commitment of chiefs to work closely with the VRCC to justify the notion that development was an important part of their calling.
He asked all Ghanaians to work towards peace rather than desire it in order to protect what the nation had achieved to make it unique in the sub-region.
The Chairman of the endowment fund, Professor John Aheto, said it was the hope that the fund would award scholarships to reverse the continuous decline of educational standards.
JUAPONG GETS MILK FACTORY (PAGE 40)
ALL is set for the inauguration a milk factory at Juapong. The factory is aimed at improving the economic livelihood of cattle farmers in the North Tongu District in the Volta Region.
A management board has been appointed not only to run the factory, but also to search for public/private partnership to help sustain the venture.
The North Tongu District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Moses Mensah Assem, made this known at the 24th national Farmers Day celebration at Juapong.
Nineteen farmers and institutions received awards for their meritorious work and Mr Ben Nyadiaya of Juapong was adjudged the overall district best farmer.
He was presented with a colour television set, a bicycle, four machetes, a pair of wellington boots, a full piece of wax print, a knapsack sprayer, a radio cassette player, agro-chemicals and a certificate as his prize.
According to Mr Assem, the establishment of the milk factory would go a long way to alleviate the poverty of the cattle farmers and also encourage scientific methods in animal husbandry in the North Tongu District, which has the largest population of cattle in the Volta Region.
The DCE said the district assembly had set up a task force to tackle the problem of cattle rustling in the area, and urged the traditional authorities to co-operate in that direction.
He assured the farmers that the government would continue in making available soft loans, irrigation facilities and other auxiliary services to reduce the high risk in agricultural production.
Mr Assem, therefore, appealed to the government to expedite action on the policy on the re-introduction of subsidies on farming inputs.
He expressed concern about the dismal performance of some road contractors in the district, saying that they used the powers that be in the system to secure jobs only to reach half way and abandon the projects without any tangible reason.
Mr Assem cited an instance when a contractor who was awarded a contract to tar the Juapong town roads abandoned the project, while another contractor also abandoned a road project.
He said the attitude of some contractors was thwarting the laudable initiative of the
government and dampening the spirit of the people.
In his address, the District Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Mr Seth R. Addey, said livestock development project, which focuses on the development of animal production, animal health, capacity building, project management and provision of credit, was being implemented in the district.
He said some people had been trained in yoghurt production, which has become good
business for some of them, especially those in Adidome and Mafi-Kumase.
According to Mr Addey, his ministry had introduced pigeon, pea and stylozanthes to farmers.
He said under a pro-poor intervention, cockerels, sheep and goats which have been bred in some improved ways were distributed to farmers to improve their breeds.
Mr Addey added that a cassava grating machine with accessories was given to some farmers groups at Amerlokope and Tsikudokope in addition to tractors sold to them at reduced prices.
A management board has been appointed not only to run the factory, but also to search for public/private partnership to help sustain the venture.
The North Tongu District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Moses Mensah Assem, made this known at the 24th national Farmers Day celebration at Juapong.
Nineteen farmers and institutions received awards for their meritorious work and Mr Ben Nyadiaya of Juapong was adjudged the overall district best farmer.
He was presented with a colour television set, a bicycle, four machetes, a pair of wellington boots, a full piece of wax print, a knapsack sprayer, a radio cassette player, agro-chemicals and a certificate as his prize.
According to Mr Assem, the establishment of the milk factory would go a long way to alleviate the poverty of the cattle farmers and also encourage scientific methods in animal husbandry in the North Tongu District, which has the largest population of cattle in the Volta Region.
The DCE said the district assembly had set up a task force to tackle the problem of cattle rustling in the area, and urged the traditional authorities to co-operate in that direction.
He assured the farmers that the government would continue in making available soft loans, irrigation facilities and other auxiliary services to reduce the high risk in agricultural production.
Mr Assem, therefore, appealed to the government to expedite action on the policy on the re-introduction of subsidies on farming inputs.
He expressed concern about the dismal performance of some road contractors in the district, saying that they used the powers that be in the system to secure jobs only to reach half way and abandon the projects without any tangible reason.
Mr Assem cited an instance when a contractor who was awarded a contract to tar the Juapong town roads abandoned the project, while another contractor also abandoned a road project.
He said the attitude of some contractors was thwarting the laudable initiative of the
government and dampening the spirit of the people.
In his address, the District Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Mr Seth R. Addey, said livestock development project, which focuses on the development of animal production, animal health, capacity building, project management and provision of credit, was being implemented in the district.
He said some people had been trained in yoghurt production, which has become good
business for some of them, especially those in Adidome and Mafi-Kumase.
According to Mr Addey, his ministry had introduced pigeon, pea and stylozanthes to farmers.
He said under a pro-poor intervention, cockerels, sheep and goats which have been bred in some improved ways were distributed to farmers to improve their breeds.
Mr Addey added that a cassava grating machine with accessories was given to some farmers groups at Amerlokope and Tsikudokope in addition to tractors sold to them at reduced prices.
YOUTH OF EP CHURCH CELEBRATE GOLDEN JUBILEE (PAGE 40)
THE Christian Youth Builders (CYB) of the Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Church has celebrated its golden jubilee.
The CYB, founded by a Scottish reverend minister, has the aim of building the capacity of the youth to prepare them adequately to face the realities of life when they become adults.
Addressing a durbar to highlight the occasion, the National President of CYB, Mr J.E.K. Ahiatrogah, said in achieving the objective, the establishment of youth resource centres had been identified as a priority.
He, therefore, appealed for assistance from the state, non-governmental organisations and philanthropists to come for CBY to achieve the mission.
He noted that the spirit of volunteerism and devotion to duty among the youth in the church and the society at large was dying, adding, “This is the reason for choosing the theme for the celebration: "Youth volunteerism in changing society".
Mr Ahiatrogah said the CYB had championed an annual blood donation exercise at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and other hospitals nation-wide, adding that the Alavanyo Trades Training Centre was the brainchild of the CYB.
He also said the construction of the Woe market in the Keta District was a joint venture with the Christian Youth Origination( CYO) of the Catholic Church,all in the name of communal spirit and volunteerism.
In a goodwill message, the founder of the CYB, Mr Ian Strachan, urged members of the church to create fellowship based on the Bible, to serve others and to have time for singing, dancing and playing games to become useful and responsible citizens.
He said the church and society were inseparable, saying the founding of the CYB coincided with an era of independence from colonialism, which led to the creation of the Young Pioneer as a nationalist youth movement equivalent to the CYB with the task of helping the youth to find their proper place within the life of the church.
In another goodwill message, the youth programme officer, Rev. R.K. Nimo, said the youth should be able to plough back the huge investment in their material and spiritual development by way of helping to reshape society.
The Moderator of the EP Church, Rt Rev Dr Livingstone Buama, exhorted the youth to avoid conflicts either through the bullet or the rod in the upcoming general election, stressing that they should use the thumb and prayers to secure a credible election.
The CYB, founded by a Scottish reverend minister, has the aim of building the capacity of the youth to prepare them adequately to face the realities of life when they become adults.
Addressing a durbar to highlight the occasion, the National President of CYB, Mr J.E.K. Ahiatrogah, said in achieving the objective, the establishment of youth resource centres had been identified as a priority.
He, therefore, appealed for assistance from the state, non-governmental organisations and philanthropists to come for CBY to achieve the mission.
He noted that the spirit of volunteerism and devotion to duty among the youth in the church and the society at large was dying, adding, “This is the reason for choosing the theme for the celebration: "Youth volunteerism in changing society".
Mr Ahiatrogah said the CYB had championed an annual blood donation exercise at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and other hospitals nation-wide, adding that the Alavanyo Trades Training Centre was the brainchild of the CYB.
He also said the construction of the Woe market in the Keta District was a joint venture with the Christian Youth Origination( CYO) of the Catholic Church,all in the name of communal spirit and volunteerism.
In a goodwill message, the founder of the CYB, Mr Ian Strachan, urged members of the church to create fellowship based on the Bible, to serve others and to have time for singing, dancing and playing games to become useful and responsible citizens.
He said the church and society were inseparable, saying the founding of the CYB coincided with an era of independence from colonialism, which led to the creation of the Young Pioneer as a nationalist youth movement equivalent to the CYB with the task of helping the youth to find their proper place within the life of the church.
In another goodwill message, the youth programme officer, Rev. R.K. Nimo, said the youth should be able to plough back the huge investment in their material and spiritual development by way of helping to reshape society.
The Moderator of the EP Church, Rt Rev Dr Livingstone Buama, exhorted the youth to avoid conflicts either through the bullet or the rod in the upcoming general election, stressing that they should use the thumb and prayers to secure a credible election.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
NYEP EMPLOYS 13,981 IN VOLTA REGION (PAGE 23)
THIRTEEN thousand, nine hundred and eighty-one people have been employed under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) in the Volta Region since its inception two years ago.
The programme has contributed to the improvement of the socio-economic lives of the youth and also made them gain experience in the transit from unemployment to full employment within the two years.
The Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Nayan made this known when he addressed a large number of the beneficiaries of the programme after they had undertaken a float at Ho on Thursday to mark the second anniversary of the NYEP.
According to him, 3,806 people were employed in community education and teaching, 1,012 as health extension workers, 920 in waste management, 7,135 in youth in agriculture business, 83 in internship, 227 in voluntary service while 48 of them were engaged in forestry plantation.
He said the participation of school drop outs and unskilled personnel in the programme, had widened the scope of beneficiaries, adding that the role being played by the waste and sanitation management sector of the NYEP, had resulted in improvement of sanitation in some towns and cities.
Mr Nayan, however, stated that the greatest challenge confronting the programme was the delay in the release of funds for the payment of allowances to beneficiaries.
He said that setback had been resolved following an agreement between the NYEP and the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) to credit the accounts of beneficiaries on monthly basis.
The deputy regional minister said the programme would continue to be a guide for the government to continue to address any major drawbacks to employment issues and to make progress towards achieving the objectives of the programme by laying a good foundation for the socio-economic transformation of the nation.
He commended pioneers of the programme and urged them to remain focused and committed, adding “You must be aware of the fact that the programme does not provide permanent employment by itself but only serves as a means to permanent employment”.
Mr Nayan reiterated the need for them to uphold and cherish the peace and tranquillity the nation had enjoyed so far since elections were not a matter of life or death but to provide an opportunity for the electorate to make a choice based on their convictions.
He, therefore, appealed to the youth to be civil and exercise maturity and decorum in the conduct of political campaigns to ensure that the nation’s young democracy was protected.
In a welcoming address, the Ho Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Mawutor Goh said the government had placed premium on the development of the youth, adding that the NYEP programme was designed to serve the rural communities.
He, therefore, implored communities to team up with the NYEP workers to give credence to dignity in labour and also to establish that it was an act of nobility and an opportunity to demonstrate their leadership qualities.
Mr Goh commended the beneficiaries of the NYEP on their achievements, adding that the programme had offered them the opportunity to carry out with their selected vocations.
During the float, the participants carried placards some of which read: “The future is bright through NYEP”, “Thank you NYEP”, “NYEP is a stepping stone to a higher height”, “What else can we say, thank you government”.
The programme has contributed to the improvement of the socio-economic lives of the youth and also made them gain experience in the transit from unemployment to full employment within the two years.
The Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Nayan made this known when he addressed a large number of the beneficiaries of the programme after they had undertaken a float at Ho on Thursday to mark the second anniversary of the NYEP.
According to him, 3,806 people were employed in community education and teaching, 1,012 as health extension workers, 920 in waste management, 7,135 in youth in agriculture business, 83 in internship, 227 in voluntary service while 48 of them were engaged in forestry plantation.
He said the participation of school drop outs and unskilled personnel in the programme, had widened the scope of beneficiaries, adding that the role being played by the waste and sanitation management sector of the NYEP, had resulted in improvement of sanitation in some towns and cities.
Mr Nayan, however, stated that the greatest challenge confronting the programme was the delay in the release of funds for the payment of allowances to beneficiaries.
He said that setback had been resolved following an agreement between the NYEP and the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) to credit the accounts of beneficiaries on monthly basis.
The deputy regional minister said the programme would continue to be a guide for the government to continue to address any major drawbacks to employment issues and to make progress towards achieving the objectives of the programme by laying a good foundation for the socio-economic transformation of the nation.
He commended pioneers of the programme and urged them to remain focused and committed, adding “You must be aware of the fact that the programme does not provide permanent employment by itself but only serves as a means to permanent employment”.
Mr Nayan reiterated the need for them to uphold and cherish the peace and tranquillity the nation had enjoyed so far since elections were not a matter of life or death but to provide an opportunity for the electorate to make a choice based on their convictions.
He, therefore, appealed to the youth to be civil and exercise maturity and decorum in the conduct of political campaigns to ensure that the nation’s young democracy was protected.
In a welcoming address, the Ho Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Mawutor Goh said the government had placed premium on the development of the youth, adding that the NYEP programme was designed to serve the rural communities.
He, therefore, implored communities to team up with the NYEP workers to give credence to dignity in labour and also to establish that it was an act of nobility and an opportunity to demonstrate their leadership qualities.
Mr Goh commended the beneficiaries of the NYEP on their achievements, adding that the programme had offered them the opportunity to carry out with their selected vocations.
During the float, the participants carried placards some of which read: “The future is bright through NYEP”, “Thank you NYEP”, “NYEP is a stepping stone to a higher height”, “What else can we say, thank you government”.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
UNITY RURAL BANK MAKES PROGRESS (PAGE 40)
THE Unity Rural Bank at Ziope in the Adaklu-Anyigbe District in the Volta Region has made progress in five areas, namely deposit mobilisation, total assets, total advances, share capital and total income during the last financial year.
The bank has, however, increased expenditure and high provision for bad and doubtful debts in its operations, hence the reduction of its net profit from GH¢65,189 to GH¢40,150 in the same period which ended on December 31, 2007.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank, Togbe Binah Lawluvi VI, made this known at the 13th annual general meeting (AGM) of shareholders of the bank at Ziope.
He said the period under review faced an unfavourable environment such as falling interest rates in respect of returns on dwindled investment, increasing fuel prices with attendant rise in transport fares and prices in the domestic market.
Togbe Lawluvi, however, stated that clientele had been steadily increasing over the years, adding that deposit had shot up by 57 per cent while loans and overdrafts had increased by 55 per cent.
He added that the bank spent GH¢2,000 on scholarships last year and also donated 50 bags of cement to the people of Agotime, presented GH¢200 towards the Asogli yam festival.
According to Togbe Lawluvi, the bank donated an amount of GH¢100 towards the Godigbe festival of the people of Aflao and GH¢200 to the Adaklu Anyigbe District Assembly in connection with the 23rd national Farmers Day.
In order to satisfy the requirements laid down by the Bank of Ghana for rural and community banks to raise their minimum capital to GH¢150,000, the shareholders passed a resolution authorising the board of directors to transfer GH¢20,000 from its income surplus account to stated capital account.
Togbe Lawluvi said the downward trend in profits notwithstanding, the directors had proposed a dividend of 15 Gp per share to all shareholders.
In an address read on his behalf, the Managing Director of the ARB Apex Bank Limited, Mr Eric Osei-Bonsu, stated that the performance of rural banks in deposit mobilisation had been good and that had won public confidence in the banks.
He, however, stated that a lot more needed to be done, especially in the institution of internal controls.
Mr Osei-Bonsu advised rural banks to take note of the external environment, especially the rising cost of food, fuel prices and the credit crunch, since they might affect the operations of banks worldwide.
He said they should be flexible to accept proposals on mergers because co-operative mergers could ward off the threat of high competition that many rural banks may face in their operations.
The bank has, however, increased expenditure and high provision for bad and doubtful debts in its operations, hence the reduction of its net profit from GH¢65,189 to GH¢40,150 in the same period which ended on December 31, 2007.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank, Togbe Binah Lawluvi VI, made this known at the 13th annual general meeting (AGM) of shareholders of the bank at Ziope.
He said the period under review faced an unfavourable environment such as falling interest rates in respect of returns on dwindled investment, increasing fuel prices with attendant rise in transport fares and prices in the domestic market.
Togbe Lawluvi, however, stated that clientele had been steadily increasing over the years, adding that deposit had shot up by 57 per cent while loans and overdrafts had increased by 55 per cent.
He added that the bank spent GH¢2,000 on scholarships last year and also donated 50 bags of cement to the people of Agotime, presented GH¢200 towards the Asogli yam festival.
According to Togbe Lawluvi, the bank donated an amount of GH¢100 towards the Godigbe festival of the people of Aflao and GH¢200 to the Adaklu Anyigbe District Assembly in connection with the 23rd national Farmers Day.
In order to satisfy the requirements laid down by the Bank of Ghana for rural and community banks to raise their minimum capital to GH¢150,000, the shareholders passed a resolution authorising the board of directors to transfer GH¢20,000 from its income surplus account to stated capital account.
Togbe Lawluvi said the downward trend in profits notwithstanding, the directors had proposed a dividend of 15 Gp per share to all shareholders.
In an address read on his behalf, the Managing Director of the ARB Apex Bank Limited, Mr Eric Osei-Bonsu, stated that the performance of rural banks in deposit mobilisation had been good and that had won public confidence in the banks.
He, however, stated that a lot more needed to be done, especially in the institution of internal controls.
Mr Osei-Bonsu advised rural banks to take note of the external environment, especially the rising cost of food, fuel prices and the credit crunch, since they might affect the operations of banks worldwide.
He said they should be flexible to accept proposals on mergers because co-operative mergers could ward off the threat of high competition that many rural banks may face in their operations.
4 TRADITIONAL AREAS CELEBRATE SASADU FESTIVAL (PAGE 40)
THE SASADU Supreme Council comprising the people of Saviefe, Akrofu, Sovie and Alavanyo Traditional Areas in the Volta Region have held a grand durbar at Sovie to climax their SASADU festival.
In an address, the president of SASADU Supreme Council, Togbega Kofi Nyarku VII, who is also the Paramount Chief of Sovie Traditional Area, said the festival was aimed at fostering brotherliness among the four traditional areas that migrated from the same ancestral home in Notsie at different times to their present settlements in Ghana.
He, however, expressed regret over the high spate of chieftaincy disputes in some SASADU communities and said those disputes had not only stagnated development but also posed danger to general security.
According to him, innocent people cannot walk freely at night in certain areas of their own town for fear of being attacked or even killed by their opponents, adding that families are divided with married couples being forced to separate.
The paramount chief stressed the need for the energy used in fuelling those disputes to be re-channelled into fighting poverty, ignorance and disease which are the real enemies of the people.
Togbega Nyarku said it was an excellent occasion to rejoin their relatives at home and share with them the fortunes they had made as workers, adding: “These are the people whose toil, sacrifices and taxes sponsored their education in the universities and other tertiary institutions.”
He further stated that the reunion would ignite the tempo to unite the people to support the vision of bringing development to the respective communities and to alleviate poverty, ignorance and deprivation.
To that end, Togbega Nyarku said a GH¢50,000 SASADU Development Fund was launched with an initial realisation of more than GH¢3,500 to support the various community initiated projects.
Some of the projects earmarked were a day care centre at Akrofu-Agove, community secondary school for Saviefe, SASADU clinic for Sovie and road network from Kpando to Alavanyo.
Togbega Nyarku appealed to donor agencies to support their development initiatives by donating generously into the fund for the improvement of quality of life of the people.
He advised the youth not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to cause violence or indulge in any negative acts that could destroy the destiny of the nation.
Togbega Nyarku said any disturbances or violence before, during or after the December 7, 2008 general election would not only undermine the relative peace the nation was enjoying, but would also disturb the bright future envisaged for the next generation.
The Kpando District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Pius Adanuty, for his part, commended the people for continuously celebrating the festival over the years and said the gains were enormous for the people.
He said further that the nation had a new image due to the good leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government and stressed the need for citizens to change their attitudes in tackling emerging issues of the contemporary world.
Mr Adanuty said Ghanaians’ inability to recognise their own fortunes had retarded efforts to fight disease, ignorance, poverty and land degradation.
He said the government had made several interventions that had brought great relief to the nation.
They include the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiatives, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the school feeding programme, the Millennium Challenge Account, the oil discovery.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Ms Akua Sena Dansua, and the aspiring parliamentary candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2008 general election, Mr Ken Anku, also addressed the function and tried to woo the people explaining why they should be voted for in the upcoming polls.
In an address, the president of SASADU Supreme Council, Togbega Kofi Nyarku VII, who is also the Paramount Chief of Sovie Traditional Area, said the festival was aimed at fostering brotherliness among the four traditional areas that migrated from the same ancestral home in Notsie at different times to their present settlements in Ghana.
He, however, expressed regret over the high spate of chieftaincy disputes in some SASADU communities and said those disputes had not only stagnated development but also posed danger to general security.
According to him, innocent people cannot walk freely at night in certain areas of their own town for fear of being attacked or even killed by their opponents, adding that families are divided with married couples being forced to separate.
The paramount chief stressed the need for the energy used in fuelling those disputes to be re-channelled into fighting poverty, ignorance and disease which are the real enemies of the people.
Togbega Nyarku said it was an excellent occasion to rejoin their relatives at home and share with them the fortunes they had made as workers, adding: “These are the people whose toil, sacrifices and taxes sponsored their education in the universities and other tertiary institutions.”
He further stated that the reunion would ignite the tempo to unite the people to support the vision of bringing development to the respective communities and to alleviate poverty, ignorance and deprivation.
To that end, Togbega Nyarku said a GH¢50,000 SASADU Development Fund was launched with an initial realisation of more than GH¢3,500 to support the various community initiated projects.
Some of the projects earmarked were a day care centre at Akrofu-Agove, community secondary school for Saviefe, SASADU clinic for Sovie and road network from Kpando to Alavanyo.
Togbega Nyarku appealed to donor agencies to support their development initiatives by donating generously into the fund for the improvement of quality of life of the people.
He advised the youth not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to cause violence or indulge in any negative acts that could destroy the destiny of the nation.
Togbega Nyarku said any disturbances or violence before, during or after the December 7, 2008 general election would not only undermine the relative peace the nation was enjoying, but would also disturb the bright future envisaged for the next generation.
The Kpando District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Pius Adanuty, for his part, commended the people for continuously celebrating the festival over the years and said the gains were enormous for the people.
He said further that the nation had a new image due to the good leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government and stressed the need for citizens to change their attitudes in tackling emerging issues of the contemporary world.
Mr Adanuty said Ghanaians’ inability to recognise their own fortunes had retarded efforts to fight disease, ignorance, poverty and land degradation.
He said the government had made several interventions that had brought great relief to the nation.
They include the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiatives, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the school feeding programme, the Millennium Challenge Account, the oil discovery.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Ms Akua Sena Dansua, and the aspiring parliamentary candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2008 general election, Mr Ken Anku, also addressed the function and tried to woo the people explaining why they should be voted for in the upcoming polls.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
EXHIBIT PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT...Dery tells police personnel (SPREAD)
The Volta Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Bernard Guyiri Dery, has cautioned personnel of the service to desist from acts that may give cause for Ghanaians to blame the police for failing in their constitutional duty of protecting the electoral process.
According to him, any professional misconduct on the part of a police officer on election day would serve to portray the police in a bad light and give cause for people to point accusing fingers at the service.
He, therefore, warned of punitive action against police personnel found to be engaging in unprofessional conduct with the tendency of undermining the electoral process.
Speaking at a day's joint police and military pre-election study day code-named, "Exercise Peace Angel", in Ho yesterday, DCOP Dery charged the police not to “become a problem for people to manage at the polling stations".
The meeting brought together senior officers from all the security agencies to brainstorm on key challenges that might come up on election day with the view to working out appropriate methods to handle those situations.
In addition to that, there will be a mock exercise on Sunday, November 16, 2008, during which actual scenarios will be simulated with the appropriate response from the security agencies as a dress rehearsal towards election day.
DCOP Dery said the police were poised to ensure that the electoral process in the Volta Region would be devoid of any incidents that would mar the beauty of Ghana's democracy in order to produce results that would be accepted by all as the true outcome of the elections.
He also made a passionate appeal to the media to exercise the highest level of circumspection on that day, since irresponsible reportage had the potential of creating chaos and needless anxiety.
The Volta Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Madam Laurentia Kpatakpa, reminded the security agencies that they were statutorily banned from getting involved in the actual administration of elections and that their role was restricted to providing security for the process.
She urged them to use minimum force only when necessary and cautioned against accepting gifts that could compromise their impartial role in the success of the elections.
The Volta Regional Security Co-ordinator, Major Edward Aphour (retd), said the challenges that confronted the security agencies in the discharge of their duties on election day were not insurmountable with adequate preparation and total commitment to duty.
He also called on the media to cross-check their facts before putting them in the public domain.
According to him, any professional misconduct on the part of a police officer on election day would serve to portray the police in a bad light and give cause for people to point accusing fingers at the service.
He, therefore, warned of punitive action against police personnel found to be engaging in unprofessional conduct with the tendency of undermining the electoral process.
Speaking at a day's joint police and military pre-election study day code-named, "Exercise Peace Angel", in Ho yesterday, DCOP Dery charged the police not to “become a problem for people to manage at the polling stations".
The meeting brought together senior officers from all the security agencies to brainstorm on key challenges that might come up on election day with the view to working out appropriate methods to handle those situations.
In addition to that, there will be a mock exercise on Sunday, November 16, 2008, during which actual scenarios will be simulated with the appropriate response from the security agencies as a dress rehearsal towards election day.
DCOP Dery said the police were poised to ensure that the electoral process in the Volta Region would be devoid of any incidents that would mar the beauty of Ghana's democracy in order to produce results that would be accepted by all as the true outcome of the elections.
He also made a passionate appeal to the media to exercise the highest level of circumspection on that day, since irresponsible reportage had the potential of creating chaos and needless anxiety.
The Volta Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Madam Laurentia Kpatakpa, reminded the security agencies that they were statutorily banned from getting involved in the actual administration of elections and that their role was restricted to providing security for the process.
She urged them to use minimum force only when necessary and cautioned against accepting gifts that could compromise their impartial role in the success of the elections.
The Volta Regional Security Co-ordinator, Major Edward Aphour (retd), said the challenges that confronted the security agencies in the discharge of their duties on election day were not insurmountable with adequate preparation and total commitment to duty.
He also called on the media to cross-check their facts before putting them in the public domain.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
PARLIAMENTARY WORK NOT UNIT COMMITTEE WORK — ADZAHO (PAGE 15)
THE Ho East Constituency Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Michael Adzaho, has advised Ghanaians to vote for parliamentary candidates who can represent their interest and aspirations.
“Parliamentary work is not unit committee work”, he said, adding that care must be taken in choosing the appropriate candidate to suit the present times and its challenges.
Mr Adzaho gave the advice during the introduction of the NDC parliamentary candidate for the constituency, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, a Master’s of Science degree holder in nursing and midwifery, at Agotime-Kpetoe in the Ho East Constituency.
She is contesting with Ms Benedicta Datsomor, a teacher, for the Convention People’s Party (CPP); Mr Victus Avuwordah, an electrical technician of the New Patriotic Party (NPP); Dr Samuel C.K. Buame, a lecturer and legal practitioner as an independent candidate; Mr Michael Gamor, for the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) and Ms Sarah Kporku, of the People’s National Convention (PNC).
Mr Adzaho described Mrs Azumah-Mensah, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), as the right candidate and that the people must vote for her to continue with her good work for the area.
The Chief of Adaklu-Kodzobi, Togbe Degbladze, openly criticised the policy that chiefs should not engage in active politics.
He said he was on the platform to declare his stand that although a chief, he could not hide his support and that of the people of Adaklu for Mrs Azumah-Mensah.
The Volta Regional Chairman of the NDC, Mr Modestus Ahiable, said the party was sure of victory and that they should retain the NDC candidate in Parliament.
He said further that they should resist the campaign of lies and deceit being peddled by the NPP and that the claim by the NPP to have performed better than the NDC was not true.
For her part, Mrs Azumah-Mensah said she had championed the cause of the three traditional areas in the constituency during the past four years and would continue to work hard with the view to earning a good position in the next NDC administration.
She asked the people to reflect on their present sad conditions and be accordingly guided to vote for the NDC and its parliamentary candidates in order to change the situation.
“Parliamentary work is not unit committee work”, he said, adding that care must be taken in choosing the appropriate candidate to suit the present times and its challenges.
Mr Adzaho gave the advice during the introduction of the NDC parliamentary candidate for the constituency, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, a Master’s of Science degree holder in nursing and midwifery, at Agotime-Kpetoe in the Ho East Constituency.
She is contesting with Ms Benedicta Datsomor, a teacher, for the Convention People’s Party (CPP); Mr Victus Avuwordah, an electrical technician of the New Patriotic Party (NPP); Dr Samuel C.K. Buame, a lecturer and legal practitioner as an independent candidate; Mr Michael Gamor, for the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) and Ms Sarah Kporku, of the People’s National Convention (PNC).
Mr Adzaho described Mrs Azumah-Mensah, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), as the right candidate and that the people must vote for her to continue with her good work for the area.
The Chief of Adaklu-Kodzobi, Togbe Degbladze, openly criticised the policy that chiefs should not engage in active politics.
He said he was on the platform to declare his stand that although a chief, he could not hide his support and that of the people of Adaklu for Mrs Azumah-Mensah.
The Volta Regional Chairman of the NDC, Mr Modestus Ahiable, said the party was sure of victory and that they should retain the NDC candidate in Parliament.
He said further that they should resist the campaign of lies and deceit being peddled by the NPP and that the claim by the NPP to have performed better than the NDC was not true.
For her part, Mrs Azumah-Mensah said she had championed the cause of the three traditional areas in the constituency during the past four years and would continue to work hard with the view to earning a good position in the next NDC administration.
She asked the people to reflect on their present sad conditions and be accordingly guided to vote for the NDC and its parliamentary candidates in order to change the situation.
MP SUPPORTS AGOTIME SCHOOL (PAGE 11)
A FOUR-UNIT classroom block provided by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ho-East, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, has been dedicated to the Agotime Senior High School at Kpetoe in the Adaklu-Anyigbe District.
She has also donated six computers and furniture worth GH¢1,080 to school’s the computer laboratory and dining hall respectively.
The computers were donated through her collaboration with a non-governmental organisation, the Entire Village Computers Organisation (EVCO) Incorporated.
Addressing the students, staff and some parents, Mrs Azumah-Mensah said education was key to the development of every society.
She noted that it was pertinent for the youth to take keen interest in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) since it was the driving force of the world today.
The MP said she had offered assistance to about 450 students in senior high schools (SHSs) and tertiary institutions and pledged further support to propel education to a higher level.
She appealed to the people to protect school lands in order to keep those with the tendency to encroach on them at bay.
Mrs Azumah-Mensah urged school authorities to ban the speaking of pidgin English on school campuses because it contributed to the poor grades attained in the English Language in examination in recent times.
She advised students to avoid all forms of insubordination that could derail their steady growth into productive citizens.
The Country Director of EVCO INC, Mr Owusu Sunu, disclosed that over 5,450 junior high schools and 503 senior high schools would benefit from the distribution of computers.
He promised to provide technical support on the use and repair of computers and accessories to all beneficiaries.
In an address read on his behalf, the headmaster, Mr M. K. Fiamordzi, said over the past two years, female students had excelled in their final examinations.
She appealed to the authorities to prevail on the contractor working on the girls hostel to speed up the work since it was already behind schedule.
For his part, the District Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Sam Tumaku, expressed gratitude to the donors for their gesture to the younger generation and urged the recipients to be disciplined.
The chairman of the parent teacher association (PTA), Mr D. B. Avorgli, said the MP’s gesture demonstrated selflessness, uprightness and dedication to a community by an individual.
She has also donated six computers and furniture worth GH¢1,080 to school’s the computer laboratory and dining hall respectively.
The computers were donated through her collaboration with a non-governmental organisation, the Entire Village Computers Organisation (EVCO) Incorporated.
Addressing the students, staff and some parents, Mrs Azumah-Mensah said education was key to the development of every society.
She noted that it was pertinent for the youth to take keen interest in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) since it was the driving force of the world today.
The MP said she had offered assistance to about 450 students in senior high schools (SHSs) and tertiary institutions and pledged further support to propel education to a higher level.
She appealed to the people to protect school lands in order to keep those with the tendency to encroach on them at bay.
Mrs Azumah-Mensah urged school authorities to ban the speaking of pidgin English on school campuses because it contributed to the poor grades attained in the English Language in examination in recent times.
She advised students to avoid all forms of insubordination that could derail their steady growth into productive citizens.
The Country Director of EVCO INC, Mr Owusu Sunu, disclosed that over 5,450 junior high schools and 503 senior high schools would benefit from the distribution of computers.
He promised to provide technical support on the use and repair of computers and accessories to all beneficiaries.
In an address read on his behalf, the headmaster, Mr M. K. Fiamordzi, said over the past two years, female students had excelled in their final examinations.
She appealed to the authorities to prevail on the contractor working on the girls hostel to speed up the work since it was already behind schedule.
For his part, the District Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Sam Tumaku, expressed gratitude to the donors for their gesture to the younger generation and urged the recipients to be disciplined.
The chairman of the parent teacher association (PTA), Mr D. B. Avorgli, said the MP’s gesture demonstrated selflessness, uprightness and dedication to a community by an individual.
Friday, November 7, 2008
SIC DONATES TOWARDS EDUCATIONAL FUND (PAGE 40)
THE SIC Insurance Company has donated GH¢2,000 to the Asogli Education Endowment Fund, bringing to GH¢8,500 the total amount the company has so far paid into the fund over the past three years.
Presenting a dummy cheque for the amount, a senior staff member of the company, Miss Lydia Lamina Bawa, said the gesture was part of the company's social responsibility, adding that future donations might be big based on the increased fortunes of the company.
She used the occasion to advise property owners to undertake insurance cover against fire for their assets since it was now mandatory for them to buy insurance against fire under the new Insurance Law.
Miss Bawa cautioned drivers who misused their licences by way of using them to drive unprescribed vehicles, stressing that it was an offence for drivers holding a licence of a particular grade to drive a vehicle meant for a higher grade licence and that it was even more serious to use a driver’s licence to ride a motor bike.
She made it clear that such offenders would not be paid any insurance compensation in case of any accident.
The Volta Regional Branch Manager of SIC, Mr Richard Fenuku-Doamekpor, advised insurance companies to be alert about the activities of some clients who were indebted to certain insurance companies and so wanted to reinsure with different ones with the view to defrauding the original companies.
He said such dubious practices could endanger the growth of the insurance industry and therefore advised clients to desist from them.
Receiving the cheque, the Afetorfia of Ho-Heve, Togbe Dekortsu II, underscored the value of education as the key to development.
He said the gesture by SIC was in tune with the mission to provide quality education for needy and deprived children.
Presenting a dummy cheque for the amount, a senior staff member of the company, Miss Lydia Lamina Bawa, said the gesture was part of the company's social responsibility, adding that future donations might be big based on the increased fortunes of the company.
She used the occasion to advise property owners to undertake insurance cover against fire for their assets since it was now mandatory for them to buy insurance against fire under the new Insurance Law.
Miss Bawa cautioned drivers who misused their licences by way of using them to drive unprescribed vehicles, stressing that it was an offence for drivers holding a licence of a particular grade to drive a vehicle meant for a higher grade licence and that it was even more serious to use a driver’s licence to ride a motor bike.
She made it clear that such offenders would not be paid any insurance compensation in case of any accident.
The Volta Regional Branch Manager of SIC, Mr Richard Fenuku-Doamekpor, advised insurance companies to be alert about the activities of some clients who were indebted to certain insurance companies and so wanted to reinsure with different ones with the view to defrauding the original companies.
He said such dubious practices could endanger the growth of the insurance industry and therefore advised clients to desist from them.
Receiving the cheque, the Afetorfia of Ho-Heve, Togbe Dekortsu II, underscored the value of education as the key to development.
He said the gesture by SIC was in tune with the mission to provide quality education for needy and deprived children.
Monday, November 3, 2008
LIKPE BALA EP CHURCH LAUNCHES CENTENARY (PAGE 22)
THE Likpe Bala branch of the Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Church has launched the 100 years celebration of the establishment of the church in the town.
The centenary, launched at the EP Church in Hohoe, attracted people from all walks of life during which an appeal for fund yielded GH¢1,630.
Preaching the sermon, the Parish Priest of Hohoe, Reverend W.R. Sakoe, urged the congregation to support the state and the church in all efforts meant to improve the living standards of the people by paying taxes or levies imposed for those purposes.
He noted with concern the evasion of taxes by some citizens and businessmen, adding that the negative attitude retarded the development of the nation.
Rev Sakoe likened taxation to the Blibical story in which Jesus Christ told the Pharisees and Herodians that they should “pay the emperor what belongs to the emperor and pay God what is due to God”.
The Presbyter of the church, Mr W.Y. Bonsi, appealed to the congregation for financial support to enable the church to complete the new centenary chapel project before the celebration of the centenary, scheduled for December 28, this year.
The centenary, launched at the EP Church in Hohoe, attracted people from all walks of life during which an appeal for fund yielded GH¢1,630.
Preaching the sermon, the Parish Priest of Hohoe, Reverend W.R. Sakoe, urged the congregation to support the state and the church in all efforts meant to improve the living standards of the people by paying taxes or levies imposed for those purposes.
He noted with concern the evasion of taxes by some citizens and businessmen, adding that the negative attitude retarded the development of the nation.
Rev Sakoe likened taxation to the Blibical story in which Jesus Christ told the Pharisees and Herodians that they should “pay the emperor what belongs to the emperor and pay God what is due to God”.
The Presbyter of the church, Mr W.Y. Bonsi, appealed to the congregation for financial support to enable the church to complete the new centenary chapel project before the celebration of the centenary, scheduled for December 28, this year.
Friday, October 31, 2008
NEW SCHOOL BLOCKS UNAUGURATED AT GODOKPE (PAGE 21)
THE Volta Regional Manager of the Salvation Army Educational Unit, Mr Richard Kudedzi, has inaugurated a cluster of four classroom blocks comprising 10 rooms for classes, offices and stores at Godokpe, a deprived community in the Ho Municipality.
The Grace Project of the Salvation Army Church of the United Kingdom financed the $3,000 project, known as the Grace Salvation Army Model School.
The project was sited at the village with the initial aim of providing quality education to children of cured lepers in the area and has offered the opportunity for the enrolment of 150 pupils to date.
The project was initiated under the auspices of a Ho-based non-governmental organisation, Ghana Outlook, and has prevented the closure of the school which was hitherto housed in thatched sheds, which made teaching and learning difficult as result of the unpredictable weather.
In an address, Mr Kudedzi recounted the obstacles in the acquisition of land for the project, and thanked a sub-chief of Ho, Torgbui Adzimah, for leading the task in the search for land.
He expressed regret that many parents had the notion that the government had absorbed all payments of school fees and so there was no need to provide learning tools to their children.
He said the motive behind the Capitation Grant was a laudable one but in the current economic conditions, the GH¢3 per child was woefully inadequate, adding that the remittance of the money to schools was irregular and compounded the problems of the school administration.
Mr Kudedzi, therefore, suggested that parents should rather be made to pay GH¢3 so that the state took over the supply of learning materials like exercise books, pens , pencils and eraser.
The Territorial Commander of the Salvation Army, Colonel Dennis Strissel, said the project was a symbol of the grace of Jesus Christ, adding that human beings did not deserve grace but as there was the need for it, it could be described as unmerited favour.
He said the sponsors did so out of grace and that the rhythm of grace covered virtues like sacrifice, forgiveness, potential talents and relationships, among others.
The general manager of Salvation Army schools, Ghana, Martyn Beecham, said the project was aimed at offering opportunities for equal development of children so that they could develop themselves and establish a sustainable livelihood for their families, society, friends and the nation.
In an address read on her behalf, the Ho Municipal Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Ms Rosemond Keteku explained the state’s policy on education.
She said past and present governments had not been able to fulfil the task and assured the new school of the needed support for it to emerge as one of the best in the region.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr Gershon Badasu, in an address, said enrolment had increased from 70 pupils with three teachers in September, 2007 to 150 with nine teachers at the moment.
He stated that the school which started under a shed, with no seats, was now housed in standard classrooms with suitable seats for each pupil and modern writing materials, through the efforts of donors in the UK.
The Grace Project of the Salvation Army Church of the United Kingdom financed the $3,000 project, known as the Grace Salvation Army Model School.
The project was sited at the village with the initial aim of providing quality education to children of cured lepers in the area and has offered the opportunity for the enrolment of 150 pupils to date.
The project was initiated under the auspices of a Ho-based non-governmental organisation, Ghana Outlook, and has prevented the closure of the school which was hitherto housed in thatched sheds, which made teaching and learning difficult as result of the unpredictable weather.
In an address, Mr Kudedzi recounted the obstacles in the acquisition of land for the project, and thanked a sub-chief of Ho, Torgbui Adzimah, for leading the task in the search for land.
He expressed regret that many parents had the notion that the government had absorbed all payments of school fees and so there was no need to provide learning tools to their children.
He said the motive behind the Capitation Grant was a laudable one but in the current economic conditions, the GH¢3 per child was woefully inadequate, adding that the remittance of the money to schools was irregular and compounded the problems of the school administration.
Mr Kudedzi, therefore, suggested that parents should rather be made to pay GH¢3 so that the state took over the supply of learning materials like exercise books, pens , pencils and eraser.
The Territorial Commander of the Salvation Army, Colonel Dennis Strissel, said the project was a symbol of the grace of Jesus Christ, adding that human beings did not deserve grace but as there was the need for it, it could be described as unmerited favour.
He said the sponsors did so out of grace and that the rhythm of grace covered virtues like sacrifice, forgiveness, potential talents and relationships, among others.
The general manager of Salvation Army schools, Ghana, Martyn Beecham, said the project was aimed at offering opportunities for equal development of children so that they could develop themselves and establish a sustainable livelihood for their families, society, friends and the nation.
In an address read on her behalf, the Ho Municipal Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Ms Rosemond Keteku explained the state’s policy on education.
She said past and present governments had not been able to fulfil the task and assured the new school of the needed support for it to emerge as one of the best in the region.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr Gershon Badasu, in an address, said enrolment had increased from 70 pupils with three teachers in September, 2007 to 150 with nine teachers at the moment.
He stated that the school which started under a shed, with no seats, was now housed in standard classrooms with suitable seats for each pupil and modern writing materials, through the efforts of donors in the UK.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
106 CANDIDATES FILE IN VOLTA REGION (PAGE 16)
A total of 106 candidates have filed their nominations to contest the parliamentary elections in the 22 constituencies in the Volta Region.
The Akan Constituency had the highest number of eight candidates with three independent ones whilst South Dayi recorded the lowest number of three.
The two constituencies, in addition to Ho-West, also had no incumbent members of Parliament contesting.
The Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Ms Laurentia Kpatakpa, disclosed this to the Daily Graphic in an interview in Ho.
She said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) were represented in all the 22 constituencies, while the CPP filed for 19 constituencies with the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) filing in 17 constituencies.
Ms Kpatakpa said the People’s National Convention (PNC) filed in 10 constituencies with the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) filing in only four constituencies.
She disclosed that a total of 12 independent candidates had filed to contest in the Avenor-Ave, South Tongu, Ho-East, Buem, Akan, Krachi-West, Nkwanta -South and Nkwanta -North constituencies.
The regional director said no candidate was disqualified since no complaint was received against any candidate after the notice of filing of nominations was mounted in each constituency.
There were 10 female candidates who had filed in the Ketu North, South Tongu, Central Tongu, North Tongu, Ho-East, Ho-Central, North Dayi and Buem constituencies.
The Akan Constituency had the highest number of eight candidates with three independent ones whilst South Dayi recorded the lowest number of three.
The two constituencies, in addition to Ho-West, also had no incumbent members of Parliament contesting.
The Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Ms Laurentia Kpatakpa, disclosed this to the Daily Graphic in an interview in Ho.
She said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) were represented in all the 22 constituencies, while the CPP filed for 19 constituencies with the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) filing in 17 constituencies.
Ms Kpatakpa said the People’s National Convention (PNC) filed in 10 constituencies with the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) filing in only four constituencies.
She disclosed that a total of 12 independent candidates had filed to contest in the Avenor-Ave, South Tongu, Ho-East, Buem, Akan, Krachi-West, Nkwanta -South and Nkwanta -North constituencies.
The regional director said no candidate was disqualified since no complaint was received against any candidate after the notice of filing of nominations was mounted in each constituency.
There were 10 female candidates who had filed in the Ketu North, South Tongu, Central Tongu, North Tongu, Ho-East, Ho-Central, North Dayi and Buem constituencies.
READY TO MEET TASK OF POLICING CAMPAIGNS — DERY (PAGE 15)
THE Volta Regional Police Commander, Mr Bernard Dery, has assured the people in the region of the preparedness of the security agencies to meet the task of policing political campaigns to ensure a peaceful, free and fair elections.
He said 3000 security personnel would be required in the Volta Region alone to man polling stations, do patrol duties and part as a stand-by force in addition to the normal duty of crime prevention.
Mr Dery was addressing 150 police personnel drawn from the Volta and Eastern regions at a two-day election monitoring seminar in Ho. It was sponsored jointly by the British High Commission and the National Election Security Task Force.
According to Mr Dery, the Volta Region was a deciding ground for all political parties many of whom were proclaiming victory in the region and posing a challenge to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) which had claimed victory in the region in past elections.
He said out of 1,095 polling stations, 300 were flashpoints and that there was the need to handle issues carefully against the background of a rugged topography of the region.
Mr Dery said the police would create an enabling environment of transparency, neutrality and credibility.
He also cautioned security personnel not to wear the logo of any political party and also try to
prevent clashes between those who would celebrate victory and others who might grieve after the declaration of election results.
The regional commander announced that the period March 10, 2008 to March 10, 2009 had been declared as operational year and that it had been divided into three phases — before, during and after elections.
He said the structure of the region as the longest in the country created problems and needed to be tackled with adequate supply of communication equipment.
Other topics to be discussed at the two-day seminar are” Roles of security agencies in elections”, “ Handling Media in elections”, “ Role of Civil Society in elections”, “ Democracy, Elections and Human Rights” and “ Managing Conflicts in Elections”.
He said 3000 security personnel would be required in the Volta Region alone to man polling stations, do patrol duties and part as a stand-by force in addition to the normal duty of crime prevention.
Mr Dery was addressing 150 police personnel drawn from the Volta and Eastern regions at a two-day election monitoring seminar in Ho. It was sponsored jointly by the British High Commission and the National Election Security Task Force.
According to Mr Dery, the Volta Region was a deciding ground for all political parties many of whom were proclaiming victory in the region and posing a challenge to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) which had claimed victory in the region in past elections.
He said out of 1,095 polling stations, 300 were flashpoints and that there was the need to handle issues carefully against the background of a rugged topography of the region.
Mr Dery said the police would create an enabling environment of transparency, neutrality and credibility.
He also cautioned security personnel not to wear the logo of any political party and also try to
prevent clashes between those who would celebrate victory and others who might grieve after the declaration of election results.
The regional commander announced that the period March 10, 2008 to March 10, 2009 had been declared as operational year and that it had been divided into three phases — before, during and after elections.
He said the structure of the region as the longest in the country created problems and needed to be tackled with adequate supply of communication equipment.
Other topics to be discussed at the two-day seminar are” Roles of security agencies in elections”, “ Handling Media in elections”, “ Role of Civil Society in elections”, “ Democracy, Elections and Human Rights” and “ Managing Conflicts in Elections”.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
EDUCATE MEMBERS TO ENSURE BETTER SERVICE DELIVERY (PAGE 40)
THE Volta Regional Manager of the State Insurance Company (SIC), Mr Richard Fenuku-Doamekpor, has stressed the need for the Ghana Insurers Association (GIA) to educate its members to ensure better service delivery to the public.
He said education was crucial to the individual insurers because it would enhance their capacity to educate others and even market themselves better.
Mr Fenuku-Doamekpor said this when he addressed representatives of insurance companies to mark the insurance night of the national insurance week at the Steven's Hotel in Ho.
He said the association should protect and advance the common interest of insurers and re-insurers transacting insurance business in the country, adding that it was pertinent to promote and maintain efficient standards, honour, discipline and integrity among members.
He stressed the need for the promotion of good relations among insurers and re-insurers and the need to harmonise and simplify the wording of policies in the insurance industry.
Mr Fenuku-Doamekpor said the creation of awareness and better understanding in insurance and the promotion of insurance education in the country would lead to a better economy.
He advocated the promotion of retention of premiums in the country by the two re-insurers and 35 insurers made up of 16 life companies and 19 non-life companies in the country.
He said education was crucial to the individual insurers because it would enhance their capacity to educate others and even market themselves better.
Mr Fenuku-Doamekpor said this when he addressed representatives of insurance companies to mark the insurance night of the national insurance week at the Steven's Hotel in Ho.
He said the association should protect and advance the common interest of insurers and re-insurers transacting insurance business in the country, adding that it was pertinent to promote and maintain efficient standards, honour, discipline and integrity among members.
He stressed the need for the promotion of good relations among insurers and re-insurers and the need to harmonise and simplify the wording of policies in the insurance industry.
Mr Fenuku-Doamekpor said the creation of awareness and better understanding in insurance and the promotion of insurance education in the country would lead to a better economy.
He advocated the promotion of retention of premiums in the country by the two re-insurers and 35 insurers made up of 16 life companies and 19 non-life companies in the country.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
OHENE-NTOW GRATEGUL TO VOLTA REGION...As Ho Central elects Letsa as aspirant (PAGE 16)
THE General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Ohene-Ntow, has expressed appreciation to the people of the Volta Region for the greater goodwill they have increasingly been accorded the party in the region.
He said this when a Ho-based private medical practitioner, Dr Archibald Letsa, was elected the party’s parliamentary aspirant for the Ho-Central Constituency.
This was at an extraordinary delegates conference to choose a new parliamentary aspirant following the stepping down of an earlier aspirant, Mr Walter Glalah, for personal reasons.
The massive ovation at the conference generated so much hope in the General Secretary that he thanked the constituents for their great show of support.
He said at the beginning of the democratic dispensation in 1992, stones were hurled at the NPP followed by booing and indifference.
He said he was happy that the people of the Volta Region were openly identifying with the party through the wearing of party T-shirts and other paraphernalia, adding that a new epoch had emerged in the region.
He attributed all these past maladies to the negative propaganda peddled against the party in the region by its opponents but said gradually and eventually the truth had manifested through the dispassionate execution of development projects in the region.
Nana Ohene–Ntow said the NPP was committed to the peace of the country before, during and after the election on December 7 and charged the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and other opposition parties to publicly announce their commitment to this cause.
In an acceptance speech, Dr Letsa said history had been made in the constituency and the region and predicted that the headlines in some newspapers on December 8, next year, would be, for instance, “Ho –Central falls to NPP” in the Daily Graphic, and “The World Bank is broken” in the Ghanaian Times and “World Bank now Rural Bank” in the Chronicle.
He said the record of achievements of the NPP in the execution of development projects should be the motivational factor for them to vote for him and the party and that they should not allow themselves to be deceived again.
Earlier in an address, the Volta Regional Chairman, Mr Ken-Wuud Nuworsu, said the Ho-Central Constituency formed the nucleus of the region and with the election of the new candidate, it was a testimony that the race had begun to break the jinx of domination by the NDC.
He congratulated Mr Glalah on his decision and also thanked the polling station chairmen for their support, adding that the conference was an eruption for an intensive campaign for the NPP to win more parliamentary seats in the next elections.
He said this when a Ho-based private medical practitioner, Dr Archibald Letsa, was elected the party’s parliamentary aspirant for the Ho-Central Constituency.
This was at an extraordinary delegates conference to choose a new parliamentary aspirant following the stepping down of an earlier aspirant, Mr Walter Glalah, for personal reasons.
The massive ovation at the conference generated so much hope in the General Secretary that he thanked the constituents for their great show of support.
He said at the beginning of the democratic dispensation in 1992, stones were hurled at the NPP followed by booing and indifference.
He said he was happy that the people of the Volta Region were openly identifying with the party through the wearing of party T-shirts and other paraphernalia, adding that a new epoch had emerged in the region.
He attributed all these past maladies to the negative propaganda peddled against the party in the region by its opponents but said gradually and eventually the truth had manifested through the dispassionate execution of development projects in the region.
Nana Ohene–Ntow said the NPP was committed to the peace of the country before, during and after the election on December 7 and charged the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and other opposition parties to publicly announce their commitment to this cause.
In an acceptance speech, Dr Letsa said history had been made in the constituency and the region and predicted that the headlines in some newspapers on December 8, next year, would be, for instance, “Ho –Central falls to NPP” in the Daily Graphic, and “The World Bank is broken” in the Ghanaian Times and “World Bank now Rural Bank” in the Chronicle.
He said the record of achievements of the NPP in the execution of development projects should be the motivational factor for them to vote for him and the party and that they should not allow themselves to be deceived again.
Earlier in an address, the Volta Regional Chairman, Mr Ken-Wuud Nuworsu, said the Ho-Central Constituency formed the nucleus of the region and with the election of the new candidate, it was a testimony that the race had begun to break the jinx of domination by the NDC.
He congratulated Mr Glalah on his decision and also thanked the polling station chairmen for their support, adding that the conference was an eruption for an intensive campaign for the NPP to win more parliamentary seats in the next elections.
MINISTRY LAUNCHES PROGRAMME FOR MASTER CRAFTSMEN (PAGE 14)
THE Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines has launched a capacity-building programme for master craftsmen in the wood sector, with the view to arresting the wasteful utilisation of wood products and restoring loss in biodiversity.
It is an integrated skills development programme designed under the Natural Resource and Environmental Governance (NREG) programme, with support from the development partners, to put master craftsmen in a strategic position to appreciate and realise the value of wood, both in terms of commercial business and the sustainability of biodiversity and the ecosystem.
To this end, 600 master craftsmen drawn from four districts in the Volta Region have been trained in modern techniques in furniture designing, finishing methods, the use of sand paper, costing and the use of portable hand tools to help them to reduce waste and make the needed profit to enhance their livelihoods.
In an address read on his behalf by the Director and Programme Administrator of the Land Administration Project (LAP), Mrs Gifty Biyira, the sector Minister, Mrs Esther Obeng-Dapaah, noted that although designs of wood products were fashionable, the finishing was poor and made the products less appealing to buyers and less competitive on the international market.
She said the training programme was expected to inject a new sense in the use of lower volumes of wood to generate high value- added wood products, stressing that the Forestry Commission should introduce a standardisation scheme in the production of doors and frames to minimise waste in the production process.
In an address, the Human Resource Director of the Forestry Commission, Mr Henry Atta Paidoo, said the commission would not sit down unconcerned as the inefficient and uneconomical use of forest resources went on.
He disclosed that a number of interventions had been fashioned out to confront the challenges posed by the fast rate of forest depletion due to human activity, adding that all stakeholders in the interventions would be equally rewarded under the environmental governance programme.
Mr Paidoo said the expectation was to adopt low volume, high value projects, adding that it was time to move from a vicious circle into a virtuous circle in consonance with the objective to achieve growth and poverty reduction.
He urged all the participants to transfer the knowledge gained to their apprentices in order to build more capacity to attract investment in the wood sector.
In an overview, the Director of the Wood Industries Training Centre (WITC), Mr Alex Offei, said the course content was to upgrade professional skills in the wood industry to help participants to appreciate the values and build their capacities to enable them to train other craftsmen.
The Ho Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Mawutor Goh, said one problem that had bedevilled the environment was the issue of chain-saw operators who produced cheaper lumber than sawmill lumber, although a lot of harm was being done to the environment.
He, therefore, commended the ministry for the initiative to re-orient the master craftsmen in a strategic manner that would lead them into the realm of best practice to win international recognition with their products.
The Wood Manager of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Mr Theophilus Gadzanku, who chaired the function, said the programme was unique, since it would broaden the horizons of participants.
Certificates were presented to all participants.
It is an integrated skills development programme designed under the Natural Resource and Environmental Governance (NREG) programme, with support from the development partners, to put master craftsmen in a strategic position to appreciate and realise the value of wood, both in terms of commercial business and the sustainability of biodiversity and the ecosystem.
To this end, 600 master craftsmen drawn from four districts in the Volta Region have been trained in modern techniques in furniture designing, finishing methods, the use of sand paper, costing and the use of portable hand tools to help them to reduce waste and make the needed profit to enhance their livelihoods.
In an address read on his behalf by the Director and Programme Administrator of the Land Administration Project (LAP), Mrs Gifty Biyira, the sector Minister, Mrs Esther Obeng-Dapaah, noted that although designs of wood products were fashionable, the finishing was poor and made the products less appealing to buyers and less competitive on the international market.
She said the training programme was expected to inject a new sense in the use of lower volumes of wood to generate high value- added wood products, stressing that the Forestry Commission should introduce a standardisation scheme in the production of doors and frames to minimise waste in the production process.
In an address, the Human Resource Director of the Forestry Commission, Mr Henry Atta Paidoo, said the commission would not sit down unconcerned as the inefficient and uneconomical use of forest resources went on.
He disclosed that a number of interventions had been fashioned out to confront the challenges posed by the fast rate of forest depletion due to human activity, adding that all stakeholders in the interventions would be equally rewarded under the environmental governance programme.
Mr Paidoo said the expectation was to adopt low volume, high value projects, adding that it was time to move from a vicious circle into a virtuous circle in consonance with the objective to achieve growth and poverty reduction.
He urged all the participants to transfer the knowledge gained to their apprentices in order to build more capacity to attract investment in the wood sector.
In an overview, the Director of the Wood Industries Training Centre (WITC), Mr Alex Offei, said the course content was to upgrade professional skills in the wood industry to help participants to appreciate the values and build their capacities to enable them to train other craftsmen.
The Ho Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Mawutor Goh, said one problem that had bedevilled the environment was the issue of chain-saw operators who produced cheaper lumber than sawmill lumber, although a lot of harm was being done to the environment.
He, therefore, commended the ministry for the initiative to re-orient the master craftsmen in a strategic manner that would lead them into the realm of best practice to win international recognition with their products.
The Wood Manager of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Mr Theophilus Gadzanku, who chaired the function, said the programme was unique, since it would broaden the horizons of participants.
Certificates were presented to all participants.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
CPP WILL ENSURE GENDER BALANCE (PAGE 16)
THE wife of the presidential aspirant of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Mrs Yvonne Nduom, has reaffirmed the commitment of her husband, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, to reform the political machinery towards the achievement of gender balance in accordance with the Constitution and international conventions.
She promised that the next government under Dr Nduom would ensure that more women were appointed to positions of governance at the district and regional levels, adding that it had been projected that out of the 10 regions in the country, five regional ministers would be women.
She also said more women would be elected into positions of district chief executives, and wondered why Ghana was practising the blend of European and American constitutional democracies, and could not implement the challenges inherent in them to ensure gender parity.
Mrs Nduom said this when she toured the Ketu-South, Keta and South Tongu constituencies in the Volta Region at the weekend.
She visited Dabala, Adafienu, Keta, Aflao, Blekusu, with whistle stops in some communities along the Atlantic Coast where she addressed pockets of women to sensitise them to appreciate the messages of Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom on the need for change.
Mrs Nduom touched on the plight of market women, whom she said had been neglected over the years which had partially contributed to their low life expectancy in the country.
She said under the government of Dr Nduom, education would be made more accessible and continuous to make Ghanaians more skilful and marketable, adding that facilities would be provided at market places to provide meaningful education to the children of market women.
Mrs Nduom said the new sense of Pan –Africanism would be demonstrated through intra African trade, and that all factories of the state would be revived and nurtured until they were viable, for any form of partnership.
The queen of Adafienu, Mama Ayaba II, commended Mrs Nduom for her efforts and asked her to encourage her husband to be focused in his campaign.
Mrs Nduom also addressed a rally at the Aflao market. She was accompanied by the Ketu South parliamentary aspirant, Mr Pascal Kumaza, and the constituency chairman, Mr Agyei Ashiboe-Mensah.
She promised that the next government under Dr Nduom would ensure that more women were appointed to positions of governance at the district and regional levels, adding that it had been projected that out of the 10 regions in the country, five regional ministers would be women.
She also said more women would be elected into positions of district chief executives, and wondered why Ghana was practising the blend of European and American constitutional democracies, and could not implement the challenges inherent in them to ensure gender parity.
Mrs Nduom said this when she toured the Ketu-South, Keta and South Tongu constituencies in the Volta Region at the weekend.
She visited Dabala, Adafienu, Keta, Aflao, Blekusu, with whistle stops in some communities along the Atlantic Coast where she addressed pockets of women to sensitise them to appreciate the messages of Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom on the need for change.
Mrs Nduom touched on the plight of market women, whom she said had been neglected over the years which had partially contributed to their low life expectancy in the country.
She said under the government of Dr Nduom, education would be made more accessible and continuous to make Ghanaians more skilful and marketable, adding that facilities would be provided at market places to provide meaningful education to the children of market women.
Mrs Nduom said the new sense of Pan –Africanism would be demonstrated through intra African trade, and that all factories of the state would be revived and nurtured until they were viable, for any form of partnership.
The queen of Adafienu, Mama Ayaba II, commended Mrs Nduom for her efforts and asked her to encourage her husband to be focused in his campaign.
Mrs Nduom also addressed a rally at the Aflao market. She was accompanied by the Ketu South parliamentary aspirant, Mr Pascal Kumaza, and the constituency chairman, Mr Agyei Ashiboe-Mensah.
Friday, October 10, 2008
PROTECT ACTIVITIES THROUGH INSURANCE COVERAGE (PAGE 36)
THE Volta Regional Manager of the State Insurance Company (SIC), Mr Richard Finuku-Doamekpor, has urged organised groups to consider insurance coverage of their activities as the surest means of protecting and sustaining their businesses to ensure their growth.
He, however, stated that the company would not compromise groups that would engage in drugs to enhance their trade, since that might eventually mar the reputation of the company in the insurance business.
Mr Finuku-Doamekpor made the call when he received 20 members from the Volta Body Building Association who visited the company to show appreciation for sponsorship of their event during the just ended Asogli Yam Festival and the fifth anniversary of the coronation of the Agbogbomefia, Togbe Afede XIV.
He urged them to compete with their counterparts in other parts of the region to enable them to realise their strengths and weaknesses.
The chairman of the association, Mr Kingsley Ledo, praised the SIC for the sponsorship, which covered awards like wall clocks, T-shirts and souvenirs.
He expressed the hope that other organisations would emulate the gesture.
Mr Ledo gave the assurance that they would sustain their discipline and remain focused and steadfast to bring glory and honour to the region.
He allayed the fears of the public that weightlifters were a threat to the society due to their weight and size compared to the ordinary citizens.
Mr Ledo said they were not “machomen” who would cause riot or mayhem, but disciplined people in society whose objective was to win laurels for the nation through weightlifting.
The weightlifting contest comprising bench, squatting, dead lifting in the heavy, middle and lightweights divisions, attracted a large crowd to the palace of the Agbogbomefia.
In the heavyweight division of the bench, Emmanuel Tsey was the winner with Michael de-Souza as the runner-up while Cephas Klu won the squatting with Michael de-Souza as the runner-up. The dead lifting division was won by George Megbenu with Cephas Klu as the runner-up.
In the middleweight division, Cornelius Ankrah won the bench, squatting and dead lifting events while Joseph Opoku was the first runner-up in the squatting event.
Winfred Sitso won all the lightweight divisions in benching, squatting and dead lifting while Raphael de-Souza was the first runner-up in the squatting and dead lifting competition.
A three-member executive committee of the association was inaugurated with Kingsley Ledo as Chairman, Joseph Opoku as Secretary and Michael de-Souza as Organiser.
He, however, stated that the company would not compromise groups that would engage in drugs to enhance their trade, since that might eventually mar the reputation of the company in the insurance business.
Mr Finuku-Doamekpor made the call when he received 20 members from the Volta Body Building Association who visited the company to show appreciation for sponsorship of their event during the just ended Asogli Yam Festival and the fifth anniversary of the coronation of the Agbogbomefia, Togbe Afede XIV.
He urged them to compete with their counterparts in other parts of the region to enable them to realise their strengths and weaknesses.
The chairman of the association, Mr Kingsley Ledo, praised the SIC for the sponsorship, which covered awards like wall clocks, T-shirts and souvenirs.
He expressed the hope that other organisations would emulate the gesture.
Mr Ledo gave the assurance that they would sustain their discipline and remain focused and steadfast to bring glory and honour to the region.
He allayed the fears of the public that weightlifters were a threat to the society due to their weight and size compared to the ordinary citizens.
Mr Ledo said they were not “machomen” who would cause riot or mayhem, but disciplined people in society whose objective was to win laurels for the nation through weightlifting.
The weightlifting contest comprising bench, squatting, dead lifting in the heavy, middle and lightweights divisions, attracted a large crowd to the palace of the Agbogbomefia.
In the heavyweight division of the bench, Emmanuel Tsey was the winner with Michael de-Souza as the runner-up while Cephas Klu won the squatting with Michael de-Souza as the runner-up. The dead lifting division was won by George Megbenu with Cephas Klu as the runner-up.
In the middleweight division, Cornelius Ankrah won the bench, squatting and dead lifting events while Joseph Opoku was the first runner-up in the squatting event.
Winfred Sitso won all the lightweight divisions in benching, squatting and dead lifting while Raphael de-Souza was the first runner-up in the squatting and dead lifting competition.
A three-member executive committee of the association was inaugurated with Kingsley Ledo as Chairman, Joseph Opoku as Secretary and Michael de-Souza as Organiser.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
ASPIRANTS MUST BE CAUTIOUS WITH PROMISES (PAGE 15)
PROSPECTIVE Members of Parliament (MPs) have been urged to be cautious about their campaign strategies in order not to give false hopes to the electorate in their constituencies.
They should be telling the electorate how they intend to play the core roles of the MP as regards legislation, oversight and representation and not the provision of physical infrastructure such as roads, schools, and hospitals which are in the ambit of the executive and local government.
The Executive Director of a Ho-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), Community Action, Mr Orisha Afa, said this in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Ho.
He said, in reality, many of the things the MPs promised during their campaigns were not achievable, and said these unrealistic promises misplaced public expectation and that the public could not ensure that their representatives in Parliament were doing what they should be doing.
“In their bid to please the electorate, they divert their energies towards doing things that they shouldn’t have done,” Mr Afa said.
According to him, many past MPs had sterling qualities in Parliament, yet they lost their seats because of the empty promises they had made to the people.
Mr Afa indicated that the NGO would embark on an intensive public education programme on the roles of the MP and what the electorate must demand from their prospective candidates.
He said radio and television would be used to set the records straight and to correct misconceptions and wrong expectations from MPs.
They should be telling the electorate how they intend to play the core roles of the MP as regards legislation, oversight and representation and not the provision of physical infrastructure such as roads, schools, and hospitals which are in the ambit of the executive and local government.
The Executive Director of a Ho-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), Community Action, Mr Orisha Afa, said this in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Ho.
He said, in reality, many of the things the MPs promised during their campaigns were not achievable, and said these unrealistic promises misplaced public expectation and that the public could not ensure that their representatives in Parliament were doing what they should be doing.
“In their bid to please the electorate, they divert their energies towards doing things that they shouldn’t have done,” Mr Afa said.
According to him, many past MPs had sterling qualities in Parliament, yet they lost their seats because of the empty promises they had made to the people.
Mr Afa indicated that the NGO would embark on an intensive public education programme on the roles of the MP and what the electorate must demand from their prospective candidates.
He said radio and television would be used to set the records straight and to correct misconceptions and wrong expectations from MPs.
Monday, October 6, 2008
ORGANISED GROUPS ADVISED TO TAKE GROUP INSURANCE (PAGE 59)
THE Volta Regional Manager of the SIC Insurance Company (SIC), Mr Richard Finuku -Doamekpor, has urged organised groups to consider insurance cover for their activities as the surest means of protecting and sustaining their endeavours.
He, however, said the company would not compromise with any group, especially in the physical fitness club, who would engage in drugs to enhance their power, since that might eventually mar the reputation of the company in the insurance business.
Mr Finuku-Doamekpor gave the advice when he received a 20-member Volta Body Building Association, who called on the company to show appreciation for the sponsorship of their event during the just-ended Asogli State Yam Festival and the marking of the fifth anniversary of the coronation of the Agbogbomefia, Togbe Afede XIV.
He urged them to compete with their counterparts in other parts of the region to enable them to realise their strengths and weaknesses.
The Chairman of the association, Mr Kingsley Ledo, commended the SIC for the sponsorship that covered such awards as wall clocks, Tee-shirts and many other numerous souvenirs and expressed the hope that other organisations would emulate the gesture.
He gave the assurance that they would sustain their discipline, remained focused and steadfast to bring glory and honour to the region and allayed the fears of the public that weight lifters were a threat to society by indulging in nefarious activities, due to their weight and size compared to ordinary citizens.
The weight-lifting contest, comprising bench, squatting, dead lifting in the heavy, middle and light weight divisions attracted a large crowd at the palace of the Agbogbomefia.
In the heavyweight division of the bench, Emmanuel Tsey was the winner, with Michael de-Souza as the runner-up, while Cephas Klu won the squatting, with Michael de-Souza as the runner-up. The dead-lifting division was won by George Megbenu, with Cephas Klu as the runner-up.
In the middle weight division, Cornelius Ankrah won the bench, squatting and dead-lifting events, while Joseph Opoku was the first runner-up in the squatting event.
Winfred Sitso won all the light weight division in benching, squatting and dead lifting, while Raphael de-Souza was the first runner-up in the squatting and dead-lifting competition.
A three-member executive committee was inaugurated, with Kingsley Ledo as Chairman, Joseph Opoku as Secretary and Michael de-Souza as Organiser.
He, however, said the company would not compromise with any group, especially in the physical fitness club, who would engage in drugs to enhance their power, since that might eventually mar the reputation of the company in the insurance business.
Mr Finuku-Doamekpor gave the advice when he received a 20-member Volta Body Building Association, who called on the company to show appreciation for the sponsorship of their event during the just-ended Asogli State Yam Festival and the marking of the fifth anniversary of the coronation of the Agbogbomefia, Togbe Afede XIV.
He urged them to compete with their counterparts in other parts of the region to enable them to realise their strengths and weaknesses.
The Chairman of the association, Mr Kingsley Ledo, commended the SIC for the sponsorship that covered such awards as wall clocks, Tee-shirts and many other numerous souvenirs and expressed the hope that other organisations would emulate the gesture.
He gave the assurance that they would sustain their discipline, remained focused and steadfast to bring glory and honour to the region and allayed the fears of the public that weight lifters were a threat to society by indulging in nefarious activities, due to their weight and size compared to ordinary citizens.
The weight-lifting contest, comprising bench, squatting, dead lifting in the heavy, middle and light weight divisions attracted a large crowd at the palace of the Agbogbomefia.
In the heavyweight division of the bench, Emmanuel Tsey was the winner, with Michael de-Souza as the runner-up, while Cephas Klu won the squatting, with Michael de-Souza as the runner-up. The dead-lifting division was won by George Megbenu, with Cephas Klu as the runner-up.
In the middle weight division, Cornelius Ankrah won the bench, squatting and dead-lifting events, while Joseph Opoku was the first runner-up in the squatting event.
Winfred Sitso won all the light weight division in benching, squatting and dead lifting, while Raphael de-Souza was the first runner-up in the squatting and dead-lifting competition.
A three-member executive committee was inaugurated, with Kingsley Ledo as Chairman, Joseph Opoku as Secretary and Michael de-Souza as Organiser.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
GREEN GHANA PROJECT LAUNCHED AT KPANDO-TORKOR (PAGE 65)
THE Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, in collaboration with the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB), has launched a Green Schools project for basic schools in the country.
The project starts on a pilot basis, with schoolchildren from selected schools in the Kpando District and the Ho Municipality undertaking a tree-planting competition that will be closely monitored by the ministry and the GTB to ascertain which school will be the most successful in greening its compound and surroundings.
The sector Minister, Mrs Oboshie Sai Cofie, inaugurated the project at a durbar to climax World Tourism Day which was celebrated on the theme, “Tourism, Responding to the Challenges of Climate Change”, at Kpando-Torkor in the Volta Region.
“This catching-them-young programme will gradually instil in Ghanaian children the essence, merit and benefits of growing trees around our surroundings,” she stressed.
The minister said the winning schools would be given various incentives and prizes that could include air tickets, bursaries, excursions, book gifts and public acclaim.
She also said teachers and head teachers who led the programme in their schools would also have some surprise benefits.
Mrs Cofie underscored the need for non-governmental organisations to intensify their efforts at protecting and rehabilitating the environment, since tourism depended on a sound environment.
She said it was pertinent for schools and colleges to be encouraged to take up the practice of greening Ghana, adding, “We have only one environment and we must jealously protect it.”
In an address read on his behalf, the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Dzamesi, called for increased efforts towards the professional development and marketing of the tourism potential of the region to increase tourist visits in order to improve the local economy of communities.
Mr Dzamesi said the theme for the celebration was appropriate because the present high spate of disasters across the world should be a wake-up call to every citizen, in view of the destruction that had occurred from tidal waves, hurricanes and changes in rainfall patterns leading to floods and landslides.
The Member of Parliament for North Dayi, Ms Akua Dansua, said climate change was real, noting that it needed a frontal attack by all stakeholders to ward off its negative aspects.
She said it was time the German government responded to the tourism development agenda of the Kpando District, in view of its colonial relationship with the area, adding that the German government could be useful in tapping the tourism potential of the district to foster economic growth.
The Fiaga of the Awate Traditional Area, Togbe Noagbesenu III, who chaired the event, expressed concern over the underdeveloped tourism potential of the Kpando District and charged the assembly to rise up to the challenges to lift the area up.
A Ghana peace train group, led by Nana Adwoa Awindor, read a peace message to the gathering, while a drama troupe from the Volta Regional Centre for National Culture rocked the gathering with an educative drama on the effects of tree felling, charcoal burning and fishing with chemicals that are detrimental to the environment.
The project starts on a pilot basis, with schoolchildren from selected schools in the Kpando District and the Ho Municipality undertaking a tree-planting competition that will be closely monitored by the ministry and the GTB to ascertain which school will be the most successful in greening its compound and surroundings.
The sector Minister, Mrs Oboshie Sai Cofie, inaugurated the project at a durbar to climax World Tourism Day which was celebrated on the theme, “Tourism, Responding to the Challenges of Climate Change”, at Kpando-Torkor in the Volta Region.
“This catching-them-young programme will gradually instil in Ghanaian children the essence, merit and benefits of growing trees around our surroundings,” she stressed.
The minister said the winning schools would be given various incentives and prizes that could include air tickets, bursaries, excursions, book gifts and public acclaim.
She also said teachers and head teachers who led the programme in their schools would also have some surprise benefits.
Mrs Cofie underscored the need for non-governmental organisations to intensify their efforts at protecting and rehabilitating the environment, since tourism depended on a sound environment.
She said it was pertinent for schools and colleges to be encouraged to take up the practice of greening Ghana, adding, “We have only one environment and we must jealously protect it.”
In an address read on his behalf, the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Dzamesi, called for increased efforts towards the professional development and marketing of the tourism potential of the region to increase tourist visits in order to improve the local economy of communities.
Mr Dzamesi said the theme for the celebration was appropriate because the present high spate of disasters across the world should be a wake-up call to every citizen, in view of the destruction that had occurred from tidal waves, hurricanes and changes in rainfall patterns leading to floods and landslides.
The Member of Parliament for North Dayi, Ms Akua Dansua, said climate change was real, noting that it needed a frontal attack by all stakeholders to ward off its negative aspects.
She said it was time the German government responded to the tourism development agenda of the Kpando District, in view of its colonial relationship with the area, adding that the German government could be useful in tapping the tourism potential of the district to foster economic growth.
The Fiaga of the Awate Traditional Area, Togbe Noagbesenu III, who chaired the event, expressed concern over the underdeveloped tourism potential of the Kpando District and charged the assembly to rise up to the challenges to lift the area up.
A Ghana peace train group, led by Nana Adwoa Awindor, read a peace message to the gathering, while a drama troupe from the Volta Regional Centre for National Culture rocked the gathering with an educative drama on the effects of tree felling, charcoal burning and fishing with chemicals that are detrimental to the environment.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
MOVE TO RESTRAIN DOE ADJAHO (PAGE 3)
AN Akatsi-based businessman, Seth Dominic Aglagoh, has filed a motion at a Ho High Court seeking an order to restrain Mr Doe Adjaho, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Ave-Avenor, from contesting as a parliamentary candidate in the Ave-Avenor Constituency in the December 7 elections.
Mr Adjaho and four others were cited in the motion for an interlocutory injunction to be heard in the court on Monday, October 13.
The other defendants in the case are the National Chairman, the General Secretary and the Constituency Chairman of the NDC and the Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC).
The motion also seeks an order that the name of Mr Adjaho should not be submitted to the EC and an order to restrain the commission from accepting the registration of Mr Adjaho as the NDC parliamentary candidate for the constituency.
In an affidavit in support of a motion for an interlocutory injunction, the plaintiff claimed that he was a registered and paid up member of the NDC in the Ave-Avenor Constituency, with registration number 052.
He said in February 2008 he applied to contest the constituency primary and paid the prescribed fee of GHc1,100 and that at the close of nominations, only two persons — he and the incumbent MP, Mr Adjaho — had filed their papers.
He said the two of them were duly vetted by the national, regional and constituency executives of the party and duly cleared as being eligible to contest the primary.
Mr Aglagoh stated that while he was patiently waiting for a date to be fixed for the primary, his competitor went round circulating letters inviting the delegates to an emergency meeting on September 16, 2008 to discuss the drawing up of a campaign strategy and the formation of campaign teams for the constituency.
He said on September 19,2008 the delegates were invited to endorse the parliamentary candidate and that he was utterly taken aback when, at the meeting, Mr Adjaho was endorsed by popular acclamation as the parliamentary candidate of the NDC in the constituency.
The plaintiff said he had never been notified about those processes and had never been aware that he had been disqualified from contesting the NDC parliamentary primary.
He said he was later informed that he had been disqualified from contesting the primary, on the grounds that he had not been an active member of the party in the constituency for the two years preceding the filing of nominations.
He, however, said the national executive committee duly investigated the matter and dismissed the allegation, adding that the conflict resolution committee set up by the national executive of the party also investigated the allegation and cleared him of the charge.
Mr Aglagoh argued that the act of the defendants was illegal, unlawful and a violation of the NDC constitution and the 1992 Constitution and, therefore, illegal, null and void.
Mr Adjaho and four others were cited in the motion for an interlocutory injunction to be heard in the court on Monday, October 13.
The other defendants in the case are the National Chairman, the General Secretary and the Constituency Chairman of the NDC and the Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC).
The motion also seeks an order that the name of Mr Adjaho should not be submitted to the EC and an order to restrain the commission from accepting the registration of Mr Adjaho as the NDC parliamentary candidate for the constituency.
In an affidavit in support of a motion for an interlocutory injunction, the plaintiff claimed that he was a registered and paid up member of the NDC in the Ave-Avenor Constituency, with registration number 052.
He said in February 2008 he applied to contest the constituency primary and paid the prescribed fee of GHc1,100 and that at the close of nominations, only two persons — he and the incumbent MP, Mr Adjaho — had filed their papers.
He said the two of them were duly vetted by the national, regional and constituency executives of the party and duly cleared as being eligible to contest the primary.
Mr Aglagoh stated that while he was patiently waiting for a date to be fixed for the primary, his competitor went round circulating letters inviting the delegates to an emergency meeting on September 16, 2008 to discuss the drawing up of a campaign strategy and the formation of campaign teams for the constituency.
He said on September 19,2008 the delegates were invited to endorse the parliamentary candidate and that he was utterly taken aback when, at the meeting, Mr Adjaho was endorsed by popular acclamation as the parliamentary candidate of the NDC in the constituency.
The plaintiff said he had never been notified about those processes and had never been aware that he had been disqualified from contesting the NDC parliamentary primary.
He said he was later informed that he had been disqualified from contesting the primary, on the grounds that he had not been an active member of the party in the constituency for the two years preceding the filing of nominations.
He, however, said the national executive committee duly investigated the matter and dismissed the allegation, adding that the conflict resolution committee set up by the national executive of the party also investigated the allegation and cleared him of the charge.
Mr Aglagoh argued that the act of the defendants was illegal, unlawful and a violation of the NDC constitution and the 1992 Constitution and, therefore, illegal, null and void.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GROWING TOURISM ENVIRONMENT (PAGE 35)
From Tim Dzamboe, Ho
The Ho Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Mawutor Goh, has asked the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) to look for vibrant tour operating companies and hotels to promote viable transit services for guests of the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
He said the nation should take advantage of the ever-growing tourism environment to rake opportunities associated with the next World Cup.
Mr Goh who had just returned from South Africa, made the suggestion at a seminar in Ho to herald the World Tourism Day which falls today.
According to him, consultations with counterparts in South Africa revealed that many tour and travel operators as well as operators of the hospitality industry in that country were ready to channel their guests through Ghana before finally landing in South Africa for the games.
In another development, he said a recent trip to Finland also revealed that a Finnish tourist group that toured the West coast including Ghana had declined expanding their tours to the northern sector of the country because of insecurity.
He said on one of such visits the tourists were stranded in Bolgatanga due to fuel shortage and there was none to buy for their tourist coach.
Mr Goh narrated that an encounter with representatives of the tourists in Finland revealed that the experience gave them a grim and negative picture of the country. He asked the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations to make amends to avoid the recurrence of such omissions to tourists.
In a speech read on her behalf, the sector Minister, Mrs Oboshie Sai Cofie, said Ghana had emerged as a special African tourist destination drawing people and visitors from all over the world to experience not only the fascinating cultural diversity, history and natural endowments but also the peaceful environment, stability, good governance and hospitality.
She said the tourism industry contributed almost $1.1 billion in foreign exchange earnings, about four per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and created about 220,000 direct formal jobs.
Mrs Cofie said the tourism ministry expected the trend to continue so it could contribute further to the national economy, including creating jobs especially in rural areas and thus help to reduce rural poverty.
The Ho Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Mawutor Goh, has asked the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) to look for vibrant tour operating companies and hotels to promote viable transit services for guests of the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
He said the nation should take advantage of the ever-growing tourism environment to rake opportunities associated with the next World Cup.
Mr Goh who had just returned from South Africa, made the suggestion at a seminar in Ho to herald the World Tourism Day which falls today.
According to him, consultations with counterparts in South Africa revealed that many tour and travel operators as well as operators of the hospitality industry in that country were ready to channel their guests through Ghana before finally landing in South Africa for the games.
In another development, he said a recent trip to Finland also revealed that a Finnish tourist group that toured the West coast including Ghana had declined expanding their tours to the northern sector of the country because of insecurity.
He said on one of such visits the tourists were stranded in Bolgatanga due to fuel shortage and there was none to buy for their tourist coach.
Mr Goh narrated that an encounter with representatives of the tourists in Finland revealed that the experience gave them a grim and negative picture of the country. He asked the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations to make amends to avoid the recurrence of such omissions to tourists.
In a speech read on her behalf, the sector Minister, Mrs Oboshie Sai Cofie, said Ghana had emerged as a special African tourist destination drawing people and visitors from all over the world to experience not only the fascinating cultural diversity, history and natural endowments but also the peaceful environment, stability, good governance and hospitality.
She said the tourism industry contributed almost $1.1 billion in foreign exchange earnings, about four per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and created about 220,000 direct formal jobs.
Mrs Cofie said the tourism ministry expected the trend to continue so it could contribute further to the national economy, including creating jobs especially in rural areas and thus help to reduce rural poverty.
OBOSHIE ADVISES TOURISM PRACTITIONERS (PAGE 23)
THE Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, Mrs Oboshie Sai Cofie, has urged practitioners and the government, who usually rely on tourism for jobs and for revenue, to take into account the potential impact of climate change in planning new tourism resorts or upgrading existing facilities.
She said all institutions must endeavour to take preventive actions to mitigate environmental impact contributing to climate change within the framework of poverty reduction strategies and other Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
This was contained in a speech read on her behalf by the Chief Director of the ministry, Mrs Bridget Katsriku, at the opening of a sensitisation seminar at Ho to mark World Tourism Day which falls on Saturday.
It was on the theme: “Tourism: Responding to the Challenges of Climate Change”.
Mrs Cofie said while the impact of climate change on tourism would vary, it was already clear that small island states that served as tourism destinations would become vulnerable to rise in sea level.
She also stated that more frequent periods of extreme heat would cause discomfort in many resorts while sea erosion of coastal areas, reduction of forests through wild fires and excessive flooding were recipes for a decline in tourism.
The minister said several world heritage sites that were important tourist sites such as forts had become victims of high tidal waves induced by climate change.
She, therefore, stressed the need for national and local governments, corporate organisations, churches and international organisations, practitioners in the tourism industry and the media, to join in the crusade by developing and implementing strategies to face changing climatic conditions.
“Action must be taken now. The tourism industry itself must take action to reduce its contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions,” Mrs Cofie declared.
She called on tourism practitioners to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions derived from transport and accommodation activities and should change from fossil fuel to renewable sources of energy.
The minister also suggested that the tourism industry should incorporate public transport and cycling infrastructure in resort plans as well as alternative low impact vehicle technology, recycling and conservation of water resources and to undertake aforestation programmes.
In an address read on his behalf, the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Dzamesi, called on all stakeholders in the industry to redouble efforts to contain the keen competition in the industry in order to promote Ghana as a preferred destination with novel experiences and to significantly expand the overall role of tourism in the national economy.
He said the seminar should unfold meaningful insights into the theme and to equip participants with the requisite knowledge to promote sustainable tourism, mindful of the global environment and climate.
In a presentation, the Volta Regional Programme Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Togbe Akliku Ahorney II, said the challenges of climate change to tourism included coastal erosion, extinction of some plants and animal species and heat waves.
He added that revenue from tourism was likely to dwindle as a result of those trends, which might cause reduction in the patronage of tourism activities.
In another paper, a senior lecturer at the Department of Geography and Tourism of the University of Cape Coast, Dr F.E. Amuquandoh, said the nation must be able to adapt to climate changes by building coastal defences, relocation of some tourism-related facilities, setting new priorities as a destination, water conservation, harvesting and recycling.
He called for mitigation efforts in the energy sector, restaurant sector, car rentals, airlines and accommodation by fashioning out strategies that would permit the use of efficient facilities.
She said all institutions must endeavour to take preventive actions to mitigate environmental impact contributing to climate change within the framework of poverty reduction strategies and other Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
This was contained in a speech read on her behalf by the Chief Director of the ministry, Mrs Bridget Katsriku, at the opening of a sensitisation seminar at Ho to mark World Tourism Day which falls on Saturday.
It was on the theme: “Tourism: Responding to the Challenges of Climate Change”.
Mrs Cofie said while the impact of climate change on tourism would vary, it was already clear that small island states that served as tourism destinations would become vulnerable to rise in sea level.
She also stated that more frequent periods of extreme heat would cause discomfort in many resorts while sea erosion of coastal areas, reduction of forests through wild fires and excessive flooding were recipes for a decline in tourism.
The minister said several world heritage sites that were important tourist sites such as forts had become victims of high tidal waves induced by climate change.
She, therefore, stressed the need for national and local governments, corporate organisations, churches and international organisations, practitioners in the tourism industry and the media, to join in the crusade by developing and implementing strategies to face changing climatic conditions.
“Action must be taken now. The tourism industry itself must take action to reduce its contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions,” Mrs Cofie declared.
She called on tourism practitioners to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions derived from transport and accommodation activities and should change from fossil fuel to renewable sources of energy.
The minister also suggested that the tourism industry should incorporate public transport and cycling infrastructure in resort plans as well as alternative low impact vehicle technology, recycling and conservation of water resources and to undertake aforestation programmes.
In an address read on his behalf, the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Dzamesi, called on all stakeholders in the industry to redouble efforts to contain the keen competition in the industry in order to promote Ghana as a preferred destination with novel experiences and to significantly expand the overall role of tourism in the national economy.
He said the seminar should unfold meaningful insights into the theme and to equip participants with the requisite knowledge to promote sustainable tourism, mindful of the global environment and climate.
In a presentation, the Volta Regional Programme Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Togbe Akliku Ahorney II, said the challenges of climate change to tourism included coastal erosion, extinction of some plants and animal species and heat waves.
He added that revenue from tourism was likely to dwindle as a result of those trends, which might cause reduction in the patronage of tourism activities.
In another paper, a senior lecturer at the Department of Geography and Tourism of the University of Cape Coast, Dr F.E. Amuquandoh, said the nation must be able to adapt to climate changes by building coastal defences, relocation of some tourism-related facilities, setting new priorities as a destination, water conservation, harvesting and recycling.
He called for mitigation efforts in the energy sector, restaurant sector, car rentals, airlines and accommodation by fashioning out strategies that would permit the use of efficient facilities.
Friday, September 26, 2008
ADAKLU-WAYANU APPEALS FOR POWER (PAGE 21)
THE people of Adaklu-Wayanu in the Adaklu-Anyigbe District have expressed disappointment at the inability of the district assembly to expedite action on the demand of the people to be connected to the national grid under the self help electrification programme (SHEP).
They said although they had bought 14 poles with a supplement of 10 poles from the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), their vision of achieving positive change in their lives as regards the benefits of electricity had been frustrated for more than 12 years now.
The chief of the town, Togbe Ahiagbede IV, who spoke on behalf of the people at a meeting with elders of the town, expressed disappointment that many investors had acquired land with a view of investing in agriculture but for the lack of electricity, they could not implement their plans.
He said although there was the network for the reception of mobile or cell phones, the facility was enjoyed at great cost because the people had to travel to areas with electricity to charge their phones to make them functional.
Togbe Ahiagbede lamented the plight of schoolchildren in the community, adding that without electricity, they could not utilise resources and facilities unlike their counterparts in the urban areas.
He, therefore, appealed to all stakeholders in rural development to assist the community to benefit from the SHEP as early as possible.
A potential American investor, Mr Tom Rees, who was present at the meeting, said there was great potential in agriculture and that apart from electricity to facilitate irrigation, there was the need to construct an access road to the farmlands.
They said although they had bought 14 poles with a supplement of 10 poles from the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), their vision of achieving positive change in their lives as regards the benefits of electricity had been frustrated for more than 12 years now.
The chief of the town, Togbe Ahiagbede IV, who spoke on behalf of the people at a meeting with elders of the town, expressed disappointment that many investors had acquired land with a view of investing in agriculture but for the lack of electricity, they could not implement their plans.
He said although there was the network for the reception of mobile or cell phones, the facility was enjoyed at great cost because the people had to travel to areas with electricity to charge their phones to make them functional.
Togbe Ahiagbede lamented the plight of schoolchildren in the community, adding that without electricity, they could not utilise resources and facilities unlike their counterparts in the urban areas.
He, therefore, appealed to all stakeholders in rural development to assist the community to benefit from the SHEP as early as possible.
A potential American investor, Mr Tom Rees, who was present at the meeting, said there was great potential in agriculture and that apart from electricity to facilitate irrigation, there was the need to construct an access road to the farmlands.
NDC, NPP MANIFESTOS CONTAIN NOTHING NEW (PAGE 16)
A leading member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Mr Clement Asare a.k.a. Kofi Sabon, has said that the manifestos of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) contain nothing new from what the CPP fashioned out in its vision for the first republic for the nation.
“One will well remember that these two parties proclaimed Nkrumah’s fee free education policy, feeding of students, free medical bills and claimed those things belonged to the past and that no serious Ghana government could acknowledge those free rights or facilities again”, he said.
Kofi Sabon who was speaking to the Daily Graphic in Ho said right now the same people were talking about free education, free medical bills and other amenities.
He, therefore, asked at what time they had realised that when they assumed power they would be able to provide those free services and questioned whether they were sincere or just taking Ghanaians for a ride.
He, therefore, made it clear that if the flag bearers of the two parties had now realised the state could conveniently tackle those issues, the best party which should be given power to see to the successful implementation of those policies and ideas was the CPP because the party had done it before.
“We know how to do it and know the problems associated with [it], we know the SWOT analysis associated with it and these are our strengths that will enable us to improve upon the system”, he stated.
Kofi Sabon said these new apostles of political groupings were just coming to experiment and to use “Ghanaians again as guinea pigs”.
He, therefore, urged Ghanaians to be prepared to vote Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom and the CPP as the president for the nation and the ruling party at the December 7 polls.
According to him, “CPP is on top”. This he said judging, from the overwhelming turnout at the 99th birthday anniversary of Dr Kwame Nkrumah and the launch of the manifesto as well as the introduction of the running mate, Dr Abu Foster Sakara.
“This was a clear sign that the CPP was reborn,” he said, adding that it was a clear commitment from the majority of Ghanaians that they wanted peaceful elections and peaceful outcome of elections.
Kofi Sabon said it also showed clearly that the majority of Ghanaians were fed up with the NPP and NDC rivalry and that it was a clear sign that Ghanaians were prepared to chart a new course and at least give Kwame Nkrumah the needed recognition and honour for what he did for the nation.
He alluded to the fact that the NDC and NPP had tasted power and that a critical look at their manifestos revealed a lot of repetition and that those repetitions reflected their failures.
“One will well remember that these two parties proclaimed Nkrumah’s fee free education policy, feeding of students, free medical bills and claimed those things belonged to the past and that no serious Ghana government could acknowledge those free rights or facilities again”, he said.
Kofi Sabon who was speaking to the Daily Graphic in Ho said right now the same people were talking about free education, free medical bills and other amenities.
He, therefore, asked at what time they had realised that when they assumed power they would be able to provide those free services and questioned whether they were sincere or just taking Ghanaians for a ride.
He, therefore, made it clear that if the flag bearers of the two parties had now realised the state could conveniently tackle those issues, the best party which should be given power to see to the successful implementation of those policies and ideas was the CPP because the party had done it before.
“We know how to do it and know the problems associated with [it], we know the SWOT analysis associated with it and these are our strengths that will enable us to improve upon the system”, he stated.
Kofi Sabon said these new apostles of political groupings were just coming to experiment and to use “Ghanaians again as guinea pigs”.
He, therefore, urged Ghanaians to be prepared to vote Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom and the CPP as the president for the nation and the ruling party at the December 7 polls.
According to him, “CPP is on top”. This he said judging, from the overwhelming turnout at the 99th birthday anniversary of Dr Kwame Nkrumah and the launch of the manifesto as well as the introduction of the running mate, Dr Abu Foster Sakara.
“This was a clear sign that the CPP was reborn,” he said, adding that it was a clear commitment from the majority of Ghanaians that they wanted peaceful elections and peaceful outcome of elections.
Kofi Sabon said it also showed clearly that the majority of Ghanaians were fed up with the NPP and NDC rivalry and that it was a clear sign that Ghanaians were prepared to chart a new course and at least give Kwame Nkrumah the needed recognition and honour for what he did for the nation.
He alluded to the fact that the NDC and NPP had tasted power and that a critical look at their manifestos revealed a lot of repetition and that those repetitions reflected their failures.
Monday, September 15, 2008
KLUTSE ELECTED DFP ASPIRANT FOR AVE-AVENOR (PAGE 15)
THE President of the Mathematics Association of Ghana (MAG), Mr G. K. Abiw-Abaidoo, has called for the establishment of Mathematics laboratories/resource centers in each of the 10 regions of the country.
He said Mathematics teachers could go to such centres for interaction and avail themselves of the use of current teaching and learning materials that would make their classroom delivery interesting and real.
In addition, he said, there should be a set of standard mathematics textbooks to be used in all schools instead of allowing the proliferation of all sorts of pamphlets on the subject in schools, a situation which does not benefit the students.
He made the call when he addressed the 34th annual conference/workshop of the association at the St. James Seminary/Senior High School at Abesim, near Sunyani, in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The theme for the meeting was, “Practical means of Dealing with the Issues Arising out of the 2007 New Educational Reform in Mathematics”.
The MAG President suggested that the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports adopts the MAG Mathematics textbooks which were not only written by a consortium of experienced Mathematics teachers but are also user-friendly, 100 per cent compliant, and had been reviewed to take into consideration the redenomination of the cedi and the latest West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) syllabus just as the Joint Schools Project (JSP) was used in all schools some time ago.
Mr Abiw-Abaidoo called on the Ministry to sponsor Mathematics workshops in the districts to equip them with current changes in the teaching of the subject.
Again, he said, MAG should be fully recognised as a necessary partner in the new educational reform, which he said, would not be complete without a “reformed teacher”.
He said since Mathematics was the “cement that ticks the exact sciences together and the fact that MAG always provides its members with tools or teaching for understanding during its annual workshops, it will not be out of place if MAG is consulted in the selection of resource persons and the planning of future capacity building workshops in Mathematics, such as the one recently held throughout the country”.
The MAG President indicated that the main objective of the founding fathers of MAG in 1960 was to improve the teaching of Mathematics and to acquaint members with new trends in the teaching and learning of the subject in Ghana.
Mr Abiw-Abaidoo explained that membership of MAG was opened to practising teachers of Mathematics in educational institutions, persons who were interested in or concerned with the teaching of Mathematics or with its application in government, commerce or industry, and that honorary membership could be accorded persons who had rendered singular service to promote the teaching and learning of the subject.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, agreed that any policy which sought to make Science and Technology a priority was likely to fail if Mathematics was not given equal or greater attention.
He however noted that Mathematics as a subject had been dreaded by many students, and that the subject could have died or been ignored completely, and not even the existence of MAG could save it if the new educational reform had not made it compulsory at the pre-tertiary levels and as a requirement for tertiary education.
Mr Baffour-Awuah expressed the hope that the influence of MAG would be felt in the new educational reform by accepting the challenges and resolving to encourage Mathematics teachers to build confidence in their students so as to enable the country to move forward in its educational programme.
The Rector of the Sunyani Polytechnic, Prof. Kwasi Nsiah-Gyabaah, observed that the study of Mathematics was very important to every human being, whether literate or illiterate, saying that it was due to the immense role that Mathematics played in the lives of the citizenry that the curriculum designers in the Ghana Education Service (GES) in their wisdom made the subject compulsory at the junior and senior high school levels.
The Rector of the St. James Seminary/Senior High School, Rev. Fr. Alex Ansu Ebow, pointed out that the 21st century society cannot move forward without the conscious study of Mathematics and Science.
He said, society’s answers to energy, housing, food and clothing problems, depended on how scientists were able to use their knowledge in Science and Mathematics to find practical and appropriate solutions to those pertinent problems facing humankind the world over.
He said Mathematics teachers could go to such centres for interaction and avail themselves of the use of current teaching and learning materials that would make their classroom delivery interesting and real.
In addition, he said, there should be a set of standard mathematics textbooks to be used in all schools instead of allowing the proliferation of all sorts of pamphlets on the subject in schools, a situation which does not benefit the students.
He made the call when he addressed the 34th annual conference/workshop of the association at the St. James Seminary/Senior High School at Abesim, near Sunyani, in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The theme for the meeting was, “Practical means of Dealing with the Issues Arising out of the 2007 New Educational Reform in Mathematics”.
The MAG President suggested that the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports adopts the MAG Mathematics textbooks which were not only written by a consortium of experienced Mathematics teachers but are also user-friendly, 100 per cent compliant, and had been reviewed to take into consideration the redenomination of the cedi and the latest West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) syllabus just as the Joint Schools Project (JSP) was used in all schools some time ago.
Mr Abiw-Abaidoo called on the Ministry to sponsor Mathematics workshops in the districts to equip them with current changes in the teaching of the subject.
Again, he said, MAG should be fully recognised as a necessary partner in the new educational reform, which he said, would not be complete without a “reformed teacher”.
He said since Mathematics was the “cement that ticks the exact sciences together and the fact that MAG always provides its members with tools or teaching for understanding during its annual workshops, it will not be out of place if MAG is consulted in the selection of resource persons and the planning of future capacity building workshops in Mathematics, such as the one recently held throughout the country”.
The MAG President indicated that the main objective of the founding fathers of MAG in 1960 was to improve the teaching of Mathematics and to acquaint members with new trends in the teaching and learning of the subject in Ghana.
Mr Abiw-Abaidoo explained that membership of MAG was opened to practising teachers of Mathematics in educational institutions, persons who were interested in or concerned with the teaching of Mathematics or with its application in government, commerce or industry, and that honorary membership could be accorded persons who had rendered singular service to promote the teaching and learning of the subject.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, agreed that any policy which sought to make Science and Technology a priority was likely to fail if Mathematics was not given equal or greater attention.
He however noted that Mathematics as a subject had been dreaded by many students, and that the subject could have died or been ignored completely, and not even the existence of MAG could save it if the new educational reform had not made it compulsory at the pre-tertiary levels and as a requirement for tertiary education.
Mr Baffour-Awuah expressed the hope that the influence of MAG would be felt in the new educational reform by accepting the challenges and resolving to encourage Mathematics teachers to build confidence in their students so as to enable the country to move forward in its educational programme.
The Rector of the Sunyani Polytechnic, Prof. Kwasi Nsiah-Gyabaah, observed that the study of Mathematics was very important to every human being, whether literate or illiterate, saying that it was due to the immense role that Mathematics played in the lives of the citizenry that the curriculum designers in the Ghana Education Service (GES) in their wisdom made the subject compulsory at the junior and senior high school levels.
The Rector of the St. James Seminary/Senior High School, Rev. Fr. Alex Ansu Ebow, pointed out that the 21st century society cannot move forward without the conscious study of Mathematics and Science.
He said, society’s answers to energy, housing, food and clothing problems, depended on how scientists were able to use their knowledge in Science and Mathematics to find practical and appropriate solutions to those pertinent problems facing humankind the world over.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
STRENTHEN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT — TORGBUI AYIM (PAGE 22)
THE paramount chief of the Ziavi Traditional Area, Togbui Kwaku Ayim IV, has called on business educators to fashion out new strategies to strengthen business management and administration in order to contain the challenges of emerging businesses in the wake of petroleum discovery in the country.
According to him, it was expected that more businesses would spring up due to the oil boom and they should be properly managed hence the need to train and equip students at various levels to handle the businesses efficiently.
Togbui Ayim was addressing the 16th annual conference and workshop of the Ghana Association of Business Education Teachers (GABET) at Ho, on Wednesday.
He attributed the collapse of many businesses to poor management skills and, therefore, charged business educators to reverse the trend in order to lay a solid foundation for future generations.
Togbui Ayim lamented over public outcry on the poor result of Basic Education Certificate Education (BECE) and blamed the recurrence of poor performance on the overburdening of pupils with many subjects.
He, therefore, suggested to the authorities to review the number of external examination subjects in order to reduce the number of subjects as a measure of minimising the burden of students.
Presenting a paper on the theme: “The contribution of the business community to the development of business education in Ghana” a senior lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba, Kumasi Campus, Reverend Dr Canon Joseph Osei, said business educators should take up public education on financial literacy after national budget reading or the passing of a new tax law.
He said they should organise seminars in vernacular throughout the country for market women and artisans, adding that they should design simple business methods and financial system flow charts for traders.
Rev Osei said it was only when the business community tasted the professional competence of business educators that they would be motivated to support them in their work.
He said business educators could influence the creation of academic and philanthropic chairs to be occupied by persons who wanted to demonstrate their support for the development of business education in the country.
The GABET National President, Mr J.K. Addo, said the attractiveness of business education programmes in almost all the institutions of higher learning had motivated the choice of the theme for the conference.
He said the forthcoming general election was critical in the life of the nation, and for that reason there was the need for all and sundry, especially the security agencies, to live up to their responsibilities by being strict and stern, fair and firm.
Mr Addo stated that for a democracy to function effectively, the political parties should compete on an equal and equitable basis by providing a level playing field for all political parties.
“Decorum or civility should be the hallmark of our politics. Politics is not supposed to be a dirty game but if those who play politics are dirty, no doubt they will make it dirty,” he said.
According to him, it was expected that more businesses would spring up due to the oil boom and they should be properly managed hence the need to train and equip students at various levels to handle the businesses efficiently.
Togbui Ayim was addressing the 16th annual conference and workshop of the Ghana Association of Business Education Teachers (GABET) at Ho, on Wednesday.
He attributed the collapse of many businesses to poor management skills and, therefore, charged business educators to reverse the trend in order to lay a solid foundation for future generations.
Togbui Ayim lamented over public outcry on the poor result of Basic Education Certificate Education (BECE) and blamed the recurrence of poor performance on the overburdening of pupils with many subjects.
He, therefore, suggested to the authorities to review the number of external examination subjects in order to reduce the number of subjects as a measure of minimising the burden of students.
Presenting a paper on the theme: “The contribution of the business community to the development of business education in Ghana” a senior lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba, Kumasi Campus, Reverend Dr Canon Joseph Osei, said business educators should take up public education on financial literacy after national budget reading or the passing of a new tax law.
He said they should organise seminars in vernacular throughout the country for market women and artisans, adding that they should design simple business methods and financial system flow charts for traders.
Rev Osei said it was only when the business community tasted the professional competence of business educators that they would be motivated to support them in their work.
He said business educators could influence the creation of academic and philanthropic chairs to be occupied by persons who wanted to demonstrate their support for the development of business education in the country.
The GABET National President, Mr J.K. Addo, said the attractiveness of business education programmes in almost all the institutions of higher learning had motivated the choice of the theme for the conference.
He said the forthcoming general election was critical in the life of the nation, and for that reason there was the need for all and sundry, especially the security agencies, to live up to their responsibilities by being strict and stern, fair and firm.
Mr Addo stated that for a democracy to function effectively, the political parties should compete on an equal and equitable basis by providing a level playing field for all political parties.
“Decorum or civility should be the hallmark of our politics. Politics is not supposed to be a dirty game but if those who play politics are dirty, no doubt they will make it dirty,” he said.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
KPANDO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIVISION COMMENDED (PAGE 36)
THE Environmental Health Division of the Kpando District Assembly has been commended for its outstanding performance that has made the district a beacon of good sanitation practise in the Volta Region.
The Kpando town was adjudged the neatest town in the Volta Region last year with Kpando-Gadza placing third while a school in the Anfoega Traditional Area also excelled in a school cleanliness contest.
The District Environmental Health Officer, Mr Simon Axame, did not, however, mince words when he said despite those achievements, there was no room for complacency.
He stressed that the division would intensify its activities in checking stray animals and food vendors in order not to endanger the health of the people.
Mr Axame said this when he addressed a durbar to launch the sixth district sanitation week on the theme, “Clean Environment for the People by the People” at Kpando-Aloyi.
He said environmental health officers should not be regarded as enemies when they were enforcing sanitation laws in the communities.
The Kpando District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Pius Adanuti, said a clean environment was the collective responsibility of all and sundry but not the sole responsibility of environmental health officers.
He entreated the people to change their attitude by keeping their environment clean so that more resources could be saved to meet other demands.
Mr Adanuti said as part of the building regulation and sanitation laws, every developer must construct a toilet in his house.
Mr Adanuti advised the people to respect one another and also tolerate other people’s opinions during the crucial period of the ongoing political campaigns, stressing that they should remain united and should not let the forthcoming elections divide them.
In a welcoming address, the Queen of Aloyi, Mama Komlateng V, said the choice of Aloyi for the function was significant in view of its proper layout and good sanitation culture.
The Kpando town was adjudged the neatest town in the Volta Region last year with Kpando-Gadza placing third while a school in the Anfoega Traditional Area also excelled in a school cleanliness contest.
The District Environmental Health Officer, Mr Simon Axame, did not, however, mince words when he said despite those achievements, there was no room for complacency.
He stressed that the division would intensify its activities in checking stray animals and food vendors in order not to endanger the health of the people.
Mr Axame said this when he addressed a durbar to launch the sixth district sanitation week on the theme, “Clean Environment for the People by the People” at Kpando-Aloyi.
He said environmental health officers should not be regarded as enemies when they were enforcing sanitation laws in the communities.
The Kpando District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Pius Adanuti, said a clean environment was the collective responsibility of all and sundry but not the sole responsibility of environmental health officers.
He entreated the people to change their attitude by keeping their environment clean so that more resources could be saved to meet other demands.
Mr Adanuti said as part of the building regulation and sanitation laws, every developer must construct a toilet in his house.
Mr Adanuti advised the people to respect one another and also tolerate other people’s opinions during the crucial period of the ongoing political campaigns, stressing that they should remain united and should not let the forthcoming elections divide them.
In a welcoming address, the Queen of Aloyi, Mama Komlateng V, said the choice of Aloyi for the function was significant in view of its proper layout and good sanitation culture.
TOURIST VILLAGE FOR ADOMEGAKORPE (PAGE 36)
THE descendants of Torgbi Adomega of Dzodze in the Volta Region are to build a tourist village at Adomegakorpe in the Dzodze Traditional Area with a view to preserving the healing values of a “Vodoo” that originated from the late chief of the town in 1875.
Torgbui Adomega was said to be a healer and saviour who was crowned the chief healer within the Anlo Traditional Area and was the first person in history to be carried in a palanquin on Anlo land in recognition and honour for his healing powers.
The General Secretary of the Adomega Kporlifaga Association of Ghana, Mr Atsu Ahiadzo, announced this at the inauguration of the association at Adomegakorpe last weekend.
According to him, the association would construct two storey buildings to serve as a secretariat, a meeting hall and a guest house, adding that there would be an anniversary every year to rally believers of the “voodoo” and interested persons to the area.
“As Torgbui is alive, there is no sickness that one will come with to this village which will not be healed,” he declared.
Mr Ahiadzo said Torgbi Adomega was the one who spread the voodoo in Benin, Togo and Ghana, adding that its origin was Ile Ife in Nigeria.
Tracing the source of the “voodoo,” Mr Ahiadzo said after the death of six children at the same time on the same day, he embarked on a search for solutions and got the “voodoo” from one Duvor in Togo who shared it with him to end all misfortunes in life.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Dzamesi, congratulated the association on holding fast to the legacy of their ancestors.
The Ketu North District Chief Executive, Togbe Awusu III, said the creation of the new district was aimed at fostering rapid development of the area.
For his part, an advocate of African traditional religion and a broadcaster, Mr Kwame Senyo, urged them to uphold their religion and not to be dissuaded by critics that they were sinners.
He advised Christians to stop making mockery of people of other religions, since it was the lifestyles and faith that could be the yardsticks for judging people.
The National President of Ghana Psyche and Traditional Healers Association, Torgbui Yao Dunyo, who is the high priest of Afetorku shrine of Dagbamate, commended the people for uplifting the image of their ancestors, stressing that without it they could have lost their identity and treasure.
He said their name and history would never be extinct once they had formed the association and instituted the annual anniversary to promote tourism on “voodoos”.
Torgbui Adomega was said to be a healer and saviour who was crowned the chief healer within the Anlo Traditional Area and was the first person in history to be carried in a palanquin on Anlo land in recognition and honour for his healing powers.
The General Secretary of the Adomega Kporlifaga Association of Ghana, Mr Atsu Ahiadzo, announced this at the inauguration of the association at Adomegakorpe last weekend.
According to him, the association would construct two storey buildings to serve as a secretariat, a meeting hall and a guest house, adding that there would be an anniversary every year to rally believers of the “voodoo” and interested persons to the area.
“As Torgbui is alive, there is no sickness that one will come with to this village which will not be healed,” he declared.
Mr Ahiadzo said Torgbi Adomega was the one who spread the voodoo in Benin, Togo and Ghana, adding that its origin was Ile Ife in Nigeria.
Tracing the source of the “voodoo,” Mr Ahiadzo said after the death of six children at the same time on the same day, he embarked on a search for solutions and got the “voodoo” from one Duvor in Togo who shared it with him to end all misfortunes in life.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Dzamesi, congratulated the association on holding fast to the legacy of their ancestors.
The Ketu North District Chief Executive, Togbe Awusu III, said the creation of the new district was aimed at fostering rapid development of the area.
For his part, an advocate of African traditional religion and a broadcaster, Mr Kwame Senyo, urged them to uphold their religion and not to be dissuaded by critics that they were sinners.
He advised Christians to stop making mockery of people of other religions, since it was the lifestyles and faith that could be the yardsticks for judging people.
The National President of Ghana Psyche and Traditional Healers Association, Torgbui Yao Dunyo, who is the high priest of Afetorku shrine of Dagbamate, commended the people for uplifting the image of their ancestors, stressing that without it they could have lost their identity and treasure.
He said their name and history would never be extinct once they had formed the association and instituted the annual anniversary to promote tourism on “voodoos”.
MEDICAL CENTRE TREATS MORE CHRONIC DISEASES (PAGE 36)
FORTY per cent of all reported cases in hospitals in the country are from previous administration of drugs as drug intake contributes to the accumulation of impurities and waste in the body, Dr Sidawi, a medical practitioner has stated.
Dr Sidawi, who has practised alternative medicine for 25 years, said disease problems could not be solved without the cleansing of the colon, a waste disposal organ in the body, through chronic irrigation.
He was speaking at a workshop organised by the Golden Jubilee Medical Centre at Sogakope in the Volta Region.
The Golden Jubilee Medical Centre “SPA” of the Villa Cisneros Hotel at Sogakope in the South Tongu District in the Volta Region now offers various therapies for the treatment of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes and other chronic diseases.
This follows the engagement of a holistic medical practitioner, Dr Frank Sidawi, barely a year after the Minister of Health, Major Courage Quashigah (retd), had inaugurated the centre, whereby he declared Sogakope as a health tourism centre in the country.
Dr Sidawi, who is the medical director of the SPA, has scope of practice in physical therapies covering therapeutic massages-reflexology, Tui Na, Acupressure, Sokushindo, Arothematherapy, Yoga, Magnetic therapy, naturopathy, juice/nutrition/megavitamin therapy, oxygen/ozone therapy, hydrotherapy and herbal medicine.
Others are emotional and mental therapies covering advanced pranic healing, Bach Flower Remedies, Crystal Healing and meditation therapy.
Under a colonic irrigation, the body would undergo consultation, full body massage, reflexology and aromatherapy in addition to the cleaning of the liver to prevent it from getting into coma.
Dr Sidawi, therefore, said the SPA concept relied on water or fluid therapies with the combination of natural biological medicines such as herbs, vitamins and minerals, compatible foods and phyto-nutrients to set the tone for the reconstruction or regeneration of the body.
Dr Sidawi said the nation was putting too much emphasis on pharmaceutical drugs although they were poisonous to the body, adding that someone with a kidney problem needed not to take more drugs but had to undergo a detoxification dialysis at the SPA for a remedy.
Dr Sidawi appealed to the National Health Insurance Authority to provide access to alternative medicine to make it possible for those afflicted with chronic diseases to seek care at the SPA.
A beauty therapist at the SPA, Miss Calista Damelda, said the application of cosmetics on clients was technical, adding that the environment was taken into consideration before make-ups were applied.
According to her, many clients visited the SPA during the weekends and left in a good state of mind to begin the ensuing week on a healthy note.
Dr Sidawi, who has practised alternative medicine for 25 years, said disease problems could not be solved without the cleansing of the colon, a waste disposal organ in the body, through chronic irrigation.
He was speaking at a workshop organised by the Golden Jubilee Medical Centre at Sogakope in the Volta Region.
The Golden Jubilee Medical Centre “SPA” of the Villa Cisneros Hotel at Sogakope in the South Tongu District in the Volta Region now offers various therapies for the treatment of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes and other chronic diseases.
This follows the engagement of a holistic medical practitioner, Dr Frank Sidawi, barely a year after the Minister of Health, Major Courage Quashigah (retd), had inaugurated the centre, whereby he declared Sogakope as a health tourism centre in the country.
Dr Sidawi, who is the medical director of the SPA, has scope of practice in physical therapies covering therapeutic massages-reflexology, Tui Na, Acupressure, Sokushindo, Arothematherapy, Yoga, Magnetic therapy, naturopathy, juice/nutrition/megavitamin therapy, oxygen/ozone therapy, hydrotherapy and herbal medicine.
Others are emotional and mental therapies covering advanced pranic healing, Bach Flower Remedies, Crystal Healing and meditation therapy.
Under a colonic irrigation, the body would undergo consultation, full body massage, reflexology and aromatherapy in addition to the cleaning of the liver to prevent it from getting into coma.
Dr Sidawi, therefore, said the SPA concept relied on water or fluid therapies with the combination of natural biological medicines such as herbs, vitamins and minerals, compatible foods and phyto-nutrients to set the tone for the reconstruction or regeneration of the body.
Dr Sidawi said the nation was putting too much emphasis on pharmaceutical drugs although they were poisonous to the body, adding that someone with a kidney problem needed not to take more drugs but had to undergo a detoxification dialysis at the SPA for a remedy.
Dr Sidawi appealed to the National Health Insurance Authority to provide access to alternative medicine to make it possible for those afflicted with chronic diseases to seek care at the SPA.
A beauty therapist at the SPA, Miss Calista Damelda, said the application of cosmetics on clients was technical, adding that the environment was taken into consideration before make-ups were applied.
According to her, many clients visited the SPA during the weekends and left in a good state of mind to begin the ensuing week on a healthy note.
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