A leading member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Mr Clemence Asare, aka Kofi Sabon, has called on the public to ignore Mr Jantuah’s statement calling on the flag bearer of the party, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, to clear himself at a competent court of jurisdiction before holding himself as the presidential aspirant of the CPP.
He said the statement was callous and “borders on madness” because no sane person could offer himself to a court without having committed any offence which was known to him.
Dr Nduom could only go before a competent court of jurisdiction to defend himself when an appropriate charge had been levelled against him, he said.
Mr Asare was speaking to the Daily Graphic in Ho in reaction to a press statement purportedly made by a founding father of the CPP, Mr F.A. Jantuah. in Kumasi last week.
According to Mr Asare, the allegation that Dr Nduom had a case before the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) was neither here nor there, adding that if Dr Nduom had really got a case before the SFO, it would have invited him or it would have taken the appropriate steps to bring him before a competent court of jurisdiction to enable him to defend himself.
Mr Asare said until that was done, Dr Nduom should be left in absolute peace to enable him to concentrate on his campaign to become the President of Ghana.
He said Dr Nduom was not a fugitive but had been in the country all along and so if his detractors felt he had a case to answer, they should approach it properly and avoid speculations.
He said after all people who had been found guilty and sentenced by a competent court of jurisdiction had been granted presidential pardon and were even enjoying more freedom than ordinary citizens who had not committed any crime against the state.
Mr Asare said Dr Nduom’s bid for the presidency must be supported by majority of Ghanaians because it was his (Mr Asare’s) candid opinion that at the present stage of the country’s development a dispassionate person who came from the minority in Parliament was most suitable for the presidency.
He cited Benin where an independent candidate was elected president and said it could happen in Ghana.
“This is where Dr Nduom becomes the most suitable among all the aspirants,” Mr Asare declared.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
NURSING STUDENTS APPEAL FOR PAYMENT OF ALLOWANCES (PAGE 40)
Students of the School of Nursing comprising the Registered General Nursing and Community Nursing in Ho have petitioned the Minister of Health to endeavour to settle their legitimate allowances in order to end the hardship imposed on them.
“We do not want to take to the streets or demonstrate. What we want is
that our trainee allowances be paid to us with the appropriate ‘back pay’ to enable us to settle the fees we owe the school so that the authorities will have the needed peace and tranquillity to run the school,” they stated.
The students said they had been discriminated against comparing the allowances paid to their counterprts in the training colleges with whom they started training the same year.
They claimed that the student teachers with whom they started training in the same year had received their training allowances but they (the student nurses) were yet to receive any allowances after almost two years of their training.
This was contained in a petition signed by 26 prefects on behalf of a total
of 367 students of the institution and addressed to the Minister of Health through
the Volta Regional Director of Health Services, copies of which were sent to the press in Ho.
The students made reference to their admission letters which stated that, they shall be offered student-approved allowances out of which part would be used as feeding fees.
According to the petition, their admission letters clearly stated that the processing
of the trainee allowances would take some months so their parents should support them financially until they were paid, but they expressed disappointment that
none of them had received the training allowances for two years now.
“It would interest you to note that the final-year student nurses of the Community Health Nurses Training Colleges will be completing their two-year programme in July, this year without receiving their allowances while the second year students of the
Registered General Nursing programme will be ending their fourth semester of the six-semester programme in July, 2008,” the petition stated.
It said the student nurses of the two programmes had observed that the government and the Ministry of Health had not been fair to them in dealing with the payment of their allowances.
“We do not want to take to the streets or demonstrate. What we want is
that our trainee allowances be paid to us with the appropriate ‘back pay’ to enable us to settle the fees we owe the school so that the authorities will have the needed peace and tranquillity to run the school,” they stated.
The students said they had been discriminated against comparing the allowances paid to their counterprts in the training colleges with whom they started training the same year.
They claimed that the student teachers with whom they started training in the same year had received their training allowances but they (the student nurses) were yet to receive any allowances after almost two years of their training.
This was contained in a petition signed by 26 prefects on behalf of a total
of 367 students of the institution and addressed to the Minister of Health through
the Volta Regional Director of Health Services, copies of which were sent to the press in Ho.
The students made reference to their admission letters which stated that, they shall be offered student-approved allowances out of which part would be used as feeding fees.
According to the petition, their admission letters clearly stated that the processing
of the trainee allowances would take some months so their parents should support them financially until they were paid, but they expressed disappointment that
none of them had received the training allowances for two years now.
“It would interest you to note that the final-year student nurses of the Community Health Nurses Training Colleges will be completing their two-year programme in July, this year without receiving their allowances while the second year students of the
Registered General Nursing programme will be ending their fourth semester of the six-semester programme in July, 2008,” the petition stated.
It said the student nurses of the two programmes had observed that the government and the Ministry of Health had not been fair to them in dealing with the payment of their allowances.
CHARAJ HOLDS MEETING ON HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES (PAGE 40)
THE call for partnership or collaboration to tackle the chronic and emerging issues confronting mankind has been touted at several regional and international conferences and conventions over the years.
That was the essence of the stakeholders meeting organised recently by the Volta Regional
branch of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to sensitise a cross-section of the population to the need to operate in conformity with laid down regulations.
The participants at the forum, including civil servants, the private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), were also trained to educate the general public on human rights.
Human rights span the right to life, the right to personal liberty, respect for human dignity, protection from slavery and forced labour, equality and freedom from discrimination, protection of privacy of the home and other property to the protection from deprivation of property.
The rest are the right to fair trial, freedom to practice any religion of conscience and belief and administrative justice.
The administrative justice Act (Act 23) clearly states the rights on labour laws, special provision on women rights, children’s rights, rights of disabled persons, and the rights of the sick.
It was, therefore, relevant for the CHRAJ and Green Globe Society, an environmental and human rights organisation, to organise a seminar of student nurses of the Nurses’ Training College in Ho.
The Principal investigator of CHRAJ, Mr George Hornuvor, who delivered the main lecture, stressed that the commission was not a witch hunting organisation, saying “We educate the people on their rights and freedoms to enable them to assert their rights and fight for their freedoms.”
He said the commission could not know if somebody’s rights were violated unless the matter was reported.
He added that even if the commission knew the issue, it could not by itself initiate investigations without first receiving a petition from a complainant.
Mr Honuvor stated that it was only in cases of alleged corruption, bribery and misappropriation of funds that the CHRAJ could initiate investigations without necessarily receiving a petition from a complainant.
The Executive Director of Green Globe Society, Mr Sammy Deh, expressed delight about the massive attendance of students at the lecture.
He, however, advised the participants to apply the knowledge they had gained at the seminar, especially the rights of patients as contained in the patient’s charter.
That was the essence of the stakeholders meeting organised recently by the Volta Regional
branch of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to sensitise a cross-section of the population to the need to operate in conformity with laid down regulations.
The participants at the forum, including civil servants, the private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), were also trained to educate the general public on human rights.
Human rights span the right to life, the right to personal liberty, respect for human dignity, protection from slavery and forced labour, equality and freedom from discrimination, protection of privacy of the home and other property to the protection from deprivation of property.
The rest are the right to fair trial, freedom to practice any religion of conscience and belief and administrative justice.
The administrative justice Act (Act 23) clearly states the rights on labour laws, special provision on women rights, children’s rights, rights of disabled persons, and the rights of the sick.
It was, therefore, relevant for the CHRAJ and Green Globe Society, an environmental and human rights organisation, to organise a seminar of student nurses of the Nurses’ Training College in Ho.
The Principal investigator of CHRAJ, Mr George Hornuvor, who delivered the main lecture, stressed that the commission was not a witch hunting organisation, saying “We educate the people on their rights and freedoms to enable them to assert their rights and fight for their freedoms.”
He said the commission could not know if somebody’s rights were violated unless the matter was reported.
He added that even if the commission knew the issue, it could not by itself initiate investigations without first receiving a petition from a complainant.
Mr Honuvor stated that it was only in cases of alleged corruption, bribery and misappropriation of funds that the CHRAJ could initiate investigations without necessarily receiving a petition from a complainant.
The Executive Director of Green Globe Society, Mr Sammy Deh, expressed delight about the massive attendance of students at the lecture.
He, however, advised the participants to apply the knowledge they had gained at the seminar, especially the rights of patients as contained in the patient’s charter.
HAVE USES FESTIVAL TO RAISE FUNDS FOR DEVT (PAGE 40)
THE people of Have Traditional Area in the Hohoe Municipality have celebrated the diamond jubilee of their “Agadevi” festival, at which more than GH¢8,000 was raised towards the construction of a multi-purpose town hall estimated at GH¢30,000.
The Intercom Programming and Manufacturing Company (IPMC), an information technology hardware supplier and training institute, single-handedly contributed GH¢5,000 towards the project.
Addressing a grand durbar to climax the event, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IPMC, Amar Deep S. Hari, underscored the need for the people to incorporate a library and information communication technology (ICT) centre in the town hall.
He said ICT and computers had become so important in the contemporary world that it was difficult to survive without them, adding that while some used computers as a tool to learn, others used them for gathering more information.
Amar Hari said computers fascinated the youth and made them the main drivers of a nation’s growth, hence the need to train the present generation well in ICT, especially in a situation where there was a big shortage of ICT skilled labour force all over the world.
The Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Peter John Amewu, urged the people to identify themselves with government programmes aimed at bringing development to them
He promised that the Assembly would provide GH¢1,000 towards the computer centre.
The MCE seized the opportunity to explain a number of interventions the government had adopted to improve the quality of life of Ghanaians.
The Fiaga of Have, Togbe Asemtsyra IX, congratulated all sons and daughters of the area on resuscitating the festival and urged them to ensure that the celebration never slipped into the oblivion.
He said the collective resolve of the people towards the fulfilment of their socio-economic aspirations had not been satisfactory in the past.
Togbe Asemtsyra, therefore, charged them to evaluate their performance and refocus on a planned development agenda within an acceptable framework of peace, by eschewing unnecessary land litigation, stressing that they should show respect for the traditional authority.
Togbe Asemtsyra invited investors and the business community to explore the vast potential of the area for the benefit of the people, adding “Have has a variety of economic potential, such as agriculture, fish farming and tourism.
He appealed to Ghanaians to exercise the greatest restraint even in the face of political provocation before, during and after the December 7 general election to sustain the peace and unity the nation was enjoying.
The Principal of the Green Hill campus of the Evangelical Presbyterian University College at Peki, Reverend Dr Seth Agidi, chaired the function, which attracted chiefs and other dignitaries from Awudome, Adaklu, Vakpo, Tsrukpe, Ve, Botoku, Agate, Wusutu and Goviepe Traditional areas.
The Intercom Programming and Manufacturing Company (IPMC), an information technology hardware supplier and training institute, single-handedly contributed GH¢5,000 towards the project.
Addressing a grand durbar to climax the event, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IPMC, Amar Deep S. Hari, underscored the need for the people to incorporate a library and information communication technology (ICT) centre in the town hall.
He said ICT and computers had become so important in the contemporary world that it was difficult to survive without them, adding that while some used computers as a tool to learn, others used them for gathering more information.
Amar Hari said computers fascinated the youth and made them the main drivers of a nation’s growth, hence the need to train the present generation well in ICT, especially in a situation where there was a big shortage of ICT skilled labour force all over the world.
The Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Peter John Amewu, urged the people to identify themselves with government programmes aimed at bringing development to them
He promised that the Assembly would provide GH¢1,000 towards the computer centre.
The MCE seized the opportunity to explain a number of interventions the government had adopted to improve the quality of life of Ghanaians.
The Fiaga of Have, Togbe Asemtsyra IX, congratulated all sons and daughters of the area on resuscitating the festival and urged them to ensure that the celebration never slipped into the oblivion.
He said the collective resolve of the people towards the fulfilment of their socio-economic aspirations had not been satisfactory in the past.
Togbe Asemtsyra, therefore, charged them to evaluate their performance and refocus on a planned development agenda within an acceptable framework of peace, by eschewing unnecessary land litigation, stressing that they should show respect for the traditional authority.
Togbe Asemtsyra invited investors and the business community to explore the vast potential of the area for the benefit of the people, adding “Have has a variety of economic potential, such as agriculture, fish farming and tourism.
He appealed to Ghanaians to exercise the greatest restraint even in the face of political provocation before, during and after the December 7 general election to sustain the peace and unity the nation was enjoying.
The Principal of the Green Hill campus of the Evangelical Presbyterian University College at Peki, Reverend Dr Seth Agidi, chaired the function, which attracted chiefs and other dignitaries from Awudome, Adaklu, Vakpo, Tsrukpe, Ve, Botoku, Agate, Wusutu and Goviepe Traditional areas.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
TWINS DROWN IN RIVER SABON (PAGE 34)
From Tim Dzamboe, Ho
A set of twins aged eight got drowned in the River Sabon at Kpassa in the Nkwanta District of the Volta Region when they were sent by their mother to fetch water for household use.
Godsway and Theodora Tandoh had gone to the river with their sister, Maa Adwoa, 9, when the tragedy occurred.
The Volta Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Joy Afagbedzi, who disclosed this, said about 7.00 a.m. on that day, the children’s mother, Madam Deborah Donkor, went to the farm to harvest some cassava for processing into gari.
He said having returned from the farm, the cassava was peeled and the mother sent the three children to the river to fetch water to wash the cassava.
The PRO said while trying to fetch some water, the two children fell into the river and got drowned, while a traumatised Maa Adwoa ran home to inform the mother.
A report was made to the police and the bodies have since been recovered.
A set of twins aged eight got drowned in the River Sabon at Kpassa in the Nkwanta District of the Volta Region when they were sent by their mother to fetch water for household use.
Godsway and Theodora Tandoh had gone to the river with their sister, Maa Adwoa, 9, when the tragedy occurred.
The Volta Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Joy Afagbedzi, who disclosed this, said about 7.00 a.m. on that day, the children’s mother, Madam Deborah Donkor, went to the farm to harvest some cassava for processing into gari.
He said having returned from the farm, the cassava was peeled and the mother sent the three children to the river to fetch water to wash the cassava.
The PRO said while trying to fetch some water, the two children fell into the river and got drowned, while a traumatised Maa Adwoa ran home to inform the mother.
A report was made to the police and the bodies have since been recovered.
FISHERMAN STABS MAN, 28, TO DEATH (PAGE 35)
From Tim Dzamboe, Ho
A 30-year-old fisherman at Aveme-Agbesia in the Kpando District has been arrested by the police for causing the death of a 28-year-old man.
According to the Volta Region Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Joy Afagbedzi, on May 3, this year, the deceased, Kennedy Kofi Bam, a father of three children, accused his wife of allegedly having an extra-marital affair with the fisherman but the wife denied the accusation.
He said as the argument raged on, Enyonam Sesenu eavesdropped on the conversation and went and told the fisherman of what had transpired between the couple.
He said the suspect and Kennedy met at a drinking bar later in the day and started an argument but calm was restored and the suspect was prevailed upon to leave the bar.
The Police PRO, however, said the suspect hid somewhere near the deceased’s house and pounced on him when he was on his way home and stabbed him with a knife.
He said shouts by the deceased attracted some neighbours to the scene who rushed him to the Margaret Marquart Hospital where he died the following day and the body deposited at the mortuary of the hospital.
Inspector Afagbedzi disclosed that Sesenu had been arrested and charged as the second suspect in the case.
A 30-year-old fisherman at Aveme-Agbesia in the Kpando District has been arrested by the police for causing the death of a 28-year-old man.
According to the Volta Region Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Joy Afagbedzi, on May 3, this year, the deceased, Kennedy Kofi Bam, a father of three children, accused his wife of allegedly having an extra-marital affair with the fisherman but the wife denied the accusation.
He said as the argument raged on, Enyonam Sesenu eavesdropped on the conversation and went and told the fisherman of what had transpired between the couple.
He said the suspect and Kennedy met at a drinking bar later in the day and started an argument but calm was restored and the suspect was prevailed upon to leave the bar.
The Police PRO, however, said the suspect hid somewhere near the deceased’s house and pounced on him when he was on his way home and stabbed him with a knife.
He said shouts by the deceased attracted some neighbours to the scene who rushed him to the Margaret Marquart Hospital where he died the following day and the body deposited at the mortuary of the hospital.
Inspector Afagbedzi disclosed that Sesenu had been arrested and charged as the second suspect in the case.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
LIKPE-ABRANI GETS NEW CHIELF (PAGE 39)
THE people of Likpe-Abrani in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta Region have installed Nana Akototse VI as the new chief of the town, to succeed the former chief, who died two years ago.
Known in private life as Mr Allen Komla Mantey, Nana Akototse, 61, is a retired Chief Inspector of the Ghana Police Service.
At a ceremony to introduce him, Nana Akototse said he had accepted the challenge to rule, and promised that with the support of his elders and the help of Almighty God, he would provide quality leadership.
He called for a high sense of discipline, tolerance and peace from both the young and the old people in the town in order to achieve his objective.
Nana Akototse advised the youth to take farming seriously as a business, adding that they should learn vocational and technical trades in order to be employable.
He said quality education and good sanitation were crucial to the development of the community and so he would ensure that every child of school age was enrolled in school.
The chief called on all churches and identifiable groups to foster unity, love and peace, adding that the people should learn to co-exist.
He warned that “hard drug trade will not find place in the Abrani community”.
In an address, the Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Peter Amewu, commended the people of Likpe for re-organising the chieftaincy institution in an orderly and a grand style.
He, therefore, urged them to sustain the enthusiasm exhibited during the ceremonies and translate that into concrete support for the chief in order for the community to achieve its development agenda.
Mr Amewu made a personal donation of GH¢200 at a fund-raising launched in aid of development projects in the town.
A former Volta Regional Secretary now with the Public Services Commission, Dr Francis Agbley, was also elected the stool father to the new chief at the same function.
Known in private life as Mr Allen Komla Mantey, Nana Akototse, 61, is a retired Chief Inspector of the Ghana Police Service.
At a ceremony to introduce him, Nana Akototse said he had accepted the challenge to rule, and promised that with the support of his elders and the help of Almighty God, he would provide quality leadership.
He called for a high sense of discipline, tolerance and peace from both the young and the old people in the town in order to achieve his objective.
Nana Akototse advised the youth to take farming seriously as a business, adding that they should learn vocational and technical trades in order to be employable.
He said quality education and good sanitation were crucial to the development of the community and so he would ensure that every child of school age was enrolled in school.
The chief called on all churches and identifiable groups to foster unity, love and peace, adding that the people should learn to co-exist.
He warned that “hard drug trade will not find place in the Abrani community”.
In an address, the Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Peter Amewu, commended the people of Likpe for re-organising the chieftaincy institution in an orderly and a grand style.
He, therefore, urged them to sustain the enthusiasm exhibited during the ceremonies and translate that into concrete support for the chief in order for the community to achieve its development agenda.
Mr Amewu made a personal donation of GH¢200 at a fund-raising launched in aid of development projects in the town.
A former Volta Regional Secretary now with the Public Services Commission, Dr Francis Agbley, was also elected the stool father to the new chief at the same function.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
IEA TO SET UP SEED GARDEN (PAGE 28)
THE Institute of Adult Education (IAE) of the University of Ghana is to establish a seed garden on its demonstration farm at Tsawenu near Ho to supply improved oil palm seedlings to farmers.
The aim is to stimulate interest in the cultivation of at least one cash crop in the Volta Region with the view to reducing poverty levels among farmers who have over-depended on the cultivation of food crops.
The Resident Tutor of the IAE at Tsito, Mr Matthew Atinyo, said this when he addressed farmers drawn from the Awudome Traditional Area as part of a programme to disseminate information on good crop husbandry and agronomy to them.
He said the decline in the cocoa industry in the region had deepened poverty levels among farmers and added that if farmers could apply good agronomical practices, they would make gains and live comfortably.
He, however, said access to inputs such as fertiliser and tractors was a critical determinant and suggested that district assemblies procure tractors to plough the land for farmers at subsidised rates.
That, Mr Atinyo said, would give true meaning and value to the proposed government subsidy on fertiliser and other farming inputs.
An extension officer of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Mr Elvis Kumi, said planting space was determined by the type of vegetation and that it varied from savannah to forest lands for different crops.
He said farmers should not cultivate different crops on the same plot of land, since it could lead to low output, as well as waste.
Mr Kumi advised farmers to form groups in order to access seedlings and vital inputs, adding that they should avoid any form of discrimination against neighbours.
Another extension officer, Mr George Agbavitor, demonstrated the square and triangular modes of planting to the farmers and said they should apply practical knowledge on their farms to avoid waste of land.
He cautioned against the indiscriminate use of insecticides and noted that applying any chemical on crops without the expert advice of technical officers could be dangerous to the health of the farmers.
He also urged the farmers to seek advice on the use of seeds.
The aim is to stimulate interest in the cultivation of at least one cash crop in the Volta Region with the view to reducing poverty levels among farmers who have over-depended on the cultivation of food crops.
The Resident Tutor of the IAE at Tsito, Mr Matthew Atinyo, said this when he addressed farmers drawn from the Awudome Traditional Area as part of a programme to disseminate information on good crop husbandry and agronomy to them.
He said the decline in the cocoa industry in the region had deepened poverty levels among farmers and added that if farmers could apply good agronomical practices, they would make gains and live comfortably.
He, however, said access to inputs such as fertiliser and tractors was a critical determinant and suggested that district assemblies procure tractors to plough the land for farmers at subsidised rates.
That, Mr Atinyo said, would give true meaning and value to the proposed government subsidy on fertiliser and other farming inputs.
An extension officer of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Mr Elvis Kumi, said planting space was determined by the type of vegetation and that it varied from savannah to forest lands for different crops.
He said farmers should not cultivate different crops on the same plot of land, since it could lead to low output, as well as waste.
Mr Kumi advised farmers to form groups in order to access seedlings and vital inputs, adding that they should avoid any form of discrimination against neighbours.
Another extension officer, Mr George Agbavitor, demonstrated the square and triangular modes of planting to the farmers and said they should apply practical knowledge on their farms to avoid waste of land.
He cautioned against the indiscriminate use of insecticides and noted that applying any chemical on crops without the expert advice of technical officers could be dangerous to the health of the farmers.
He also urged the farmers to seek advice on the use of seeds.
Friday, June 13, 2008
GROUP AGAINST DABU'S ACCLAMATION ...As Ho East NPP nominee (PAGE 17)
EVEN though Mr Mawuli Kwame Dabi has been elected as the parliamentary nominee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the Ho East Constituency, all is not well for him in the area, especially in the Adaklu-Anyigbe District.
Although campaign signboards have been mounted by the candidate at vantage points, a group of the party supporters have kicked against Mr Dabi’s candidature, insisting that they had not accepted the results of the constituency primary in which he was elected by popular acclamation.
A press release jointly signed by the constituency chairman, Mr Gustav Geli, and the secretary, Mr Michael Aglah, indicated that there had been some unhealthy political battle, which could undermine unity in the party in the constituency.
It stated that the party was yet to open nominations to allow interested individuals a fair opportunity to participate in the constituency primary.
The statement added that the position taken by some individuals for allowing a single candidate to contest the primary infringed the party’s guidelines and constitutional provisions of selecting a parliamentary candidate.
It said the executive of the party in the constituency would soon come out with an appropriate date for fresh nominations.
However, Mr Dabi, who is also the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, said the electorate should ignore the malicious campaign against him.
He stated that his election was duly supervised by the Electoral Commission (EC) in the presence of the General Secretary of the NPP, Nana Ohene Ntow.
He added that the NPP flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, raised his hands to confirm his candidature during his recent tour of the Volta Region, and therefore asked why some people should be so callous.
Mr Dabi stated that after his election, a group made the attempt to coerce him to step down and say that he was not interested in the game.
According to Mr Dabi, “if the group insists that I should step down, then they should pay me an amount of GH¢300,000 being my campaign expenses and compensation and I will leave the place for them.”
Although campaign signboards have been mounted by the candidate at vantage points, a group of the party supporters have kicked against Mr Dabi’s candidature, insisting that they had not accepted the results of the constituency primary in which he was elected by popular acclamation.
A press release jointly signed by the constituency chairman, Mr Gustav Geli, and the secretary, Mr Michael Aglah, indicated that there had been some unhealthy political battle, which could undermine unity in the party in the constituency.
It stated that the party was yet to open nominations to allow interested individuals a fair opportunity to participate in the constituency primary.
The statement added that the position taken by some individuals for allowing a single candidate to contest the primary infringed the party’s guidelines and constitutional provisions of selecting a parliamentary candidate.
It said the executive of the party in the constituency would soon come out with an appropriate date for fresh nominations.
However, Mr Dabi, who is also the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, said the electorate should ignore the malicious campaign against him.
He stated that his election was duly supervised by the Electoral Commission (EC) in the presence of the General Secretary of the NPP, Nana Ohene Ntow.
He added that the NPP flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, raised his hands to confirm his candidature during his recent tour of the Volta Region, and therefore asked why some people should be so callous.
Mr Dabi stated that after his election, a group made the attempt to coerce him to step down and say that he was not interested in the game.
According to Mr Dabi, “if the group insists that I should step down, then they should pay me an amount of GH¢300,000 being my campaign expenses and compensation and I will leave the place for them.”
Thursday, June 12, 2008
NDC DENIES DZAMESI'S ALLEGATIONS (PAGE 13)
THE Volta Regional Secretariat of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has vehemently reacted to accusations levelled against the opposition parties by the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Dzamesi, in connection with the recent rumpus in which two persons died at the Ho Residency.
The NDC condemned the infantile behaviour of the regional minister and his security chiefs and called on President John Agyekum Kufuor to beware that the regional minister and his cronies had seriously compromised the security of the Residency, which was first and foremost a presidential lodge.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Regional Chairman of the NDC, Mr Modestus Ahiable, and read at a press conference in Ho on Monday.
The release called for an independent committee of enquiry into the allegations by the regional minister to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the speculations.
It also called for a similar probe into the shooting of Dan Dzikunu Agbaley and the Ho Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent Theophilus Nartey, who was described as “one of the finest and peace-loving police officers Ghana has ever produced”.
According to the release, the regional minister and the security heads in the region had accused all political parties, except the New Patriotic Party (NPP), of subverting the 1992 Constitution and the State by declaring that they were planning to declare the Volta Region a separate state, which was never perceived anywhere.
The statement referred to a report on an Accra FM radio station which had alleged that the regional minister had accused opposition parties in the region of hatching a plan to eliminate political figures and departmental heads in the region to cause a state of insecurity in the region.
It assured the general public, especially the electorate in the region, that the NDC would be the last party to deploy such barbaric and vicious machinations to eliminate NPP and government functionaries, let alone departmental heads, and create chaos and an atmosphere of insecurity in the region.
According to the statement, since the NDC knew that the region was its stronghold, it would do nothing negative to create confusion in the area to affect the current sparkling fortunes of the party at the December polls.
It stated that the regional minister could not have any genuine motive for throwing a political gimmick into the public domain other than use it as a cover up to deploy his “macho men, special forces” and their “action troopers” in the Ketu North Constituency in particular and the region at large to manipulate the forthcoming elections.
The statement called for answers to pertinent questions pertaining to the number of policemen on guard at the Residency, whether they were at post when the alleged intruder arrived, whether the intruder forced his way into the Residency and at what time.
It also challenged Mr Dzamesi to confirm or deny the fact that the deceased’s father was his spiritual master and, therefore, he took the boy as a son and junior spiritualist.
The NDC condemned the infantile behaviour of the regional minister and his security chiefs and called on President John Agyekum Kufuor to beware that the regional minister and his cronies had seriously compromised the security of the Residency, which was first and foremost a presidential lodge.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Regional Chairman of the NDC, Mr Modestus Ahiable, and read at a press conference in Ho on Monday.
The release called for an independent committee of enquiry into the allegations by the regional minister to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the speculations.
It also called for a similar probe into the shooting of Dan Dzikunu Agbaley and the Ho Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent Theophilus Nartey, who was described as “one of the finest and peace-loving police officers Ghana has ever produced”.
According to the release, the regional minister and the security heads in the region had accused all political parties, except the New Patriotic Party (NPP), of subverting the 1992 Constitution and the State by declaring that they were planning to declare the Volta Region a separate state, which was never perceived anywhere.
The statement referred to a report on an Accra FM radio station which had alleged that the regional minister had accused opposition parties in the region of hatching a plan to eliminate political figures and departmental heads in the region to cause a state of insecurity in the region.
It assured the general public, especially the electorate in the region, that the NDC would be the last party to deploy such barbaric and vicious machinations to eliminate NPP and government functionaries, let alone departmental heads, and create chaos and an atmosphere of insecurity in the region.
According to the statement, since the NDC knew that the region was its stronghold, it would do nothing negative to create confusion in the area to affect the current sparkling fortunes of the party at the December polls.
It stated that the regional minister could not have any genuine motive for throwing a political gimmick into the public domain other than use it as a cover up to deploy his “macho men, special forces” and their “action troopers” in the Ketu North Constituency in particular and the region at large to manipulate the forthcoming elections.
The statement called for answers to pertinent questions pertaining to the number of policemen on guard at the Residency, whether they were at post when the alleged intruder arrived, whether the intruder forced his way into the Residency and at what time.
It also challenged Mr Dzamesi to confirm or deny the fact that the deceased’s father was his spiritual master and, therefore, he took the boy as a son and junior spiritualist.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
GT DONATES TO HO LEPROSARIUM
The Volta Regional Head of Ghana Telecom, Mr Paul Evans Amuzu (right), presenting an envelop containing GH¢200 to the Principal Technical Officer of Ho Polyclinic, Mr Anthony Adjavor, to be used in feeding 21 inmates of the Ho Leprosarium.
The donation was part of GH¢500 GT pledged for the upkeep of the inmates in line with the company’s corporate and social responsibility to donate to the unfortunate in society.
Mr Adjavor thanked the donor and said the donation was exceptional and timely because the inmates were in dire need of funds that particular day, since there had been no support or subvention for their upkeep for a very long time now.
The donation was part of GH¢500 GT pledged for the upkeep of the inmates in line with the company’s corporate and social responsibility to donate to the unfortunate in society.
Mr Adjavor thanked the donor and said the donation was exceptional and timely because the inmates were in dire need of funds that particular day, since there had been no support or subvention for their upkeep for a very long time now.
INTRODUCTION OF E-ZWICH WILL POSITIVELY AFFECT ECONOMY (PAGE 36)
THE National Treasurer of the Credit Unions Association (CUA) Ghana Limited, Mr Stephen Dzorkpata, has stated that the introduction of the e-zwich into the banking system will bring unprecedented changes into the economy.
He has, therefore, urged CUA as a micro finance business entity to revise and sharpen its strategies and make them very focused, proactive, dynamic and aggressive for the betterment of the future of members, especially raising the ego of the poor and the vulnerable.
Mr Dzorpkata, who is also chairman of the Volta chapter of CUA, said this when he addressed executives of the various credit unions in the Volta Region at the launch of home savings box, a new product of CUA, at Ho.
He said since society was very dynamic and things were changing very fast, the prime business was to teach members and others to save and take loans at reasonable and flexible interest rates, hence the savings box.
Launching the new product, the General Manager of CUA, Mr Emmanuel Oduro Darko, said CUA had the most extensive coverage among micro finance institutions in the country.
He said a nation could not develop until it had learnt to build from its own resources and grown from there.
The new product, Mr Darko said, was designed to establish a reliable and convenient home banking system for the poor to overcome challenges associated with savings.
He said the home savings box would create an opportunity for smaller amounts to be saved by many people who could not access similar services from the formal financial sector, and to deepen the habit of savings among members and non-members.
Mr Darko said regular and long-term savings were a way of building confidence and financial security among the poor and provide financial services that would be tailored to meet their needs and eventually graduate them from the poorest of the poor to the poor and then to middle-income group.
According to Mr Darko, the credit union movement had registered a steady growth in assets, savings, membership and loan service, adding that it had a clear and insistent desire to reduce poverty.
He announced that CUA had placed an order for 14,500 pieces of the micro savings boxes at a cost of GH¢1,6000,000 with funding from the Micro Finance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) scheme and the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB).
Mr Darko said each subscriber to the box would have to enter into a strong covenant with the box to ensure good savings.
The immediate past Ho Municipal Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Francis Korwu, said the launch of the new product was a sign of growth and a movement into a historic era.
He said he had identified himself with the concept of credit union because it was beneficial to individuals and the nation at large, adding that those who belonged to credit union believed in unity.
The Ho Municipal Co-operative Officer, Ms Beauty Bansah, said the product was a good one, which gave hope to families who were facing problems due to negligence of the youth and children.
He has, therefore, urged CUA as a micro finance business entity to revise and sharpen its strategies and make them very focused, proactive, dynamic and aggressive for the betterment of the future of members, especially raising the ego of the poor and the vulnerable.
Mr Dzorpkata, who is also chairman of the Volta chapter of CUA, said this when he addressed executives of the various credit unions in the Volta Region at the launch of home savings box, a new product of CUA, at Ho.
He said since society was very dynamic and things were changing very fast, the prime business was to teach members and others to save and take loans at reasonable and flexible interest rates, hence the savings box.
Launching the new product, the General Manager of CUA, Mr Emmanuel Oduro Darko, said CUA had the most extensive coverage among micro finance institutions in the country.
He said a nation could not develop until it had learnt to build from its own resources and grown from there.
The new product, Mr Darko said, was designed to establish a reliable and convenient home banking system for the poor to overcome challenges associated with savings.
He said the home savings box would create an opportunity for smaller amounts to be saved by many people who could not access similar services from the formal financial sector, and to deepen the habit of savings among members and non-members.
Mr Darko said regular and long-term savings were a way of building confidence and financial security among the poor and provide financial services that would be tailored to meet their needs and eventually graduate them from the poorest of the poor to the poor and then to middle-income group.
According to Mr Darko, the credit union movement had registered a steady growth in assets, savings, membership and loan service, adding that it had a clear and insistent desire to reduce poverty.
He announced that CUA had placed an order for 14,500 pieces of the micro savings boxes at a cost of GH¢1,6000,000 with funding from the Micro Finance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) scheme and the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB).
Mr Darko said each subscriber to the box would have to enter into a strong covenant with the box to ensure good savings.
The immediate past Ho Municipal Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Francis Korwu, said the launch of the new product was a sign of growth and a movement into a historic era.
He said he had identified himself with the concept of credit union because it was beneficial to individuals and the nation at large, adding that those who belonged to credit union believed in unity.
The Ho Municipal Co-operative Officer, Ms Beauty Bansah, said the product was a good one, which gave hope to families who were facing problems due to negligence of the youth and children.
MORE BANKS EXTEND SERVICES TO HO (PAGE 36)
WHEN the Bank for Housing and Construction (BHC) and the Ghana Co-operative Bank folded up as a result of insolvency and eventually liquidated in Ho, it was a gloomy occasion for the people, especially workers, businessmen, contractors and the entire banking public.
The effect was that many customers were compelled to open new bank accounts with the existing banks in town, namely the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) and the Barclays Bank.
These developments led to overcrowding in the two banks, causing so much disenchantment for clients, who had to queue for long hours for service delivery. It was indeed nauseating and one wondered why one should spend so much time to access his/her own money.
But today, the banking environment is changing drastically as some financial institutions, including rural and community banks, have been opening branches and agencies in the municipality to offer prompt services to their customers.
The GCB has opened a market branch in addition to the main branch at Ho and installed customer-friendly facilities, whose absence hitherto made the banking hall unattractive. The two branches now have seats and television sets for customers.
They also have Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). Although there were frequent breakdowns in services, the GCB has seen some improvement. GCB has taken the lead in the municipality with the introduction of banking service on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
To brace itself for the emerging challenges and competition, Barclays Bank has also come up with a Point of Sale (POS) facility to augment services from its main branch, making it an obvious expansion of its services to the banking clients.
Two new banks, the Zenith and Stanbic banks, have also entered the banking scene with less pomp and have started serious banking in the municipality.
Zenith is located at the Ho Polytechnic, targeting clients in the Mawuli Estates, the Polytechnic community, the SSNIT flats and the VORADEP village and beyond while Stanbic is roofed under the popular BIZZ PLAZA, right in the heart of the town ,thus opening to prospective clients from all angles.
Two rural banks — the Unity Rural Bank with its headquarters at Ziope in the Adaklu-Anyigbe District and the North Tongu Rural Bank whose headquarters is at Adidome — have also opened branches in the municipality, making inroads into market women and a section of workers and farmers.
With the expansion of banking services, the frustration of workers, students, market women, contractors and businessmen in the municipality will certainly reduce, if not eliminated.
However, what remains to be addressed is for the banks to embark on public education on the new products and innovations in the banking market today and how they could be accessed by all and sundry.
If electronic banking is to succeed, there must be uninterrupted supply of electricity and telecommunication network services to power the ATMs, visa cards, among others.
Bank staff must be smart and responsive to customer needs in order to motivate clients so that money that has been kept in homes due to previous harsh demonetisation policies, will be returned to the banks.
The effect was that many customers were compelled to open new bank accounts with the existing banks in town, namely the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) and the Barclays Bank.
These developments led to overcrowding in the two banks, causing so much disenchantment for clients, who had to queue for long hours for service delivery. It was indeed nauseating and one wondered why one should spend so much time to access his/her own money.
But today, the banking environment is changing drastically as some financial institutions, including rural and community banks, have been opening branches and agencies in the municipality to offer prompt services to their customers.
The GCB has opened a market branch in addition to the main branch at Ho and installed customer-friendly facilities, whose absence hitherto made the banking hall unattractive. The two branches now have seats and television sets for customers.
They also have Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). Although there were frequent breakdowns in services, the GCB has seen some improvement. GCB has taken the lead in the municipality with the introduction of banking service on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
To brace itself for the emerging challenges and competition, Barclays Bank has also come up with a Point of Sale (POS) facility to augment services from its main branch, making it an obvious expansion of its services to the banking clients.
Two new banks, the Zenith and Stanbic banks, have also entered the banking scene with less pomp and have started serious banking in the municipality.
Zenith is located at the Ho Polytechnic, targeting clients in the Mawuli Estates, the Polytechnic community, the SSNIT flats and the VORADEP village and beyond while Stanbic is roofed under the popular BIZZ PLAZA, right in the heart of the town ,thus opening to prospective clients from all angles.
Two rural banks — the Unity Rural Bank with its headquarters at Ziope in the Adaklu-Anyigbe District and the North Tongu Rural Bank whose headquarters is at Adidome — have also opened branches in the municipality, making inroads into market women and a section of workers and farmers.
With the expansion of banking services, the frustration of workers, students, market women, contractors and businessmen in the municipality will certainly reduce, if not eliminated.
However, what remains to be addressed is for the banks to embark on public education on the new products and innovations in the banking market today and how they could be accessed by all and sundry.
If electronic banking is to succeed, there must be uninterrupted supply of electricity and telecommunication network services to power the ATMs, visa cards, among others.
Bank staff must be smart and responsive to customer needs in order to motivate clients so that money that has been kept in homes due to previous harsh demonetisation policies, will be returned to the banks.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
EXPATRIATE FUNDS DEVT PROJECTS IN SOMEY (PAGE 23)
A DUTCH business executive and philanthropist, Mr Arthur Paes, who has been enstooled an honorary chief of the Somey Traditional Area, has spent huge sums of money on development projects in some communities in the area.
Under the stool name Togbe Dunenyo I, he has provided seed money of GH¢3,000 to open an account for the Torgbui Dunenyo Development Fund.
Other projects being funded by the development chief include the construction of a six-unit classroom school block and also supplemented the community to undertake the Adina Water project.
Togbe Dunenyo has also undertaken a beautification project for the Ketu District Assembly and donated a computer and accessories, as well as a laptop, to the district assembly.
He has also presented two computers and accessories to the secretariat of the Makorsor's palace and the Ketu Queen's Association, to enhance their administrative work.
Torgbui Dunenyo has also promised to donate GH¢5,000 yearly to the development fund account for all mini projects in the traditional area.
Torgburi Dunenyo called on the people to set up a development planning committee to co-ordinate the development issues of the various committees, and collate and prioritise them for effective implementation.
He said by so doing, no community would feel marginalised in the development process.
The Makorsor of Somey, Torgburi Hor, commended Mr Paes for his interest in the area.
Under the stool name Togbe Dunenyo I, he has provided seed money of GH¢3,000 to open an account for the Torgbui Dunenyo Development Fund.
Other projects being funded by the development chief include the construction of a six-unit classroom school block and also supplemented the community to undertake the Adina Water project.
Togbe Dunenyo has also undertaken a beautification project for the Ketu District Assembly and donated a computer and accessories, as well as a laptop, to the district assembly.
He has also presented two computers and accessories to the secretariat of the Makorsor's palace and the Ketu Queen's Association, to enhance their administrative work.
Torgbui Dunenyo has also promised to donate GH¢5,000 yearly to the development fund account for all mini projects in the traditional area.
Torgburi Dunenyo called on the people to set up a development planning committee to co-ordinate the development issues of the various committees, and collate and prioritise them for effective implementation.
He said by so doing, no community would feel marginalised in the development process.
The Makorsor of Somey, Torgburi Hor, commended Mr Paes for his interest in the area.
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