MAN FACES CHARGE OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS (MIRROR, PAGE 23)

From Tim Dzamboe, Akatsi

A district magistrate’s court at Akatsi, presided over by Mr Daniel Dorkpor, has remanded Jomo Dogbey Dzakpata, a farmer of Wodome-Alavanyo, in prison custody on the charge of cruelty to animals.
Dzakpata pleaded guilty to the charge and was convicted on his own plea but the sentence was deferred to March 3.
He intentionally and unlawfully caused the death of a cow valued at GH¢500 by using a sharp object to cut its throat.
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector E.Y. Ashiagbui said the convict lived in a cluster of villages with Kwadzo Kpegba who owns cattle being taken care of by a Fulani man known as Belko Faatey.
He said on January 5, 2009 when the Fulani herdsman returned from the bush he realised that one of the cows was missing and immediately reported to his master, who later contacted the accused person but he denied knowledge about the missing cow.
The prosecutor said rather the accused directed the owner of the cows and the herdsman to a different source, adding, however, that a few days later the herdsman found the missing cow killed and covered with grass in the bush about 60 metres away from the home of the convict.
He said the herdsman informed the owner, who later informed the chief of the area, Torgbui Tsitsinamu 1V, and the assembly member, Mr Philip Kale Kotoka.
The convict and other members living in the cluster were summoned by the chief but the accused and others still denied knowledge about the death of the cow and so the chief decided to call in the police to arrest the residents.
Chief Inspector Ashiagbui said sensing danger the accused confessed having committed the offence and a report was made to the police for his arrest.
He said when the police visited the scene they found a decomposed cow covered with grass.

IMBIBE NATIONALISM VIRTUES IN SCHOOL CHILDREN — NCCE (PAGE 16)

The Volta Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Fidelis S.K. Attoh, has said it is pertinent to encourage schoolchildren to imbibe the virtues of nationalism, patriotism and responsible behaviour as the cornerstone for good governance and good citizenship.
He said these were the cardinal virtues and values cherished by a people of a nation and which would serve as an intellectual property in their lives.
Mr Attoh said this when he addressed the opening ceremony of the regional showcase of “The Project Citizen Ghana” for 13 senior and junior high schools drawn from the Ho municipality in Ho on Tuesday.
The four–day programme was on the theme, “ Consolidating Democracy through Youth Participation” and sponsored by the Hanns Seidel Stiftung Foundation.
The project citizen is a rejuvenated civic education programme that seeks to make the youth conscious of the political climate and what pertains in their communities.
The concept intends to assist students to express their opinions on issues, identify the agencies responsible for various problems, how to influence policy decisions at various levels and how to develop action plans towards the resolution of identified problems.
The showcase is an assessment of the students’ ability to present a portfolio on the importance of problems identified, their alternative policies, chosen policies and to demonstrate the part they will play in support of their chosen policies.
According to Mr Attoh, the showcase is a portfolio-based approach, a strategy of collective and shared responsibility, a division of labour concept that involves all in decision-making and implementation processes to move society forward.
In an address, the Deputy Director of the Ho Municipal Education Directorate, Mr E.K.G. Agyieman, said democracy had assumed a new dimension, adding that without the youth, it could not function effectively.
He, therefore, advised them as students to check their lifestyle because posterity would judge them one day when they were ripe to take the mantle of leadership, adding that they should ensure that they always did the right thing.
For her part, a Co-director of project citizen, Mrs Fanny Kumah, said there was the need for the youth to acquire knowledge of the country, the constitution, the government and civic skills to be able to become effective citizens.
Mrs Kumah also said they should develop critical thinking and analytical minds to be able to discern vile propaganda messages of political campaigns, and that they should cultivate the spirit of patriotism, truthfulness, honesty, self-discipline and respect for others.
“When we talk of qualitative citizenship, we should be able to monitor and influence public opinion,” she said.
The function was chaired by the Assistant Headmaster of Mawuli Senior High School, Mr Alfred Noble Atteh.

FOUR REMANDED OVER DEATH OF WOMAN (PAGE 21)

THE DISTRICT magistrate’s court at Akatsi, presided over by Mr Daniel Dorkpoh, has remanded four persons in prison custody in connection with the death of a woman, Abla Afornorpe, aged 50, at Dzodze Fiagbedu in the Ketu South District.
The suspects are Michael Adorvlo, a teacher; Moses Atitso Adorvlo, a farmer; Ali Kwasi Ahiablame, a farmer and Korshiwor Ahamah, also a farmer.
They were charged on two counts of conspiracy to commit crime, contrary to Section 23(1) of Act 29/60 and Section 46 of Act 29/60. Their pleas were not taken.
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector of Police, Mr A.K. Avorgbedor of the Dzodze Police Station said at about 5.10 a.m on February 5, 2009, the deceased reported an assault case against the four persons that they had beaten her severely for allegedly stealing a fowl.
He said although the deceased denied the accusation, the suspects were not convinced and became more infuriated and subjected her to more brutal assaults.
Chief Inspector Avorgbedor said the accused persons alleged that they saw the fowl hidden on the body of the deceased which necessitated more assaults on her.
He said at the time of the incident, the husband of the deceased was not at home, so she called him on a cell phone to inform him about the ordeal she had gone through, and pleaded with him to come and convey her to the hospital.
The prosecutor said on arrival, the deceased’s husband rushed her to the police station with a swollen neck and face, lodged a complaint and was issued with a police medical form, and thereafter sent to the St. Anthony’s Hospital at Dzodze for treatment.
Mr Avorgbedor said the deceased was referred to the Volta Regional Hospital in Ho, as her condition got critical and died at midnight on February 7, 2009.
Subsequently, the four suspects were arrested and after preliminary investigations, they were charged with the offences and arraigned.
The court ordered the police to expedite action on the case and reappear with the suspects on March 11, 2009.

SUSPECTED FAKE DOCTOR REMANDED IN CUSTODY (PAGE 3)

A MAGISTRATE court at Akatsi has remanded Michael Acheampong, 28, in police custody for false assumption of professional title as medical officer and illegal practice of medicine.
His plea was not taken by the court, presided over by Mr Daniel Dorkpor, and he was remanded, pending investigations into allegations that the accused practised in some private clinics.
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector E.Y. Ashigbe of the Akatsi Police said last year the accused falsely introduced himself to the medical directors of the Comboni Hospital at Sogakope that he was a medical practitioner and was allowed to practise for four months at a great risk to patients.
He said the accused left the hospital when the management became suspicious of his output but he continued with the illegal practice at various hospitals in the area.
The prosecutor said the Medical and Dental Council had information about the illegal and dangerous activities of the accused and started keeping surveillance on him.
He told the court that on February 5, a principal investigator of the council, Superintendent Ben Ameleke (retd), armed with information that the accused was at the Hoggar clinic, a private Clinic at Akatsi, tracked him down with the help of the police while he was carrying out a surgical operation on a hernia patient.
Chief Inspector Ashigbe said the police arrested him and during interrogation he admitted that he had no medical training or certificate and was not also registered with the Medical and Dental Council.

RESIDENTS DIG TRENCHES ON HIGHWAY (PAGE 30)

RESIDENTS who live along the Ho-Atimpoku and Ho-Hohoe highways have dug trenches on the road in their attempt to reduce the rate of motor accidents on the road.
As a result, they have destroyed bitumen-coated surfaces, compelling vehicles to drive at the bottom gear to avoid the knocking down of pedestrians.
On the Atimpoku road, bitumen surfaces have been truncated at Asikuma, Frankadua, Aboasa and Juapong to serve as speed ramps, while the people of Woadze on the Hohoe route have also truncated the road at several places to obstruct vehicular movement.
The people of Woadze took the action after a taxi ran into four pedestrians, killing them instantly.
On Wednesday, a Toyota Hiace bus veered off the road at Aboasa in the Eastern Region after running through one of the trenches in the town.
At the time the Daily Graphic got to the spot, victims had been conveyed to hospital, while the registration number plate of the accident vehicle had been removed.
There is, however, a huge public outcry against the action of the people in view of the obstacles it poses to vehicles and the cost to the nation in terms of road maintenance.

EPUC TO BOOST AGRIBUSINESS FOR JOB CREATION (PAGE 26)

THE President of the Evangelical Presbyterian University College (EPUC) at Ho, Mr Walter Komla Blege, has said the university was a community-based one committed to research and community development.
In line with this, he said the university was already conducting a consultancy research project aimed at providing baseline data on the bee-keeping industry in the Volta and Eastern regions with the view to boosting agribusiness for job creation and poverty alleviation.
Mr Blege said this when he addressed the second matriculation ceremony of 130 students who are offering Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Business Administration, Agribusiness, Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Ministry and Church Management at Ho.
He disclosed that there had been a rapid surge in the admission of students from 54 last year, to 130 this year and that it was a testimony that the EPUC had come to serve the people who would have been denied university education because of constraints of work, time and location.
The Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Professor Haruna Yakubu, in an address read on his behalf, said university education should result in enlightened behaviour and help students develop their morale and responsible to themselves and society.
He therefore urged the EPUC to set the pace in producing graduates who reflect a good mix of academic excellence and strong moral values. “Persons churned out of our universities should not only be found worthy in learning but they should also have sound character,” he added.
Prof. Yakubu urged church leaders to bring their influence to bear in ensuring that a good balance was struck between academic pursuit and moral education.
In an address, a former Moderator of the E.P. Church, the Very Reverend Japhet Ledo said the idea of establishing a university in the Volta Region had been realised through the efforts of the church.
He said the church was the first among equals in the establishment of educational institutions in the region and had brought university education to the doorstep of those who needed it.
The Very Rev. Ledo said the establishment of the university was in response to the challenge thrown to the private sector and churches to assist in bringing quality education to school leavers. He therefore appealed to the government to consider entering into partnership with the church to develop the university to the benefit of Ghanaians, adding that a substantial pie of the GETFund should be allocated to it to facilitate the construction of permanent structures and campuses in Hohoe, Buem and Nkwanta.
He disclosed that already 100 acres of land had been acquired at Adaklu–Gbeleve for the construction of a permanent campus for the university and thus called on well-meaning citizens, religious, political or tribal affiliation notwithstanding, to assist in developing the university.

ST ANTHONY'S HOSPITAL ATTRACTS MORE CLIENTS (PAGE 26)

ON a visit to the St Anthony’s Catholic Hospital at Dzodze in the Ketu-South District of the Volta Region, one would meet a large crowd waiting expectantly for medical care.
This new development has been attributed to the high patronage of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in the Ketu area.
According to the Hospital Administrator, Mr Christian Akoto-Brown, 92 per cent of the hospital’s clients are covered by the NHIS and that 88 per cent of the internally generated funds were derived from the NHIS with 12 per cent from non insured patients.
He said the NHIS had increased access to healthcare for clients and attendance to the Out Patients Department (OPD), soared from 39,000 in 2007 to 61,125 in 2008, out of which 56,610 were insured and 4,515 non insured.
He said the increased attendance had generated pressure on staff, accommodation and equipment.
Nevertheless, the hospital has maintained a high degree of autonomy in rendering services under the auspices of the Keta-Akatsi Catholic Church Diocesan Health Administration.
Mr Akoto-Brown, however, said the emerging difficulty pertained to the re-imbursement of patients’ claims since they were not paid back on time as well as the non-payment of so called “rejected bills”.
He disclosed that as much as GH¢54,002.03 was rejected by the Ketu District Health Insurance Scheme without any consultation with the hospital authorities while a whooping sum of GH¢73,175.53 was outstanding debt owed the hospital.
This and the late payment of funds locked out money for the purchase of drugs and effective delivery of services.
The hospital administrator said, although the hospital was an orthopaedic one, it lacked a comprehensive X-ray machine.
He said the hospital also rendered services in urology, obstetrics and gynaecology, the latter sponsored by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA).
Under the UNFPA programme, the hospital has provided better care for pregnant women with maternal mortality decreasing by 50 per cent while still births and the rate of caesarian operations have reduced.
Mr Akoto-Brown said doctors and midwives had become more conscious and alert with the increased contact created under the UNFPA programme.
He said the hospital had become a teaching hospital for medical students from the Cambridge University, Austria and Germany.
He said locally, the Ho Nursing Training College, Keta Health Aid Assistant Training School, University of Cape Coast, Hohoe Midwifery Training School as well as polytechnics at Ho, Koforidua, Cape Coast and Tamale had posted students to enrich themselves with various aspects of clinical knowledge.
In serving as a teaching hospital, the St Anthony Hospital has served as a focal point for visiting urologists from Germany and for the second time a team arrived on February 1, this year to treat patients for two weeks.
According to him, the Ghana Medical Association and sister associations of foreign countries must be able to enter a bargain to lessen the obstacles usually faced by the foreign volunteers in rendering services to the poor.

PARAMOUNT CHIEFS AT KADJEBI EXPRESS CONCERN (PAGE 14)

THE eight paramount chiefs in the Kadjebi District have expressed concern over subtle moves to change the status quo in the Kadjebi District regarding the appointment of a district chief executive (DCE) for the area.
In a communiqué issued after an extraordinary meeting held at Asato, during which the chiefs extended congratulations to President John Evans Atta Mills on his election and inauguration, they said: “Nananom are determined to sustain peace in the coming years and, therefore, call on the government to fulfil its share of peace through an appointment that will, as promised by His Excellency the President, have the full blessing of the traditional authorities of the area.”
They called on the government to consider nominating Mr Nicholas Fato for the post of DCE, explaining that they were not pre-empting or imposing anybody on the President but were making the suggestion in the spirit of the President’s promise to consult chiefs before making certain appointments, especially DCEs.
They contended that such an appointment would facilitate free communication, an understanding of the cultural heritage, the usage and practices of the people and the person would have a singular, undivided and permanent interest in the Kadjebi District.

COLLEGE ESTABLISHES COMPUTER LABORATORY FOR RURAL SCHOOLS (PAGE 20, JAN 29)

THE Messiah College of Grantahm in Pennsylvania, United States of America (USA), and the Ho Farms at Akoefe have jointly established a computer laboratory for schools in the Akoefe and the Tanyigbe traditional areas in the Ho municipality of the Volta Region.
It is part of a cross-cultural study tour project undertaken by 20 students of the college aimed at exposing them to other parts of the world for them to become citizens of the world.
Professor David Dzakah, who led the students on the tour, said eight computers had been installed by the students for use by the Akoefe Junior High and Primary schools, adding that the package would soon be extended to surrounding communities and to be hooked on to the Internet.
The Programme Officer of the Ho Farms, Madam Vida Ahiati, expressed appreciation to the college for the support and said it had made the dreams of the management of the farms a reality.
Ho Farms belongs to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
Madam Ahiati said the reality was in accordance with the philosophy of the church to send light to where there was darkness and so the information and communication project was a big step in the right direction.
For his part, the extension officer, Mr Dickson Asase, said there was an arrangement for the posting of an ICT specialist with the American Peace Corps to handle tuition at the centre.
The students also donated a bag full of toys to the El-Elian Preparatory School at Hohoe and also visited tourist attractions in the Central and Volta regions.

FACTOR POPULATION INTO DEVELOPMENT PLANNING (PAGE 20, JAN 29)

THE Executive Director of the National Population Council (NPC), Mrs Esther Yaa Apewokin, has underscored the need to effectively factor popula Stion into development planning, as well as tackle the goals on fertility reduction.
This, she said, required more commitment from officials of the council to develop pertinent modules to serve as a road map for repositioning family planning in the country.
Mrs Apewokin said this when she delivered an address at the opening ceremony of the annual review and planning meeting of the NPC in Ho.
She urged them to take stock in order to fashion out appropriate strategies to conform with national development plans and the existing interventions which were started in 2006.
In an address, the Principal Development Planning Officer of the Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council, Mr E.K.T. Kanfra, said the key policy intervention of the present national population policy was to promote the reproductive health status of citizens, with emphasis on adolescent reproductive health.
He said the pressures of modern living, vis-à-vis widespread poverty and insufficiency of social infrastructure, the waning of the role of the extended family as a source of social insurance, economic pressures on families and the upsurge in streetism should now be factored into national population management.
He stressed that the national population planning programme should not only exist but also remain functional, vibrant and effective, in view of the implications of the rate of population growth on social services such as health, education, housing, water and sanitation, electricity, food security and employment.
In a welcoming address, the Volta Regional Population Officer, Mr Edwin Darkey, called on participants to take the unique opportunity to share ideas and explore the Volta Region during the three-day meeting.

ESCASARD MOUNTS CAMPAIGN AGAINST BUSH FIRES (PAGE 20, JAN 29)

Since the declaration of Agenda 21, that is, the Rio de Janeiro Declaration on the Environment and Development of 1992, and its reaffirmation at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002, little has been achieved in many countries, especially in developing countries.
Many countries are battling with the negative effects of climate change bordering the disappearance of water bodies through rapid evaporation, coastal flooding, global warming, soil infertility, tsunamis and hurricanes, all attributed to excessive human activities that have continually bedevilled and threatened the very survival of humans.
Human activity has distorted the equilibrium in the ecosystem, although nature has bequeathed enormous natural resources for human welfare which are badly managed to the detriment of mankind.
But the most serious problem facing us immediately in the dry season or harmattan is the rapid spate of bush fires that have persistently destroyed vegetation and tend to reduce forest into savannah, savannah into desert and the extinction of engendered species in the bush and forests.
It was therefore heart warming when the Ecumenical Association of Sustainable Agriculture Development (ECASARD) organised a forum for representatives of communities in the Adaklu traditional area in the Adaklu-Anyigbe district with the view to finding out ways in which a war could be waged against the rampant bush fires which have razed farms, houses, destroyed villages and made investment in area highly risky in the previous years.
Speaking at the function, the Volta regional officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Togbe Akliku Ahorney II said although fire is a useful tool used by our forebears, it had been abused and misused by the present generation leading to the massive depletion of flora and fauna.
He said it had led to high levels of pollution, global warming causing the melting of ice in the Arctic zone, drying up of rivers, sea coastal flooding, among all other negative effects of climate change that had hit the contemporary world.
He therefore appealed to chiefs to act within the national wildfire policy on bush fires to use their authority to check bush fires since the Adaklu area was noted as highly prone for bush fires and urged them to stem the tide to regain a better reputation.
The regional public relations officer of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Mr Joy Koku Agbleze, said the soil lost nutrients due to unprecedented spate of bush fires saying that it had led to the extensive use of fertilisers and chemicals on plants.
This, he said, was endangering health systems and was a potential destruction of the future generations.
Mr Agbleze said for the sake of charcoal burning, rat and grasscutter hunting bush burning had almost caused the extinction of many species in the animal kingdom aside from the negative effect on water supply and the depletion of the ozone layer, among others.
He therefore warned that PNDC Law 229 on bush fires would be rigorously enforced, adding that traditional authorities had been empowered to enforce the law without recourse to any form of arbitration that may let culprits escape punishment.
Mr Agbleze lamented the negative effects on investment and herbal medicine, adding that for the diminishing availability of natural products, society had resorted to synthetic life associated with disposable products such as plastic chairs now replacing wood products.
An officer of the Evangelical Presbyterian Development and Relief Agency (EPDRA), Dr R. R. P. Mfodwo, said a grand project was proposed with the Forestry Commission to encourage tree cultivation in the area.
Dr Mfodwo advised farmers to desist from the use of chemicals and fire in their farming activities since they jointly destroy agents of decomposition and stall the recycling of waste products to the soil hence the loss of soil fertility.
A startling revelation he made was that many palm trees in the Adaklu zone could not bear fruits because of the annual bush fires that had stunted their steady growth.
He called on farmers to apply indigenous knowledge to improve on their standard of living recalling that bush fires were not rampant in the olden days because people in those days depended on the extended family way of life and shared their knowledge.
The Ho Municipal Deputy Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Mr Seth Asuo, said the end results of bush fires must be analysed from the point that it is detrimental to good farm yields stressing that using fire for land preparation should be discouraged.
He said that farmers who had applied for national farmers awards were judged against the extent to which they had used fire in the cultivation of crops.
For his part, the Volta regional co-ordinator of ECASARD, Mr Fred Agbogbo, lamented that many farmers had suffered losses over the years due to bush fires which they did not cause and said the forum was organised to forestall further fire disasters in the area with the ultimate aim of reducing poverty among peasant farmers.
The Dufia of Adaklu-Anfoe, who is also a senior divisional chief of Adaklu traditional area, Togbe Agbobada IV, who chaired the function, commended the resource persons and said their messages had touched the hearts of participants.
But voices at the forum indicated that persons who report suspects who cause bush fires are treated with contempt that strains relations and causes frustrations in the communities.
They suggested that the education campaign should be spread to neighbouring communities near the Republic of Togo, Agotime-Kpetoe and Ziope in view of the fact that fire could easily be spread by the wind to cause damage elsewhere.

STATE AGENCIES MUST GENERATE INCOME INTERNALLY (PAGE 31, JAN 27)

The Aflao sector Commander of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), Mr Emmanuel Impraim, has underscored the need for state agencies to generate income internally to cushion them from the shocks of the global economic depression.
He predicted difficult times ahead in view of the credit crunch in the United States of America, Europe and developed countries, hence the need to re-strategise to achieve targets.
Mr Impraim said this when he addressed the end-of-year and awards dinner for staff and clients at the Aflao border post last weekend.
Mr Mathias Afenyo Abitih was adjudged the overall best worker of the command for last year.
Mr Impraim announced that the Aflao sector exceeded targets by collecting GH¢47.3 million last year as against GH¢44.3 million the previous year.
He saluted the staff for their efforts at mobilising revenue for the country and urged them to avoid negative practices that would tarnish the name of the service.
In an address read on his behalf, the Commissioner of CEPS, Mr Emmanuel Doku, said despite the global economic turbulence, the performance of CEPS had been excellent, adding that Ghana could therefore pride itself in the sub-region.

NEW PREMISES FOR GCB AT AKATSI (PAGE 14, JAN 26)

The Deputy Chief Manager of the retail division of the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), Mr Ernest Canton, has advised traders to use the facilities of the bank to escape the risk of highway armed robbery that is on the increase in the country.
He assured customers that they could withdraw their savings at their business destinations or their homes because the bank had high electronic facilities manned by highly efficient staff to help them access their monies at any time.
Mr Canton gave the advice when he addressed the inauguration ceremony of new premises for the bank at Akatsi in the Volta Region.
He educated the people on the numerous products and services of the bank that were available at the 148 branches throughout the country, adding that the bank had stepped up its human resource development base with the view to rendering superior services to its clients.
In an address, the Area Manager of the bank, Mr John Senanu Acolatse, appealed to traditional authorities to release a piece of a land to facilitate the construction of permanent offices for the bank.
This was because it was the third time the Akatsi branch, which was established in 1979, had relocated.
The Dufia of Akatsi, Torgbui Aho IV, who chaired the ceremony pledged his support towards the acquisition of land and further pledged support for security at the bank by organizing a community watchdog committee to patrol the area.

EP CHURCH CONGRATULATES MILLS (PAGE 17)

THE Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Right Reverend Francis Amenu, has extended congratulations from the church to President John Evans Atta Mills on the occasion of his election and successful inauguration to the highest office as the Head of State of the Republic of Ghana.
“The EP Church highly appreciates His Excellency’s humility, love for peace, magnanimity, tolerance and the desire to be the President of the entire nation, irrespective of party or ethnic affiliation,” he stated
In a congratulatory message delivered to the media in Ho, the moderator said it was the prayer of the congregation that the vision of the President on job creation, educational development, investment in human resource, infrastructural and industrial development would be realised in the interest of the people of Ghana.
The message, signed by Rt Rev. Amenu said the church was conscious of the numerous challenges that confronted it and the nation particularly in the areas of outmoded cultural and traditional practices and rites, inadequate educational programmes and poor health care, unemployment and its attendant poverty, drug menace, ethnic conflicts and problem of indiscipline and corruption within every facet of society.
He nevertheless pledged to work towards harnessing and expanding the human resource base for a more effective and efficient stewardship and to intensify the educational and theological scholarship programmes in a more humane and holistic manner, taking cognisance of gender and disability.

CHOLERA OUTBREAK IN VOLTA REGION (PAGE 31), JAN 21

THE Volta Regional Health Directorate has confirmed an outbreak of cholera in parts of the region.
A release signed by the acting Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Samuel Kwashie, said the Keta, Krachi East and Nkwanta districts had reported 312 cases.
It said there had been 10 deaths in the Keta District which had 274 cases.
The release called for the collaboration and co-operation of all in order to swiftly and efficiently bring the situation under control to end the spread of the disease in the region.
It asked patients to report promptly for treatment, since a little delay at home could make a lot of difference between life and death.
Cholera outbreak was primarily an indicator of poor personal and environmental hygiene, the health directorate said, adding that one could get cholera by eating or drinking contaminated food or water and that the symptoms were diarrhoea with or without vomiting.
The release advised the public to properly wash their hands with soap and water before eating, cover foods to prevent exposure to flies and adequately wash fruits before consumption.
It further said the eating of cold food should be avoided, while drinking water should be boiled solid and waste properly disposed of.
The release also advised affected families and communities to ensure that all cholera-related deaths were promptly buried under the supervision of the Environmental Health Unit of the respective district assemblies.