Story: Tim Dzamboe, Ho
PARTICIPANTS in a workshop in Ho to collate proposals for the amendment of the 1992 Constitution have suggested that the President should appoint all ministers of state outside parliament.
They also said the presidential term of office should be extended from four to five years to enable the president to effectively cope with the exigencies of his office.
These proposals were received at the Volta Region edition of the workshop on “Grassroots and the Constitutional Review Process” of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) with the collaboration of the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEP).
Dubbed “ Giving Voice to the Voiceless in Ghana’s Constitution Review Process”, a participant suggested that service of civil process for the law courts should be served on implicated MPs at anywhere or that the MPs should nominate a lawyer to take charge of the task in order to stop the unwarranted immunity and frivolous excuses to escape prosecution.
There was a call for the establishment of a central body for the determination of emoluments of all classes from the President through parliament to the ordinary worker in the civil service to ensure fairness and equity in the system.
On the district level elections, a contributor said it should be made partisan because of the way political parties made clandestine moves to let their perceived candidates to win.
It was also suggested that assembly work should not be voluntary, but should be enshrined in the Constitution as full-time job with money from the Common Fund used to pay assembly members.
In a welcoming address, the policy analyst of IEA, Dr Micheal Ofori-Mensah, said the review process was necessary because after 18 years of the Constitution, it had faced several challenges of interpretation because some provisions were difficult to interpret and operate, while other pertinent issues were not provided for in the Constitution.
He said the challenges had complicated the conduct of democratic governance in the country, adding that key areas such as executive, legislature, judiciary and chieftaincy needed re-evaluation.
Dr Ofori-Mensah said democracy could be enhanced if the shortcomings experienced over the last 18 years were addressed by taking into consideration the concerns of vulnerable and marginalised groups.
He said the review process provided an inclusive strategy to ensure that gender advocates and representatives of vulnerable groups were neither ignored nor sidelined.
He also said the IEA in partnership with the UNDEF would be working closely with representatives of marginalised groups through its 11-member Constitution Review Coalition to ensure that the concerns of the constituencies were reflected in the final report.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, said although the Constitution had been ridiculed as one of barbers and butchers, it had stood the test of time and lasted for 18 years.
He said the review process was a deepening of the voice of the people for the betterment of democracy.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
VOLTA REGION WILL VOTE ON FULFILLED PROMISES — GROUP (PAGE 12, JAN 27, 2011)
A GROUP called the Ho Municipal Youth Club has said the people of the Volta Region will judge and vote according to the extent to which political promises are fulfilled.
It said after a careful examination of the political and development scene, it had noticed that quite a number of unfulfilled political promises were made by successive governments and some major projects had either been discontinued or abandoned.
The club said it would act as a pressure group in the region to ensure that development projects planned for the region were executed to the letter so that the usual unfulfilled promises did not become carrots to be dangled before the people by politicians in times of elections just to solicit for votes.
This was contained in a press statement read by the Public Relations Officer of the club, Mr Evans Klutse, at a press conference in Ho yesterday.
The statement said one major water project from Sogakope through to Aflao died a natural death although the project was expected to extend potable water to the Republic of Togo.
“Right now the people along this stretch of road have no potable water except for the present pure water facility which in most cases, is not affordable and convenient to the majority of the people”, it said.
It expressed regret that the proposed Kofi Annan Centre at the old Border Guards Training Centre at Akoefe near Tanyigbe in the Ho Municipality was moved to Accra under inexplicable circumstances.
The statement said there was a promise for an airstrip for the Volta Region but remained on the drawing board, adding that the current major project which was becoming a considerable worry was the Aflao-Accra Highway, adding that “what we have noticed now is that, it was just political publicity stunt”.
It said the state of affairs in the region to a very large extent could be blamed on the successive political leadership in the region and the absence of a strong community involvement and lobby.
It, therefore, appealed to like-minded people across the political divide who were concerned about the development of the region to join hands with the club to carry the development of the region to a different level of seriousness where people appointed or who came into positions in the region committed themselves to develop it rather than enriching themselves at the expense of the majority.
The statement said the principal streets of the regional capital also needed a dual carriage which should be made asphalt as it pertained in other regional capitals, adding that this promise made by the NDC government had not yet been fulfilled but what was ongoing was the expansion and refurbishment of walkways contrary to the promise.
It called on the government to direct foreign investment into the region to establish industries to help its development, adding that the proposed university should take off without further delay.
It also called for more employment avenues for the youth and a proper sports stadium such as what pertains in other regional capitals.
In an opening remark, the Vice Chairman of the club, Mr Noble Yeasroku, said the club which was non-political was made up of responsible men and women with a singular mind for development.
It said after a careful examination of the political and development scene, it had noticed that quite a number of unfulfilled political promises were made by successive governments and some major projects had either been discontinued or abandoned.
The club said it would act as a pressure group in the region to ensure that development projects planned for the region were executed to the letter so that the usual unfulfilled promises did not become carrots to be dangled before the people by politicians in times of elections just to solicit for votes.
This was contained in a press statement read by the Public Relations Officer of the club, Mr Evans Klutse, at a press conference in Ho yesterday.
The statement said one major water project from Sogakope through to Aflao died a natural death although the project was expected to extend potable water to the Republic of Togo.
“Right now the people along this stretch of road have no potable water except for the present pure water facility which in most cases, is not affordable and convenient to the majority of the people”, it said.
It expressed regret that the proposed Kofi Annan Centre at the old Border Guards Training Centre at Akoefe near Tanyigbe in the Ho Municipality was moved to Accra under inexplicable circumstances.
The statement said there was a promise for an airstrip for the Volta Region but remained on the drawing board, adding that the current major project which was becoming a considerable worry was the Aflao-Accra Highway, adding that “what we have noticed now is that, it was just political publicity stunt”.
It said the state of affairs in the region to a very large extent could be blamed on the successive political leadership in the region and the absence of a strong community involvement and lobby.
It, therefore, appealed to like-minded people across the political divide who were concerned about the development of the region to join hands with the club to carry the development of the region to a different level of seriousness where people appointed or who came into positions in the region committed themselves to develop it rather than enriching themselves at the expense of the majority.
The statement said the principal streets of the regional capital also needed a dual carriage which should be made asphalt as it pertained in other regional capitals, adding that this promise made by the NDC government had not yet been fulfilled but what was ongoing was the expansion and refurbishment of walkways contrary to the promise.
It called on the government to direct foreign investment into the region to establish industries to help its development, adding that the proposed university should take off without further delay.
It also called for more employment avenues for the youth and a proper sports stadium such as what pertains in other regional capitals.
In an opening remark, the Vice Chairman of the club, Mr Noble Yeasroku, said the club which was non-political was made up of responsible men and women with a singular mind for development.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
CHINESE URGED TO INVEST IN VOLTA REGION (PAGE 42, JAN 27, 2011)
THE President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV, has called on the Chinese Government to invest in the region.
He said the Volta Basin is a treasure-trove of various important minerals and other natural resources including gold, diamonds, copper, lead, iron ore, oil and gas.
He said the region also had fertile agricultural lands, enormous potential for large-scale fish farming, large deposits of clay for brick and ceramics production, extensive salt deposits along the coast and the largest variety of tourist attractions.
Togbe Afede, who is the Agbogbomefia of Ho-Asogli made the call at a durbar in Ho at the weekend in honour of the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Gong Jianzhong.
He said chiefs in the region launched a five-year development plan last year to contribute towards the laying of appropriate socio-economic infrastructure to facilitate the development of the region.
“We would wish to urge your government and your people to take advantage of the favourable investment potential in the natural resource sector and improve infrastructure network to do business in the Volta Region,” Togbe Afede said.
The Agbogbomefia said Chinese support would be appreciated for the establishment of a university, the construction of an airport, the development of a sea port at Keta and the expansion of social and economic infrastructure, especially in the northern part of the region.
He advocated an increase in the importation of food items, horticultural produce, handicrafts, wood carvings and chocolate from Ghana in order to ensure a fair and balanced trade between the two countries.
Togbe Afede also expressed the hope that a sister relationship would be created between the Volta Region and a Chinese province to form a strong basis for a mutually beneficial collaboration.
The Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Colonel Cyril Necku (retd), re-echoed the enormous potential of the region, saying it was considered the microcosm of the nation
He said the diverse ecology made it possible for the cultivation of variety of crops, stressing that there were opportunities for tourism, hotels and restaurants, Volta Lake attractions, hard working resource base and surrounded by four international markets.
Col. Necku said there were opportunities for light and heavy industry in addition to deposits of oil on the land and the sea.
He commended Togbe Afede and Dumega Raymond Okudzeto for championing the development of the region.
The Chinese Ambassador, Mr Jianzhong, assured the gathering that more Chinese investors would arrive in the country and would act in accordance with declaration of the year of action, adding that bilateral relationship would be strengthened between the two countries.
Earlier in a welcoming address, the paramount chief of the Anfoega Traditional Area, Togbe Teprey Hodo, said the chiefs in the area were prepared to co-operate as mutual partners towards the achievement of the objectives of the Volta Region Development Agency.
He said the Volta Basin is a treasure-trove of various important minerals and other natural resources including gold, diamonds, copper, lead, iron ore, oil and gas.
He said the region also had fertile agricultural lands, enormous potential for large-scale fish farming, large deposits of clay for brick and ceramics production, extensive salt deposits along the coast and the largest variety of tourist attractions.
Togbe Afede, who is the Agbogbomefia of Ho-Asogli made the call at a durbar in Ho at the weekend in honour of the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Gong Jianzhong.
He said chiefs in the region launched a five-year development plan last year to contribute towards the laying of appropriate socio-economic infrastructure to facilitate the development of the region.
“We would wish to urge your government and your people to take advantage of the favourable investment potential in the natural resource sector and improve infrastructure network to do business in the Volta Region,” Togbe Afede said.
The Agbogbomefia said Chinese support would be appreciated for the establishment of a university, the construction of an airport, the development of a sea port at Keta and the expansion of social and economic infrastructure, especially in the northern part of the region.
He advocated an increase in the importation of food items, horticultural produce, handicrafts, wood carvings and chocolate from Ghana in order to ensure a fair and balanced trade between the two countries.
Togbe Afede also expressed the hope that a sister relationship would be created between the Volta Region and a Chinese province to form a strong basis for a mutually beneficial collaboration.
The Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Colonel Cyril Necku (retd), re-echoed the enormous potential of the region, saying it was considered the microcosm of the nation
He said the diverse ecology made it possible for the cultivation of variety of crops, stressing that there were opportunities for tourism, hotels and restaurants, Volta Lake attractions, hard working resource base and surrounded by four international markets.
Col. Necku said there were opportunities for light and heavy industry in addition to deposits of oil on the land and the sea.
He commended Togbe Afede and Dumega Raymond Okudzeto for championing the development of the region.
The Chinese Ambassador, Mr Jianzhong, assured the gathering that more Chinese investors would arrive in the country and would act in accordance with declaration of the year of action, adding that bilateral relationship would be strengthened between the two countries.
Earlier in a welcoming address, the paramount chief of the Anfoega Traditional Area, Togbe Teprey Hodo, said the chiefs in the area were prepared to co-operate as mutual partners towards the achievement of the objectives of the Volta Region Development Agency.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
KWABENA ADJEI WARNS TROUBLE MAKERS IN NDC (PAGE 12, JAN 25, 2011)
THE National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Kwabena Adjei, has stated that members of the party who may foment trouble against the progressive trend of affairs within the party will not be spared.
He said unhealthy rivalry between aspirants would not be tolerated, adding that there was the need for party activists to sacrifice rather than beg for favours in respect of votes because those who looked for favours eventually lost respect and dignity.
Dr Adjei was addressing a regional rally to mark the second anniversary celebration of the coming into power of the Mills’ Administration at Ho at the weekend.
He stressed the need for party activists who were aggrieved with their members of parliament and municipal and district chief executives to resolve their differences in a friendly manner.
A member of the Council of State, Dr Bernard Glover, asked members of the party to come out boldly to defend its tenets to justify the declaration of the action year.
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu, outlined the road projects for the region, stating that more than enough funds had been mobilised to start the Eastern Corridor road by the second quarter of the year.
He disclosed that four contractors were expected to undertake the job, adding that re-engineering of the Aflao dual carriageway had been awarded and pleaded with the people to exercise restraint since the party would reciprocate efforts of the electorate.
The General Secretary of the party, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia said the party would begin to select candidates within the first quarter of the year after which primaries for members of parliament would be held to be followed by the election of a flag bearer by the end of the year.
Mr Nketia urged party activists to be faithful to the constitution of the party.
The Deputy General Secretary, Mr Kofi Adams, said the victory of the party in the last elections was important because it reversed the suffering and deprivation of majority of the people.
He, therefore, said everybody had a role to play in order to oil the victory machine with a greater sense of unity of purpose.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, said the NDC would not depart from its promises to the people, adding that education is the cornerstone of development of the region.
The Regional Chairman, Mr Kwasi Aboagye, said there were a lot of good things to be delivered this year under the action year.
He said unhealthy rivalry between aspirants would not be tolerated, adding that there was the need for party activists to sacrifice rather than beg for favours in respect of votes because those who looked for favours eventually lost respect and dignity.
Dr Adjei was addressing a regional rally to mark the second anniversary celebration of the coming into power of the Mills’ Administration at Ho at the weekend.
He stressed the need for party activists who were aggrieved with their members of parliament and municipal and district chief executives to resolve their differences in a friendly manner.
A member of the Council of State, Dr Bernard Glover, asked members of the party to come out boldly to defend its tenets to justify the declaration of the action year.
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu, outlined the road projects for the region, stating that more than enough funds had been mobilised to start the Eastern Corridor road by the second quarter of the year.
He disclosed that four contractors were expected to undertake the job, adding that re-engineering of the Aflao dual carriageway had been awarded and pleaded with the people to exercise restraint since the party would reciprocate efforts of the electorate.
The General Secretary of the party, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia said the party would begin to select candidates within the first quarter of the year after which primaries for members of parliament would be held to be followed by the election of a flag bearer by the end of the year.
Mr Nketia urged party activists to be faithful to the constitution of the party.
The Deputy General Secretary, Mr Kofi Adams, said the victory of the party in the last elections was important because it reversed the suffering and deprivation of majority of the people.
He, therefore, said everybody had a role to play in order to oil the victory machine with a greater sense of unity of purpose.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, said the NDC would not depart from its promises to the people, adding that education is the cornerstone of development of the region.
The Regional Chairman, Mr Kwasi Aboagye, said there were a lot of good things to be delivered this year under the action year.
NEED TO CHANGE ATTITUDE TOWARDS BUSINESS (SPREAD, JAN 25, 2011)
THE President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Nana Owusu Afari, has stressed the need for a change in attitude towards business to conform to changing trends in the world.
“The world is changing; businesses are changing; technology is changing, hence the need to change minds to follow the trend of change globally,” he said.
Nana Afari said this at the seventh annual retreat of the association in Ho at the weekend.
According to him, the Volta Region was ripe for industrial development and expansion and wondered what was hindering the take-off of industrial growth of the region.
He said the retreat had been sent to the region with the view to stimulating a new sense in members to know their importance in industry.
Nana Afari also said the retreat was to learn new ways of growing business and strengthen advocacy in view of the fact that the government had acknowledged that the small-scale sector was the engine of growth.
He said the Volta Region had been holding many industrial forums but was still not attracting investment and, therefore, charged the indigenes to take the mantle of industrial opportunities.
“People will not come to invest when the indigenes are running away,” he said, adding that the people should join forces to lobby the government to bring funds for industrial estates in Ho and other district capitals.
The Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Col Cyril Necku (retd), said many nations were called developed because of their high level of industrialisation, contrary to what was happening in Ghana which exploited resources to feed industries in the developed world.
He said the situation would not change in Ghana, in spite of its oil discovery, if it did not make adequate investment in the petro-chemical sector, in which case it would only remain an oil exporter.
Col Necku, therefore, charged the AGI to forward credible proposals to the government to stimulate growth.
A leading industrialist in the Volta Region, Mr Theophilus Gadzanku, alleged that the banks were not interested in the manufacturing sector and long-term businesses in the region but were only attracted to the services sector, especially in petrol filling stations.
He also emphasised a change in the mentality of the people towards development because efforts to establish light and heavy industrial zones had failed.
An auto blacksmith at Hohoe, Mr Emmanuel Morni, urged the AGI to assess the field in order to know the real values of various trades, since some of them had developed to a stage where they coped with foreign technologies.
The Rector of the Ho Polytechnic, Dr Dzakpasu Afun, called for sponsorship for polytechnic students to make them receive appropriate training to meet all demands of industry because the manufacturing and production sectors hinged on technical expertise that was only derived from the polytechnics.
“The world is changing; businesses are changing; technology is changing, hence the need to change minds to follow the trend of change globally,” he said.
Nana Afari said this at the seventh annual retreat of the association in Ho at the weekend.
According to him, the Volta Region was ripe for industrial development and expansion and wondered what was hindering the take-off of industrial growth of the region.
He said the retreat had been sent to the region with the view to stimulating a new sense in members to know their importance in industry.
Nana Afari also said the retreat was to learn new ways of growing business and strengthen advocacy in view of the fact that the government had acknowledged that the small-scale sector was the engine of growth.
He said the Volta Region had been holding many industrial forums but was still not attracting investment and, therefore, charged the indigenes to take the mantle of industrial opportunities.
“People will not come to invest when the indigenes are running away,” he said, adding that the people should join forces to lobby the government to bring funds for industrial estates in Ho and other district capitals.
The Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Col Cyril Necku (retd), said many nations were called developed because of their high level of industrialisation, contrary to what was happening in Ghana which exploited resources to feed industries in the developed world.
He said the situation would not change in Ghana, in spite of its oil discovery, if it did not make adequate investment in the petro-chemical sector, in which case it would only remain an oil exporter.
Col Necku, therefore, charged the AGI to forward credible proposals to the government to stimulate growth.
A leading industrialist in the Volta Region, Mr Theophilus Gadzanku, alleged that the banks were not interested in the manufacturing sector and long-term businesses in the region but were only attracted to the services sector, especially in petrol filling stations.
He also emphasised a change in the mentality of the people towards development because efforts to establish light and heavy industrial zones had failed.
An auto blacksmith at Hohoe, Mr Emmanuel Morni, urged the AGI to assess the field in order to know the real values of various trades, since some of them had developed to a stage where they coped with foreign technologies.
The Rector of the Ho Polytechnic, Dr Dzakpasu Afun, called for sponsorship for polytechnic students to make them receive appropriate training to meet all demands of industry because the manufacturing and production sectors hinged on technical expertise that was only derived from the polytechnics.
Friday, January 21, 2011
WETO BANK DONATES TO 10 POLICE STATIONS (PAGE 22, JAN 21, 2011)
THE Weto Rural Bank at Kpeve in the South Dayi District in the Volta Region has presented signposts valued at GH¢3,500 to 10 police stations in the Volta Region as part of its social responsibility.
The police stations are Kpeve, Have, Hohoe, Kpedze, Tsito, Anfoega, Hlefi, Vakpo, as well as the Peki and Kpando District Headquarters.
Making the presentation, the Supervising Manager of the bank, Emmanuel K. Brempong, said the gesture was in appreciation of the good services by the Ghana Police Service with regard to community protection and property.
He expressed the hope that the cordial relationship and co-operation would grow from strength to strength to minimise crime in order to make the nation the safest in the West Africa sub-region.
The Peki District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Jonas Kofi Agbevam, who received the gift, thanked the bank for the gesture.
He said the gesture would stimulate public interest in the activities of the police.
The police stations are Kpeve, Have, Hohoe, Kpedze, Tsito, Anfoega, Hlefi, Vakpo, as well as the Peki and Kpando District Headquarters.
Making the presentation, the Supervising Manager of the bank, Emmanuel K. Brempong, said the gesture was in appreciation of the good services by the Ghana Police Service with regard to community protection and property.
He expressed the hope that the cordial relationship and co-operation would grow from strength to strength to minimise crime in order to make the nation the safest in the West Africa sub-region.
The Peki District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Jonas Kofi Agbevam, who received the gift, thanked the bank for the gesture.
He said the gesture would stimulate public interest in the activities of the police.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
SCHOOL PROJECTS INAUGURATED AT KPANDO (PAGE 11, JAN 19, 2011)
THE Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, has inaugurated four school projects aimed at ensuring the effective delivery of education at Kpando in the North Dayi District of the Volta Region.
The projects are, a 400-bed capacity girls dormitory block for the Vakpo Secondary Technical School, six-unit classroom block each for Kpando Technical Institute and the Kpando Senior High School and a 12-unit classroom block for the Bishop Herman High School.
The occasion was crowned with the best teacher/worker award in the district from 2006 to 2008. In all 40 teaching and non-teaching staff from the primary, junior and senior high school levels were awarded.
In his address, Mr Amenowode said contracts would be awarded to only competent contractors without any other consideration, and that 80 SHS projects had been awarded in the region in addition to 120 basic schools as part of the schools under trees project.
He further said contracts for the construction of 100 SHS projects such as dormitories, dinning halls, classrooms and teachers bungalows had been awarded in almost all the senior high schools in the region.
On the teacher’s awards scheme, Mr Amenowode expressed dissatisfaction at the decline in the standard of education in recent years and called for holistic effort to reverse the poor performance of pupils in the region.
The Minister of Tourism, Ms Akua Sena Dansua, called on teachers to take the awards ceremony as a motivation to mould the youth into good characters, adding that those who took delight in insulting teachers should refrain from it.
Ms Dansua who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Dayi Constituency asked the youth to desist from cyber fraud and rather harness the positive aspects of information and communication technology.
The Catholic Bishop of Ho, Most Reverend Francis Anani Kofi Lodonu, called for a reversal of the senior high school from three years to four years.
He said education policy makers should be detached from political decision makers in order to avoid the incidence of producing intellectual criminals caused by the high dropout rate in schools.
According to him, many students were forced into remedial classes to resit examinations because the three year policy imposed stress on the educational system.
The Regional Director of Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Gabriel Kploanyi, said teachers had done a lot but their best was not enough.
He argued that it was pertinent to provide adequate infrastructure rather than prolonging the length of stay in school and that the three-year system must rather be enforced to ensure that good and quality students were produced.
For her part, the Kpando District Director of GES, Ms Dora Agorsor, said the discovery of oil in the country must necessitate the provision of accommodation for teachers to enable them live on campus.
In an address, the Kpando District Chief Executive, Mr Francis Ganyaglo said 15 key areas had been earmarked to improve on education in the district.
He commended the award winners and asked others to take a cue from them.
The projects are, a 400-bed capacity girls dormitory block for the Vakpo Secondary Technical School, six-unit classroom block each for Kpando Technical Institute and the Kpando Senior High School and a 12-unit classroom block for the Bishop Herman High School.
The occasion was crowned with the best teacher/worker award in the district from 2006 to 2008. In all 40 teaching and non-teaching staff from the primary, junior and senior high school levels were awarded.
In his address, Mr Amenowode said contracts would be awarded to only competent contractors without any other consideration, and that 80 SHS projects had been awarded in the region in addition to 120 basic schools as part of the schools under trees project.
He further said contracts for the construction of 100 SHS projects such as dormitories, dinning halls, classrooms and teachers bungalows had been awarded in almost all the senior high schools in the region.
On the teacher’s awards scheme, Mr Amenowode expressed dissatisfaction at the decline in the standard of education in recent years and called for holistic effort to reverse the poor performance of pupils in the region.
The Minister of Tourism, Ms Akua Sena Dansua, called on teachers to take the awards ceremony as a motivation to mould the youth into good characters, adding that those who took delight in insulting teachers should refrain from it.
Ms Dansua who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Dayi Constituency asked the youth to desist from cyber fraud and rather harness the positive aspects of information and communication technology.
The Catholic Bishop of Ho, Most Reverend Francis Anani Kofi Lodonu, called for a reversal of the senior high school from three years to four years.
He said education policy makers should be detached from political decision makers in order to avoid the incidence of producing intellectual criminals caused by the high dropout rate in schools.
According to him, many students were forced into remedial classes to resit examinations because the three year policy imposed stress on the educational system.
The Regional Director of Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Gabriel Kploanyi, said teachers had done a lot but their best was not enough.
He argued that it was pertinent to provide adequate infrastructure rather than prolonging the length of stay in school and that the three-year system must rather be enforced to ensure that good and quality students were produced.
For her part, the Kpando District Director of GES, Ms Dora Agorsor, said the discovery of oil in the country must necessitate the provision of accommodation for teachers to enable them live on campus.
In an address, the Kpando District Chief Executive, Mr Francis Ganyaglo said 15 key areas had been earmarked to improve on education in the district.
He commended the award winners and asked others to take a cue from them.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
ACQUACULTURE PROJECT TAKES OFF IN VR (SPREAD, JAN 12, 2011)
AN acquaculture project is to take off this year in the Volta Region with funding from the World Bank with the view to assisting fishermen to increase earnings for sustainable livelihood.
Fishermen will be given credit facilities to undertake their projects and are expected to pay back after harvesting.
The Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture in charge of fisheries, Nii Amasa Namoale, announced this at a regional durbar of chief fishermen and directors of the ministry in Ho.
He threatened to dissolve all landing beach committees in the region because they could not account for proceeds from the sale of premix fuel.
According to him, the committees are expected to use 53 per cent of profits from the sale of premix fuel for community development but none of the committees in the Volta Region has been able to undertake any community project unlike their counterparts in other regions.
Nii Namoale reminded beneficiaries of outboard motors to pay back the cost of the motors to enable others to benefit from the scheme.
He announced that all regulations governing the fisheries sector had been gazetted as law and that all those who would violate the law would be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.
He said the use of bamboo in harvesting fish or the use of unauthorised nets in fishing destroyed generations of fish because it led to the trapping of pregnant fishes.
The deputy minister also warned against the use of light, carbide and explosives in fishing, as well as pair trawling, adding that they were illegal fishing methods that had been gazetted under the law.
In a welcoming address, the regional director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Mr John Tsrakasu, urged participants to abide by laid down regulations of the sector and asked them to utilise resources supplied to them judiciously and transparently in order to make the industry profitable.
Fishermen will be given credit facilities to undertake their projects and are expected to pay back after harvesting.
The Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture in charge of fisheries, Nii Amasa Namoale, announced this at a regional durbar of chief fishermen and directors of the ministry in Ho.
He threatened to dissolve all landing beach committees in the region because they could not account for proceeds from the sale of premix fuel.
According to him, the committees are expected to use 53 per cent of profits from the sale of premix fuel for community development but none of the committees in the Volta Region has been able to undertake any community project unlike their counterparts in other regions.
Nii Namoale reminded beneficiaries of outboard motors to pay back the cost of the motors to enable others to benefit from the scheme.
He announced that all regulations governing the fisheries sector had been gazetted as law and that all those who would violate the law would be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.
He said the use of bamboo in harvesting fish or the use of unauthorised nets in fishing destroyed generations of fish because it led to the trapping of pregnant fishes.
The deputy minister also warned against the use of light, carbide and explosives in fishing, as well as pair trawling, adding that they were illegal fishing methods that had been gazetted under the law.
In a welcoming address, the regional director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Mr John Tsrakasu, urged participants to abide by laid down regulations of the sector and asked them to utilise resources supplied to them judiciously and transparently in order to make the industry profitable.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
PAST KPENOE EP SCHOOL PUPILS REHABILITATE BLOCK (PAGE 22, JAN 11, 2011)
SOME past pupils of the Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Primary School at Kpenoe in the Ho Municipality have contributed to the rehabilitation of the school block of their alma mater at a cost of GH¢1,200.
The 20-member group known as the “Agbetsoamedo Group” led by a senior divisional chief, who is also the Secretary to the group, Togbe Akoto III, said the gesture was long overdue, taking into consideration the contribution the school had made to their lives and the need to give back to the community.
He said the group had re-painted the main school block and had plans to construct a computer laboratory and a library this year.
The Headmistress of the school, Mrs Angelica Attakey, said the gesture of the past pupils was unprecedented in the history of the school because all stakeholders had been reluctant to help the school.
She said the school population from the kindergarten to the primary level is 279, and stressed the need for stakeholders to show more interest in education in order to avert further decline in standards.
The Financial Secretary of the group, Mr William Tritriku, said with the modest achievement, many past pupils would be motivated to contribute to the course of their alma mater.
He added that a strategic development plan had been fashioned out for effective fund-raising rally to finance more projects for the institution.
The Chairman of the Agbetsoamedo group, Mr Mawuenyo Zah, said the group would continue to chart a course on raising funds to enable the members to carry out interventions to uplift the socio-economic status of the people.
The 20-member group known as the “Agbetsoamedo Group” led by a senior divisional chief, who is also the Secretary to the group, Togbe Akoto III, said the gesture was long overdue, taking into consideration the contribution the school had made to their lives and the need to give back to the community.
He said the group had re-painted the main school block and had plans to construct a computer laboratory and a library this year.
The Headmistress of the school, Mrs Angelica Attakey, said the gesture of the past pupils was unprecedented in the history of the school because all stakeholders had been reluctant to help the school.
She said the school population from the kindergarten to the primary level is 279, and stressed the need for stakeholders to show more interest in education in order to avert further decline in standards.
The Financial Secretary of the group, Mr William Tritriku, said with the modest achievement, many past pupils would be motivated to contribute to the course of their alma mater.
He added that a strategic development plan had been fashioned out for effective fund-raising rally to finance more projects for the institution.
The Chairman of the Agbetsoamedo group, Mr Mawuenyo Zah, said the group would continue to chart a course on raising funds to enable the members to carry out interventions to uplift the socio-economic status of the people.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
TAPA BRENIASE USES ELIEF FUNDS FOR DEV (PAGE 22, JAN 6, 2011)
ON April 26, 1961, the Volta River Authority (VRA) was officially inaugurated to oversee the supply of electrical energy for industrial, commercial and domestic use in the country.
The authority’s non-power activities included a social responsibility in its areas of operation aimed at mitigating the adverse environmental effects to ensure the well-being of the communities in the Volta Basin.
As a result, many communities were submerged, leading to the resettlement of 80,000 people in 52 communities whose main occupations were farming, poultry, piggery and fishing.
Unfortunately, the houses built for settler communities leave much to be desired because the houses have deteriorated and decayed with some of them being inhabitable.
The living standards of the people continue to deteriorate because roads and streets in the communities have been washed away by erosion and the people lived without adequate electricity and potable water, which constituted an abuse of the rights of people who had sacrificed for the construction of a national asset such as the Akosombo Dam.
Although the VRA committed the cedi equivalent of US$500,000 annually to a Resettlement Trust Fund since 1996 to carry out socio-economic projects to mitigate the adverse impact of its operations on the environment, improve health and the general well-being of affected communities, the impact had failed to redeem them.
It is against this background that the initiative of the people of the VRA resettlement community at Tapa Breniase in the embattled newly created Biakoye District must be commended.
The people, under a new leadership, have decided to invest funds from a relief for flooded lands into an integrated development project.
According to reliable sources, some of the resettled communities have distributed their share of the relief funds as individual gratuity but that was not the case of Tapa Breniase because under the able leadership of their chief, Nana Baffour Kwame Oduru II, the people have undertaken many development projects with GH¢222,000 ceded to the community under the relief fund.
The projects include the drilling of two boreholes, the installation of street lights, construction of access roads and drains of which 1.5 kilometres of the roads have been scarified and compacted, as well as the erection of 25 poles for streetlights.
Nana Oduru expressed the hope that if future compensation was paid regularly, it would be possible for the community to transform the landscape to bring renewed hope of good living to the people.
According to him, there is an outstanding amount of GH¢160,000 to be paid by the contractor, Max Kyei Company Limited, pending the tarring of the access roads in the town.
Flanked by the chief were the Gyasehene of Breniase, Nana Ansah Asiedu; the Mankrado, Nana Osei Asiedu and an opinion leader, Mr Okyere Danson.
The authority’s non-power activities included a social responsibility in its areas of operation aimed at mitigating the adverse environmental effects to ensure the well-being of the communities in the Volta Basin.
As a result, many communities were submerged, leading to the resettlement of 80,000 people in 52 communities whose main occupations were farming, poultry, piggery and fishing.
Unfortunately, the houses built for settler communities leave much to be desired because the houses have deteriorated and decayed with some of them being inhabitable.
The living standards of the people continue to deteriorate because roads and streets in the communities have been washed away by erosion and the people lived without adequate electricity and potable water, which constituted an abuse of the rights of people who had sacrificed for the construction of a national asset such as the Akosombo Dam.
Although the VRA committed the cedi equivalent of US$500,000 annually to a Resettlement Trust Fund since 1996 to carry out socio-economic projects to mitigate the adverse impact of its operations on the environment, improve health and the general well-being of affected communities, the impact had failed to redeem them.
It is against this background that the initiative of the people of the VRA resettlement community at Tapa Breniase in the embattled newly created Biakoye District must be commended.
The people, under a new leadership, have decided to invest funds from a relief for flooded lands into an integrated development project.
According to reliable sources, some of the resettled communities have distributed their share of the relief funds as individual gratuity but that was not the case of Tapa Breniase because under the able leadership of their chief, Nana Baffour Kwame Oduru II, the people have undertaken many development projects with GH¢222,000 ceded to the community under the relief fund.
The projects include the drilling of two boreholes, the installation of street lights, construction of access roads and drains of which 1.5 kilometres of the roads have been scarified and compacted, as well as the erection of 25 poles for streetlights.
Nana Oduru expressed the hope that if future compensation was paid regularly, it would be possible for the community to transform the landscape to bring renewed hope of good living to the people.
According to him, there is an outstanding amount of GH¢160,000 to be paid by the contractor, Max Kyei Company Limited, pending the tarring of the access roads in the town.
Flanked by the chief were the Gyasehene of Breniase, Nana Ansah Asiedu; the Mankrado, Nana Osei Asiedu and an opinion leader, Mr Okyere Danson.
KINDERGARTEN BLOCK FOR HO ST PHILIPS SCHOOLS (PAGE 22, JAN 6, 2011)
A MODERN kindergarten block constructed at a cost of GH¢800,000 for the St Philips cluster of schools at the St Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish in Ho has been inaugurated.
The block comprises four classrooms, an office, a store, a sleeping room, bathrooms and toilets.
The project was funded by the Kinder Mission, a German Catholic organisation with the support of the parent-teacher association (PTA) of the school. The PTA connected pipe-borne water to the school.
The Vicar-General of the Ho Diocese of the Catholic Church, Monsignor Anthony Konu, who cut the tape to inaugurate the building, said kindergartens were considered as nurseries for future leaders hence the need to accord them extra care.
He, therefore, stressed the need for a change in the human psyche towards children, adding that the government and the church should partners each other to achieve that aim.
Monsignor Konu urged teachers and parents to team up to ensure good tuition for pupils to enable them to catch up with the high achievements by private and international schools.
In an address, the Parish Priest, Monsignor Cletus Egbi, said the inauguration ceremony was a great joy because it ended a bleak past where children run away from the school because of its poor facilities.
He said the new block would open the gateway to human advancement and create a legitimate basis for a strong foundation to grow children into better adults.
The Deputy Planning Officer of the Ho Municipal Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Francis Kwaku, said a good school building was a prerequisite for excellent service delivery in the education sector.
He, therefore, entreated stakeholders not to relent intheir efforts to provide decent infrastructure for education.
Mr Kwaku said the failure of pupils at higher stages could be attributed to the weak foundation laid at the kindergarten level.
According to him, the results of the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) in the municipality had continued to decline in the past three years.
He added that the pass rates were 60 per cent in 2008, 58 per cent in 2009 and 52 per cent in 2010, adding that nine schools scored zero per cent in the Ho Municipality last year.
The Regional Manager of Catholic Educational Unit, Mr R.K.K. Kwashie, said the importance of kindergartens had been underestimated and given lip-service over the years and that kindergartens were considered as camps of untrained teachers and poor infrastructure.
The block comprises four classrooms, an office, a store, a sleeping room, bathrooms and toilets.
The project was funded by the Kinder Mission, a German Catholic organisation with the support of the parent-teacher association (PTA) of the school. The PTA connected pipe-borne water to the school.
The Vicar-General of the Ho Diocese of the Catholic Church, Monsignor Anthony Konu, who cut the tape to inaugurate the building, said kindergartens were considered as nurseries for future leaders hence the need to accord them extra care.
He, therefore, stressed the need for a change in the human psyche towards children, adding that the government and the church should partners each other to achieve that aim.
Monsignor Konu urged teachers and parents to team up to ensure good tuition for pupils to enable them to catch up with the high achievements by private and international schools.
In an address, the Parish Priest, Monsignor Cletus Egbi, said the inauguration ceremony was a great joy because it ended a bleak past where children run away from the school because of its poor facilities.
He said the new block would open the gateway to human advancement and create a legitimate basis for a strong foundation to grow children into better adults.
The Deputy Planning Officer of the Ho Municipal Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Francis Kwaku, said a good school building was a prerequisite for excellent service delivery in the education sector.
He, therefore, entreated stakeholders not to relent intheir efforts to provide decent infrastructure for education.
Mr Kwaku said the failure of pupils at higher stages could be attributed to the weak foundation laid at the kindergarten level.
According to him, the results of the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) in the municipality had continued to decline in the past three years.
He added that the pass rates were 60 per cent in 2008, 58 per cent in 2009 and 52 per cent in 2010, adding that nine schools scored zero per cent in the Ho Municipality last year.
The Regional Manager of Catholic Educational Unit, Mr R.K.K. Kwashie, said the importance of kindergartens had been underestimated and given lip-service over the years and that kindergartens were considered as camps of untrained teachers and poor infrastructure.
ST ANTHONY'S HOSPITAL MARKS 50TH ANNIVERSARY (PAGE 22, JAN 6, 2011)
THE St Anthony’s Hospital at Dzodze in the Ketu-North District of the Volta Region has celebrated its 50th anniversary with a target to establish a nurses’ training college and a jubilee house.
Sod-cutting for the two projects were performed by the outgoing Minister of Health, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor and the Bishop of Keta-Akatsi Diocese of the Catholic Church, Bishop Anthony K. Adanuty.
In an address at the function, Dr Kunbuor said the government would support the nurses’ college project because it would help address the problems of shortage of nurses in the nation and also enhance health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Dr Kunbuor advised stakeholders to liaise with the Nurses and Midwives Council and the Ministry of Health (MoH) to ensure the firm establishment of the college.
He said as church healthcare workers based at the grassroots where the greater number of people lived, they must pay special attention to preventive health by encouraging citizens to adopt good eating, drinking and sexual habits to extend their life expectancies.
Dr Kunbuor said it was gratifying that the partnership between the MoH and the Christian Health Workers Association of Ghana (CHAG) had been strengthened.
He said church hospitals would be expected to accept the staffing norms of the MOH as the basis for recruitment and should submit human resource needs to MoH for support.
Dr Kunbuor said CHAG hospitals should additionally operate efficient management and administrative structures which should not compromise the main purpose and objectives of MOH.
The medical officer in charge, Dr William Gyau Dwamena, said the hospital offered services in 12 categories with a staff strength of 159, including four medical officers and an orthopaedic specialist.
He said the hospital had provided services for more than 361,194 patients over the past 50 years, adding that it was the only hospital in the south-eastern corner of the country which provided specialist urological services.
He also said it was the only district-level hospital in the region with a resident consultant orthopaedic surgeon.
Dr Dwamena expressed concern over the dwindling and depleted financial resources due to the delay in refunding money disbursed on the National Health Insurance Scheme.
He added that it made it impossible to plan and undertake scheduled maintenance and replacement of over-aged equipment.
In an address read on behalf of the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, he commended the hospital for its contribution to the delivery of quality healthcare service to the people.
He said the government acknowledged the role of mission hospitals in the healthcare delivery programmes of the nation.
Sod-cutting for the two projects were performed by the outgoing Minister of Health, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor and the Bishop of Keta-Akatsi Diocese of the Catholic Church, Bishop Anthony K. Adanuty.
In an address at the function, Dr Kunbuor said the government would support the nurses’ college project because it would help address the problems of shortage of nurses in the nation and also enhance health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Dr Kunbuor advised stakeholders to liaise with the Nurses and Midwives Council and the Ministry of Health (MoH) to ensure the firm establishment of the college.
He said as church healthcare workers based at the grassroots where the greater number of people lived, they must pay special attention to preventive health by encouraging citizens to adopt good eating, drinking and sexual habits to extend their life expectancies.
Dr Kunbuor said it was gratifying that the partnership between the MoH and the Christian Health Workers Association of Ghana (CHAG) had been strengthened.
He said church hospitals would be expected to accept the staffing norms of the MOH as the basis for recruitment and should submit human resource needs to MoH for support.
Dr Kunbuor said CHAG hospitals should additionally operate efficient management and administrative structures which should not compromise the main purpose and objectives of MOH.
The medical officer in charge, Dr William Gyau Dwamena, said the hospital offered services in 12 categories with a staff strength of 159, including four medical officers and an orthopaedic specialist.
He said the hospital had provided services for more than 361,194 patients over the past 50 years, adding that it was the only hospital in the south-eastern corner of the country which provided specialist urological services.
He also said it was the only district-level hospital in the region with a resident consultant orthopaedic surgeon.
Dr Dwamena expressed concern over the dwindling and depleted financial resources due to the delay in refunding money disbursed on the National Health Insurance Scheme.
He added that it made it impossible to plan and undertake scheduled maintenance and replacement of over-aged equipment.
In an address read on behalf of the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, he commended the hospital for its contribution to the delivery of quality healthcare service to the people.
He said the government acknowledged the role of mission hospitals in the healthcare delivery programmes of the nation.
Monday, January 3, 2011
VOLTA REGION HOLDS WATER FORUM (PAGE 22, JAN 3, 2011)
A PUBLIC forum held at Ho to assess the water situation in the Volta Region has revealed that the potential of water systems in the region had been under-utilised over the years, leading to insufficient supply of potable water to the people.
The participants claimed that the Agordomi system near Sogakope in the North Tongu District and the Kpeve water head works were major systems of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) but were under-utilised.
Also the Damanko-Kpassa system being constructed on the Oti River in the Nkwanta North District, aimed at alleviating the incidence of guinea worm infection, was of limited scope while the Kpando water system was expected to take off very soon.
These came to light when the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Alban S.K. Bagbin, addressed major stakeholders at a regional forum in Ho.
The minister, however, said it was the intention of the government to end the perennial water crisis of communities and cities by significantly expanding and upgrading water infrastructure by the end of 2012.
He said the Volta Region was well-endowed with both surface and ground water resources, with available surface water at about 1.97 billion cubic metres per annum that could meet water demand of the region up to 2025.
He disclosed that the Dayi River in the Hohoe Municipality had good unpolluted water valued at 88.4 per cent of water quality classification while the Lower Volta and the Oti River at Damanko had fairly good quality of 65.6 and 67.2 per cent, respectively.
Mr Bagbin said the region had 18 urban water systems rated as the highest in the country, adding that with the exception of Ho the other 17 systems had been incorporated in a national strategic investment programme to meet the water demands of the population up to and beyond 2025.
He warned the staff of GWCL against collusion with people within the organisation and outside to engage in the execution of shoddy projects and in illegal connections to steal water since such acts would not be countenanced.
On rural water supply, Mr Bagbin said a total of 1,095,464 out of a population of 1,749,026 had access to potable water, an equivalent of 62.63 per cent above the national average of 58.97 per cent.
Earlier in a welcoming address, the Volta regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, said the provision of water as a basic human need was seriously challenged in the region, adding that some communities did not have access to good drinking water because of low water tables and low yielding boreholes.
He said even in communities with good yielding boreholes or water systems, high electricity tariffs hindered the regular supply of potable water.
Mr Amenowode added that poor maintenance culture and the inability of communities to raise funds to repair broken down boreholes posed a great threat to water delivery to the people, compelling consumers to resort to the use of unwholesome water at the risk of their health.
Mr Amenowode said inadequate distribution pipelines, inadequate ground water, poor quality and old equipment contributed to unreliable water supply in the region.
The participants claimed that the Agordomi system near Sogakope in the North Tongu District and the Kpeve water head works were major systems of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) but were under-utilised.
Also the Damanko-Kpassa system being constructed on the Oti River in the Nkwanta North District, aimed at alleviating the incidence of guinea worm infection, was of limited scope while the Kpando water system was expected to take off very soon.
These came to light when the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Alban S.K. Bagbin, addressed major stakeholders at a regional forum in Ho.
The minister, however, said it was the intention of the government to end the perennial water crisis of communities and cities by significantly expanding and upgrading water infrastructure by the end of 2012.
He said the Volta Region was well-endowed with both surface and ground water resources, with available surface water at about 1.97 billion cubic metres per annum that could meet water demand of the region up to 2025.
He disclosed that the Dayi River in the Hohoe Municipality had good unpolluted water valued at 88.4 per cent of water quality classification while the Lower Volta and the Oti River at Damanko had fairly good quality of 65.6 and 67.2 per cent, respectively.
Mr Bagbin said the region had 18 urban water systems rated as the highest in the country, adding that with the exception of Ho the other 17 systems had been incorporated in a national strategic investment programme to meet the water demands of the population up to and beyond 2025.
He warned the staff of GWCL against collusion with people within the organisation and outside to engage in the execution of shoddy projects and in illegal connections to steal water since such acts would not be countenanced.
On rural water supply, Mr Bagbin said a total of 1,095,464 out of a population of 1,749,026 had access to potable water, an equivalent of 62.63 per cent above the national average of 58.97 per cent.
Earlier in a welcoming address, the Volta regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, said the provision of water as a basic human need was seriously challenged in the region, adding that some communities did not have access to good drinking water because of low water tables and low yielding boreholes.
He said even in communities with good yielding boreholes or water systems, high electricity tariffs hindered the regular supply of potable water.
Mr Amenowode added that poor maintenance culture and the inability of communities to raise funds to repair broken down boreholes posed a great threat to water delivery to the people, compelling consumers to resort to the use of unwholesome water at the risk of their health.
Mr Amenowode said inadequate distribution pipelines, inadequate ground water, poor quality and old equipment contributed to unreliable water supply in the region.
TOGBE AFEDE FETES 500 CHILDREN (SPREAD, JAN 3, 2011)
THE Agbogbomefia of Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV, has organised a Christmas party for 500 children drawn from the various divisions of the state.
The children, who were given soft drinks, food, biscuits, candies, and danced to music, came from Heve, Ahoe, Hliha, Bankoe, Kpenoe, Akoefe, Dome and Takla.
In an address, Togbe Afede urged them to take advantage of every opportunity that came their way in order to become productive citizens in the future.
He stressed the need for them to eschew laziness because that could make them waste time and retard their effort to excel in any endeavour and that the dream to succeed their forebears as future leaders will become elusive.
“ The future of Asogli, Volta and Ghana rest in your hands and, therefore, you must become productive by taking advantage of every opportunity that should come your way”, he emphasised.
The Agbogbomefia assured them that they were future leaders and that the chiefs would support them under the Asogli Education Trust Fund and stressed that each child should insist on their parents to take charge of their educational needs.
Earlier, a Divisional Chief of Ho-Heve, Togbe Kwasi Afele, said the Christmas party was in consonance with the Blibical saying that children should come to the Lord Jesus Christ without any hindrance.
He said children were treasures of the land and should, therefore, be given access to the throne to become familiar with the tenets of the kingdom.
Togbe Afele advised the children to take their lessons serious at school in order to win a scholarship from the Asogli State.
The Agbogbomefia presented a special prize to Miss Emmanuella Kley of Springs Preparatory Complex School for excelling in all the subjects during the school’s examination.
The children, who were given soft drinks, food, biscuits, candies, and danced to music, came from Heve, Ahoe, Hliha, Bankoe, Kpenoe, Akoefe, Dome and Takla.
In an address, Togbe Afede urged them to take advantage of every opportunity that came their way in order to become productive citizens in the future.
He stressed the need for them to eschew laziness because that could make them waste time and retard their effort to excel in any endeavour and that the dream to succeed their forebears as future leaders will become elusive.
“ The future of Asogli, Volta and Ghana rest in your hands and, therefore, you must become productive by taking advantage of every opportunity that should come your way”, he emphasised.
The Agbogbomefia assured them that they were future leaders and that the chiefs would support them under the Asogli Education Trust Fund and stressed that each child should insist on their parents to take charge of their educational needs.
Earlier, a Divisional Chief of Ho-Heve, Togbe Kwasi Afele, said the Christmas party was in consonance with the Blibical saying that children should come to the Lord Jesus Christ without any hindrance.
He said children were treasures of the land and should, therefore, be given access to the throne to become familiar with the tenets of the kingdom.
Togbe Afele advised the children to take their lessons serious at school in order to win a scholarship from the Asogli State.
The Agbogbomefia presented a special prize to Miss Emmanuella Kley of Springs Preparatory Complex School for excelling in all the subjects during the school’s examination.
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