The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ho-Central, Captain George Nfojoh (retd), has said it is not fashionable to award contracts on the basis of political affiliation, and that contracts should be awarded based on merit.
He said contractors who proved their worth and worked well should be given more work to execute, and that their certificates should be processed without delay.
Capt. Nfojoh said this when he addressed the third annual general meeting of the Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors of Ghana(ABCECG) at Ho recently.
He, however, said contractors should exercise restraint and be sympathetic when their clients delayed in the payment for work done.
This was due to the disclosure by the Volta Regional chairman of ABCECG, Mr Prosper Ledi, that the numerous challenges facing contractors include delayed payments, high tax regimes, high interest rates from the banks and lack of capacity building and preferential treatment given to foreign companies.
In an address, the General Manager of State Insurance Company (SIC), Mr John K. Ofori-Kuragu, announced that the company had waived collateral security for any bond that was needed for contractors, and that the company would guarantee bank loans but said it would be prudent if that arrangement was between the contractors and the association.
He said SIC would grant advance mobilisation bond, performance bond and all contractors risk bond to all clients, and urged them to undertake the package which included sponsorship for conferences, workman’s compensation and insurance package covering management staff.
Mr Ofori–Kuragu presented a cheque for GHC3,000 to the Volta Region branch of ABCECG as part of sponsorship package designed for their annual conferences.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
IMPLEMENT SFP TO BENEFIT TARGET GROUPS (NOV 28, PAGE 14)
THE Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Colonel Cyril Necku (retd), has asked key actors of the School Feeding Programme (SFP) to roll up the programme well in order to win the hearts of the target groups.
He said the programme was not political but had political undertones, such that any party in government that implemented it well would take credit and win more votes.
He, therefore, cautioned that they should refrain from any malfeasance, saying that “if you are rolling the programme for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), then you better roll it out well”.
Col. Necku was addressing a sensitisation and orientation seminar for district level actors comprising District Chief Executives, District Co-ordinating Directors, District Directors of the Health Services, District Directors of Education, District Directors of Food and Agriculture in Ho.
“We need accountability, selflessness, hard work, dedication and a working environment devoid of bribery and corruption, favouritism and nepotism to be able to achieve our development agenda,” he said.
Col Necku said the SFP was a sure way to achieve human resource development by creating opportunities for easy and ready access to education, particularly at the basic level.
In an address, the Deputy National Co-ordinator of the SFP, Mr Francis Yaw Gyarko, announced that the Dutch government had restored support to the programme following the validation of nine weaknesses associated with it.
He said the plan was to scale up the programme to benefit 1,040,000 pupils by the end of the first phase in 2010, saying that currently there were 1,696 public schools, with 656,624 pupils in 170 districts in the country.
Mr Gyarko said there was well co-ordinated teamwork, adding that an audit implementation committee had finished its work on the 2006 and 2007 audit reports.
“Looking ahead, we need to reposition ourselves and clarify our roles and responsibilities to bring changes in the way the programme is being managed and implemented,” he stated.
The Volta Regional Co-ordinator of the SFP, Ms Edith Akpotor, asked participants to collaborate in order to make the delivery of the programme in the region very effective.
Ms Levina Owusu made a presentation on the overview of the SFP, while a technical advisor, Mr Kwami Nuako, gave presentations on the social accountability project and financial management for GSFP.
He said the programme was not political but had political undertones, such that any party in government that implemented it well would take credit and win more votes.
He, therefore, cautioned that they should refrain from any malfeasance, saying that “if you are rolling the programme for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), then you better roll it out well”.
Col. Necku was addressing a sensitisation and orientation seminar for district level actors comprising District Chief Executives, District Co-ordinating Directors, District Directors of the Health Services, District Directors of Education, District Directors of Food and Agriculture in Ho.
“We need accountability, selflessness, hard work, dedication and a working environment devoid of bribery and corruption, favouritism and nepotism to be able to achieve our development agenda,” he said.
Col Necku said the SFP was a sure way to achieve human resource development by creating opportunities for easy and ready access to education, particularly at the basic level.
In an address, the Deputy National Co-ordinator of the SFP, Mr Francis Yaw Gyarko, announced that the Dutch government had restored support to the programme following the validation of nine weaknesses associated with it.
He said the plan was to scale up the programme to benefit 1,040,000 pupils by the end of the first phase in 2010, saying that currently there were 1,696 public schools, with 656,624 pupils in 170 districts in the country.
Mr Gyarko said there was well co-ordinated teamwork, adding that an audit implementation committee had finished its work on the 2006 and 2007 audit reports.
“Looking ahead, we need to reposition ourselves and clarify our roles and responsibilities to bring changes in the way the programme is being managed and implemented,” he stated.
The Volta Regional Co-ordinator of the SFP, Ms Edith Akpotor, asked participants to collaborate in order to make the delivery of the programme in the region very effective.
Ms Levina Owusu made a presentation on the overview of the SFP, while a technical advisor, Mr Kwami Nuako, gave presentations on the social accountability project and financial management for GSFP.
Friday, November 27, 2009
HOMEOPATHS WITHOUT BORDERS LEND HELPING HAND (PAGE 35, MIRRROR, NOV 28)
From Tim Dzamboe, Ho
A team of experienced classical homeopaths from “Homeopaths without Borders” are in the country to organise training courses for practising homeopaths to strengthen their capacity and professional development.
The team, which arrived in Accra last Friday, October 9, were from the Netherlands, India and the United Kingdom and will stay until November 18.
An Accra-based Classical Homeopath, Mr Julius M.K. Berdie, told The Mirror that the team would meet with officials of the Ministry of Health to discuss the development of homeopathy in Ghana and to organise clinical sessions for the public and other activities to raise awareness on homeopathy.
He said classical homeopathy is that branch of medical practice that focuses on the whole person instead of concentrating on the disease alone.
Mr Berdie, who is the programme co-ordinator, said it was discovered by a German physician called Dr Samuel Hahnemann based on the principle of “like cures like”, adding that a substance that causes a disease condition in a normal healthy person will cure a similar disease condition when given to a sick person.
He said homeopathic medicines, usually called remedies, were prepared as highly diluted solutions from sources such as plants, animals, minerals, diseased and normal tissues or organs.
He added that homeopathy is a natural healing system as the homeopathic remedy only stimulated the body’s own immune system to jump-start the healing process, stating that the body has the capacity to restore its own capacity to heal itself.
Mr Berdie said homeopathy was a safe and effective treatment for acute and chronic diseases in children and adults and that it had shown significant success and helped populations throughout the world in past and present epidemics such as the cholera outbreak in Europe from 1831-32, swine flu epidemic in Europe, and the recent seasonal epidemic after the Asian Tsunami.
According to him, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recognised homeopathy as an alternative and complementary medical practice in 1985, adding that homeopathy was recognised by the Ministry of Health as one of the alternative medical practices.
He recalled that in 1994 Homeopaths without Borders started a training programme for a few homeopaths in Ghana but it was suspended in 2000 due to lack of funds, adding that the current training programme covered clinical diagnosis, homeopathic philosophy, materia medica, case taking and case management.
Clinical sessions will be held in the afternoons for the general public and that people with chronic conditions can take advantage of these sessions at the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church Conference Room at Osu from 2p.m. to 4 p.m. Similar sessions will be held in Kumasi.
A team of experienced classical homeopaths from “Homeopaths without Borders” are in the country to organise training courses for practising homeopaths to strengthen their capacity and professional development.
The team, which arrived in Accra last Friday, October 9, were from the Netherlands, India and the United Kingdom and will stay until November 18.
An Accra-based Classical Homeopath, Mr Julius M.K. Berdie, told The Mirror that the team would meet with officials of the Ministry of Health to discuss the development of homeopathy in Ghana and to organise clinical sessions for the public and other activities to raise awareness on homeopathy.
He said classical homeopathy is that branch of medical practice that focuses on the whole person instead of concentrating on the disease alone.
Mr Berdie, who is the programme co-ordinator, said it was discovered by a German physician called Dr Samuel Hahnemann based on the principle of “like cures like”, adding that a substance that causes a disease condition in a normal healthy person will cure a similar disease condition when given to a sick person.
He said homeopathic medicines, usually called remedies, were prepared as highly diluted solutions from sources such as plants, animals, minerals, diseased and normal tissues or organs.
He added that homeopathy is a natural healing system as the homeopathic remedy only stimulated the body’s own immune system to jump-start the healing process, stating that the body has the capacity to restore its own capacity to heal itself.
Mr Berdie said homeopathy was a safe and effective treatment for acute and chronic diseases in children and adults and that it had shown significant success and helped populations throughout the world in past and present epidemics such as the cholera outbreak in Europe from 1831-32, swine flu epidemic in Europe, and the recent seasonal epidemic after the Asian Tsunami.
According to him, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recognised homeopathy as an alternative and complementary medical practice in 1985, adding that homeopathy was recognised by the Ministry of Health as one of the alternative medical practices.
He recalled that in 1994 Homeopaths without Borders started a training programme for a few homeopaths in Ghana but it was suspended in 2000 due to lack of funds, adding that the current training programme covered clinical diagnosis, homeopathic philosophy, materia medica, case taking and case management.
Clinical sessions will be held in the afternoons for the general public and that people with chronic conditions can take advantage of these sessions at the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church Conference Room at Osu from 2p.m. to 4 p.m. Similar sessions will be held in Kumasi.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
BRIDGE COLLAPSES AT TSOXOR AREA (NOV 25, PAGE 31)
THE only bridge linking the Tsoxor Traditional Area to other parts of the Kpando District has collapsed, denying the people a vital link through Botoku to Vakpo in the Kpando Municipality.
With the collapse of the bridge, there is no other road by which the people could travel out, since the town is a terminal community surrounded by the Volta Lake.
The Paramount Chief of Tsoxor Traditional Area, Togbe Akoto V, lamented the situation when he addressed a durbar to climax the 10th “Zendo Glimetsoza” of the people of Kpeve, Klikor, Klefe, Tsorxor and Tsibu Traditional areas at Tsorxor over the weekend.
“You are all witnesses of the bad nature of the road to Tsorxor as you travelled along it this morning. It has always been so, if not worse. Every year, we talk about it, but nothing seems to be done about it,” he lamented.
In an address, the Ketu-South District Chief Executive, Mr Frank Amable, entreated all workers of the Zendo Movement to pool resources to facilitate the advancement of their communities.
He lauded the intercommunity assistance concept of the festival, adding that it was a good sign for the restitution of extended family system.
Mr Amable urged them to release land for the youth in agriculture programme, and said it would be ideal for communities to release not less than 20 acres, saying that the Government will look out for markets for produce from such projects.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to pay a special package to teachers who accepted postings to rural areas, adding that the Government would also construct school buildings where pupils attended classes under trees.
He, however, pleaded with the people to exercise restraint with the Government to enable it to seal some loopholes before rewarding them.
With the collapse of the bridge, there is no other road by which the people could travel out, since the town is a terminal community surrounded by the Volta Lake.
The Paramount Chief of Tsoxor Traditional Area, Togbe Akoto V, lamented the situation when he addressed a durbar to climax the 10th “Zendo Glimetsoza” of the people of Kpeve, Klikor, Klefe, Tsorxor and Tsibu Traditional areas at Tsorxor over the weekend.
“You are all witnesses of the bad nature of the road to Tsorxor as you travelled along it this morning. It has always been so, if not worse. Every year, we talk about it, but nothing seems to be done about it,” he lamented.
In an address, the Ketu-South District Chief Executive, Mr Frank Amable, entreated all workers of the Zendo Movement to pool resources to facilitate the advancement of their communities.
He lauded the intercommunity assistance concept of the festival, adding that it was a good sign for the restitution of extended family system.
Mr Amable urged them to release land for the youth in agriculture programme, and said it would be ideal for communities to release not less than 20 acres, saying that the Government will look out for markets for produce from such projects.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to pay a special package to teachers who accepted postings to rural areas, adding that the Government would also construct school buildings where pupils attended classes under trees.
He, however, pleaded with the people to exercise restraint with the Government to enable it to seal some loopholes before rewarding them.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
GBC TO OPEN 2 FM STATIONS IN VOLTA REGION (PAGE 20, NOV 24)
THE Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) is to establish two community radio stations at Akatsi and Kete-Krachi, with a view to empowering the people to design their programmes and articulate them as part of the democratic devolution process to the grass roots.
It is part of the responsibility as a public broadcaster to provide useful information to the public to protect it from the consumption of unpalatable information poured out from some private radio stations in the country.
The Director-General of GBC, Mr William Ampem-Darko, announced this at a durbar to climax the 13th anniversary celebration of the Volta Star Radio.
It was on the theme: “Volta Star—Challenges and solutions,” at Ho.
He said there was the need to ensure sanitation on the airwaves, adding that as a state and public service broadcaster, it was incumbent upon them to solicit the goodwill of the people by educating, informing and entertaining them in a responsible manner.
On poor transmission to the Volta Region, the director-general acknowledged the weakness and assured the people that all efforts would be made to improve on television and radio transmission to the region.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, said the station had been highly resourceful in broadcasting regarding education on agriculture, health, education, religion and entertainment.
He, however, said all efforts must be applied to find a lasting solution to the poor reception of Ghana
Television in the region, adding “we cannot watch GTV, and we can’t hear news from the Volta Star because of jamming of the radio station; by 9 p.m., GTV is off”.
Mr Amenowode commended the staff for their perseverance, and advised them to repackage their programmes to benefit majority of listeners.
The Regional Director of GBC, Mr Ralph Avornyo, said the radio station was darling to listeners in Togo, Benin and the outskirts of Nigeria, adding that there were confirmed reports that the station also had audience in South Africa and Germany.
He said the past 13 years of the station’s existence had not been without problems, particularly pertaining to
technical and electricity problems.
Mr Avornyo added that new TV and radio transmitters were yet to be installed to improve upon transmission.
He shared sentiments with viewers and listeners, and assured them that the difficulties of the corporation were temporary.
The Chairman of the anniversary planning committee, Asafoatse Obeng Akyea, said the success of the anniversary had proved those who openly and secretly castigated them.
He said in view of the enormous and hydra-headed challenges facing the corporation, there was a need for team work to facilitate deliverance of good services to the appreciation of the teeming clientele.
It is part of the responsibility as a public broadcaster to provide useful information to the public to protect it from the consumption of unpalatable information poured out from some private radio stations in the country.
The Director-General of GBC, Mr William Ampem-Darko, announced this at a durbar to climax the 13th anniversary celebration of the Volta Star Radio.
It was on the theme: “Volta Star—Challenges and solutions,” at Ho.
He said there was the need to ensure sanitation on the airwaves, adding that as a state and public service broadcaster, it was incumbent upon them to solicit the goodwill of the people by educating, informing and entertaining them in a responsible manner.
On poor transmission to the Volta Region, the director-general acknowledged the weakness and assured the people that all efforts would be made to improve on television and radio transmission to the region.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, said the station had been highly resourceful in broadcasting regarding education on agriculture, health, education, religion and entertainment.
He, however, said all efforts must be applied to find a lasting solution to the poor reception of Ghana
Television in the region, adding “we cannot watch GTV, and we can’t hear news from the Volta Star because of jamming of the radio station; by 9 p.m., GTV is off”.
Mr Amenowode commended the staff for their perseverance, and advised them to repackage their programmes to benefit majority of listeners.
The Regional Director of GBC, Mr Ralph Avornyo, said the radio station was darling to listeners in Togo, Benin and the outskirts of Nigeria, adding that there were confirmed reports that the station also had audience in South Africa and Germany.
He said the past 13 years of the station’s existence had not been without problems, particularly pertaining to
technical and electricity problems.
Mr Avornyo added that new TV and radio transmitters were yet to be installed to improve upon transmission.
He shared sentiments with viewers and listeners, and assured them that the difficulties of the corporation were temporary.
The Chairman of the anniversary planning committee, Asafoatse Obeng Akyea, said the success of the anniversary had proved those who openly and secretly castigated them.
He said in view of the enormous and hydra-headed challenges facing the corporation, there was a need for team work to facilitate deliverance of good services to the appreciation of the teeming clientele.
QUOTA FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY INCREASED (PAGE 20, NOV 24)
THE Government has increased quota for Persons with Disability (PWDs) from two to five per cent of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF), the National Chairman of the National Council of Persons With Disability, Mr Andrews Okai-Koi, has announced.
He said funds allocated for disability purposes would be applied and not misappropriated, adding that non-qualified persons would not access the fund, but would only be accessed and used for disability purposes.
Mr Okai-Koi announced this at the inauguration of the South Dayi branch of the Federation of Persons with Disability at Kpeve in the South–Dayi District.
He said the Government considered disability issues as its priority, adding that the increase in the Common Fund epitomised main streaming of persons with disability.
“The road may be very rough and hazardous, but nonetheless, we must start today and mark the continuation of the journey with the message of equal opportunity,” Mr Okai-Koi stated.
He said the Disability Act 715 would be used as a spring board to transform the social and welfare landscape of PWDs.
The South-Dayi District Co-ordinating Director, Mr David Kanyi, announced that service centres would be established with the Common Fund to train PWDs in small-scale ventures, such as mushroom production, bee-keeping and grasscutter rearing.
He said the district assembly would do its best to make them comfortable, adding that their quota of the Common Fund would not be disbursed to any individual to enrich themselves.
The District Social Welfare Officer, Mrs Emma Adom, said many people claimed that disability was hereditary, but that was not so because health hazards, accidents, old age and some cultural practices could disable a person.
She said disability could happen to any person, so able-bodied persons should stop discriminating against those with disabilities.
The Regional Chairman of the association, Mr Wilson Anku,
called for the abolition of obsolete customs that discriminated against them, stressing that the public should wage a campaign to integrate them into the mainstream of society.
Other speakers at the function included the District Chairman of the association, Mr Emmanuel Amoah Darko and Togbe Agbi Nani, who chaired the function.
The national chairman donated a pack of 50 white canes to the members.
He said funds allocated for disability purposes would be applied and not misappropriated, adding that non-qualified persons would not access the fund, but would only be accessed and used for disability purposes.
Mr Okai-Koi announced this at the inauguration of the South Dayi branch of the Federation of Persons with Disability at Kpeve in the South–Dayi District.
He said the Government considered disability issues as its priority, adding that the increase in the Common Fund epitomised main streaming of persons with disability.
“The road may be very rough and hazardous, but nonetheless, we must start today and mark the continuation of the journey with the message of equal opportunity,” Mr Okai-Koi stated.
He said the Disability Act 715 would be used as a spring board to transform the social and welfare landscape of PWDs.
The South-Dayi District Co-ordinating Director, Mr David Kanyi, announced that service centres would be established with the Common Fund to train PWDs in small-scale ventures, such as mushroom production, bee-keeping and grasscutter rearing.
He said the district assembly would do its best to make them comfortable, adding that their quota of the Common Fund would not be disbursed to any individual to enrich themselves.
The District Social Welfare Officer, Mrs Emma Adom, said many people claimed that disability was hereditary, but that was not so because health hazards, accidents, old age and some cultural practices could disable a person.
She said disability could happen to any person, so able-bodied persons should stop discriminating against those with disabilities.
The Regional Chairman of the association, Mr Wilson Anku,
called for the abolition of obsolete customs that discriminated against them, stressing that the public should wage a campaign to integrate them into the mainstream of society.
Other speakers at the function included the District Chairman of the association, Mr Emmanuel Amoah Darko and Togbe Agbi Nani, who chaired the function.
The national chairman donated a pack of 50 white canes to the members.
UNITY RURAL BANK MAKES POSITIVE IMPACT (PAGE 20, NOV 24)
THE rural banking concept was introduced into the country in 1970 after a case study of the same practice in the Philippines. It was aimed at extending credit facilities to small-scale farmers and entrepreneurs.
This became imperative because rural dwellers depended on local money lenders for their credit needs at very high interest rates to the extent that they were left with little or no returns.
In an attempt to alleviate the hardship of rural entrepreneurs, co-operatives and other associations were formed with the aim of providing credit and other facilities for them on flexible terms. Unfortunately, these measures did not achieve any appreciable success in providing dependable and adequate sources of credit for the rural dweller.
The Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) was established in 1965 as a branch of the Bank of Ghana’s Rural Credit , but its role in agricultural financing was not fully appreciated since its services reached only a small fraction of rural dwellers. It eventually followed the trail of commercial banks which tapped resources from rural to urban areas and demanded unaffordable collateral for their credit facilities.
It was the aim of closing the lending gap between the urban and areas that made the Bank of Ghana recommend the opening of the Unity Rural Bank Limited at Ziope in the Adaklu-Anyigbe District, the 79th of such facilities in the country.
The bank was first known as Adaklu Rural Bank and had its headquarters at Adaklu-Waya, but the headquarters was later moved to Ho by the first Chairman, the late Mr Addae de Souza, popularly known as Fettor Koku, due to a misunderstanding between him on one side and the staff and the community on the other.
As a sequel to that, in 1985, the name of the bank was changed from Adaklu to Unity Rural Bank by a special resolution, with the approval of the Registrar of Companies.
For now, the bank has expanded its activities to Agotime-Kpetoe, Ave Dakpa, in Ho and Aflao, where it opened agencies, in addition to a mobilisation centre at the Ho Lorry Park, near the Central Market.
Although the bank made losses for a few years, it has overcome that problem and has now been declaring profits at its annual general meetings (AGMs).
The bank has become a pillar for socio-economic development in some parts of the Volta Region, especially in the Adaklu-Anyigbe District, since it has offered a number of facilities for its clients and the communities.
The facilities offered last year included scholarships and donations worth GH¢3,000 to the people of Aflao, Kekeli Preparatory School at Aflao, the Kente festival of Agotime Kpetoe, Asogli State festival, Adaklu-Anyigbe District Farmers Day celebration and the speech and prize-giving day of Ave-Dakpa Senior High School (AVESCO).
The operational results of the bank in the previous year increased in all portfolios, and spanned sectors such as total deposits, total assets, total advances, shareholders funds, total income and net profits. The expenditure of the bank, however, continues to rise.
According the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank, Togbe Binah Lawluvi VI, although crude oil prices continued to fluctuate and the unpredictability of crude prices made meaningful planning very difficult, the bank has managed to increase its profit from GH¢40,150 in 2007 to GH¢99,214 in 2008.
He said capital had also shot up from GH¢98,091 in December, 2007 to GH¢169,193 in December 2008, far above the Bank of Ghana’s requirements, adding that although the bank had crossed the threshold of GH¢150,000, it could declare and pay dividends.
As of now, the bank has a total clientele of 25,483 with 9,075 for savings, 8,332 for current accounts, and 7,876 for Susu. It also manages funds for the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC), Food and Budgetary Support (FABS), People With Disabilities (PWD) and Community Based Rural Development Project (CBRDP).
At the silver jubilee celebration of the bank, the board members proposed payment of dividend of GH¢O.015 per share, totalling GH¢46,254 to its 2,017 shareholders.
Over the years, the bank has energised the agricultural sector and granted loans for the production of tomatoes, maize, yams, cassava, beans and other varieties of crops.
It has also supported the production of Agbamevor or Kente to consolidate the claims that the area is the cradle of the cloth’s production.
At 25, it is unique that the computerisation programme of the bank would be realised by the end of this year to enhance the quality services it renders to its cherished customers.
To the shareholders and stakeholders, however, the computerisation process entailed enormous cost that called for the subscription of more shares to enable the bank to remain in competitive business.
The bank has been able to stand on its feet through the effective supervision of the Supervising Manager, Mr Joseph Sunu, who has served it for 23 years. He is the longest-serving member of staff, of all the 40 employees who are currently at post.
It has, however, not been easy for the Unity Rural Bank to come this far in the prevailing turbulent economic and financial market.
This became imperative because rural dwellers depended on local money lenders for their credit needs at very high interest rates to the extent that they were left with little or no returns.
In an attempt to alleviate the hardship of rural entrepreneurs, co-operatives and other associations were formed with the aim of providing credit and other facilities for them on flexible terms. Unfortunately, these measures did not achieve any appreciable success in providing dependable and adequate sources of credit for the rural dweller.
The Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) was established in 1965 as a branch of the Bank of Ghana’s Rural Credit , but its role in agricultural financing was not fully appreciated since its services reached only a small fraction of rural dwellers. It eventually followed the trail of commercial banks which tapped resources from rural to urban areas and demanded unaffordable collateral for their credit facilities.
It was the aim of closing the lending gap between the urban and areas that made the Bank of Ghana recommend the opening of the Unity Rural Bank Limited at Ziope in the Adaklu-Anyigbe District, the 79th of such facilities in the country.
The bank was first known as Adaklu Rural Bank and had its headquarters at Adaklu-Waya, but the headquarters was later moved to Ho by the first Chairman, the late Mr Addae de Souza, popularly known as Fettor Koku, due to a misunderstanding between him on one side and the staff and the community on the other.
As a sequel to that, in 1985, the name of the bank was changed from Adaklu to Unity Rural Bank by a special resolution, with the approval of the Registrar of Companies.
For now, the bank has expanded its activities to Agotime-Kpetoe, Ave Dakpa, in Ho and Aflao, where it opened agencies, in addition to a mobilisation centre at the Ho Lorry Park, near the Central Market.
Although the bank made losses for a few years, it has overcome that problem and has now been declaring profits at its annual general meetings (AGMs).
The bank has become a pillar for socio-economic development in some parts of the Volta Region, especially in the Adaklu-Anyigbe District, since it has offered a number of facilities for its clients and the communities.
The facilities offered last year included scholarships and donations worth GH¢3,000 to the people of Aflao, Kekeli Preparatory School at Aflao, the Kente festival of Agotime Kpetoe, Asogli State festival, Adaklu-Anyigbe District Farmers Day celebration and the speech and prize-giving day of Ave-Dakpa Senior High School (AVESCO).
The operational results of the bank in the previous year increased in all portfolios, and spanned sectors such as total deposits, total assets, total advances, shareholders funds, total income and net profits. The expenditure of the bank, however, continues to rise.
According the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank, Togbe Binah Lawluvi VI, although crude oil prices continued to fluctuate and the unpredictability of crude prices made meaningful planning very difficult, the bank has managed to increase its profit from GH¢40,150 in 2007 to GH¢99,214 in 2008.
He said capital had also shot up from GH¢98,091 in December, 2007 to GH¢169,193 in December 2008, far above the Bank of Ghana’s requirements, adding that although the bank had crossed the threshold of GH¢150,000, it could declare and pay dividends.
As of now, the bank has a total clientele of 25,483 with 9,075 for savings, 8,332 for current accounts, and 7,876 for Susu. It also manages funds for the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC), Food and Budgetary Support (FABS), People With Disabilities (PWD) and Community Based Rural Development Project (CBRDP).
At the silver jubilee celebration of the bank, the board members proposed payment of dividend of GH¢O.015 per share, totalling GH¢46,254 to its 2,017 shareholders.
Over the years, the bank has energised the agricultural sector and granted loans for the production of tomatoes, maize, yams, cassava, beans and other varieties of crops.
It has also supported the production of Agbamevor or Kente to consolidate the claims that the area is the cradle of the cloth’s production.
At 25, it is unique that the computerisation programme of the bank would be realised by the end of this year to enhance the quality services it renders to its cherished customers.
To the shareholders and stakeholders, however, the computerisation process entailed enormous cost that called for the subscription of more shares to enable the bank to remain in competitive business.
The bank has been able to stand on its feet through the effective supervision of the Supervising Manager, Mr Joseph Sunu, who has served it for 23 years. He is the longest-serving member of staff, of all the 40 employees who are currently at post.
It has, however, not been easy for the Unity Rural Bank to come this far in the prevailing turbulent economic and financial market.
Friday, November 13, 2009
POLITICAL ECONOMY OF COLONIAL, POST-COLONIAL AFRICA LAUNCHED (PAGE 16, NOV 13)
A New book entitled, “Political Economy of Colonial and Post–Colonial Africa” and authored by a lecturer at the Ho Polytechnic, Mr Simon Amegashie-Viglo, has been launched at the auditorium of the polytechnic.
The 13-chapter book with a total of 244 pages was launched by the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Colonel Cyril Necku (retd).
Col. Necku commended the author and said it was a turning point for other potential writers to blaze the trail of others who had ventured into book writing, although it was a difficult adventure.
He said it was not easy to write a book because it required absolute peace of mind, unique sense of direction and purpose.
Col. Necku stressed the need for Ghanaians and the entire African continent to embark on a new cause in writing their own history in order to correct the distortions in our history books as written by the European colonialists.
He recommended the book to development planners, policy makers, students and the entire literate society, because it could contribute to enriching their knowledge.
Presenting the synopsis, Mr Amegashie-Viglo said writing a book was difficult, getting it published was more difficult, and the marketing much more difficult.
He said his main motivation was to disentangle the minds of people from the oppression and the superiority imposed on the African continent through the various stages of colonialism, imperialism, pan-Africanism, nationalism, post-colonial Africa, military interventions and third world indebtedness.
Others, he said, were dependency relations, concept of decentralisation and the evolution of decentralisation, adding that this was his humble contribution to add to the literature on political economy of Africa.
The 13-chapter book with a total of 244 pages was launched by the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Colonel Cyril Necku (retd).
Col. Necku commended the author and said it was a turning point for other potential writers to blaze the trail of others who had ventured into book writing, although it was a difficult adventure.
He said it was not easy to write a book because it required absolute peace of mind, unique sense of direction and purpose.
Col. Necku stressed the need for Ghanaians and the entire African continent to embark on a new cause in writing their own history in order to correct the distortions in our history books as written by the European colonialists.
He recommended the book to development planners, policy makers, students and the entire literate society, because it could contribute to enriching their knowledge.
Presenting the synopsis, Mr Amegashie-Viglo said writing a book was difficult, getting it published was more difficult, and the marketing much more difficult.
He said his main motivation was to disentangle the minds of people from the oppression and the superiority imposed on the African continent through the various stages of colonialism, imperialism, pan-Africanism, nationalism, post-colonial Africa, military interventions and third world indebtedness.
Others, he said, were dependency relations, concept of decentralisation and the evolution of decentralisation, adding that this was his humble contribution to add to the literature on political economy of Africa.
RESOLVE CONFLICT BETWEEN WAEC AND SHS MANAGEMENTS...Over declaration of exams results (PAGE 11, NOV 13)
THE 47th National Conference of Heads of Assisted Senior High Schools (CHASS) has ended in Ho, with a call for the resolution of a conflict between the West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) and senior high school (SHS) managements in respect of the announcement of final examination results and payment of school fees.
In view of the practice whereby WAEC persistently posts the results of the West Africa Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) on the Internet, long before it gets to schools, heads of the SHS may have no alternative than to be compelled to send examination candidates who still owe fees home, three clear weeks before the commencement of the final examination, until they pay fully.
This was contained in an 11-point communiqué signed by the National Secretary of CHASS, Mr Felix Essah-Hiemo, and issued at the end of the conference held in Ho on the theme, “ Senior High School Education: The challenges and the way forward”.
The communiqué passionately appealed to politicians to refrain from directly interfering with school administration, but rather use all due processes available to seek redress for problems.
It expressed appreciation for the continued efforts of the Government in providing vehicles to a good number of schools, and said the exercise was accelerated to cover all schools by the end of this academic year.
The communiqué said in order to ensure successful absorption of the fourth year students of the 2010-2011 academic year and to solve the serious accommodation problems of the schools, it was important to address the infrastructural needs of the schools and complete all existing projects with special attention to the less-endowed schools.
It, therefore, appealed to the Government to urgently review other fees such as school uniforms, house dresses, jerseys, examination stationery and postage to meet production costs of suppliers.
It further appreciated the Government’s efforts at adjusting the feeding cost per student from GH¢0.80 to GH¢ 1.20, but reiterated that it was woefully inadequate and must be adjusted upwards to bring it at par with the feeding cost per pupil per meal of the school feeding programme of basic schools to reflect current market prices.
The communiqué touched on the conditions of service pertaining to the appointment of substantive heads to schools, and said efforts must be intensified to avoid the situation where district directors were made to act as heads of schools for very long periods.
It also appealed to the Ghana Education Service to, as a matter of expediency, automatically promote all substantive heads who were still at the rank of assistant director 1 to the rank of deputy director.
The communiqué further appealed to the Government to increase the responsibility allowance for senior housemasters and heads of departments by 50 per cent of the salaries, pending the fulfilment of the proposal to make those positions as established posts which match with their salaries and allowances pro rata.
In view of the practice whereby WAEC persistently posts the results of the West Africa Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) on the Internet, long before it gets to schools, heads of the SHS may have no alternative than to be compelled to send examination candidates who still owe fees home, three clear weeks before the commencement of the final examination, until they pay fully.
This was contained in an 11-point communiqué signed by the National Secretary of CHASS, Mr Felix Essah-Hiemo, and issued at the end of the conference held in Ho on the theme, “ Senior High School Education: The challenges and the way forward”.
The communiqué passionately appealed to politicians to refrain from directly interfering with school administration, but rather use all due processes available to seek redress for problems.
It expressed appreciation for the continued efforts of the Government in providing vehicles to a good number of schools, and said the exercise was accelerated to cover all schools by the end of this academic year.
The communiqué said in order to ensure successful absorption of the fourth year students of the 2010-2011 academic year and to solve the serious accommodation problems of the schools, it was important to address the infrastructural needs of the schools and complete all existing projects with special attention to the less-endowed schools.
It, therefore, appealed to the Government to urgently review other fees such as school uniforms, house dresses, jerseys, examination stationery and postage to meet production costs of suppliers.
It further appreciated the Government’s efforts at adjusting the feeding cost per student from GH¢0.80 to GH¢ 1.20, but reiterated that it was woefully inadequate and must be adjusted upwards to bring it at par with the feeding cost per pupil per meal of the school feeding programme of basic schools to reflect current market prices.
The communiqué touched on the conditions of service pertaining to the appointment of substantive heads to schools, and said efforts must be intensified to avoid the situation where district directors were made to act as heads of schools for very long periods.
It also appealed to the Ghana Education Service to, as a matter of expediency, automatically promote all substantive heads who were still at the rank of assistant director 1 to the rank of deputy director.
The communiqué further appealed to the Government to increase the responsibility allowance for senior housemasters and heads of departments by 50 per cent of the salaries, pending the fulfilment of the proposal to make those positions as established posts which match with their salaries and allowances pro rata.
PROJECT TO MAKE VOLTA LAKE SAFER LAUNCHED (NOV 13, BACK PAGE)
A project to reduce accidents on the Volta Lake and also make travelling on the lake safer has been launched at Tapa Abotoase in the Biakoye District of the Volta Region.
Dubbed, “The Volta Lake Enhancement Project”, it is in response to a recent disaster on the lake which claimed the lives of more than 20 people.
The project, which is a collaboration among Zoil Services Limited, a subsidiary of Zoomlion, the Ministry of Transport (MoT) and the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), is aimed at reducing the loss of lives on the lake.
Under the project, 10,000 life jackets will be provided for boat operators and users, while 2,000 people will be recruited, trained and equipped with the capacity to monitor and ensure that lake users adopt safe practices in their operations.
The Naval patrol team on the lake will also be provided with speed boats, and disaster response/rescue teams will be provided with communication gadgets and other disaster management logistics will be established at vantage points along the lake.
Launching the project, the Deputy Minister of Transport, Mrs Dzifa Aku Attivor, said GMA investigations indicated that major causes of accidents on the lake included overloading and drunkenness, lack of effective enforcement, licensing and sanction regimes for offenders, lack of satisfactory lake transport, incompetent boat operators, among other factors.
She noted that although the GMA and the Volta Lake Transport Company (VLTC) had endeavoured to intensify efforts at implementing a number of lake safety measures, which led to a drastic reduction in the rate of accidents on the lake, recent events on the lake indicated that a lot more needed to be done.
She indicated that as part of efforts to improve safety on the lake, the MoT, together with the GMA, had embarked on regular educational campaigns in the communities along the lake.
For instance, brochures in English and the local languages had been produced on inland water safety code, she said.
In addition, she said, the MoT was setting up a fund to support the project and urged all district assemblies along the lake and other stakeholders to contribute their quota.
Proceeds from the fund are expected to be used to support boat owners to acquire modern and safer boats, remove stumps from the lake and secure patrol boats for the Naval task force.
Mrs Attivor expressed the MoT’s appreciation for the kind gesture of Zoomlion in supporting the ministry’s determination to make life more meaningful for communities along the Volta Lake.
The Director of the GMA, Mr I.P. Azumah, advised the people to use the life jackets donated for the purpose, not to be used as decorative items in the rooms of the recipients.
He noted that the use of softwood for boat construction, coupled with the tree stumps in the lake, did not augur well for safety.
He, therefore, called for alternative materials such as fibre glass and aluminium for the construction of boats to enhance the nature of the boats on the lake.
Zoomlion donated 1,000 life jackets, 10 motorbikes and 10 bicycles to the MoT to support the project. It also donated GH¢5,000 and 40 bags of rice as relief items to the victims of the October 19, 2009 accident.
Present at the ceremony were members of the Volta Regional Caucus in Parliament, members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Transport, some district chief executives (DCEs) in the region and traditional rulers.
Dubbed, “The Volta Lake Enhancement Project”, it is in response to a recent disaster on the lake which claimed the lives of more than 20 people.
The project, which is a collaboration among Zoil Services Limited, a subsidiary of Zoomlion, the Ministry of Transport (MoT) and the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), is aimed at reducing the loss of lives on the lake.
Under the project, 10,000 life jackets will be provided for boat operators and users, while 2,000 people will be recruited, trained and equipped with the capacity to monitor and ensure that lake users adopt safe practices in their operations.
The Naval patrol team on the lake will also be provided with speed boats, and disaster response/rescue teams will be provided with communication gadgets and other disaster management logistics will be established at vantage points along the lake.
Launching the project, the Deputy Minister of Transport, Mrs Dzifa Aku Attivor, said GMA investigations indicated that major causes of accidents on the lake included overloading and drunkenness, lack of effective enforcement, licensing and sanction regimes for offenders, lack of satisfactory lake transport, incompetent boat operators, among other factors.
She noted that although the GMA and the Volta Lake Transport Company (VLTC) had endeavoured to intensify efforts at implementing a number of lake safety measures, which led to a drastic reduction in the rate of accidents on the lake, recent events on the lake indicated that a lot more needed to be done.
She indicated that as part of efforts to improve safety on the lake, the MoT, together with the GMA, had embarked on regular educational campaigns in the communities along the lake.
For instance, brochures in English and the local languages had been produced on inland water safety code, she said.
In addition, she said, the MoT was setting up a fund to support the project and urged all district assemblies along the lake and other stakeholders to contribute their quota.
Proceeds from the fund are expected to be used to support boat owners to acquire modern and safer boats, remove stumps from the lake and secure patrol boats for the Naval task force.
Mrs Attivor expressed the MoT’s appreciation for the kind gesture of Zoomlion in supporting the ministry’s determination to make life more meaningful for communities along the Volta Lake.
The Director of the GMA, Mr I.P. Azumah, advised the people to use the life jackets donated for the purpose, not to be used as decorative items in the rooms of the recipients.
He noted that the use of softwood for boat construction, coupled with the tree stumps in the lake, did not augur well for safety.
He, therefore, called for alternative materials such as fibre glass and aluminium for the construction of boats to enhance the nature of the boats on the lake.
Zoomlion donated 1,000 life jackets, 10 motorbikes and 10 bicycles to the MoT to support the project. It also donated GH¢5,000 and 40 bags of rice as relief items to the victims of the October 19, 2009 accident.
Present at the ceremony were members of the Volta Regional Caucus in Parliament, members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Transport, some district chief executives (DCEs) in the region and traditional rulers.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
BEST FARMER SHARES IDEAS ON IMPROVEMENT IN AGRICULTURE (PAGE 23, NOV 7)
THE Second National Best Farmer for 1998, Mr Nicholas Fato, has stressed on the need for major transfers of agricultural officers from the grass roots to the top.
That, he said, was necessary because some of them had been in their stations for long periods of time and taken to drunkenness.
Mr Fato, who was also the overall Best Volta Regional Farmer in 1995, said extension officers should be paid well and inputs for farmers made more accessible to them by making sure that supplies are done on door-to-door basis.
He said bureaucracy was not good for peasant farmers, adding that the present arrangement where coupons for fertilisers and other farming inputs could be accessed between a distance of 20 and 30 kilometres from home was frustrating them.
According to Mr Fato, the land tenure system was another bottleneck which prevented the youth from venturing into agriculture.
He stated that availability and accessibility to land was very difficult and needed to be reviewed.
Mr Fato, who is also an international consultant on pragmatic consultancy in sustainable animal and crop production, said marketing of agricultural products should be redefined within the context of the School Feeding Programme and others, in order to make it the proper outlet for feeding Ghanaian children on what the nation produced.
Mr Fato, who had also won the best regional farmer awards for maize and rice in 1990 and 1992 respectively, said the nation had abundant potentials in agriculture but was still lagging behind in initiating the necessary policies required to feed the nation.
He said he was prepared to support the government towards the achievement of revolution in agriculture in Ghana.
That, he said, was necessary because some of them had been in their stations for long periods of time and taken to drunkenness.
Mr Fato, who was also the overall Best Volta Regional Farmer in 1995, said extension officers should be paid well and inputs for farmers made more accessible to them by making sure that supplies are done on door-to-door basis.
He said bureaucracy was not good for peasant farmers, adding that the present arrangement where coupons for fertilisers and other farming inputs could be accessed between a distance of 20 and 30 kilometres from home was frustrating them.
According to Mr Fato, the land tenure system was another bottleneck which prevented the youth from venturing into agriculture.
He stated that availability and accessibility to land was very difficult and needed to be reviewed.
Mr Fato, who is also an international consultant on pragmatic consultancy in sustainable animal and crop production, said marketing of agricultural products should be redefined within the context of the School Feeding Programme and others, in order to make it the proper outlet for feeding Ghanaian children on what the nation produced.
Mr Fato, who had also won the best regional farmer awards for maize and rice in 1990 and 1992 respectively, said the nation had abundant potentials in agriculture but was still lagging behind in initiating the necessary policies required to feed the nation.
He said he was prepared to support the government towards the achievement of revolution in agriculture in Ghana.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
PARENTS CANT FAIL TO SEND WARDS TO SCHOOL (NOV 3, PAGE 16)
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, has said there is no justification for any parent not to send his/her child to school, in view of the favourable policies initiated to reduce the burden on parents as far as the payment of school fees and the provision of school uniforms to pupils are concerned.
According to him, the Government had increased the quantum of the Capitation Grant by 50 per cent and the programme to provide free uniforms to 1.6 million pupils across the country would be implemented by the end of the first term of the 2009/10 academic year, in addition to the provision of 10 exercise books per child in basic schools.
He also said the Government was committed to continuing the school feeding programme, and would improve and expand coverage to more schools.
“ With these policies, no parent had the excuse for not sending their children to school because of his/ her inability to pay fees or provide school uniforms or books,” he declared.
Mr Amenowode was addressing a grand durbar to climax the 10th anniversary of the institution of the Akwantutenten festival of the chiefs and people of the Worawora Traditional Area in the non-functioning Biakoye District last weekend.
He announced that the Government was considering reviving the Worawora Nurses Training School into a midwifery school in collaboration with the Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council (VRCC), Evangelical Presbyterian Church and the Ghana Health Service.
The regional minister called for the total co-operation and support of the chiefs and people of Worawora.
In an address, the Minister for Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr Alexander Asum-Ahensah, said such festivals afforded the indigenes the opportunity to reconnect lost bonds which would otherwise not have been possible to recapture.
He said festivals were also networking platforms that enabled the people to discuss vital development issues.
Mr Asum –Ahensah underscored the need for the nation to reposition itself to take advantage of global tourism by using remarkable tools such as festivals and other significant customary practices to showcase the country’s rich values to the outside world.
He impressed on chiefs and elders to revive the interest of the youth in culture and to inculcate in them respect for elders and appreciation of traditional values which used to be the indicators of maturity.
In his welcoming address, the Woraworahene, Daasebre Asare Baah III, said a lot of investment opportunities had been identified in the area in respect of tourism development, rice milling, nursing training school, private hostel and accommodation for hospital and nursing training college, petrol and gas filling station, development of soccer academy and sports stadium, cold store facilities, and a Frequency Modulated(FM)station.
Others are the development of hotels and lakeside resorts at Kogokrom, commercial fresh water fishing along the Volta Lake, cash crop farming along the lake on the vast Worawora lands.
According to him, the Government had increased the quantum of the Capitation Grant by 50 per cent and the programme to provide free uniforms to 1.6 million pupils across the country would be implemented by the end of the first term of the 2009/10 academic year, in addition to the provision of 10 exercise books per child in basic schools.
He also said the Government was committed to continuing the school feeding programme, and would improve and expand coverage to more schools.
“ With these policies, no parent had the excuse for not sending their children to school because of his/ her inability to pay fees or provide school uniforms or books,” he declared.
Mr Amenowode was addressing a grand durbar to climax the 10th anniversary of the institution of the Akwantutenten festival of the chiefs and people of the Worawora Traditional Area in the non-functioning Biakoye District last weekend.
He announced that the Government was considering reviving the Worawora Nurses Training School into a midwifery school in collaboration with the Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council (VRCC), Evangelical Presbyterian Church and the Ghana Health Service.
The regional minister called for the total co-operation and support of the chiefs and people of Worawora.
In an address, the Minister for Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr Alexander Asum-Ahensah, said such festivals afforded the indigenes the opportunity to reconnect lost bonds which would otherwise not have been possible to recapture.
He said festivals were also networking platforms that enabled the people to discuss vital development issues.
Mr Asum –Ahensah underscored the need for the nation to reposition itself to take advantage of global tourism by using remarkable tools such as festivals and other significant customary practices to showcase the country’s rich values to the outside world.
He impressed on chiefs and elders to revive the interest of the youth in culture and to inculcate in them respect for elders and appreciation of traditional values which used to be the indicators of maturity.
In his welcoming address, the Woraworahene, Daasebre Asare Baah III, said a lot of investment opportunities had been identified in the area in respect of tourism development, rice milling, nursing training school, private hostel and accommodation for hospital and nursing training college, petrol and gas filling station, development of soccer academy and sports stadium, cold store facilities, and a Frequency Modulated(FM)station.
Others are the development of hotels and lakeside resorts at Kogokrom, commercial fresh water fishing along the Volta Lake, cash crop farming along the lake on the vast Worawora lands.
WORAWORAHENE CALLS FOR PROBE INTO BIAKOYE DISTRICT ASSEMBLY (NOV 3, PAGE 16)
The Woraworahene, Dasebre Asare Baah III, has called on the Government to institute a probe into the expenditure of the Biakoye District Assembly in order to bring to book those who misused the district assembly’s common fund allocated to the non-functional district.
He said available information indicated that the new district’s share of the District Assemblies Common fund had been spent by the functionaries of the previous Government although the district assembly never functioned.
Daasebre Asare Baah made the call in a speech he delivered on the theme: “A decade of peace, cultural revival and development” at a durbar to climax the 10th Akwantutenten festival celebration of the people of Worawora last weekend.
He said it was unfortunate that the issue of where the capital of the new district should be sited was creating a problem for Biakoye, adding that the previous government created a district all right, but announced the capital at a different location without any prior consultation with the chiefs in the new district.
He said the action was contrary to the wishes of five paramount chiefs in the area, who in the year 2000 sent a petition to the then government to create the Biakoye District out of the Jasikan District and came to a consensus that should the district be created, the district capital should be at Worawora.
Daasebre Asare Baah, therefore, implored President John Atta Mills to use his good offices to resolve the Biakoye issue as majority of the people in the district approved of Worawora as the proposed capital.
Touching on the issue, the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, pleaded with all stakeholders, especially chiefs and elders of the land to reflect on the rather unfortunate situation that the district assembly was not functioning.
He said the harm the delay in inaugurating the assembly was doing to the development agenda of the area was enormous, and that, “it is only when we have a functioning district and district chief executive in office that the utilisation of resources for the accelerated development of your area would begin”.
He said available information indicated that the new district’s share of the District Assemblies Common fund had been spent by the functionaries of the previous Government although the district assembly never functioned.
Daasebre Asare Baah made the call in a speech he delivered on the theme: “A decade of peace, cultural revival and development” at a durbar to climax the 10th Akwantutenten festival celebration of the people of Worawora last weekend.
He said it was unfortunate that the issue of where the capital of the new district should be sited was creating a problem for Biakoye, adding that the previous government created a district all right, but announced the capital at a different location without any prior consultation with the chiefs in the new district.
He said the action was contrary to the wishes of five paramount chiefs in the area, who in the year 2000 sent a petition to the then government to create the Biakoye District out of the Jasikan District and came to a consensus that should the district be created, the district capital should be at Worawora.
Daasebre Asare Baah, therefore, implored President John Atta Mills to use his good offices to resolve the Biakoye issue as majority of the people in the district approved of Worawora as the proposed capital.
Touching on the issue, the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, pleaded with all stakeholders, especially chiefs and elders of the land to reflect on the rather unfortunate situation that the district assembly was not functioning.
He said the harm the delay in inaugurating the assembly was doing to the development agenda of the area was enormous, and that, “it is only when we have a functioning district and district chief executive in office that the utilisation of resources for the accelerated development of your area would begin”.
Monday, November 2, 2009
DON'T USE FAKE INSURANCE STICKERS (PAGE 38, NOV 2)
THE Volta Regional Manager of the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), Mr Elvis Gbesemete, has warned drivers and vehicle owners against pasting fake insurance stickers on their vehicles.
He said the use of fake insurance stickers was undermining efforts of insurance companies, as well as putting the lives of passengers at risk in the event of any accident on the road.
Mr Gbesemete gave the warning at the launch of the 10th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the NRSC and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) in Ho last Wednesday.
He called for the opening of DVLA offices in all districts and municipalities within the region in order to lessen the drudgery in acquiring the necessary papers and driver’s licences.
Mr Gbesemete announced that Volta Region came first in a national competition on road discipline last year, and saluted all stakeholders for their commitment towards the achievement.
He called for more logistics in order to strengthen road safety committees at the grass roots.
The Volta Regional Police Commander, Reverend David Ampah-Bennin, advised drivers to adopt tactics of defensive driving and have better understanding of road signs to reduce road accidents.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, said in spite of the concerted effort by the Government to develop the road sector, a major challenge facing the transport sector was how to keep the roads safe and minimise loss of lives and property through accidents.
He impressed upon the NRSC to strengthen partnership with the police to check unqualified drivers, overloading, expired road worthy certificates, refusal to fasten seat belts and general indiscipline on the roads.
A Principal Technical Officer of DVLA, Mr Godson Wemegah, called for more research into the causes of accidents in order to address weaknesses in the system.
The Executive Director of Road Safety Enforcement Foundation (ROSEF), a non-governmental organisation, Togbui Dunyo, said the foundation would bridge the gap between the police and drivers to eliminate antagonism and the fear between the two bodies.
Mr Dunyo pledged support for the road safety commission in order to bring more dignity into the driving profession.
He said the use of fake insurance stickers was undermining efforts of insurance companies, as well as putting the lives of passengers at risk in the event of any accident on the road.
Mr Gbesemete gave the warning at the launch of the 10th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the NRSC and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) in Ho last Wednesday.
He called for the opening of DVLA offices in all districts and municipalities within the region in order to lessen the drudgery in acquiring the necessary papers and driver’s licences.
Mr Gbesemete announced that Volta Region came first in a national competition on road discipline last year, and saluted all stakeholders for their commitment towards the achievement.
He called for more logistics in order to strengthen road safety committees at the grass roots.
The Volta Regional Police Commander, Reverend David Ampah-Bennin, advised drivers to adopt tactics of defensive driving and have better understanding of road signs to reduce road accidents.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, said in spite of the concerted effort by the Government to develop the road sector, a major challenge facing the transport sector was how to keep the roads safe and minimise loss of lives and property through accidents.
He impressed upon the NRSC to strengthen partnership with the police to check unqualified drivers, overloading, expired road worthy certificates, refusal to fasten seat belts and general indiscipline on the roads.
A Principal Technical Officer of DVLA, Mr Godson Wemegah, called for more research into the causes of accidents in order to address weaknesses in the system.
The Executive Director of Road Safety Enforcement Foundation (ROSEF), a non-governmental organisation, Togbui Dunyo, said the foundation would bridge the gap between the police and drivers to eliminate antagonism and the fear between the two bodies.
Mr Dunyo pledged support for the road safety commission in order to bring more dignity into the driving profession.
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