From Tim Dzamboe, Ho
A Finnish organisation for the disabled, ABILIS Foundation, has partnered Voice of People with Disabilities in Ghana (VOICE) to advocate the plight of people with disabilities by way of granting loans to support their projects.
Under the partnership, ABILIS has granted the right to VOICE in Ghana to represent it in terms of supporting organisations of persons with disabilities in the country in writing funding proposals, assessing and recommending project applications and monitoring and evaluating projects that were supported by ABILIS in the country.
The Executive Director, Madam Marjo Heinonen, disclosed this during an encounter with some journalists during a visit to the country last weekend.
She said so far ABILIS had granted loans to 10 organisations of persons with disabilities in the country since 2008 and it is expected that more organisations would be funded in the coming years.
Madam Heinonen said the foundation granted loans ranging from 500 to 10,000 Euros to projects initiated by organisations of persons with disabilities, stressing that her organisation supported activities that contributed to equal opportunities for disabled people in the society through human rights, independent living and economy self sufficiency.
“Special priority is given to activities developed and implemented by women with disabilities”, she stated.
The project coordinator of ABILIS, Madam Jaanaz Linna, said disabled persons were their own experts in their predicaments and therefore should be active in promoting issues of disability, adding that the organisation had employed eight disabled persons so far.
She said more people were aware of the plight of disabled persons and that it had led to things being done differently in the interest of society.
Some of the on going projects supported by ABILIS are sited in Kadjebi and Jasikan in the Volta Region, Tamale in the Northern Region and Koforidua in the Eastern Region.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
HATCHET MAN RUNS AMOK (1b, MARCH 3, 2010)
Story: Tim Dzamboe, Ho
A MAN, armed with a machete, ran amok at Mafi-Tsikpo near Adidome in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region on Monday night, butchering his two-year old son in the process.
Innocent Dogah also severed the arm of his wife, Maame Joyce Attipoe, and inflicted severe wounds on his foster child, Diana Ahlidja.
The mother and her child, both with deep cuts on their hands and backs, have been admitted to the Adidome Hospital.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Volta Regional Crime Officer, Mr Edward Konyel, said Dogah had also been admitted to the same hospital, but under police guard, receiving treatment for the beating he received at the hands of a mob which arrested him after he had attacked his family.
He said the police were still investigating.
A MAN, armed with a machete, ran amok at Mafi-Tsikpo near Adidome in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region on Monday night, butchering his two-year old son in the process.
Innocent Dogah also severed the arm of his wife, Maame Joyce Attipoe, and inflicted severe wounds on his foster child, Diana Ahlidja.
The mother and her child, both with deep cuts on their hands and backs, have been admitted to the Adidome Hospital.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Volta Regional Crime Officer, Mr Edward Konyel, said Dogah had also been admitted to the same hospital, but under police guard, receiving treatment for the beating he received at the hands of a mob which arrested him after he had attacked his family.
He said the police were still investigating.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
HO CHRISTIAN WOMEN CONGRATULATE AKUA DANSUA (PAGE 40, MARCH 1, 2010)
THE Ho Christian Women Intercessors’ Fellowship has congratulated Ms Akua Sena Dansua on being the first female minister of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
According to the fellowship, the appointment was in fulfilment of the saying that “what men can do, women can do it double and even better”.
The women reminded her to make God her greatest companion to enable her to solve all the problem areas in the ministry and to empower her to be able to solve them.
A statement signed by Reverend Mrs Dinah Abbey-Mensah for and on behalf of the fellowship and issued in Ho last Wednesday said Ms Dansua had been put into an area believed to be a preserve for men.
It stated that her performance would prove to all and sundry that women could prevail in any situation that they found themselves no matter the setbacks.
The statement commended President John Evans Atta Mills for fulfilling the excellent intentions for Ghanaian women, adding that the government promised to keep up the torch of women burning.
“Mr President, please continue to put women in more sensitive positions,” it added.
According to the fellowship, the appointment was in fulfilment of the saying that “what men can do, women can do it double and even better”.
The women reminded her to make God her greatest companion to enable her to solve all the problem areas in the ministry and to empower her to be able to solve them.
A statement signed by Reverend Mrs Dinah Abbey-Mensah for and on behalf of the fellowship and issued in Ho last Wednesday said Ms Dansua had been put into an area believed to be a preserve for men.
It stated that her performance would prove to all and sundry that women could prevail in any situation that they found themselves no matter the setbacks.
The statement commended President John Evans Atta Mills for fulfilling the excellent intentions for Ghanaian women, adding that the government promised to keep up the torch of women burning.
“Mr President, please continue to put women in more sensitive positions,” it added.
POLICE PERSONNEL URGED TO WORK ASSIDUOUSLY (PAGE 40, MARCH 1, 2010)
THE Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Colonel Cyril Necku (retd), has urged police personnel to cope with the situation in which they find themselves and work assiduously to make the system work in the interest of the nation.
He said they should keep pace with challenges and cope with them to succeed because they were not conscripts but applied voluntarily to join the service.
Col Necku said this when he addressed a conference of Senior Police Officers (SPOs) in the Volta Region at Ho.
He advised them to display unalloyed loyalty to the state and to exhibit high standards of professionalism, adding that they should not work in isolation but must open up to other people in order to get the necessary co-operation from them.
Col Necku also advised them to prepare adequately for retirement, stressing, “you should start building your ark now”.
He said public criticism against the police should rather put them on their toes to ensure that the right thing was done at the right time.
The Deputy Regional Minister questioned whether a series of reported cases of confrontation between the police and the public in times of maintaining law and order were either due to the lack of confidence and respect for the police or sheer display of hooliganism, impatience and misunderstanding of issues by the public.
He further asked whether the police had served the interest of the public or there were growing new demands on the police for which they needed to change tactics.
Col Necku said whatever the case, they must not forget that the prime objective of the police was to protect life and property, and therefore, must be customer friendly and professional in dealing with the public.
“If public perception of the police is not favourable, the interface between the police service and the public would be rough and our purpose and existence as a service would have been defeated. The police must therefore act with tact and endeavour to always court good working relationship between them and the public,” he stressed.
The Volta Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Reverend David Ampah-Bennin, said although the police in the region performed fairly well last year, they faced many obstacles pertaining to lack of vehicles for 10 districts and units.
He said there was inadequate fuel supply to aid effective patrols in the region, adding that the police were compelled to go on foot patrols in the Ho Municipality.
ACP Ampah-Bennin also stated that the police lacked accommodation, saying that in the Ho Municipality alone, 70 policemen were without accommodation and thus were accommodated in groups in single rooms.
He lamented the lack of a police clinic in the region, which had undermined the norm that health issues pertaining to personnel should have been monitored by a police clinic and where the need be, referrals made to appropriate health facilities.
The regional commander, however, said through self-help, the regional command had been able to construct a five-seater water closet toilet for rented police quarters in Ho, which accommodates 65 personnel and their families.
He said a new office block containing four offices had been built at Sogakope with water closet facilities and renovation works were currently underway at Anyirawase and Abutia-Kloe police stations.
He said they should keep pace with challenges and cope with them to succeed because they were not conscripts but applied voluntarily to join the service.
Col Necku said this when he addressed a conference of Senior Police Officers (SPOs) in the Volta Region at Ho.
He advised them to display unalloyed loyalty to the state and to exhibit high standards of professionalism, adding that they should not work in isolation but must open up to other people in order to get the necessary co-operation from them.
Col Necku also advised them to prepare adequately for retirement, stressing, “you should start building your ark now”.
He said public criticism against the police should rather put them on their toes to ensure that the right thing was done at the right time.
The Deputy Regional Minister questioned whether a series of reported cases of confrontation between the police and the public in times of maintaining law and order were either due to the lack of confidence and respect for the police or sheer display of hooliganism, impatience and misunderstanding of issues by the public.
He further asked whether the police had served the interest of the public or there were growing new demands on the police for which they needed to change tactics.
Col Necku said whatever the case, they must not forget that the prime objective of the police was to protect life and property, and therefore, must be customer friendly and professional in dealing with the public.
“If public perception of the police is not favourable, the interface between the police service and the public would be rough and our purpose and existence as a service would have been defeated. The police must therefore act with tact and endeavour to always court good working relationship between them and the public,” he stressed.
The Volta Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Reverend David Ampah-Bennin, said although the police in the region performed fairly well last year, they faced many obstacles pertaining to lack of vehicles for 10 districts and units.
He said there was inadequate fuel supply to aid effective patrols in the region, adding that the police were compelled to go on foot patrols in the Ho Municipality.
ACP Ampah-Bennin also stated that the police lacked accommodation, saying that in the Ho Municipality alone, 70 policemen were without accommodation and thus were accommodated in groups in single rooms.
He lamented the lack of a police clinic in the region, which had undermined the norm that health issues pertaining to personnel should have been monitored by a police clinic and where the need be, referrals made to appropriate health facilities.
The regional commander, however, said through self-help, the regional command had been able to construct a five-seater water closet toilet for rented police quarters in Ho, which accommodates 65 personnel and their families.
He said a new office block containing four offices had been built at Sogakope with water closet facilities and renovation works were currently underway at Anyirawase and Abutia-Kloe police stations.
2 NGOS DONATE BICYCLES TO VOLUNTEERS (PAGE 40, MARCH 1, 2010)
TWO non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have presented 82 bicycles to community-based volunteers in the Jasikan and South Dayi Districts in the Volta Region to be used for outreach programmes on tuberculosis (TB) under the National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTCP).
The NGOs are the Needy Club of Ghana, which provided 44 bicycles in the Jasikan District, and the Support Service Foundation, which made available 38 bicycles in the South Dayi District, all sponsored by the Global Fund.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony at Nkonya–Tepo, the Jasikan District Chief Executive, Nana Barima Kumessy Bonsi, commended Needy Club for winning credibility with international agencies in the distribution of logistics for health interventions in rural areas.
He advised the volunteers to handle the bicycles with care to help them deliver their schedules to expectation.
The Jasikan District Director of Health Services, Dr Samuel Abudey, urged the volunteers to intensify the campaign on TB to reflect the honour and confidence reposed in them, adding that they should quickly direct suspected cases to the nearest clinics or hospitals for treatment.
The Chairman of Needy Club, Reverend Killian Carr, expressed gratitude to the district assembly for the interest shown in the health programme by assisting the volunteers to transport the bicycles to their various communities.
At Kpeve in the South Dayi District, the Support Service Foundation also presented 38 bicycles to volunteers.
The Executive Director of the foundation, Mr Moses Oduro, presented them to the volunteers in the presence of the District Director of Health Services, Dr A.A. Owusu, and the District Co-ordinating Director, Mr David Kanyi.
The NGOs are the Needy Club of Ghana, which provided 44 bicycles in the Jasikan District, and the Support Service Foundation, which made available 38 bicycles in the South Dayi District, all sponsored by the Global Fund.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony at Nkonya–Tepo, the Jasikan District Chief Executive, Nana Barima Kumessy Bonsi, commended Needy Club for winning credibility with international agencies in the distribution of logistics for health interventions in rural areas.
He advised the volunteers to handle the bicycles with care to help them deliver their schedules to expectation.
The Jasikan District Director of Health Services, Dr Samuel Abudey, urged the volunteers to intensify the campaign on TB to reflect the honour and confidence reposed in them, adding that they should quickly direct suspected cases to the nearest clinics or hospitals for treatment.
The Chairman of Needy Club, Reverend Killian Carr, expressed gratitude to the district assembly for the interest shown in the health programme by assisting the volunteers to transport the bicycles to their various communities.
At Kpeve in the South Dayi District, the Support Service Foundation also presented 38 bicycles to volunteers.
The Executive Director of the foundation, Mr Moses Oduro, presented them to the volunteers in the presence of the District Director of Health Services, Dr A.A. Owusu, and the District Co-ordinating Director, Mr David Kanyi.
POTABLE WATER, DRUDGERY IN MANY GHANAIAN COMMUNITIES (PAGE 40, MARCH 1, 2010)
ACCESS to potable water is becoming a drudgery in many communities in Ghana both in cities and rural areas.
In the cities, water supply schemes break down, interrupting regular flow to consumers whilst in the rural areas, sources of water either from man-dug dams, streams and rivers break down or dry up compelling the people to devote much of their productive time in search of water for survival.
Such is the plight of the people of Keyime and other communities located in the remotest part of the Adaklu-Anyigbe District in the Volta Region.
In 1995, the main source of drinking water from the Keyime dam broke down but several appeals for remedy have received lip service over time although the people have persistently made them to the government and other benevolent organisations for reactivation of the dam.
But at long last, a Spanish non-governmental organisation (NGO), MANOS UNIDAS has through the Catholic Church in the Ho Diocese come to their aid and drilled 14 boreholes at a cost of GHc95,000 for communities such as Sowlada, Kofe, Kadzinkor, Atsrulume, Adanakofe, Nornyikpo, Wudorkpo, Ahiadormekofe, Kesenyemito and Adidove.
Incidentally, this is the second time the NGO has come to the rescue of the people in the Keyime electoral area as it funded the construction of a six-unit classroom block for Keyime Primary School in 1995 through the Catholic Church.
The Assembly Member for Keyime electoral area, Mr Daniel Agbesi Latsu on behalf of the people, expressed appreciation to the unconditional co-operation of the Catholic Church to the people of the area.
He said although it had no congregation in the
communities, the church had consistently supported their development process with the provision of the facilities, adding that it was really a gesture worth emulating by other religious groups.
“We appreciate this a lot since the provision of the boreholes will go a long way to curtail the water
borne diseases such as guinea worm, bilharzia and typhoid among others which hitherto, afflicted our people who had no option than to depend on contaminated streams and other unhygienic sources of water,” he said.
Mr Latsu said although previous governmental
promises had failed, the Catholic Church and MANOS UNIDAS had been able to bring hope to the people, adding” this is true partnership and brotherliness for which we cannot forget them.”
He commended Ms Casilda de Zulueta and Paloma Romirez of MANOS UNIDAS who travelled all the way from Spain to inaugurate the boreholes.
Mr Latsu said that demonstrated a unique responsibility and concern for the rural people by
ensuring that funds released for the project were strictly applied.
The assembly member admonished Ghanaian leaders that they should learn from the gesture of the Spanish donors to avoid the incidence of recycling the same project over time due to
poor supervision.
He also advised the beneficiary communities to take good care of the boreholes through collective efforts for them to last longer, stressing that they should regard them as facilities on which they depended for their own survival.
“If we look back today, we can say there is hope for the future. We appreciate the fact that we can only hope for a better future if we are able to sustain what we have while striving to add to others. We can only sustain what we have through maintenance,” Mr Latsu exhorted.
In the cities, water supply schemes break down, interrupting regular flow to consumers whilst in the rural areas, sources of water either from man-dug dams, streams and rivers break down or dry up compelling the people to devote much of their productive time in search of water for survival.
Such is the plight of the people of Keyime and other communities located in the remotest part of the Adaklu-Anyigbe District in the Volta Region.
In 1995, the main source of drinking water from the Keyime dam broke down but several appeals for remedy have received lip service over time although the people have persistently made them to the government and other benevolent organisations for reactivation of the dam.
But at long last, a Spanish non-governmental organisation (NGO), MANOS UNIDAS has through the Catholic Church in the Ho Diocese come to their aid and drilled 14 boreholes at a cost of GHc95,000 for communities such as Sowlada, Kofe, Kadzinkor, Atsrulume, Adanakofe, Nornyikpo, Wudorkpo, Ahiadormekofe, Kesenyemito and Adidove.
Incidentally, this is the second time the NGO has come to the rescue of the people in the Keyime electoral area as it funded the construction of a six-unit classroom block for Keyime Primary School in 1995 through the Catholic Church.
The Assembly Member for Keyime electoral area, Mr Daniel Agbesi Latsu on behalf of the people, expressed appreciation to the unconditional co-operation of the Catholic Church to the people of the area.
He said although it had no congregation in the
communities, the church had consistently supported their development process with the provision of the facilities, adding that it was really a gesture worth emulating by other religious groups.
“We appreciate this a lot since the provision of the boreholes will go a long way to curtail the water
borne diseases such as guinea worm, bilharzia and typhoid among others which hitherto, afflicted our people who had no option than to depend on contaminated streams and other unhygienic sources of water,” he said.
Mr Latsu said although previous governmental
promises had failed, the Catholic Church and MANOS UNIDAS had been able to bring hope to the people, adding” this is true partnership and brotherliness for which we cannot forget them.”
He commended Ms Casilda de Zulueta and Paloma Romirez of MANOS UNIDAS who travelled all the way from Spain to inaugurate the boreholes.
Mr Latsu said that demonstrated a unique responsibility and concern for the rural people by
ensuring that funds released for the project were strictly applied.
The assembly member admonished Ghanaian leaders that they should learn from the gesture of the Spanish donors to avoid the incidence of recycling the same project over time due to
poor supervision.
He also advised the beneficiary communities to take good care of the boreholes through collective efforts for them to last longer, stressing that they should regard them as facilities on which they depended for their own survival.
“If we look back today, we can say there is hope for the future. We appreciate the fact that we can only hope for a better future if we are able to sustain what we have while striving to add to others. We can only sustain what we have through maintenance,” Mr Latsu exhorted.
ICT CENTRE FOR HO WOMEN'S INSTITUTE (PAGE 11, MARCH 2, 2010)
THE Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Colonel Cyril Necku (retd), has cut the sod for the construction of a two-storey Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre estimated to cost GH¢250,000, for the Community Development Women’s Vocational Training Institute at Ho.
To be known as the Rebecca Agroh ICT Centre of Excellence, it is being funded by Dr Ken Kwaku, and named after his mother, who is a past principal of the institute, in recognition for her vision of women empowerment.
Addressing a durbar at the institute, Dr Kwaku said when completed, the centre would continue two of her mother’s passions which were education and empowerment of women, adding that he and his family were committed to entrenching the legacy.
He also announced that he had identified friends in some notable organisations who would construct and equip the centre and help to run it on a sustainable basis for three years.
Dr Kwaku, who is a Consul-General of Ghana in Tanzania, advised students of the institute to take their education seriously because it was the major key to all opportunities in the world.
“Throughout her life, my mother’s commitment was the empowerment of women and my hope is that the proposed centre which will be equipped with computers and other technological services, will continue to keep her vision of a country that utilises productively, its women citizens”, he stated.
In an address, Col. Necku said the late Madam Agroh shared the principle that the economic liberation of women would lead to the liberation and economic empowerment of households since the women were the centre bolt of every household.
He said the decision by Dr Kwaku to raise a monument in his mother’s honour and remembrance should encourage all mothers to endeavour to give the best support to their children.
Col. Necku also exhorted children to appreciate the sacrifices of their parents and to take good care of them in their old age.
He promised that part of the government’s youth employment programmes would be channelled through the institute.
The Deputy Minister of Communication, Mr Gideon Quarcoo, said the establishment of the ICT centre would open a window to the world and in line with the educational mission of the institute to train more worthy graduates.
In an address, the principal of the institute, Ms Bernice Aculey, said the timing of the project was opportune, in view of the current era of information technology, women empowerment, self and personal identification and the quest for values.
She emphasised that there was the need to assist the institute further because several years after its establishment, it had only one block which served all purposes including as dormitories, classrooms, demonstration block, dinning hall, assembly hall, residence for the principal and housemistress and administration office.
The Volta Regional Director of the Department of Community Development, Mr Andrews Imoro Alhassan, said the essence of the institute could not be underestimated because each period of governance of the nation from post-colonial time had come out with alternative programmes to enhance the capacity of the marginalised in the society and that the institute was ready to admit more females to enable them improve their lives.
To be known as the Rebecca Agroh ICT Centre of Excellence, it is being funded by Dr Ken Kwaku, and named after his mother, who is a past principal of the institute, in recognition for her vision of women empowerment.
Addressing a durbar at the institute, Dr Kwaku said when completed, the centre would continue two of her mother’s passions which were education and empowerment of women, adding that he and his family were committed to entrenching the legacy.
He also announced that he had identified friends in some notable organisations who would construct and equip the centre and help to run it on a sustainable basis for three years.
Dr Kwaku, who is a Consul-General of Ghana in Tanzania, advised students of the institute to take their education seriously because it was the major key to all opportunities in the world.
“Throughout her life, my mother’s commitment was the empowerment of women and my hope is that the proposed centre which will be equipped with computers and other technological services, will continue to keep her vision of a country that utilises productively, its women citizens”, he stated.
In an address, Col. Necku said the late Madam Agroh shared the principle that the economic liberation of women would lead to the liberation and economic empowerment of households since the women were the centre bolt of every household.
He said the decision by Dr Kwaku to raise a monument in his mother’s honour and remembrance should encourage all mothers to endeavour to give the best support to their children.
Col. Necku also exhorted children to appreciate the sacrifices of their parents and to take good care of them in their old age.
He promised that part of the government’s youth employment programmes would be channelled through the institute.
The Deputy Minister of Communication, Mr Gideon Quarcoo, said the establishment of the ICT centre would open a window to the world and in line with the educational mission of the institute to train more worthy graduates.
In an address, the principal of the institute, Ms Bernice Aculey, said the timing of the project was opportune, in view of the current era of information technology, women empowerment, self and personal identification and the quest for values.
She emphasised that there was the need to assist the institute further because several years after its establishment, it had only one block which served all purposes including as dormitories, classrooms, demonstration block, dinning hall, assembly hall, residence for the principal and housemistress and administration office.
The Volta Regional Director of the Department of Community Development, Mr Andrews Imoro Alhassan, said the essence of the institute could not be underestimated because each period of governance of the nation from post-colonial time had come out with alternative programmes to enhance the capacity of the marginalised in the society and that the institute was ready to admit more females to enable them improve their lives.
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