Floods caused by heavy rains in the southern parts of the Volta Region have submerged farmlands belonging to more than 30 farmers at Tegbi and Dzelukorpe, leading to the loss of hybrid seed procured and planted by the farmers.
Residents told the Daily Graphic that the situation had serious implications for the food situation in the area as the next harvest appeared threatened.
According to the Chief Farmer of Tegbi, Mr Seth Jumpah, farms cultivated with tomatoes, shallot, okro and cassava had been destroyed by the floods at Woe and parts of Anloga.
He said some of the seeds were bought at GH¢32 per 25kg and GH¢130 per 100kg, saying that the floods had impoverished the farmers and called on the government to intervene and help the farmers to resume their farming activities.
Mr Jumpah said their immediate needs were seeds, fertilisers and insecticides, adding that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) should act swiftly to assist them.
The Chief of Dzelukorpe, Torgbui Dzelu, said the floods had also submerged some roads in the town, posing danger to pupils on their way to school, adding that the drainage system to the sea had been destroyed.
He also said the floods had blocked access to his palace and cut off the Keta Government Hospital from the main road.
Togbui Dzelu said a more serious crisis might occur if a similar downpour should hit the area before the present floods subsided and appealed for assistance to prevent subsequent floods.
Friday, July 3, 2009
GENDER-RESPONSIVE BUDGETING...A necessity for women empowerment (PAGE 17)
THE Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC), Ms Akua Sena Dansua, has underscored the importance of gender-responsive budgeting and aid effectiveness to national development.
She said this was the surest way of building the capacity of women and empowering them to address issues affecting their development.
Ms Dansua said this in a speech read on her behalf at the opening of a three-day national advocacy training workshop on Gender- Responsive Budget and AID Effectiveness for selected members of parliament and staff of ministries, departments and agencies in Ho.
It was organised by MOWAC and sponsored by the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.
She said it did not necessarily imply “more money for women” but finding a more efficient use of scarce resources and analysing how public resources were distributed and the adjustment budgets to ensure fairness and equity in the distribution of national resources for development.
She said gender-responsive budgeting was an appropriate intervention for poverty reduction and some objectives of the Millennium Development Goals(MDGs) and added that the capacity of MDAs, National Development Planning Commission(NDPC) , parliament and key sectors would continue to be strengthened to track down government and donor resources for gender equality and women’s empowerment in the country.
Ms Dansua called for co-operation among all key players and identified stakeholders since it was a prerequisite for a successful implementation of gender budgeting in the country.
In an address, an advisor of the Commonwealth Secretariat, Madam Jennet Kem, said the ultimate goal was to make donors support and domestic resources more responsive to the specific needs, experiences and interests of men and women in all social categories.
She said given the complexities of gender- responsive budgeting and financing development, there was the need for a concerted approach and strong alliances, adding that the government had noted the challenge of insufficient capacities and skills among its technical staff involved in planning and budgeting to perform gender related work, hence the workshop.
She declared that the Commonwealth secretariat was dedicated to enhancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in member countries, as stated in its strategic plan and operationalised in the Plan of Action on Gender Equality for 2005-2015.
Madam Kem said the secretariat would in future work to deepen existing knowledge on the impact of revenue collection and distribution on gender equality and that had started on mainstreaming gender in the informal sector, with the aim of generating evidence to support social protection measures for women and other vulnerable actors.
In a welcoming address, the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, said if gender issues were not addressed effectively as part of the strategy of socio- economic development, there was the likelihood of lopsidedness in development.
He, therefore, urged participants to treat the subject thoroughly in order to come out with concrete and scientific recommendations for gender planning and budgeting.
She said this was the surest way of building the capacity of women and empowering them to address issues affecting their development.
Ms Dansua said this in a speech read on her behalf at the opening of a three-day national advocacy training workshop on Gender- Responsive Budget and AID Effectiveness for selected members of parliament and staff of ministries, departments and agencies in Ho.
It was organised by MOWAC and sponsored by the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.
She said it did not necessarily imply “more money for women” but finding a more efficient use of scarce resources and analysing how public resources were distributed and the adjustment budgets to ensure fairness and equity in the distribution of national resources for development.
She said gender-responsive budgeting was an appropriate intervention for poverty reduction and some objectives of the Millennium Development Goals(MDGs) and added that the capacity of MDAs, National Development Planning Commission(NDPC) , parliament and key sectors would continue to be strengthened to track down government and donor resources for gender equality and women’s empowerment in the country.
Ms Dansua called for co-operation among all key players and identified stakeholders since it was a prerequisite for a successful implementation of gender budgeting in the country.
In an address, an advisor of the Commonwealth Secretariat, Madam Jennet Kem, said the ultimate goal was to make donors support and domestic resources more responsive to the specific needs, experiences and interests of men and women in all social categories.
She said given the complexities of gender- responsive budgeting and financing development, there was the need for a concerted approach and strong alliances, adding that the government had noted the challenge of insufficient capacities and skills among its technical staff involved in planning and budgeting to perform gender related work, hence the workshop.
She declared that the Commonwealth secretariat was dedicated to enhancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in member countries, as stated in its strategic plan and operationalised in the Plan of Action on Gender Equality for 2005-2015.
Madam Kem said the secretariat would in future work to deepen existing knowledge on the impact of revenue collection and distribution on gender equality and that had started on mainstreaming gender in the informal sector, with the aim of generating evidence to support social protection measures for women and other vulnerable actors.
In a welcoming address, the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, said if gender issues were not addressed effectively as part of the strategy of socio- economic development, there was the likelihood of lopsidedness in development.
He, therefore, urged participants to treat the subject thoroughly in order to come out with concrete and scientific recommendations for gender planning and budgeting.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
VODIN APPEALS FOR REGIONAL DISTRICT OFFICES (JUNE 27, PAGE 25)
From Tim Dzamboe, Ho
An association of disabled organisations in the Volta Region, the Volta Disability Network (VODIN), has called for the establishment of regional and district offices of the National Council on Persons with Disabilities, in accordance with section 49 of the Disability Act 715.
It also called for free education for people with disability and commitment of more resources to the council to enable it perform its role effectively.
This was contained in a press release signed by the acting Chairman, Mr Francis Ansong, in connection with the third anniversary of the passage of the Persons with Disability Act which provided a legal framework to enable people with disabilities to also fully participate in activities of mainstream society.
The release reminded the government and civil society groups that the core aim of the disability act could only be achieved if there was the political will and total commitment by Ghanaians to work towards its implementation.
It, therefore, said that was the essence of VODIN, working to improve the socio-economic lives of people with disabilities through awareness about disability issues, lobbying, campaigning, advocacy for rights of people with disabilities and self-help initiatives, leading to their integration into the mainstream society.
“It is encouraging to note that with proper education and training, people with disabilities are able to lead a fulfilling and self-sustaining life with better job prospects,” it stated.
The release further stated that VODIN was urging municipal and district assemblies in the Volta Region to set up a process with the involvement of people with disabilities on how groups of people with disabilities could access Common Fund as well as other resources from district assemblies, adding “there should be nothing about us without us”.
It also called on local government agencies, banks, schools, churches and other public places to make those places accessible to people with disability by fixing appropriate facilities such as access ramps as well as sign language and Braille.
VODIN comprised of Care and Concern Action Group (CCAG), Ghana Association of the Blind (GAB), Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled (GSPD), Parents Association of Children with Intellectual Disability (PACID), Volta Regional Association of the Deaf (VRAD) and Voice of People With Disabilities in Ghana (VOICE).
An association of disabled organisations in the Volta Region, the Volta Disability Network (VODIN), has called for the establishment of regional and district offices of the National Council on Persons with Disabilities, in accordance with section 49 of the Disability Act 715.
It also called for free education for people with disability and commitment of more resources to the council to enable it perform its role effectively.
This was contained in a press release signed by the acting Chairman, Mr Francis Ansong, in connection with the third anniversary of the passage of the Persons with Disability Act which provided a legal framework to enable people with disabilities to also fully participate in activities of mainstream society.
The release reminded the government and civil society groups that the core aim of the disability act could only be achieved if there was the political will and total commitment by Ghanaians to work towards its implementation.
It, therefore, said that was the essence of VODIN, working to improve the socio-economic lives of people with disabilities through awareness about disability issues, lobbying, campaigning, advocacy for rights of people with disabilities and self-help initiatives, leading to their integration into the mainstream society.
“It is encouraging to note that with proper education and training, people with disabilities are able to lead a fulfilling and self-sustaining life with better job prospects,” it stated.
The release further stated that VODIN was urging municipal and district assemblies in the Volta Region to set up a process with the involvement of people with disabilities on how groups of people with disabilities could access Common Fund as well as other resources from district assemblies, adding “there should be nothing about us without us”.
It also called on local government agencies, banks, schools, churches and other public places to make those places accessible to people with disability by fixing appropriate facilities such as access ramps as well as sign language and Braille.
VODIN comprised of Care and Concern Action Group (CCAG), Ghana Association of the Blind (GAB), Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled (GSPD), Parents Association of Children with Intellectual Disability (PACID), Volta Regional Association of the Deaf (VRAD) and Voice of People With Disabilities in Ghana (VOICE).
PRODUCTION AT VOLTA STAR TEXTILE SLUMPS (BACK PAGE)
PRODUCTION at the Volta Star Textile (VST) Company, formerly Juapong Textiles Limited (JTL), has slumped to 7,000 metres, far below its target of 65,000 metres of cloth per annum.
Saddled with inadequate capital, chemicals and spare parts, the company is on the verge of closure, the acting Technical Director of the company, Mr Evans Agyagbo, disclosed when he took the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenewode, on a tour of the various units of the factory yesterday.
Mr Agyagbo said GH¢3 million was granted the factory under the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF) but only part of that amount had been ceded to the factory as working capital, making 300 machines operational while 600 others lay idle.
He said initially the factory produced 5,000 metres a day but with a modest expansion from 192 looms to 300, production had increased to 7,000 metres a day, adding that it was operating eight hours a day, instead of 24 hours.
Mr Agyagbo said market for its international standard product was readily available in the country and elsewhere and that the Ghana Textile Printing (GTP) Company and the Akosombo Textile Limited (ATL) were its immediate clients.
He said under the EDIF grant, large quantities of cotton had been procured but the company was saddled with capital for chemicals and engineering spare parts.
The acting Technical Director, a textile engineer from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), said the status of the company was known to the Ministry of Trade and impressed on the regional minister that the factory was a viable entity that had to be revamped.
For his part, Mr Amenewode requested the management of the company to submit an updated proposal of operational needs for consideration.
He said the factory had the potential of becoming an industrial giant in the Volta Region and said the Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council would support any move to make it to operate to at least 80 per cent level.
The minister was accompanied on the tour by the Volta Regional Deputy Minister, Colonel Cyril Necku (retd), the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Mr Charles Hodogbey, and the North Tongu District Chief Executive, Alhaji Bubey Dzinadu.
Saddled with inadequate capital, chemicals and spare parts, the company is on the verge of closure, the acting Technical Director of the company, Mr Evans Agyagbo, disclosed when he took the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenewode, on a tour of the various units of the factory yesterday.
Mr Agyagbo said GH¢3 million was granted the factory under the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF) but only part of that amount had been ceded to the factory as working capital, making 300 machines operational while 600 others lay idle.
He said initially the factory produced 5,000 metres a day but with a modest expansion from 192 looms to 300, production had increased to 7,000 metres a day, adding that it was operating eight hours a day, instead of 24 hours.
Mr Agyagbo said market for its international standard product was readily available in the country and elsewhere and that the Ghana Textile Printing (GTP) Company and the Akosombo Textile Limited (ATL) were its immediate clients.
He said under the EDIF grant, large quantities of cotton had been procured but the company was saddled with capital for chemicals and engineering spare parts.
The acting Technical Director, a textile engineer from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), said the status of the company was known to the Ministry of Trade and impressed on the regional minister that the factory was a viable entity that had to be revamped.
For his part, Mr Amenewode requested the management of the company to submit an updated proposal of operational needs for consideration.
He said the factory had the potential of becoming an industrial giant in the Volta Region and said the Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council would support any move to make it to operate to at least 80 per cent level.
The minister was accompanied on the tour by the Volta Regional Deputy Minister, Colonel Cyril Necku (retd), the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Mr Charles Hodogbey, and the North Tongu District Chief Executive, Alhaji Bubey Dzinadu.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
CHRISTIANS URGED TO RENEW FAITH IN CHRIST (PAGE 20)
THE Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Church, Rt Rev. Francis Amenu, has underscored the need for Christians to renew their faith in Christ.
He said the call had become imperative, because no matter the situation one found oneself, the strength in the word of God would liberate one from fear and timidity, which would be replaced by the spirit of love and self-control.
He said humanity were faced with a myriad of problems, but with solace in Christ, all of them would be resolved because He only had control and power over all things.
Rt Rev. Amenu delivered this sermon on the theme: “Jesus the Lord of our storm” at a thanksgiving service to wind off a three-day 49th Northern Presbytery Delegate’s Conference of the church at Kadjebi over the weekend.
He said the victory of politicians was the work of God, and so they were expected to work conscientiously to leave a mark after their tenure in office.
Rev. Amenu called on the congregation in the church to play a part in addressing issues bordering on education, adding that church leaders should also take the lead in instilling discipline in schoolchildren, so that they could grow as responsible citizens.
He also called on the government to reconsider the administration of mission hospitals to avoid further deterioration of some of them, especially those at Adidome and Worawora.
The Presbytery Chairman, Rev. C.N. Agbley, for his part, said there was the need to strengthen cordial relationship between the church and the state to promote rapid and sound social, political, economic, moral and spiritual advancement of the nation.
He, however, decried the high rate of internet fraud by many young people, adding that this had attracted negative impact on the country, rendering international business transactions with Ghana suspect.
Rev. Agbley said child slavery into the fishing industry and the negative dress code among the youth were a worry to the church, and urged all and sundry, irrespective of their social status to help stand in the Lord and to remove those things that had made the Ghanaian society an uncomfortable place to live in.
The Northern Presbytery of the EP Church comprises Jasikan, Kadjebi, Ahamansu, Nkwanta, Asato, Asukawkaw, Tapa-Amanya, Kete-Krachi, Dambai, Bodada, Kpassa, Dodi-Papase and the Worawora areas.
He said the call had become imperative, because no matter the situation one found oneself, the strength in the word of God would liberate one from fear and timidity, which would be replaced by the spirit of love and self-control.
He said humanity were faced with a myriad of problems, but with solace in Christ, all of them would be resolved because He only had control and power over all things.
Rt Rev. Amenu delivered this sermon on the theme: “Jesus the Lord of our storm” at a thanksgiving service to wind off a three-day 49th Northern Presbytery Delegate’s Conference of the church at Kadjebi over the weekend.
He said the victory of politicians was the work of God, and so they were expected to work conscientiously to leave a mark after their tenure in office.
Rev. Amenu called on the congregation in the church to play a part in addressing issues bordering on education, adding that church leaders should also take the lead in instilling discipline in schoolchildren, so that they could grow as responsible citizens.
He also called on the government to reconsider the administration of mission hospitals to avoid further deterioration of some of them, especially those at Adidome and Worawora.
The Presbytery Chairman, Rev. C.N. Agbley, for his part, said there was the need to strengthen cordial relationship between the church and the state to promote rapid and sound social, political, economic, moral and spiritual advancement of the nation.
He, however, decried the high rate of internet fraud by many young people, adding that this had attracted negative impact on the country, rendering international business transactions with Ghana suspect.
Rev. Agbley said child slavery into the fishing industry and the negative dress code among the youth were a worry to the church, and urged all and sundry, irrespective of their social status to help stand in the Lord and to remove those things that had made the Ghanaian society an uncomfortable place to live in.
The Northern Presbytery of the EP Church comprises Jasikan, Kadjebi, Ahamansu, Nkwanta, Asato, Asukawkaw, Tapa-Amanya, Kete-Krachi, Dambai, Bodada, Kpassa, Dodi-Papase and the Worawora areas.
ASOGLI TRADITIONAL COUNCIL EXPRESSES CONCERN (PAGE 17)
The Asogli Traditional Council has expressed its concern on the deliberate misrepresentation and unsavoury remarks made against the Agbogbomefia, Togbe Afede XIV, in connection with the speech he delivered during the visit of President John Evans Atta Mills to the Volta Region last April.
The council explained that what the Agbogbomefia said were the exact and honest feelings of all genuinely concerned citizens of the Volta Region who were touched by the plight of their people and who wanted to do something about the situation.
The council said Togbe Afede XIV’s comments definitely did not refer to only the past eight years, though that was the most recent period since he had ruled for almost five years.
“Successive governments continued to pay very little attention to the development issues of the region,” the press release stated.
The release, jointly signed by the Fiaga of Matse Traditional Area, Togbe Osei Tutu IV; Fiaga of Ziavi Traditional Area, Togbe Kwaku Ayim IV, and Fiaga of Shia Traditional Area, Togbe Dadzawa III, and issued at Ho on Monday said it disagreed entirely with allegations that Togbe Afede’s remarks had tribal undertones and that tribalists hiding behind their mischievous interpretation of what Agbogbomefia said did so just to create disaffection for him.
It said as the President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, he spoke on behalf of the chiefs and people of the region, which comprised several ethnic groupings like Ewes, Guans, Akans, Dangbes, Konkombas, among others.
Ever since he was installed as a traditional ruler, the Agbogbomefia has never made a speech without lamenting over the sorry state of his people and his desire to fight abject poverty, ignorance, illiteracy and disease.
He works so hard to get his people emancipated from the vicious circle of stagnation, it stated.
It, therefore, said that Agbogbomefia certainly expected the government to do its part to complement the efforts of the chiefs and the people, and if that was not forthcoming, he had every reason to say what he had said.
The council explained that what the Agbogbomefia said were the exact and honest feelings of all genuinely concerned citizens of the Volta Region who were touched by the plight of their people and who wanted to do something about the situation.
The council said Togbe Afede XIV’s comments definitely did not refer to only the past eight years, though that was the most recent period since he had ruled for almost five years.
“Successive governments continued to pay very little attention to the development issues of the region,” the press release stated.
The release, jointly signed by the Fiaga of Matse Traditional Area, Togbe Osei Tutu IV; Fiaga of Ziavi Traditional Area, Togbe Kwaku Ayim IV, and Fiaga of Shia Traditional Area, Togbe Dadzawa III, and issued at Ho on Monday said it disagreed entirely with allegations that Togbe Afede’s remarks had tribal undertones and that tribalists hiding behind their mischievous interpretation of what Agbogbomefia said did so just to create disaffection for him.
It said as the President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, he spoke on behalf of the chiefs and people of the region, which comprised several ethnic groupings like Ewes, Guans, Akans, Dangbes, Konkombas, among others.
Ever since he was installed as a traditional ruler, the Agbogbomefia has never made a speech without lamenting over the sorry state of his people and his desire to fight abject poverty, ignorance, illiteracy and disease.
He works so hard to get his people emancipated from the vicious circle of stagnation, it stated.
It, therefore, said that Agbogbomefia certainly expected the government to do its part to complement the efforts of the chiefs and the people, and if that was not forthcoming, he had every reason to say what he had said.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
WORK IN UNITY — AHIADZRO (PAGE 15)
A veteran politician from the Volta Region, Mr Prince Ahiadzro, has asked residents of the Ketu-North District Assembly to work in unity and do away with trivial issues that can undermine the progress of the district and that of the nation as a whole.
He said Dzodze, the district capital, had been a focal point in the history of party politics because from independence, under Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah to date, Dzodze had produced not less than seven regional ministers for the region.
He also said all the three regional chairmen of the Convention People’s Party(CPP), the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) came from Dzodze.
Mr Ahiadzro, who is the outgoing Regional Chairman of the CPP, appealed to President J.E.A Mills to re-nominate Mr Moses Azaglo as the District Chief Executive, with the assurance that this time round, he would be confirmed.
He expressed his regret that development was stagnated in the whole district, stressing that “nothing is going on in Ketu-North”.
He said Dzodze, the district capital, had been a focal point in the history of party politics because from independence, under Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah to date, Dzodze had produced not less than seven regional ministers for the region.
He also said all the three regional chairmen of the Convention People’s Party(CPP), the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) came from Dzodze.
Mr Ahiadzro, who is the outgoing Regional Chairman of the CPP, appealed to President J.E.A Mills to re-nominate Mr Moses Azaglo as the District Chief Executive, with the assurance that this time round, he would be confirmed.
He expressed his regret that development was stagnated in the whole district, stressing that “nothing is going on in Ketu-North”.
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