THE Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmoud Khalid, has charged agricultural experts in the country, especially those in the regions, to continue to make available information on the forecasts of the rainfall pattern to farmers.
He said that would aid farmers to plan their activities ahead of time and also to minimise losses.
Mr Khalid also urged experts to disseminate such information on the forecast of the weather and the rainfall patterns to students and pupils for them to be abreast with the trend as they grew up.
Mr Khalid gave the advice when he addressed the opening ceremony of a National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) stakeholders’ workshop on weather pattern in Wa.
The workshop was attended by representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), farmers and regional directors of agriculture.
The regional minister appealed to the participants to extend their training programmes to district agricultural agents to enable them to impart the knowledge they had acquired to opinion leaders and farmers at the district level.
Mr Khalid urged the organisers to include other cereals and tubers such as rice, maize, yam and cassava under the weather forecast programme.
Dr Jessie Naab of the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), one of the resource persons, said the exercise was to drum home the message to all stakeholders that it was possible to predict changes in the climate.
He said it would also build upon the capacity of the participants to be able to apply what they had learnt.
Dr Naab said the weather forecast programme was a pilot project introduced four years ago with the objective of studying the weather, especially the rainfall pattern, to enhance the cultivation of groundnuts.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
EXTRA CLASSES ...AND OTHERS SUGGEST REVIEW (PAGE 11)
SOME parents and teachers in Wa, the Upper West Regional capital, have taken the call by the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, to cancel extra classes in schools with a pinch of salt and said the decision to or not to send one’s child for extra classes lay in the hands of the respective parents.
However, some of the parents were in support of the ban in schools but said a total ban on extra classes in their individual homes would be an interference in their private activities.
Speaking in separate interviews with the Daily Graphic in Wa, a parent, Mr Ekow Amegah, said the directive was hasty and would not serve any purpose especially for people in a deprived area like the Upper West Region.
“It is the parent who knows the abilities and weaknesses of his child and therefore, in trying to put in place measures to correct these, it is wrong for the Minister to sit in Accra and give directives without considering the plight of children in deprived areas whose parents are struggling to educate them,“ he complained.
Mr Amegah, therefore, advised the minister to hasten slowly and take a holistic view of the issue while consulting major stakeholders.
This, according to him, was because the education sector was a very sensitive area and must not be toyed with mere political rhetorics.
Another parent, Mr Samuel Dery, supported the ban in schools but not in the homes.
However, he said, the ban could be dangerous for the pupils because some of the teachers could be lackadaisical in their approach to teaching during the regular school hours to the disadvantage of the pupils.
A parent, Madam Augustina Sokuu, corroborated the views of many of the parents who spoke to the Daily Graphic, and said an outright cancellation of extra classes would not work.
She, however, suggested that it should, perhaps, not be made to run on daily basis but twice or thrice a week or even over the weekends.
A teacher at the Charia Catholic Primary “B’’ School, Miss Fausta Nankuri, stated categorically that cancelling extra classes was impossible.
Miss Ellen Boguo, of the St. Cecilia Catholic Primary School in Wa, stressed the need for extra classes to be held for only final-year students or pupils who were preparing for their examinations and not for all students.
Organising extra classes is not bad at all and should not be scraped totally, she noted, and said what the authorities should know was that teachers also got tired sometimes after teaching and so it was not only students who went through the stress but teachers as well.
From Kumasi, Enoch Darfah Frimpong reports that there have been mixed reactions over the Education Minister’s call for the abolition of extra classes.
Whilst some teachers, parents students have kicked against the minister’s decision and rather called for its streamlining and proper regulation others say it is exploitative by teachers and it should be banned.
In separate interviews, many people expressed the view that extra classes were very important for students and called on the Education Ministry not to take decisions in haste, but consult stakeholders extensively before coming out with any policy in that direction.
Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, the Minister of Education, at the weekend announced that his ministry would begin issuing circulars that would make it illegal for both public and private schools to organise extra classes and said there was going to be punitive measures for teachers who refused to comply with the directive.
But, according to Miss Naa Adorkor Abrahams, a teacher at the Holy Trinity Lutheran School at Kwadaso Estate, extra classes should not be banned.
She said they should rather be encouraged under the supervision of school heads in order for them not to become exploitative.
She argued that whilst some students were good and fast at absorbing whatever was taught in class, there were others who were slow and needed extra tuition.
Again, she said, there were some students who felt shy to ask questions or make contributions in class because they were afraid of making mistakes for their friends to laugh at them, adding that such children found it comfortable to ask and contribute when they had special attention during extra classes.
“I personally have a boy in my class who would never talk in class no matter how much I encourage him to, but when you get him one on one, he would talk, ask questions and give answers,” she said.
Ms Adorkor Abrahams also said there were some teachers who were also not good at teaching certain subjects and students found it convenient to consult other teachers for assistance during extra classes to be able to really understand such subjects.
On whether extra classes were exploitative, she said some teachers tended to exploit students by devoting special attention at extra classes and said it was in this light that various school heads would have to come in, to monitor them.
She said at the junior and senior high school levels for instance, it was possible for some teachers not to teach certain topics well, but rather ask the students to meet them during extra classes on such topic areas.
Mr Kwaku Owusu Ansah, a student at the University of Education, Winneba (Kumasi campus), said it was about time politicians consulted stakeholders before coming out with any policy.
He said there was no way students could complete their syllabuses during the normal school time, thereby making extra classes a necessity.
Aside that, he said the academic calendar had been shortened while the syllabuses had been increased hence there was no way extra classes could be done away with.
In his view, Mr Godfred Boateng, a parent and resident of Atasemanso, said the ban on extra classes was a very good idea.
He noted that it was unfair to the poor in the community, as the rich kids got all the help they needed while the poor were left to fend for themselves and asked teachers to stop using extra classes as a means to generate income.
He argued that while some people might be smiling that teachers were being caught up and that wrongs were being corrected they should not forget that the children were the eventual beneficiaries or sufferers.
Miss Rosina Ghansah, also a parent, resident at Bohyen, for her part said she supported the idea of a ban on extra classes, since it was a drain on financial resources for parents.
Mr Kofi Essel, also a parent, said he supported the idea of a ban, since it was a way by which teachers tried to make money from students.
“Teachers have the whole day to teach students and what would one or two hours after school do differently from what they teach in class?”
On her part, Miss Diane Asare, a student, said the move could be detrimental to the academic progress of students.
Mr Jacob Adu, a teacher, said research must be done on the issue to see what it would look like, and then also teacher assessment and different methods of teaching should be introduced to help children understand lessons.
He said for instance that many countries were using diverse teaching methods including audio-visual aids, games and outdoor education whilst in Ghana we were still using extra classes as one means.
Shirley Asiedu-Addo reports from Cape Coast that some parents, teachers and students do not support the cancellation of extra classes.
They noted that extra classes were necessary with the influx of information that are both good and bad for children.
Ms Kwakor Quartey, a Communications Executive, said it would be dangerous for the nation to accept the cancellation of extra classes for children as it greatly helped to keep them learning.
“Most of the time it’s play, play and play, especially during vacation and I believe the extra classes help keep them occupied and its good for academic work also,” she said.
Mr Abeiku Baiden, also a teacher, said there was no way teachers could fully complete syllabus without conducting extra classes for the children.
He noted that the curricula were currently choked and that made the conduction of extra classes crucial for effective academic work.
Ms Gordon, a reporter, said considering the already deteriorating standards of education and the poor performance of students at examinations, even with the conduct of extra classes, a cancellation was sure to negatively affect the performance of students.
Opanyin Yaw, a parent, however, was happy with the cancellation of extra classes and noted that some teachers just abused the situation.
“Some kingdergarten pupils are made to sing rain, rain go away and are charged heavily because they are attending extra classes, how?, he queried.
However, some of the parents were in support of the ban in schools but said a total ban on extra classes in their individual homes would be an interference in their private activities.
Speaking in separate interviews with the Daily Graphic in Wa, a parent, Mr Ekow Amegah, said the directive was hasty and would not serve any purpose especially for people in a deprived area like the Upper West Region.
“It is the parent who knows the abilities and weaknesses of his child and therefore, in trying to put in place measures to correct these, it is wrong for the Minister to sit in Accra and give directives without considering the plight of children in deprived areas whose parents are struggling to educate them,“ he complained.
Mr Amegah, therefore, advised the minister to hasten slowly and take a holistic view of the issue while consulting major stakeholders.
This, according to him, was because the education sector was a very sensitive area and must not be toyed with mere political rhetorics.
Another parent, Mr Samuel Dery, supported the ban in schools but not in the homes.
However, he said, the ban could be dangerous for the pupils because some of the teachers could be lackadaisical in their approach to teaching during the regular school hours to the disadvantage of the pupils.
A parent, Madam Augustina Sokuu, corroborated the views of many of the parents who spoke to the Daily Graphic, and said an outright cancellation of extra classes would not work.
She, however, suggested that it should, perhaps, not be made to run on daily basis but twice or thrice a week or even over the weekends.
A teacher at the Charia Catholic Primary “B’’ School, Miss Fausta Nankuri, stated categorically that cancelling extra classes was impossible.
Miss Ellen Boguo, of the St. Cecilia Catholic Primary School in Wa, stressed the need for extra classes to be held for only final-year students or pupils who were preparing for their examinations and not for all students.
Organising extra classes is not bad at all and should not be scraped totally, she noted, and said what the authorities should know was that teachers also got tired sometimes after teaching and so it was not only students who went through the stress but teachers as well.
From Kumasi, Enoch Darfah Frimpong reports that there have been mixed reactions over the Education Minister’s call for the abolition of extra classes.
Whilst some teachers, parents students have kicked against the minister’s decision and rather called for its streamlining and proper regulation others say it is exploitative by teachers and it should be banned.
In separate interviews, many people expressed the view that extra classes were very important for students and called on the Education Ministry not to take decisions in haste, but consult stakeholders extensively before coming out with any policy in that direction.
Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, the Minister of Education, at the weekend announced that his ministry would begin issuing circulars that would make it illegal for both public and private schools to organise extra classes and said there was going to be punitive measures for teachers who refused to comply with the directive.
But, according to Miss Naa Adorkor Abrahams, a teacher at the Holy Trinity Lutheran School at Kwadaso Estate, extra classes should not be banned.
She said they should rather be encouraged under the supervision of school heads in order for them not to become exploitative.
She argued that whilst some students were good and fast at absorbing whatever was taught in class, there were others who were slow and needed extra tuition.
Again, she said, there were some students who felt shy to ask questions or make contributions in class because they were afraid of making mistakes for their friends to laugh at them, adding that such children found it comfortable to ask and contribute when they had special attention during extra classes.
“I personally have a boy in my class who would never talk in class no matter how much I encourage him to, but when you get him one on one, he would talk, ask questions and give answers,” she said.
Ms Adorkor Abrahams also said there were some teachers who were also not good at teaching certain subjects and students found it convenient to consult other teachers for assistance during extra classes to be able to really understand such subjects.
On whether extra classes were exploitative, she said some teachers tended to exploit students by devoting special attention at extra classes and said it was in this light that various school heads would have to come in, to monitor them.
She said at the junior and senior high school levels for instance, it was possible for some teachers not to teach certain topics well, but rather ask the students to meet them during extra classes on such topic areas.
Mr Kwaku Owusu Ansah, a student at the University of Education, Winneba (Kumasi campus), said it was about time politicians consulted stakeholders before coming out with any policy.
He said there was no way students could complete their syllabuses during the normal school time, thereby making extra classes a necessity.
Aside that, he said the academic calendar had been shortened while the syllabuses had been increased hence there was no way extra classes could be done away with.
In his view, Mr Godfred Boateng, a parent and resident of Atasemanso, said the ban on extra classes was a very good idea.
He noted that it was unfair to the poor in the community, as the rich kids got all the help they needed while the poor were left to fend for themselves and asked teachers to stop using extra classes as a means to generate income.
He argued that while some people might be smiling that teachers were being caught up and that wrongs were being corrected they should not forget that the children were the eventual beneficiaries or sufferers.
Miss Rosina Ghansah, also a parent, resident at Bohyen, for her part said she supported the idea of a ban on extra classes, since it was a drain on financial resources for parents.
Mr Kofi Essel, also a parent, said he supported the idea of a ban, since it was a way by which teachers tried to make money from students.
“Teachers have the whole day to teach students and what would one or two hours after school do differently from what they teach in class?”
On her part, Miss Diane Asare, a student, said the move could be detrimental to the academic progress of students.
Mr Jacob Adu, a teacher, said research must be done on the issue to see what it would look like, and then also teacher assessment and different methods of teaching should be introduced to help children understand lessons.
He said for instance that many countries were using diverse teaching methods including audio-visual aids, games and outdoor education whilst in Ghana we were still using extra classes as one means.
Shirley Asiedu-Addo reports from Cape Coast that some parents, teachers and students do not support the cancellation of extra classes.
They noted that extra classes were necessary with the influx of information that are both good and bad for children.
Ms Kwakor Quartey, a Communications Executive, said it would be dangerous for the nation to accept the cancellation of extra classes for children as it greatly helped to keep them learning.
“Most of the time it’s play, play and play, especially during vacation and I believe the extra classes help keep them occupied and its good for academic work also,” she said.
Mr Abeiku Baiden, also a teacher, said there was no way teachers could fully complete syllabus without conducting extra classes for the children.
He noted that the curricula were currently choked and that made the conduction of extra classes crucial for effective academic work.
Ms Gordon, a reporter, said considering the already deteriorating standards of education and the poor performance of students at examinations, even with the conduct of extra classes, a cancellation was sure to negatively affect the performance of students.
Opanyin Yaw, a parent, however, was happy with the cancellation of extra classes and noted that some teachers just abused the situation.
“Some kingdergarten pupils are made to sing rain, rain go away and are charged heavily because they are attending extra classes, how?, he queried.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
CONFLICTS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NORTHERN GHANA ...Views from panellists in Wa (MIRROR, PAGE 27)
CHRIS ALALBILA
ACTING REGIONAL
MANAGER, GHANA BROADCASTING
CORPORATION (GBC)
There is no doubt that conflict has impacted negatively on the development of the three northern regions of the country. It is also true that under-development has also contributed to the emergence of the conflicts. This is because the people of the three regions see themselves as underdogs, especially so, when people posted here to work refuse to come.
Such attitude gives the impression that the northern parts of the country are no-go areas, and the people wonder why this is so. At times some people transferred to the northern parts of the country even see such transfers as punishment from their superiors.
I think that part of the solution to conflicts in northern Ghana is for successive governments to develop all the roads linking the three regions to the rest of the country. As Ghanaians, we are first and foremost one people with a common destiny and so it is important that interaction between the peoples of northern Ghana and the rest of the country is encouraged so we would all see ourselves as part of the country.
On a more serious note, the underdevelopment of the northern regions is a major contributory factor to the number of conflicts the area experiences. In the Upper West region for instance, more than half of the population is believed to be living outside the region because of poverty.
I think that if indeed we want to nip this canker in the bud, then the authorities of the state must come clear with strategies to tackle the problems and resolve these conflicts once and for all.
Adombiri-Naba ViviaN
Student, University for Development Studies, Wa Campus
Those of us who come from northern Ghana always feel very disturbed when the area comes up for discussion, because it is always about conflicts. I am hoping for a day when I will listen to radio or any news item to hear that some investors have come to build a factory and have employed some of the youth in the area. This is what we want and not the persistent talk about fighting. It’s a bother really.
Many a time these conflicts are about chieftaincy, religion or disagreement between two or more ethnic groups. Sadly, we the indigenes tend to forget that we are one people. We have ethnic groups such as the Dagarbas from Upper West and the Frafras from Upper East who are closely related.
Therefore, hardly would one ever see a Dagarba and a Frafra fighting or quarrelling. It is the same with some other ethnic groups and so I think we have to take a cue from some of these practices and friendships that have been nurtured since time immemorial so that we would live in peace and harmony.
With respect to the chieftaincy institution, I am of the opinion that the various chieftaincy secretariats will have be adequately resourced so they could begin tracing the lineage of the various clans in order to come up with the right heirs to occupy the various skins.
The chiefs must also ensure proper documentation of those lineages and I am convinced that when this is done many of these conflicts would be resolved. When the people lose faith in their leaders it tends to breed conflict and I think such instances ought to be checked in order to make sure that we get the right people to lead us. When this is done the youth in particular would learn from their leaders and ensure to make the three northern regions a conflict-free area in the country.
SNR INSPECTOR DIVINE AHUMAH OCANSEY, GHANA IMMIGRATION
SERVICE (GIS), WA
The lack of communication has been a very major factor when we talk of conflicts in northern Ghana. I consider the lack communication as a major contributor to conflicts because even as we speak now, people of northern Ghana do not know what is happening in the south, particularly in Accra.
As a result the least rumour that appears in the press about the north is believed to be true and this invariably leads to confusion because facts have been distorted.
Take the news that went round after the elections that some ethnic groups were being attacked in some parts of Accra for instance. In a case like this if you hear that your kith and kin are being attacked in Accra, you might also begin to attack people of other ethnic groups without first ascertaining the truth.
As a matter of fact, we need more radio stations including other mediums of communications to sensitise the people and educate them on the need to be law-abiding. There is also the need for a national forum to deliberate on such situations because conflicts have now become synonymous with the northern part of the country which we have to deal with.
One other problem that fuels conflict in the North has to do with the lack of job opportunities which leads to idleness especially among the youth in the area. In situations like this any confrontation leads to confusion which in many instances spread into conflicts and affect large areas.
FAUSTINA NANKURI
TEACHER, CHARIA CATHOLIC PRIMARY B
A lot has been said over the years about conflicts in the three northern regions and for me I think our leaders, particularly those from the three northern regions, be they parliamentarians, chiefs, and opinion leaders, would all have to come together and constitute a think tank made up of all shades of opinion.
The group so formed from the respective regions would work to identify the root causes of some of these conflicts, the areas where these conflicts usually occur, as well as map out mechanisms that would be used to address some of these problems.
As a matter of fact Ghana has come of age and, therefore, I expect the people of the three northern regions to have fellow-feeling for one another, educate our children, ensure that factories are built and hospitals put up among others. These for me are the things that we should be channelling our energies to rather than engaging our own blood brothers and sisters in conflicts that at the end of the day do not bring any form of development to our people.
With the vast expanse of land lying across the length and breadth of these three regions, a lot could be done to improve the lot of the people if we begin to believe in ourselves by taking bold initiatives. We must support the government and try and drum home the basic problems that we face and seek for assistance.
Northern Ghana apart from being at the receiving end of some colonial legacies, is still marking time because we as a people seem not to have identified our priorities. We keep crying out loud about poverty, but then, instead of trying to find requisite solutions to eradicate poverty from the regions we are rather fighting over things that for me are sometimes very trivial and non-existent.
As people from northern Ghana, we have to live up to expectation by solving our own problems and I believe that if we cannot, no body else can.
ACP AUGUSTINE
GYENING
DEPUTY UPPER WEST REGIONAL POLICE
COMMANDER
Conflicts have retarded the progress of the three northern regions, especially the Northern and the Upper East regions. A case in point is the situation in Bawku. The elders in these regions must begin to talk to the people who foment trouble and educate them on the need to make conscious effort for peaceful co-existence.
It is important that the people are made to know the consequences of their actions. At the moment the government spends so much money on peacekeeping just to ensure that there is sanity in the conflict areas. The people must know that all the money being spent on the maintenance of peace could have been used for development projects to benefit them in several ways rather than on peacekeeping missions.
The axe must be made to fall heavily on fomenters of conflicts to serve as deterrent to others who harbour such ill motives. Perpetrators must be treated as criminals and made to face the full rigours of the law. Indeed, they must not be given any form of protection at all. By so doing, I am sure that all others who have become obstacles and are thwarting efforts to make northern Ghana a peaceful place would be weeded out for peace to prevail.
GEORGE TAGOE
REGIONAL MANAGER, GHANA IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (GIDA)
Conflicts bring about insecurity and inadequate use of resources. All the cases of malnutrition and maternal and infant mortality situations which are high in these regions are invariably due to the existence of conflicts. For instance, pregnant women cannot visit the hospitals to receive attention while farmers and market women can also not go about their activities to increase food production.
I think it is about time institutions and other non-governmental organisations which deal with conflict situations, especially the National Commission for Civic Education adequately (NCCE), were assisted and resourced to continuously sensitise the people of the three northern regions on the repercussions of conflicts.
They must also be educated on grievance resolution and adviced to desist from attacking perceived opponents. In my view, the people of northern Ghana ought to take a cue from what is happening in other parts of the continent and always endeavour to give peace a chance. It is important that we insulate children from these conflicts, otherwise they may grow up seeing people of other ethnic, clan or religious groups as enemies.
Northern Ghana has a lot of potential and I am convinced that given the right conditions, the area could attract more investments.
ACTING REGIONAL
MANAGER, GHANA BROADCASTING
CORPORATION (GBC)
There is no doubt that conflict has impacted negatively on the development of the three northern regions of the country. It is also true that under-development has also contributed to the emergence of the conflicts. This is because the people of the three regions see themselves as underdogs, especially so, when people posted here to work refuse to come.
Such attitude gives the impression that the northern parts of the country are no-go areas, and the people wonder why this is so. At times some people transferred to the northern parts of the country even see such transfers as punishment from their superiors.
I think that part of the solution to conflicts in northern Ghana is for successive governments to develop all the roads linking the three regions to the rest of the country. As Ghanaians, we are first and foremost one people with a common destiny and so it is important that interaction between the peoples of northern Ghana and the rest of the country is encouraged so we would all see ourselves as part of the country.
On a more serious note, the underdevelopment of the northern regions is a major contributory factor to the number of conflicts the area experiences. In the Upper West region for instance, more than half of the population is believed to be living outside the region because of poverty.
I think that if indeed we want to nip this canker in the bud, then the authorities of the state must come clear with strategies to tackle the problems and resolve these conflicts once and for all.
Adombiri-Naba ViviaN
Student, University for Development Studies, Wa Campus
Those of us who come from northern Ghana always feel very disturbed when the area comes up for discussion, because it is always about conflicts. I am hoping for a day when I will listen to radio or any news item to hear that some investors have come to build a factory and have employed some of the youth in the area. This is what we want and not the persistent talk about fighting. It’s a bother really.
Many a time these conflicts are about chieftaincy, religion or disagreement between two or more ethnic groups. Sadly, we the indigenes tend to forget that we are one people. We have ethnic groups such as the Dagarbas from Upper West and the Frafras from Upper East who are closely related.
Therefore, hardly would one ever see a Dagarba and a Frafra fighting or quarrelling. It is the same with some other ethnic groups and so I think we have to take a cue from some of these practices and friendships that have been nurtured since time immemorial so that we would live in peace and harmony.
With respect to the chieftaincy institution, I am of the opinion that the various chieftaincy secretariats will have be adequately resourced so they could begin tracing the lineage of the various clans in order to come up with the right heirs to occupy the various skins.
The chiefs must also ensure proper documentation of those lineages and I am convinced that when this is done many of these conflicts would be resolved. When the people lose faith in their leaders it tends to breed conflict and I think such instances ought to be checked in order to make sure that we get the right people to lead us. When this is done the youth in particular would learn from their leaders and ensure to make the three northern regions a conflict-free area in the country.
SNR INSPECTOR DIVINE AHUMAH OCANSEY, GHANA IMMIGRATION
SERVICE (GIS), WA
The lack of communication has been a very major factor when we talk of conflicts in northern Ghana. I consider the lack communication as a major contributor to conflicts because even as we speak now, people of northern Ghana do not know what is happening in the south, particularly in Accra.
As a result the least rumour that appears in the press about the north is believed to be true and this invariably leads to confusion because facts have been distorted.
Take the news that went round after the elections that some ethnic groups were being attacked in some parts of Accra for instance. In a case like this if you hear that your kith and kin are being attacked in Accra, you might also begin to attack people of other ethnic groups without first ascertaining the truth.
As a matter of fact, we need more radio stations including other mediums of communications to sensitise the people and educate them on the need to be law-abiding. There is also the need for a national forum to deliberate on such situations because conflicts have now become synonymous with the northern part of the country which we have to deal with.
One other problem that fuels conflict in the North has to do with the lack of job opportunities which leads to idleness especially among the youth in the area. In situations like this any confrontation leads to confusion which in many instances spread into conflicts and affect large areas.
FAUSTINA NANKURI
TEACHER, CHARIA CATHOLIC PRIMARY B
A lot has been said over the years about conflicts in the three northern regions and for me I think our leaders, particularly those from the three northern regions, be they parliamentarians, chiefs, and opinion leaders, would all have to come together and constitute a think tank made up of all shades of opinion.
The group so formed from the respective regions would work to identify the root causes of some of these conflicts, the areas where these conflicts usually occur, as well as map out mechanisms that would be used to address some of these problems.
As a matter of fact Ghana has come of age and, therefore, I expect the people of the three northern regions to have fellow-feeling for one another, educate our children, ensure that factories are built and hospitals put up among others. These for me are the things that we should be channelling our energies to rather than engaging our own blood brothers and sisters in conflicts that at the end of the day do not bring any form of development to our people.
With the vast expanse of land lying across the length and breadth of these three regions, a lot could be done to improve the lot of the people if we begin to believe in ourselves by taking bold initiatives. We must support the government and try and drum home the basic problems that we face and seek for assistance.
Northern Ghana apart from being at the receiving end of some colonial legacies, is still marking time because we as a people seem not to have identified our priorities. We keep crying out loud about poverty, but then, instead of trying to find requisite solutions to eradicate poverty from the regions we are rather fighting over things that for me are sometimes very trivial and non-existent.
As people from northern Ghana, we have to live up to expectation by solving our own problems and I believe that if we cannot, no body else can.
ACP AUGUSTINE
GYENING
DEPUTY UPPER WEST REGIONAL POLICE
COMMANDER
Conflicts have retarded the progress of the three northern regions, especially the Northern and the Upper East regions. A case in point is the situation in Bawku. The elders in these regions must begin to talk to the people who foment trouble and educate them on the need to make conscious effort for peaceful co-existence.
It is important that the people are made to know the consequences of their actions. At the moment the government spends so much money on peacekeeping just to ensure that there is sanity in the conflict areas. The people must know that all the money being spent on the maintenance of peace could have been used for development projects to benefit them in several ways rather than on peacekeeping missions.
The axe must be made to fall heavily on fomenters of conflicts to serve as deterrent to others who harbour such ill motives. Perpetrators must be treated as criminals and made to face the full rigours of the law. Indeed, they must not be given any form of protection at all. By so doing, I am sure that all others who have become obstacles and are thwarting efforts to make northern Ghana a peaceful place would be weeded out for peace to prevail.
GEORGE TAGOE
REGIONAL MANAGER, GHANA IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (GIDA)
Conflicts bring about insecurity and inadequate use of resources. All the cases of malnutrition and maternal and infant mortality situations which are high in these regions are invariably due to the existence of conflicts. For instance, pregnant women cannot visit the hospitals to receive attention while farmers and market women can also not go about their activities to increase food production.
I think it is about time institutions and other non-governmental organisations which deal with conflict situations, especially the National Commission for Civic Education adequately (NCCE), were assisted and resourced to continuously sensitise the people of the three northern regions on the repercussions of conflicts.
They must also be educated on grievance resolution and adviced to desist from attacking perceived opponents. In my view, the people of northern Ghana ought to take a cue from what is happening in other parts of the continent and always endeavour to give peace a chance. It is important that we insulate children from these conflicts, otherwise they may grow up seeing people of other ethnic, clan or religious groups as enemies.
Northern Ghana has a lot of potential and I am convinced that given the right conditions, the area could attract more investments.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
ALL IS SET FOR JIRAPA BY-ELECTION TODAY (PAGE 15)
All is set for a free, fair and transparent by-election in the Jirapa Constituency today.
The Jirapa District Electoral Officer, Mr Jackson Annoh, said all the necessary electoral materials, including ballot papers and boxes were intact and in the custody of the police.
These, he said, would be transported with the consent of representatives of the participating political parties to the respective polling centres early this morning.
Relatedly, the police administration has also deployed a contingent of 200 officers to maintain the peace at the Jirapa Constituency during today’s by-election.
This, he explained, was to ensure a smooth election.
Mr Jackson Annoh allayed any fears of shortage of materials, saying, “the Electoral Commission (EC) was up to the task”.
He called on all eligible voters in the constituency to come out in their numbers and vote, pointing out that the by-elections was very significant in the country’s democratic dispensation.
Mr Annoh further stressed the need for the electorate to be law abiding during the process and said that would add up to the successful organisation of the by-elections.
The Deputy Upper West Regional Police Commander, ACP Augustine Gyening, who was speaking to the Daily Graphic, said apart from the police personnel who would be dispatched to all the polling centres, other security operatives would be patrolling the constituency while some would be on standby.
He advised the electorate to go out early and cast their votes peacefully while abiding by all the election rules and regulations.
Meanwhile, the Jirapa Constituency has been besieged by party stalwarts, especially national executive and Members of Parliament (MP)’s from the two main political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as they canvassed for votes in the round up to today’s election.
The Jirapa District Electoral Officer, Mr Jackson Annoh, said all the necessary electoral materials, including ballot papers and boxes were intact and in the custody of the police.
These, he said, would be transported with the consent of representatives of the participating political parties to the respective polling centres early this morning.
Relatedly, the police administration has also deployed a contingent of 200 officers to maintain the peace at the Jirapa Constituency during today’s by-election.
This, he explained, was to ensure a smooth election.
Mr Jackson Annoh allayed any fears of shortage of materials, saying, “the Electoral Commission (EC) was up to the task”.
He called on all eligible voters in the constituency to come out in their numbers and vote, pointing out that the by-elections was very significant in the country’s democratic dispensation.
Mr Annoh further stressed the need for the electorate to be law abiding during the process and said that would add up to the successful organisation of the by-elections.
The Deputy Upper West Regional Police Commander, ACP Augustine Gyening, who was speaking to the Daily Graphic, said apart from the police personnel who would be dispatched to all the polling centres, other security operatives would be patrolling the constituency while some would be on standby.
He advised the electorate to go out early and cast their votes peacefully while abiding by all the election rules and regulations.
Meanwhile, the Jirapa Constituency has been besieged by party stalwarts, especially national executive and Members of Parliament (MP)’s from the two main political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as they canvassed for votes in the round up to today’s election.
Monday, April 6, 2009
WHO'LL JIRAPA NEXT MP?...NDC's Dakura or NPP's Dakorah (LEAD STORY)
THE ‘battle’ of the ‘Dakoras’ will take place in the Jirapa Constituency in the Upper West Region tomorrow when Dr France Bawaana Dakura of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) locks horns with his name sake, Mr Justin Dakorah of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), in a by-election to find a replacement for the vacant parliamentary seat.
The other candidate, Ms Joyce Angsiema, who is contesting on the ticket of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), is only adding to the numbers, as her candidature is not being felt at all as a result of what she claims to be lack of support from her party.
That notwithstanding, the odds seem to favour the NDC candidate. However, the NPP candidate is very upbeat and determined to cause a stir and win the seat.
About 27,680 eligible voters are expected to decide the fate of the two leading candidates in the election to be conducted in all 105 polling centres in the constituency.
Since the 1992 general election, the constituency has been a no-go area for the NPP.
For instance, in the 2004 elections, the NDC obtained 15,000 votes, while the NPP had a little over 6,000. Things did not change much in the recently held 2008 elections as the NDC again had a little over 12,000 votes as against 6,000 for the NPP. That was in spite of the fact that the late MP, Edward Salia, was on sick bed and could not campaign.
That explains how deep the NDC is rooted in the constituency.
It is worth noting that the NPP had all along tried to use the name of the late Chief S. D. Dombo of Duori, a stalwart of the Danquah-Busia tradition, to whip up support from the people, yet nothing significant had come out of that.
With the exception of Duori, which is the home town of Chief Dombo, the NPP has not fared well in the other major towns in the constituency, such as Han, Jirapa, Chapuri, among others.
Even in the era of “Operation Restore Heritage” which was vigorously embarked upon by the NPP, it could not capture that powerful seat.
Several interactions with people in the constituency indicated that the late MP devoted his life to the development of the constituency.
They are of the opinion that during his tenure as the Minister for Transport, he opened up the constituency with good roads, making it perhaps one of the best connected areas in the Upper West Region.
Furthermore, the people believe that the only tribute they could pay to the late MP is to vote for the NDC candidate to continue from where Salia left off.
As of the time of filing this report, Jirapa was bubbling with party activities, with the NDC holding what it called the “Tsunami victory rally”.
For its part, the NPP decided to embark on a house-to-house campaign.
According to the NPP Upper West Regional Youth Organiser, Mr Hafiz Bin Salih, the party’s candidate had already marketed himself very well and was confident that he would get the nod of the people to represent them.
He called on the people to consider the development the NPP candidate brought to Jirapa when he was the district chief executive (DCE) for the area and vote for him.
For his part, the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Caesar Kale, called on all NDC supporters nation-wide to start jubilating, since victory was a foregone conclusion.
The other candidate, Ms Joyce Angsiema, who is contesting on the ticket of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), is only adding to the numbers, as her candidature is not being felt at all as a result of what she claims to be lack of support from her party.
That notwithstanding, the odds seem to favour the NDC candidate. However, the NPP candidate is very upbeat and determined to cause a stir and win the seat.
About 27,680 eligible voters are expected to decide the fate of the two leading candidates in the election to be conducted in all 105 polling centres in the constituency.
Since the 1992 general election, the constituency has been a no-go area for the NPP.
For instance, in the 2004 elections, the NDC obtained 15,000 votes, while the NPP had a little over 6,000. Things did not change much in the recently held 2008 elections as the NDC again had a little over 12,000 votes as against 6,000 for the NPP. That was in spite of the fact that the late MP, Edward Salia, was on sick bed and could not campaign.
That explains how deep the NDC is rooted in the constituency.
It is worth noting that the NPP had all along tried to use the name of the late Chief S. D. Dombo of Duori, a stalwart of the Danquah-Busia tradition, to whip up support from the people, yet nothing significant had come out of that.
With the exception of Duori, which is the home town of Chief Dombo, the NPP has not fared well in the other major towns in the constituency, such as Han, Jirapa, Chapuri, among others.
Even in the era of “Operation Restore Heritage” which was vigorously embarked upon by the NPP, it could not capture that powerful seat.
Several interactions with people in the constituency indicated that the late MP devoted his life to the development of the constituency.
They are of the opinion that during his tenure as the Minister for Transport, he opened up the constituency with good roads, making it perhaps one of the best connected areas in the Upper West Region.
Furthermore, the people believe that the only tribute they could pay to the late MP is to vote for the NDC candidate to continue from where Salia left off.
As of the time of filing this report, Jirapa was bubbling with party activities, with the NDC holding what it called the “Tsunami victory rally”.
For its part, the NPP decided to embark on a house-to-house campaign.
According to the NPP Upper West Regional Youth Organiser, Mr Hafiz Bin Salih, the party’s candidate had already marketed himself very well and was confident that he would get the nod of the people to represent them.
He called on the people to consider the development the NPP candidate brought to Jirapa when he was the district chief executive (DCE) for the area and vote for him.
For his part, the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Caesar Kale, called on all NDC supporters nation-wide to start jubilating, since victory was a foregone conclusion.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
EXPERTS URGED TO STUDY TREND OF DISASTERS (PAGE 20)
A FORMER Chief Disaster Control Officer of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in the Upper West Region, Mr Kwaku Mbawine, has urged geography experts to study the trend of disasters in the country.
He has also proposed the development of hazards maps by NADMO to bring to the fore all disaster-prone areas in the country.
Speaking at a three-day workshop on emergency preparedness for selected staff of the Ghana Education Service (GES) in Wa, Mr Mbawine said disasters could be man-made or natural causes which ought to be tackled as such.
He, has therefore, called for the proper co-ordination of the activities of stakeholders in disaster management in the country, saying, “It is time all the respective institutions were brought on board to deal with disasters in the country”.
“The Ministries of Defence, Health, Education, Food and Agriculture, among others have roles to play in mitigating disasters when they occur,” he stated.
Speaking on the topic: “Disaster management in Ghana”, Mr Mbawine said as a body which deals with disasters, NADMO must liaise with the relevant institutions and the security agencies to draw up a comprehensive programme on disaster management.
“The frequent supply of relief items make people believe that managing disasters is all about items to disaster victims,” he stated.
Mr Mbawine further proposed that a disaster management institute be established to train people who would in turn inculcate in others the tenets of disaster management.
He said Act 517, which established the NADMO, had no enforcement powers, stressing that “A new Act must be promulgated to bring the activities of NADMO in line with contemporary practices”.
Mr Mbawine said the Act must empower NADMO legally to enable it to enforce decisions affecting the management of disasters across the country.
He has also proposed the development of hazards maps by NADMO to bring to the fore all disaster-prone areas in the country.
Speaking at a three-day workshop on emergency preparedness for selected staff of the Ghana Education Service (GES) in Wa, Mr Mbawine said disasters could be man-made or natural causes which ought to be tackled as such.
He, has therefore, called for the proper co-ordination of the activities of stakeholders in disaster management in the country, saying, “It is time all the respective institutions were brought on board to deal with disasters in the country”.
“The Ministries of Defence, Health, Education, Food and Agriculture, among others have roles to play in mitigating disasters when they occur,” he stated.
Speaking on the topic: “Disaster management in Ghana”, Mr Mbawine said as a body which deals with disasters, NADMO must liaise with the relevant institutions and the security agencies to draw up a comprehensive programme on disaster management.
“The frequent supply of relief items make people believe that managing disasters is all about items to disaster victims,” he stated.
Mr Mbawine further proposed that a disaster management institute be established to train people who would in turn inculcate in others the tenets of disaster management.
He said Act 517, which established the NADMO, had no enforcement powers, stressing that “A new Act must be promulgated to bring the activities of NADMO in line with contemporary practices”.
Mr Mbawine said the Act must empower NADMO legally to enable it to enforce decisions affecting the management of disasters across the country.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
WOMEN LEADERS UNDERGO TRAINING (PAGE 11)
OPINION leaders from the three northern regions have selected some traditional women leaders to undergo a capacity-building training programme.
The participants were made up of influential and hardworking women who are expected to translate the knowledge acquired at the training programme into national development.
The programme, organised by the Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Organisation Department (CIKOD), a non-governmental organisation, is aimed at bringing more women from the northern part of the country on board to support their male counterparts in the development of their region and the country as a whole.
The training programme was on the theme ‘Traditional leadership, gender and conflict management’ and was organised by CIKOD, with support from the Monrad Adenaur Foundation.
The Executive Director of CIKOD, Mr Ben Guri, said his outfit took a cue from the role queens in the south were playing to complement the efforts of the chiefs in their traditional areas.
He expressed the hope that more women from the northern part of the country would be empowered to take up more challenging responsibilities.
Prof. Stephen Kendie of the Centre for Continuing Education and Interdisciplinary Research (CRIER) at the Navrongo campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS) stressed the need for a strong relationship between traditional leaders and the district assemblies, since both needed to make inputs towards development issues.
He also spoke about the attitude of some men in the north towards women, adding, “In our part of the country any time women begin to talk, then there is a problem.”. He said leaders in northern Ghana ought to institute measures to keep more girls in school.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, said the training of the women would equip them with enough skills to effectively participate in local governance.
He said conflicts were tearing the cultural heritage of the people apart, and therefore it was important that they were properly managed.
Mr Khalid mentioned in particular the effects of conflict on the chieftaincy institution, and said people who fomented conflicts must not be allowed to do that with impunity.
He equally urged people not to hesitate to expose all those who fomented trouble, stressing that they must not hide behind ethnicity, religion or chieftaincy to cause trouble.
Mr Khalid also gave a hint of his decision to bring on board very knowledgeable people from the region to act as a think tank to draft a comprehensive development agenda for the region.
The participants were made up of influential and hardworking women who are expected to translate the knowledge acquired at the training programme into national development.
The programme, organised by the Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Organisation Department (CIKOD), a non-governmental organisation, is aimed at bringing more women from the northern part of the country on board to support their male counterparts in the development of their region and the country as a whole.
The training programme was on the theme ‘Traditional leadership, gender and conflict management’ and was organised by CIKOD, with support from the Monrad Adenaur Foundation.
The Executive Director of CIKOD, Mr Ben Guri, said his outfit took a cue from the role queens in the south were playing to complement the efforts of the chiefs in their traditional areas.
He expressed the hope that more women from the northern part of the country would be empowered to take up more challenging responsibilities.
Prof. Stephen Kendie of the Centre for Continuing Education and Interdisciplinary Research (CRIER) at the Navrongo campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS) stressed the need for a strong relationship between traditional leaders and the district assemblies, since both needed to make inputs towards development issues.
He also spoke about the attitude of some men in the north towards women, adding, “In our part of the country any time women begin to talk, then there is a problem.”. He said leaders in northern Ghana ought to institute measures to keep more girls in school.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, said the training of the women would equip them with enough skills to effectively participate in local governance.
He said conflicts were tearing the cultural heritage of the people apart, and therefore it was important that they were properly managed.
Mr Khalid mentioned in particular the effects of conflict on the chieftaincy institution, and said people who fomented conflicts must not be allowed to do that with impunity.
He equally urged people not to hesitate to expose all those who fomented trouble, stressing that they must not hide behind ethnicity, religion or chieftaincy to cause trouble.
Mr Khalid also gave a hint of his decision to bring on board very knowledgeable people from the region to act as a think tank to draft a comprehensive development agenda for the region.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
SALE OF FUEL IN CONTAINERS BANNED IN UWR (PAGE 21)
THE Upper West Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has with immediate effect banned the sale of petroleum products with the exception of Kerosene above 4.5 litres in containers or in drums.
The ban follows the abnormal rise in the usage of those products in the region.
At an emergency REGSEC meeting convened in Wa last Monday with representatives of the Oil Marketing Companies(OMCs), the Chairman of the REGSEC and Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, said there was enough evidence to suspect that petroleum products transported into the region were being smuggled into neighbouring countries by some selfish individuals.
He said the use of petrol and diesel in the region had more than doubled since the reduction of prices of petroleum products last month.
To this end, Mr Khalid advised representatives of the OMCs to co-operate with the REGSEC in its determination to curb the smuggling of the products into neighbouring countries.
The directive is coming on the heels of a similar decision by the Upper East REGSEC about a week ago.
Throwing more light on the situation, Mr Khalid mentioned Gwollu and Tumu in the Sissala West and Sissala East districts as well as Hamile in the Lambussie Karni district as the main points through which the products were smuggled outside the country.
“At Gwollu for instance, sometimes fuel is discharged by 10 a.m. and by 2 p.m., the petrol attendants claim there is no fuel, meanwhile we all know the number of the vehicle population in the area”, he noted with concern.
He, however, directed that all institutions which found it necessary to buy fuel in drums and other containers to obtain chits from the respective districts assemblies or the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) to be able to do so.
Mr Khalid called for vigilance on the part of security agencies, especially at the borders with neighbouring countries, hinting that a regional task force compromising representatives from the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), the police and the RCC would be constituted to oversee the discharge and sale of petroleum products in the municipality.
The regional minister said, similar task forces comprising representatives from the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) and the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) would be formed, especially within the border towns and at the district levels.
“We cannot allow some selfish individuals to smuggle the petrol and diesel into neighbouring countries; this is taxpayers’ money,” the regional minister emphasised.
The ban follows the abnormal rise in the usage of those products in the region.
At an emergency REGSEC meeting convened in Wa last Monday with representatives of the Oil Marketing Companies(OMCs), the Chairman of the REGSEC and Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, said there was enough evidence to suspect that petroleum products transported into the region were being smuggled into neighbouring countries by some selfish individuals.
He said the use of petrol and diesel in the region had more than doubled since the reduction of prices of petroleum products last month.
To this end, Mr Khalid advised representatives of the OMCs to co-operate with the REGSEC in its determination to curb the smuggling of the products into neighbouring countries.
The directive is coming on the heels of a similar decision by the Upper East REGSEC about a week ago.
Throwing more light on the situation, Mr Khalid mentioned Gwollu and Tumu in the Sissala West and Sissala East districts as well as Hamile in the Lambussie Karni district as the main points through which the products were smuggled outside the country.
“At Gwollu for instance, sometimes fuel is discharged by 10 a.m. and by 2 p.m., the petrol attendants claim there is no fuel, meanwhile we all know the number of the vehicle population in the area”, he noted with concern.
He, however, directed that all institutions which found it necessary to buy fuel in drums and other containers to obtain chits from the respective districts assemblies or the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) to be able to do so.
Mr Khalid called for vigilance on the part of security agencies, especially at the borders with neighbouring countries, hinting that a regional task force compromising representatives from the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), the police and the RCC would be constituted to oversee the discharge and sale of petroleum products in the municipality.
The regional minister said, similar task forces comprising representatives from the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) and the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) would be formed, especially within the border towns and at the district levels.
“We cannot allow some selfish individuals to smuggle the petrol and diesel into neighbouring countries; this is taxpayers’ money,” the regional minister emphasised.
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