THE Wa police have arrested an alleged notorious armed robber who has been terrorising and robbing travellers in the Wa Municipality at dawn.
The suspect, Hamidu Issahaque alias Whiskey, 34, was said to have attacked his last victim in the early hours of last Wednesday, when the victim was standing on the shoulder of the road near the Metro Mass Transit (MMT) station waiting to board a taxi.
The Upper West Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Alex Bedie, who briefed the Daily Graphic, said Issahaque together with another accomplice at large, used an unregistered motorbike in their operations.
He said in the latest robbery, the suspect and his accomplice approached their victim and even before the victim could utter a word, he (Issahaque) gave the victim some slaps.
ACP Bedie said Issahaque immediately ordered the victim to surrender his mobile phone, money and other belongings but some police personnel who had laid ambush nearby quickly rushed to the aid of the victim and Issahaque was arrested in the process.
He added that the motorbike had also been impounded.
ACP Bedie said upon interrogation, Issahaque admitted being the brain behind four of such reported robberies in the municipality in the last few months.
He said when the suspect was searched, the police found a locally manufactured pistol and live cartridges on him.
The regional commander said following persistent complaints of robberies in the municipality, the police intensified their patrols in the night and also mounted surveillance in some of the spots suspected to be hideouts for criminals.
He said it was during the exercise that Issahaque was apprehended when he was in the process of robbing a traveller early Wednesday morning.
He said preliminary investigations by the police revealed that another robbery case involving the suspects was pending in a court in Wa.
According to him, after the criminals had been granted bail by the court, they went back to continue with their nefarious activities.
In a related development, ACP Bedie said the police had arrested another suspected armed robber, Unbulm Kuntuanaa, a 40-year-old farmer, who was suspected to have been robbing people in the Wa Municipality.
He said when his room was searched, the police found two single-barrelled guns, two locally manufactured pistols and a quantity of leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.
ACP Bedie said Kuntuanaa claimed ownership of one of the single-barrelled guns and the two pistols and said one of the guns belonged to his father, which he exchanged for a goat from someone he could not identify.
He said the two suspects were in custody pending further investigations.
Meanwhile, the Regional Crime Officer, DSP Wisdom Lawoe, has sent a strong warning to suspected criminals in the region to reform because the police were taking the war to them.
DSP Lawoe said the exercise was still ongoing and that the police would not live anything to chance until they were satisfied that the crime situation had reduced drastically.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
COLLABORATION BETWEEN ASSEMBLIES AND NGOS NECESSARY (PAGE 20, FEB 23, 2010)
THE Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, has called for effective collaboration between non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the various district assemblies if the NGOs were to make their impact felt in society.
He said many of the district assemblies lacked resources and were overburdened and as such there was the need for NGOs operating in the respective districts to liaise with them in order to achieve the desired results.
Mr Khalid said this when the Country Director of Plan Ghana, an international child centred NGO, Mr Samuel Paulos, called on him at his office in Wa.
He commended Plan Ghana for supporting the development efforts of the region over the years and appealed to the organisation to possibly expand their scope of operation to cover more people, adding “Deprived communities are not only in the villages, but also in the urban centres.”
Mr Paulos, for his part, said his outfit was committed to its interventions and programmes and therefore needed the support of all stakeholders to make their programmes as effective as possible.
He also expressed appreciation to the RCC for its support over the years, and hinted that Plan Ghana would soon commission its new community radio station at Tumu, the Sissala East District capital.
He said many of the district assemblies lacked resources and were overburdened and as such there was the need for NGOs operating in the respective districts to liaise with them in order to achieve the desired results.
Mr Khalid said this when the Country Director of Plan Ghana, an international child centred NGO, Mr Samuel Paulos, called on him at his office in Wa.
He commended Plan Ghana for supporting the development efforts of the region over the years and appealed to the organisation to possibly expand their scope of operation to cover more people, adding “Deprived communities are not only in the villages, but also in the urban centres.”
Mr Paulos, for his part, said his outfit was committed to its interventions and programmes and therefore needed the support of all stakeholders to make their programmes as effective as possible.
He also expressed appreciation to the RCC for its support over the years, and hinted that Plan Ghana would soon commission its new community radio station at Tumu, the Sissala East District capital.
RCC WORRIED ABOUT SEWING SCHOOL UNIFORMS IN ACCRA (PAGE 20, FEB 23, 2010)
THE Upper West Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) has expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which contracts for the sewing of the free school uniforms were awarded in Accra.
It said there were equally good and qualified tailors and seamstresses in the region who could also do the job.
To this end, the Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, gave a hint that the RCC would forward a strongly worded memorandum to the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to impress upon them to revise the policy of always awarding contracts in Accra.
Addressing a meeting of the RCC in Wa, Mr Khalid said, “This country was supposed to be decentralised about 20 years ago and therefore the practice where things were done elsewhere for the beneficiaries to be at the receiving end was unacceptable.”
“We have good tailors and seamstresses here who can equally do this job to create employment opportunities for our people,” he said.
On the number of districts which are to benefit from the free school uniforms and why those districts were selected as deprived, the regional minister was again not happy that the selection was done in Accra.
The districts are Nadowli, Jirapa and the Lambussie-Karni.
The Upper West Region is to benefit from 1,149 school uniforms, with each of the three selected districts receiving 383 pieces.
Touching on some of the school infrastructural projects the region stood to benefit, Mr Khalid said funds had already been released by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETfund) for the upgrading of facilities in a number of Senior High Schools (SHS) in the region, including the Kaleo SHS, Wa Senior High/Technical and a proposed new SHS in the Wa East District.
He added that a new library complex for the region was also in the offing.
For his part, the Regional Director of Education, Mr Fabian Belieb, catalogued a number of interventions his outfit was initiating to improve on the quality of education in the region.
He said the region needed more teachers in the areas of mathematics, science and those with knowledge in Kindergarten methodology to give the children a very good foundation.
Mr Belieb also stressed a need for district assemblies in the region to institute incentive packages for teachers to entice and retain them in their respective communities, stressing that the districts should take a serious view about the teachers awards scheme.
That, he said, was imperative because many of the districts were not attaching special importance to the exercise.
On the performance of students in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), Mr Belieb expressed worry about the results of the last BECE in the region.
For that reason, he said henceforth, the office would institute a regional mock examination for all BECE candidates.
Mr Belieb also gave a hint of moves by his office to encourage reading and spelling among pupils and students, suggesting that Members of Parliament (MPs) must use part of their Common Fund to purchase reading materials for schools in their respective constituencies.
It said there were equally good and qualified tailors and seamstresses in the region who could also do the job.
To this end, the Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, gave a hint that the RCC would forward a strongly worded memorandum to the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to impress upon them to revise the policy of always awarding contracts in Accra.
Addressing a meeting of the RCC in Wa, Mr Khalid said, “This country was supposed to be decentralised about 20 years ago and therefore the practice where things were done elsewhere for the beneficiaries to be at the receiving end was unacceptable.”
“We have good tailors and seamstresses here who can equally do this job to create employment opportunities for our people,” he said.
On the number of districts which are to benefit from the free school uniforms and why those districts were selected as deprived, the regional minister was again not happy that the selection was done in Accra.
The districts are Nadowli, Jirapa and the Lambussie-Karni.
The Upper West Region is to benefit from 1,149 school uniforms, with each of the three selected districts receiving 383 pieces.
Touching on some of the school infrastructural projects the region stood to benefit, Mr Khalid said funds had already been released by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETfund) for the upgrading of facilities in a number of Senior High Schools (SHS) in the region, including the Kaleo SHS, Wa Senior High/Technical and a proposed new SHS in the Wa East District.
He added that a new library complex for the region was also in the offing.
For his part, the Regional Director of Education, Mr Fabian Belieb, catalogued a number of interventions his outfit was initiating to improve on the quality of education in the region.
He said the region needed more teachers in the areas of mathematics, science and those with knowledge in Kindergarten methodology to give the children a very good foundation.
Mr Belieb also stressed a need for district assemblies in the region to institute incentive packages for teachers to entice and retain them in their respective communities, stressing that the districts should take a serious view about the teachers awards scheme.
That, he said, was imperative because many of the districts were not attaching special importance to the exercise.
On the performance of students in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), Mr Belieb expressed worry about the results of the last BECE in the region.
For that reason, he said henceforth, the office would institute a regional mock examination for all BECE candidates.
Mr Belieb also gave a hint of moves by his office to encourage reading and spelling among pupils and students, suggesting that Members of Parliament (MPs) must use part of their Common Fund to purchase reading materials for schools in their respective constituencies.
NYEP LAUNCHES ICT MODULE IN WA (PAGE 20, FEB 23, 2010)
THE Information Communications Technology (ICT) module under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) has been launched in Wa, the Upper West Regional capital, with a call on the youth in the area to take advantage of the initiative to better their lot.
According to the Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, the programme was among other interventions initiated by the government to assist the beneficiaries to overcome their economic problems.
Launching the programme, the regional minister said the introduction of the ICT module sought to meet the hopes and aspirations of the nation's young people for them to be able to play their rightful roles in society.
He said the NYEP had so far employed 110,796 youth in the region, while over 800,000 youth had been registered nationwide, but were yet to be placed on the programme.
Mr Khalid said a total of 69,474 beneficiaries were currently on the programme's payroll.
He commended rLG communications, the organisation in charge of the ICT module, for its innovation and creativity which had led to the assembling of mobile telephones in the country.
The Deputy National Co-ordinator of the NYEP, Mr Ibrahim Alhassan, hinted that as part of efforts at promoting entrepreneurship among the youth in the country, a business proposal initiative would soon be implemented under the NYEP.
That, Mr Alhassan explained, would include selection of individual youth who would be trained and assisted with seed funds, logistics and also be mentored to set up their own businesses.
“A business development and advisory unit will also be commissioned as part of the NYEP so that any youth with the intention of setting up his or her own business could be assisted through counselling, support and mentoring,” he stated.
Mr Alhassan called on all stakeholders, including donor partners and NGOs to support the initiative.
The Project Co-ordinator of rLG Communications, Mr Fred Adetola, urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously.
He was hopeful that the ICT project would soon expand and lead to the creation of many job opportunities for more young people across the country.
According to the Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, the programme was among other interventions initiated by the government to assist the beneficiaries to overcome their economic problems.
Launching the programme, the regional minister said the introduction of the ICT module sought to meet the hopes and aspirations of the nation's young people for them to be able to play their rightful roles in society.
He said the NYEP had so far employed 110,796 youth in the region, while over 800,000 youth had been registered nationwide, but were yet to be placed on the programme.
Mr Khalid said a total of 69,474 beneficiaries were currently on the programme's payroll.
He commended rLG communications, the organisation in charge of the ICT module, for its innovation and creativity which had led to the assembling of mobile telephones in the country.
The Deputy National Co-ordinator of the NYEP, Mr Ibrahim Alhassan, hinted that as part of efforts at promoting entrepreneurship among the youth in the country, a business proposal initiative would soon be implemented under the NYEP.
That, Mr Alhassan explained, would include selection of individual youth who would be trained and assisted with seed funds, logistics and also be mentored to set up their own businesses.
“A business development and advisory unit will also be commissioned as part of the NYEP so that any youth with the intention of setting up his or her own business could be assisted through counselling, support and mentoring,” he stated.
Mr Alhassan called on all stakeholders, including donor partners and NGOs to support the initiative.
The Project Co-ordinator of rLG Communications, Mr Fred Adetola, urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously.
He was hopeful that the ICT project would soon expand and lead to the creation of many job opportunities for more young people across the country.
NADOWLI DISTRICT MAKES PROGRESS (PAGE 20, FEB 23, 2010)
THE Nadowli District in the Upper West Region has seen remarkable development in terms of provision of health and educational infrastructure as well as extension of water and other amenities to various communities within the district, barely a year after Mr Abu Kasangbata, the new District Chief Executive (DCE), took office.
The projects include construction of a mini office and store for the Ghana Education Service (GES) at the cost of GH¢17,004.56, which was also supported by the Member of Parliament (MP) of the area, construction of teachers quarters at Issa and Jolinyiri at the cost of GH¢42,049.01 and GH¢39, 457.64 respectively, construction of a number of Community Health Planning Services (CHPS) compounds and ancillaries.
Others are construction of small towns water supply systems at the cost of GH¢664,000, among other projects, all at the total cost of GH¢1,182,102.05.
It is worth noting that as part of efforts at eliminating poverty and improving upon the quality of life of the people in the rural areas, measures were adopted by successive governments to increase rural productivity, employment and other benefits to uplift their living conditions.
For these reasons, more districts were carved out of some old districts in order to facilitate the development process of the communities under them.
That led to the creation of many districts, one of which is the Nadowli District Assembly.
The District capital, Nadowli, which is about 40 kilometres away from the Upper West Regional capital, Wa, is bounded in the north by the Jirapa District and the south by the Wa Municipality.
On the eastern side of the district is the Sissala East District with fellow West African neighbour, Burkina Faso, to its west.
According to the 2000 Population and Housing Census, the Nadowli District had a population of 82,716, but the current population of the district is estimated to be around 94,671.
The district has two major ethnic groups, namely the Dagaabas and the Sissalas, most of whom are Christians of Catholic denomination. There are also some Moslems and a few African traditional believers.
Despite the religious differences of the people in the district, religious tolerance prevails among the people, thereby sustaining the peace in the area.
The district lies in the Guinea Savannah woodland and it is dominated by subsistence agriculture and petty trading. It also has economic trees ranging from baobab, kapok, mango and dawadawa, which have over the years, served as the sources of income for many households in the district, particularly women. These trees also provide employment for the people.
The district experiences more rains between May and September, but the rains peak around August. On the other hand, there is virtually no rain between October and March each year, giving way to the harsh Harmattan winds which hamper production of food, thereby worsening food security situation in the district.
The new DCE, Mr Abu Kasangbata, has since his assumption of office in 2009, taken steps to tackle the problems systematically.
He told the Daily Graphic that he would initiate moves to at least increase the number of dams and dug-outs in the district in order to improve upon the food situation, halt the rampant migration of the youth to the southern Ghana and also to support irrigation to make agriculture more attractive to the people.
Mr Kasangbata said ever since the area gained the status of a district, the people had changed the style of constructing houses by putting up sandcrete block buildings.
On tourism, he expressed regret that even though the district abounded in more tourist sites, many of them were yet to be developed to attract more tourists to increase the revenue base of the assembly.
He, therefore, gave an assurance that he would work very hard to ensure the development of the sites.
Mr Kasangbata mentioned some of the tourist sites as the cluster of anthills known as the Balata Anthills at Bayero, near Nanville, the Sankana Rocks and Slave Caves, the Crocodile Pond at Papu, the bone setting clinic at Duong and the Porcupine Sanctuary at Guri, near Sombo.
Considering the location of the district and its border with neighbouring Burkina Faso, the DCE said the district was threatened by the HIV/AIDS pandemic and cattle rustlers who migrated to and from the district to the neighbouring country.
The DCE described the annual burning of bushes, indiscriminate felling of trees for fuel wood, charcoal and other purposes, as well as poor animal husbandry practices which had affected the vegetation cover as some of the challenges he intended to confront.
The latter, according to the DCE, had led to soil erosion with its resultant depletion of the fertility of the soil. Construction of roads, sand and gravel weaning, coupled with inappropriate farming practices such as shifting cultivation, land rotation, and slash and burn have all contributed to the degrading nature of the Nadowli environment.
According to the DCE, issues bordering on environmental degradation were dear to his heart.
For that reason, he said he would liaise with the appropriate agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to improve upon the existing conditions.
The projects include construction of a mini office and store for the Ghana Education Service (GES) at the cost of GH¢17,004.56, which was also supported by the Member of Parliament (MP) of the area, construction of teachers quarters at Issa and Jolinyiri at the cost of GH¢42,049.01 and GH¢39, 457.64 respectively, construction of a number of Community Health Planning Services (CHPS) compounds and ancillaries.
Others are construction of small towns water supply systems at the cost of GH¢664,000, among other projects, all at the total cost of GH¢1,182,102.05.
It is worth noting that as part of efforts at eliminating poverty and improving upon the quality of life of the people in the rural areas, measures were adopted by successive governments to increase rural productivity, employment and other benefits to uplift their living conditions.
For these reasons, more districts were carved out of some old districts in order to facilitate the development process of the communities under them.
That led to the creation of many districts, one of which is the Nadowli District Assembly.
The District capital, Nadowli, which is about 40 kilometres away from the Upper West Regional capital, Wa, is bounded in the north by the Jirapa District and the south by the Wa Municipality.
On the eastern side of the district is the Sissala East District with fellow West African neighbour, Burkina Faso, to its west.
According to the 2000 Population and Housing Census, the Nadowli District had a population of 82,716, but the current population of the district is estimated to be around 94,671.
The district has two major ethnic groups, namely the Dagaabas and the Sissalas, most of whom are Christians of Catholic denomination. There are also some Moslems and a few African traditional believers.
Despite the religious differences of the people in the district, religious tolerance prevails among the people, thereby sustaining the peace in the area.
The district lies in the Guinea Savannah woodland and it is dominated by subsistence agriculture and petty trading. It also has economic trees ranging from baobab, kapok, mango and dawadawa, which have over the years, served as the sources of income for many households in the district, particularly women. These trees also provide employment for the people.
The district experiences more rains between May and September, but the rains peak around August. On the other hand, there is virtually no rain between October and March each year, giving way to the harsh Harmattan winds which hamper production of food, thereby worsening food security situation in the district.
The new DCE, Mr Abu Kasangbata, has since his assumption of office in 2009, taken steps to tackle the problems systematically.
He told the Daily Graphic that he would initiate moves to at least increase the number of dams and dug-outs in the district in order to improve upon the food situation, halt the rampant migration of the youth to the southern Ghana and also to support irrigation to make agriculture more attractive to the people.
Mr Kasangbata said ever since the area gained the status of a district, the people had changed the style of constructing houses by putting up sandcrete block buildings.
On tourism, he expressed regret that even though the district abounded in more tourist sites, many of them were yet to be developed to attract more tourists to increase the revenue base of the assembly.
He, therefore, gave an assurance that he would work very hard to ensure the development of the sites.
Mr Kasangbata mentioned some of the tourist sites as the cluster of anthills known as the Balata Anthills at Bayero, near Nanville, the Sankana Rocks and Slave Caves, the Crocodile Pond at Papu, the bone setting clinic at Duong and the Porcupine Sanctuary at Guri, near Sombo.
Considering the location of the district and its border with neighbouring Burkina Faso, the DCE said the district was threatened by the HIV/AIDS pandemic and cattle rustlers who migrated to and from the district to the neighbouring country.
The DCE described the annual burning of bushes, indiscriminate felling of trees for fuel wood, charcoal and other purposes, as well as poor animal husbandry practices which had affected the vegetation cover as some of the challenges he intended to confront.
The latter, according to the DCE, had led to soil erosion with its resultant depletion of the fertility of the soil. Construction of roads, sand and gravel weaning, coupled with inappropriate farming practices such as shifting cultivation, land rotation, and slash and burn have all contributed to the degrading nature of the Nadowli environment.
According to the DCE, issues bordering on environmental degradation were dear to his heart.
For that reason, he said he would liaise with the appropriate agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to improve upon the existing conditions.
ROAD TOLL INCREASES AND THEIR IMPACT ON ROAD MAINTAINENCE (PAGE 34, FEB 11, 2010)
THE Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District Assembly in the Northern Region has created the women and children’s subcommittee as a step towards giving more attention to women and children’s issues.
In line with its commitment to educate communities in the district on issues of women and children’s rights, the subcommittee has held a forum in 15 communities to sensitise women to their rights.
These include, Kalba, Konfusi, Nasoyiri, Blema, Tuna and Gindabo.
The secretary of the sub-committee, Madam Abudu Fati, who addressed the fora, mentioned the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees every citizen fundamental human rights, whether the person is a man, woman or a child and also protects women and children against discriminatory practices.
She entreated parents to be mindful of the rights of children, particularly the rights of the child to education, food, health, clothing and shelter and cautioned them against meting out corporal punishment to children or forcing them into marriage.
Throwing more light on the essence of the creation of the sub-committee, Madam Fati explained that the creation of the women and children subcommittee of the assembly was the first of its kind in the country.
She said considering the fact that women in the north were relegated to the background in terms of decision-making, members of the assembly through the co-oeration of the gender desk thought it wise to have such a committee to champion the cause of women and children.
“It would also open the doors for them to build their capacities”, she added, stressing, “The committee is to push the needs and problems confronting our women and children forward so that their voices would be heard”.
She said the main objective of the subcommittee was to tackle the issue of child migration from the north to the southern part of the country, as well as the problem of child abuse.
A resource person, Mr Issahaku Lonsina, said children must be allowed to make choices and take part in decisions that affect them. This, he said, would make them have a feel of self-recognition and freedom.
Mr Lonsina also stressed the need for households to include both women and children in family decision-making and recognise them as partners in development.
The Chairperson of the sub-committee, Madam Winifred Duordah, charged parents to take full responsibility for the upbringing of their children, saying “education is the best legacy any parent could bequeath to the child”.
She also urged parents to send their children to school, since it was the only means to develop the child.
In line with its commitment to educate communities in the district on issues of women and children’s rights, the subcommittee has held a forum in 15 communities to sensitise women to their rights.
These include, Kalba, Konfusi, Nasoyiri, Blema, Tuna and Gindabo.
The secretary of the sub-committee, Madam Abudu Fati, who addressed the fora, mentioned the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees every citizen fundamental human rights, whether the person is a man, woman or a child and also protects women and children against discriminatory practices.
She entreated parents to be mindful of the rights of children, particularly the rights of the child to education, food, health, clothing and shelter and cautioned them against meting out corporal punishment to children or forcing them into marriage.
Throwing more light on the essence of the creation of the sub-committee, Madam Fati explained that the creation of the women and children subcommittee of the assembly was the first of its kind in the country.
She said considering the fact that women in the north were relegated to the background in terms of decision-making, members of the assembly through the co-oeration of the gender desk thought it wise to have such a committee to champion the cause of women and children.
“It would also open the doors for them to build their capacities”, she added, stressing, “The committee is to push the needs and problems confronting our women and children forward so that their voices would be heard”.
She said the main objective of the subcommittee was to tackle the issue of child migration from the north to the southern part of the country, as well as the problem of child abuse.
A resource person, Mr Issahaku Lonsina, said children must be allowed to make choices and take part in decisions that affect them. This, he said, would make them have a feel of self-recognition and freedom.
Mr Lonsina also stressed the need for households to include both women and children in family decision-making and recognise them as partners in development.
The Chairperson of the sub-committee, Madam Winifred Duordah, charged parents to take full responsibility for the upbringing of their children, saying “education is the best legacy any parent could bequeath to the child”.
She also urged parents to send their children to school, since it was the only means to develop the child.
ALL STARS, KOTOKO SHARE HONOURS (BACK PAGE, FEB 8, 2010)
Wa All Stars for the third time running failed to beat Kumasi Asante Kotoko at home since joining the Premier League.
In a game which saw both teams trying to out-play each other, both teams played with sheer bravado and determination.
They were, however, lucky when a close range shot from the foot of All Stars Ebenezer Adjei in the 83rd minute hit the wood works denying the homesters their first victory over the Kumasi lads.
After taking the game to the visitors right from the blast of Koforidua-based refree Vincent Otoo’s whistle, Wa All Stars nearly got their first goal in the 29th minute when a Nathaniel Asamoah’s header missed the post narrowly.
This awakened the visitors who organised themselves very well in defence and matched the homesters in all departments of the game.
When played resumed in the second half, Kotoko lifted their game and kept the pressure on the homesters but were unlucky when Daniel Nii Baah’s volley was beautifully parried away by David Dadzie in post for All Stars.
After a few exchanges All Stars took charge of the game and mounted incessant raids in their opponents area much to the admiration of the ecstatic home fans who thronged the stadium in their numbers for the first time in many months.
In a game which saw both teams trying to out-play each other, both teams played with sheer bravado and determination.
They were, however, lucky when a close range shot from the foot of All Stars Ebenezer Adjei in the 83rd minute hit the wood works denying the homesters their first victory over the Kumasi lads.
After taking the game to the visitors right from the blast of Koforidua-based refree Vincent Otoo’s whistle, Wa All Stars nearly got their first goal in the 29th minute when a Nathaniel Asamoah’s header missed the post narrowly.
This awakened the visitors who organised themselves very well in defence and matched the homesters in all departments of the game.
When played resumed in the second half, Kotoko lifted their game and kept the pressure on the homesters but were unlucky when Daniel Nii Baah’s volley was beautifully parried away by David Dadzie in post for All Stars.
After a few exchanges All Stars took charge of the game and mounted incessant raids in their opponents area much to the admiration of the ecstatic home fans who thronged the stadium in their numbers for the first time in many months.
Friday, February 26, 2010
MAXWELLL KONADU WARNS KOTOKO (PAGE 31, FEB 6, 2010)
Wa All Stars coach Maxwell Konadu, has warned Kumasi Asante Kotoko to braze themselves up for one of their toughest battle ever in recent times at the Wa Stadium.
The two teams lock horns in topmost fixture of the Premier League tomorrow.
Konadu described Sundays encounter as a history-making one for the Wa lads.
He said All Stars had never beaten Kumasi Asante Kotoko since they qualified for the elite division and so the match between the two sides on Sunday at the Wa Stadium would be a fine opportunity for All Stars to break that jinx.
Coach Konadu said unlike previous matches where there was so much pressure on his players when playing Kotoko, the situation would be different this time and All Stars would not afford to lose this match.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Wa, Coach Konadu said with God on the side of All Stars victory would surely come their way.
He expressed disappointment that his boys could not collect all the three points when they played Kotoko in Kumasi during the first round saying “I love to play against Kotoko at their backyard”.
Commenting on the Glo Premier League and how it had gone for the club so far, coach Konadu admitted that it had not been an easy road, considering the teams on top of the table.
“This is a clear indication that the league has been very tough and so we are not leaving anything to chance. At least we hope to be among the first four clubs by the time the league comes to a close” he stated.
Meanwhile, supporters of Wa All Stars are in high spirits and have vowed to troop to the Wa Stadium in their numbers on Sunday.
They said now there was no big team or small team in the premier league as it pertained some years back, and therefore there was no turning back for All Stars.
The two teams lock horns in topmost fixture of the Premier League tomorrow.
Konadu described Sundays encounter as a history-making one for the Wa lads.
He said All Stars had never beaten Kumasi Asante Kotoko since they qualified for the elite division and so the match between the two sides on Sunday at the Wa Stadium would be a fine opportunity for All Stars to break that jinx.
Coach Konadu said unlike previous matches where there was so much pressure on his players when playing Kotoko, the situation would be different this time and All Stars would not afford to lose this match.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Wa, Coach Konadu said with God on the side of All Stars victory would surely come their way.
He expressed disappointment that his boys could not collect all the three points when they played Kotoko in Kumasi during the first round saying “I love to play against Kotoko at their backyard”.
Commenting on the Glo Premier League and how it had gone for the club so far, coach Konadu admitted that it had not been an easy road, considering the teams on top of the table.
“This is a clear indication that the league has been very tough and so we are not leaving anything to chance. At least we hope to be among the first four clubs by the time the league comes to a close” he stated.
Meanwhile, supporters of Wa All Stars are in high spirits and have vowed to troop to the Wa Stadium in their numbers on Sunday.
They said now there was no big team or small team in the premier league as it pertained some years back, and therefore there was no turning back for All Stars.
PETITION AGAINST WA NAA'S ENSKINMENT DISMISSED (PAGE 20, FEB 3, 2010)
The JUDICIAL committee of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs has dismissed a petition filed against the enskinment of Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo as Wa Naa.
The three-member committee, which had the Nandom Naa, Naa Dr Chiire Puobe Chir, as the Chairman, with Kuoro Doctawie Ninia II, Zini Kuoro and Kuoro Alhaji Iddrisu Bamie, Lambussie Kuoro as members, also fined the petitioners GH¢1,000.
The Gbetore Naa, Alhaji Issah Bukari, Mr Bomison Seidu Hamidu and the Sing Naa, Naa Mumuni Saaka, who were the petitioners, said Naa Pelpuo, who was elected and enskinned as the new Wa Naa on January 27, 2007, was ineligible for the position.
They questioned the validity of the nomination, election, enskinment and the introduction of Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo, the then Selle Naa, as the new Wa Naa.
In its rulings, the committee held that the petitioners had failed to adduce fresh evidence, the basis of which they filed a motion on notice asking the committee to hold onto its judgement.
The committee said the petitioners failed to tender in a letter purported to have been written by one Alhaji Iddrisu Seidu Froko, the head of the Froko family of Wa, questioning the legitimacy of Naa Pelpuo to the throne.
It said the committee refused to allow Mr Daudi Abdulai Froko to tender the letter on the ground that he was not the author, since the original author of the letter was alive.
The committee said Alhaji Seidu Froko was never called by the petitioners to testify, while no reasons were given by the petitioners for his inability to do so even though he had been put down as a witness by the petitioners.
According to the committee, after studying the affidavits in support of the motion and that of the defendants, as well as listening to the submissions of the lawyers of the parties, it had no option but to dismiss the motion.
“With respect, the committee is of the opinion that its decision of September 18, 2008 not to allow Daudi Abdulai Froko to tender Alhaji Iddrisu Froko’s letter while Alhaji Froko was available as a witness was not a per incuriam decision,” it stated.
The committee quoted section 26 of the Chieftaincy Act, which empowered the Regional House of Chiefs to preside over matters relating to a paramount stool or skin or the occupancy of a paramount stool or skin including a queen to a paramount stool or skin.
“The Wa chieftaincy matter is a paramount skin of which the present cause of the matter before the committee was about the validity of the nomination, election, enskinment and outdooring of the third defendant as the occupant of the Wa paramount skin.
“The jurisdiction of this committee was therefore properly invoked by the petitioners when they filed their petition at the registry of the committee on January 22, 2007,” it said.
The committee added that the correct remedy of the petitioners, when they disagreed with the decision of the committee not to allow Daudi Abdulai Froko to tender Alhaji Iddrisu Seidu Froko’s letter, was for them to appeal to the National House of Chiefs within 30 days as stipulated under section 3:3 of the Chieftaincy Act of 2008.
“The petitioners having failed to appeal within the time permitted by the rules of the court are stopped from reopening the matter at this late hour,” the committee stated, adding that “it is for this reason that the committee has decided to dismiss the motion. The motion is accordingly dismissed as incurably belated”.
The committee also asked the defendants to recover cost of GH¢1,000 from the petitioners.
It would be recalled that there had been series of litigation over the rightful occupant of the Wa Naa’s skin since the death of the late Wa Naa, Naa Alhaji Yakubu Soale Seidu II about four years ago.
Subsequently, Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo was nominated, elected and enskinned by the kingmakers in 2007 to succeed the late chief, but that was contested by the three petitioners.
The three-member committee, which had the Nandom Naa, Naa Dr Chiire Puobe Chir, as the Chairman, with Kuoro Doctawie Ninia II, Zini Kuoro and Kuoro Alhaji Iddrisu Bamie, Lambussie Kuoro as members, also fined the petitioners GH¢1,000.
The Gbetore Naa, Alhaji Issah Bukari, Mr Bomison Seidu Hamidu and the Sing Naa, Naa Mumuni Saaka, who were the petitioners, said Naa Pelpuo, who was elected and enskinned as the new Wa Naa on January 27, 2007, was ineligible for the position.
They questioned the validity of the nomination, election, enskinment and the introduction of Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo, the then Selle Naa, as the new Wa Naa.
In its rulings, the committee held that the petitioners had failed to adduce fresh evidence, the basis of which they filed a motion on notice asking the committee to hold onto its judgement.
The committee said the petitioners failed to tender in a letter purported to have been written by one Alhaji Iddrisu Seidu Froko, the head of the Froko family of Wa, questioning the legitimacy of Naa Pelpuo to the throne.
It said the committee refused to allow Mr Daudi Abdulai Froko to tender the letter on the ground that he was not the author, since the original author of the letter was alive.
The committee said Alhaji Seidu Froko was never called by the petitioners to testify, while no reasons were given by the petitioners for his inability to do so even though he had been put down as a witness by the petitioners.
According to the committee, after studying the affidavits in support of the motion and that of the defendants, as well as listening to the submissions of the lawyers of the parties, it had no option but to dismiss the motion.
“With respect, the committee is of the opinion that its decision of September 18, 2008 not to allow Daudi Abdulai Froko to tender Alhaji Iddrisu Froko’s letter while Alhaji Froko was available as a witness was not a per incuriam decision,” it stated.
The committee quoted section 26 of the Chieftaincy Act, which empowered the Regional House of Chiefs to preside over matters relating to a paramount stool or skin or the occupancy of a paramount stool or skin including a queen to a paramount stool or skin.
“The Wa chieftaincy matter is a paramount skin of which the present cause of the matter before the committee was about the validity of the nomination, election, enskinment and outdooring of the third defendant as the occupant of the Wa paramount skin.
“The jurisdiction of this committee was therefore properly invoked by the petitioners when they filed their petition at the registry of the committee on January 22, 2007,” it said.
The committee added that the correct remedy of the petitioners, when they disagreed with the decision of the committee not to allow Daudi Abdulai Froko to tender Alhaji Iddrisu Seidu Froko’s letter, was for them to appeal to the National House of Chiefs within 30 days as stipulated under section 3:3 of the Chieftaincy Act of 2008.
“The petitioners having failed to appeal within the time permitted by the rules of the court are stopped from reopening the matter at this late hour,” the committee stated, adding that “it is for this reason that the committee has decided to dismiss the motion. The motion is accordingly dismissed as incurably belated”.
The committee also asked the defendants to recover cost of GH¢1,000 from the petitioners.
It would be recalled that there had been series of litigation over the rightful occupant of the Wa Naa’s skin since the death of the late Wa Naa, Naa Alhaji Yakubu Soale Seidu II about four years ago.
Subsequently, Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo was nominated, elected and enskinned by the kingmakers in 2007 to succeed the late chief, but that was contested by the three petitioners.
GHANA NEEDS GOD-FEARING POLITICIANS (PAGE 16, FEB 3, 2010)
THE Upper West Regional Propaganda Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Yahaya Yakubu, has said it is time the country got more God-fearing politicians in order to ensure that the interest of the country is supreme at all times.
He said instances where politicians used all forms of machinations to win political power was not healthy for the development of the nation.
He, therefore, called for politics devoid of hatred, acrimony and divisiveness in order to sustain the peace and unity in the country.
Mr Yakubu expressed this concern when he addressed foot soldiers of the NDC in Wa. The occasion was to create the platform for the foot soldiers to interact with one another and to share ideas.
“Let us practise our politics with the fear of God at all times. We do not have to do things which seemed as if we are at each other’s throat and always want to win power at all cost,” he said.
Responding to some criticisms against the Mills government, Mr Yakubu explained that the NDC was determined to implement its manifesto and, therefore, it was up to the party’s foot soldiers to keep reminding the populace of that.
He said the party would not renege on its promises, but strive to deliver the Better Ghana Agenda it had promised, pointing out that the government would continue to treat all Ghanaians equally and ensure that each citizen got his or her due.
On some of the development projects for the Upper West Region, the regional NDC propaganda secretary mentioned the establishment of more secondary and technical schools in some communities in the Sissala West and the Wa East districts.
For his part, the Nadowli District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Abu Kasangbata, who graced the occasion, assured the foot soldiers that the NDC party would never neglect them and that it would ensure that they were properly catered for.
He called on Ministers of State, NDC Members of Parliament (MPs), DCEs and all others who were appointed by President Mills to continue to recognise the foot soldiers of the party, stressing, “We must encourage them to work hard to sustain and keep the party in government come 2012.”
Mr Kasangbata further mentioned the introduction of the Northern Rural Growth Project (NRGP), SADA and the distribution of free uniforms among other policies as some of the interventions by the government to improve the lot of the people.
“Schoolchildren in the Upper West Region would soon receive 260,790 free exercise books,” he stated.
Commenting on the role of the media, the DCE urged the media to continue to partner the government in its work to enhance the development process of the country.
He also called on the media to be responsible in the discharge of their duties in order to help build upon the peace and unity in the country.
He said the Upper West Region was grateful to President Mills for the appointment of Mr Alban Bagbin as minister designate for Water Resources, Works and Housing.
He said instances where politicians used all forms of machinations to win political power was not healthy for the development of the nation.
He, therefore, called for politics devoid of hatred, acrimony and divisiveness in order to sustain the peace and unity in the country.
Mr Yakubu expressed this concern when he addressed foot soldiers of the NDC in Wa. The occasion was to create the platform for the foot soldiers to interact with one another and to share ideas.
“Let us practise our politics with the fear of God at all times. We do not have to do things which seemed as if we are at each other’s throat and always want to win power at all cost,” he said.
Responding to some criticisms against the Mills government, Mr Yakubu explained that the NDC was determined to implement its manifesto and, therefore, it was up to the party’s foot soldiers to keep reminding the populace of that.
He said the party would not renege on its promises, but strive to deliver the Better Ghana Agenda it had promised, pointing out that the government would continue to treat all Ghanaians equally and ensure that each citizen got his or her due.
On some of the development projects for the Upper West Region, the regional NDC propaganda secretary mentioned the establishment of more secondary and technical schools in some communities in the Sissala West and the Wa East districts.
For his part, the Nadowli District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Abu Kasangbata, who graced the occasion, assured the foot soldiers that the NDC party would never neglect them and that it would ensure that they were properly catered for.
He called on Ministers of State, NDC Members of Parliament (MPs), DCEs and all others who were appointed by President Mills to continue to recognise the foot soldiers of the party, stressing, “We must encourage them to work hard to sustain and keep the party in government come 2012.”
Mr Kasangbata further mentioned the introduction of the Northern Rural Growth Project (NRGP), SADA and the distribution of free uniforms among other policies as some of the interventions by the government to improve the lot of the people.
“Schoolchildren in the Upper West Region would soon receive 260,790 free exercise books,” he stated.
Commenting on the role of the media, the DCE urged the media to continue to partner the government in its work to enhance the development process of the country.
He also called on the media to be responsible in the discharge of their duties in order to help build upon the peace and unity in the country.
He said the Upper West Region was grateful to President Mills for the appointment of Mr Alban Bagbin as minister designate for Water Resources, Works and Housing.
UW NDC COMMENDS EXECUTIVE (PAGE 16, FEB 2, 2010)
THE Upper West Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has commended the newly elected national executive of the party.
It said the verdict of the delegates at the recently held party congress in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital, which saw the new executive members in their respective current positions had not only united the party across the country but had also strengthened it.
A statement signed and released by the regional secretary of the party, Mr Eric Dakura Faanuba, in Wa, said the party was able to prove the sceptics wrong by coming out of the congress more united.
It expressed the hope that the new leadership of the party would partner President Mills and his government to deliver the better Ghana agenda.
“We also believe that with unity of purpose your actions and inactions as executive would be focused towards sustaining the unity, stability and the forward march of the party,” the statement added, and further commended all the delegates as well as the northern regional branch of the party, for organising such a successful congress.
It expressed appreciation to the security personnel for their diligence and professional conduct in ensuring a violence-free congress.
The statement, therefore, called on all NDC faithful and others who were interested in joining the party to do so, saying the NDC was a party that sought the welfare of all Ghanaians.
“The citizenry must support President Mills’ government as it worked to improve the lot of all” the statement concluded.
It said the verdict of the delegates at the recently held party congress in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital, which saw the new executive members in their respective current positions had not only united the party across the country but had also strengthened it.
A statement signed and released by the regional secretary of the party, Mr Eric Dakura Faanuba, in Wa, said the party was able to prove the sceptics wrong by coming out of the congress more united.
It expressed the hope that the new leadership of the party would partner President Mills and his government to deliver the better Ghana agenda.
“We also believe that with unity of purpose your actions and inactions as executive would be focused towards sustaining the unity, stability and the forward march of the party,” the statement added, and further commended all the delegates as well as the northern regional branch of the party, for organising such a successful congress.
It expressed appreciation to the security personnel for their diligence and professional conduct in ensuring a violence-free congress.
The statement, therefore, called on all NDC faithful and others who were interested in joining the party to do so, saying the NDC was a party that sought the welfare of all Ghanaians.
“The citizenry must support President Mills’ government as it worked to improve the lot of all” the statement concluded.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
POLITICIANS ADVISED TO CRITICISE CONSTRUCTIVELY (PAGE 15, JAN 15, 2010)
THE Upper West Regional Propaganda Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Yakubu Yahaya, has stressed on the need for politicians to change the phase of politics from attacking personalities to an issue-based politics of constructive criticisms.
This, he said, was the only way to reduce the tension, rancour and all other negative traits which characterised politics in the country.
Mr Yahaya, who gave the advice during an interaction with the Daily Graphic in Wa, said the NDC organised all its elections in the region peacefully and so all the other political parties must emulate it and do same in order not to mar the peace which the region was enjoying.
“The regional minister, and all the other political heads need peace to continue with the good work they have started and therefore sustaining the peace in the region was very paramount in working to achieve the better Ghana that President Mills has promised Ghanaians” he added and thanked the traditional rulers and security agencies as well as the people of the region for their contribution towards the total development of the region.
Mr Yahaya further called on the media to be as professional as possible and said as the fourth estate of the realm, the government needed their support to achieve its targeted goals.
He called on all NDC faithful to remain steadfast and united even in the face of the initial difficulties which the government inherited and said President Mills’ Government was taking the right decisions to bring the economy back on track.
He said the NDC was a party for all Ghanaians and therefore it would do its best to meet the needs and aspirations of the entire citizenry.
Mr Yahaya further called on Ghanaians to rally behind President Mills’s Government and that the Government would prove to all Ghanaians that it is an able Government.
This, he said, was the only way to reduce the tension, rancour and all other negative traits which characterised politics in the country.
Mr Yahaya, who gave the advice during an interaction with the Daily Graphic in Wa, said the NDC organised all its elections in the region peacefully and so all the other political parties must emulate it and do same in order not to mar the peace which the region was enjoying.
“The regional minister, and all the other political heads need peace to continue with the good work they have started and therefore sustaining the peace in the region was very paramount in working to achieve the better Ghana that President Mills has promised Ghanaians” he added and thanked the traditional rulers and security agencies as well as the people of the region for their contribution towards the total development of the region.
Mr Yahaya further called on the media to be as professional as possible and said as the fourth estate of the realm, the government needed their support to achieve its targeted goals.
He called on all NDC faithful to remain steadfast and united even in the face of the initial difficulties which the government inherited and said President Mills’ Government was taking the right decisions to bring the economy back on track.
He said the NDC was a party for all Ghanaians and therefore it would do its best to meet the needs and aspirations of the entire citizenry.
Mr Yahaya further called on Ghanaians to rally behind President Mills’s Government and that the Government would prove to all Ghanaians that it is an able Government.
DON'T TEAR NDC APART — SPIO-GARBAH (PAGE 16, JAN 14, 2010)
AN aspiring national vice-chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Ekwow Spio Garbrah, has described as dangerous and a big mistake the actions of certain members to tear the party apart.
He noted that without unity, the NDC could shoot itself in its own foot during the 2012 general election.
He, has, therefore called for unity among the rank and file in order to sustain and build on the structures of the party.
“It is dangerous and a mistake for us as members of the NDC when people say we must not give attention to Mr Rawlings. Mr Rawlings must be accorded all the respect as the founder of the party and as a former president of this country; he cannot be marginalised. In the same manner President Mills, as the president of Ghana, must be accorded all the respect,” he noted.
Dr Spio Garbrah made the call when he interacted with the media in Wa as part of his campaign towards the national delegates congress of the NDC, slated for Tamale in the Northern Region on Saturday.
He catalogued a number of programmes and projects he intended to embark on when he got the nod and said as a communications professional and someone who had been in charge of the sector, both in government and at the party level, he was ever ready to use his experiences to ensure that the government was able to deliver on its campaign promises.
He said apart from bringing the number of promises to the attention of the government, he would also compile such promises, particularly those outside the party manifesto, in order to keep track of such promises.
“I would also give ears to the party foot soldiers and serve as the voice of all the party activists. It is not proper when such categories of party members were left to their fate, especially when the party wins elections,” he stated and promised to work for the interest of these categories of party faithful.
Responding to a question as to whether he is from the Rawlings camp of the NDC, the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) chief executive quickly intervened and said there was nothing like the Rawlings or the Mills camp; rather “I am a pro-NDC man”.
He stressed the need for the party to build on its structures across the country and said that could only be realised when the party acquired its own permanent and well equipped offices, which is long over-due.
That, according to Dr Spio Garbrah, was the only way to be able to reach out to majority of the people and also be able to compile data of members of the party from the ward, constituency and the regional levels.
He appealed to delegates to the congress to endorse him since he could do the work.
“I urge all the delegates to vote for people who could do the work to keep the party in power via the 2012 elections and not candidates who are running because they think they have to contest,” he advised.
He also questioned the rationale behind people influencing delegates with items during such congresses or where candidates were made to step down to the advantage of other candidates and indicated that the Electoral Commission (EC), the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and all political parties must come out to determine what reasonable compensation ought to be given to delegates who attended such events after dissipating their energy.
“Instances where delegates were given mobile phones, cooking oil and fiscal cash are very wrong,” Dr Spio Garbrah concluded.
He noted that without unity, the NDC could shoot itself in its own foot during the 2012 general election.
He, has, therefore called for unity among the rank and file in order to sustain and build on the structures of the party.
“It is dangerous and a mistake for us as members of the NDC when people say we must not give attention to Mr Rawlings. Mr Rawlings must be accorded all the respect as the founder of the party and as a former president of this country; he cannot be marginalised. In the same manner President Mills, as the president of Ghana, must be accorded all the respect,” he noted.
Dr Spio Garbrah made the call when he interacted with the media in Wa as part of his campaign towards the national delegates congress of the NDC, slated for Tamale in the Northern Region on Saturday.
He catalogued a number of programmes and projects he intended to embark on when he got the nod and said as a communications professional and someone who had been in charge of the sector, both in government and at the party level, he was ever ready to use his experiences to ensure that the government was able to deliver on its campaign promises.
He said apart from bringing the number of promises to the attention of the government, he would also compile such promises, particularly those outside the party manifesto, in order to keep track of such promises.
“I would also give ears to the party foot soldiers and serve as the voice of all the party activists. It is not proper when such categories of party members were left to their fate, especially when the party wins elections,” he stated and promised to work for the interest of these categories of party faithful.
Responding to a question as to whether he is from the Rawlings camp of the NDC, the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) chief executive quickly intervened and said there was nothing like the Rawlings or the Mills camp; rather “I am a pro-NDC man”.
He stressed the need for the party to build on its structures across the country and said that could only be realised when the party acquired its own permanent and well equipped offices, which is long over-due.
That, according to Dr Spio Garbrah, was the only way to be able to reach out to majority of the people and also be able to compile data of members of the party from the ward, constituency and the regional levels.
He appealed to delegates to the congress to endorse him since he could do the work.
“I urge all the delegates to vote for people who could do the work to keep the party in power via the 2012 elections and not candidates who are running because they think they have to contest,” he advised.
He also questioned the rationale behind people influencing delegates with items during such congresses or where candidates were made to step down to the advantage of other candidates and indicated that the Electoral Commission (EC), the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and all political parties must come out to determine what reasonable compensation ought to be given to delegates who attended such events after dissipating their energy.
“Instances where delegates were given mobile phones, cooking oil and fiscal cash are very wrong,” Dr Spio Garbrah concluded.
WOMAN ACCUSED OF WITCHCRAFT CALLS FOR JUSTICE (PAGE 11, JAN 14, 2010)
A52-year-old woman from Sokpeyiri, a village in the Wa West District in the Upper West Region, who was allegedly subjected to inhuman treatment by a soothsayer and two other persons, is calling for justice.
The woman, Madam Sunkari Ghanyi, said she felt humiliated, depressed and demoralised when she was wrongly accused of being a witch and having a hand in the death of her husband’s relative for which she was forced to drink a concoction, which has since had some psychological effects on her.
She explained that the concoction was made of the blood of a slaughtered fowl mixed with water and sand, as well as the chopped legs of a live toad.
Madam Ghanyi, who was in the company of some members of her family, called at the Wa office of the Daily Graphic to narrate her story, is, therefore, appealing to the Chief Justice and human rights organisations to intervene in the matter so that justice would be done.
Amid sobbing, she said, “I feel I have been handed a raw deal by the Wa District Magistrate’s Court, which acquitted and discharged the three suspects involved in the matter”.
She said sometime in the year 2008, the wife of her husband’s nephew had some complications during pregnancy and died while in labour together with her unborn baby at the Wa Hospital.
She said a few months after the death of the woman, her brother-in-law, one Bagabu Naa, who had travelled to the southern part of the country at the time of the death of the woman, returned to Sokpeyiri and did not take kindly to the news of the death of his daughter-in-law.
She said Bagabu Naa, in the company of one Kojo Zineta, who was the guardian of the deceased, went in for a soothsayer known as Naasoyili Anderanaa to find out the cause of the death of the woman.
She said she (Ghanyi) and others were assembled by the soothsayer, who performed some rituals.
She said the soothsayer first pointed at one woman as the one who caused the death of the pregnant woman but her children, who were around, protested vehemently as a result of which the soothsayer rescinded the decision.
She said after a few incantations, he pointed to another person, whose children also resisted all attempts to blame their mother for the death of the pregnant woman.
She said the soothsayer then pointed to her as the main culprit who caused the death of the pregnant woman and her unborn baby.
She said because she did not have anyone to talk for her, she was not given a hearing after she and her son challenged the soothsayer, who, she said, by then had the total support of those present.
In the ensuing hot exchanges, Madam Ghanyi said the soothsayer then claimed he was going to prepare some concoction for her to drink and that if she did not confess within three days she would die.
“He already had some liquid in a calabash and so he slaughtered a fowl, poured the blood into the calabash, mixed it with sand and added the chopped legs of a live toad after which he (the soothsayer) asked me to drink,” she said, amid tears, adding that for fear of her life, she had no choice but to gulp down the concoction.
Madam Ghanyi said when after three days nothing happened to her, Bagabu Naa, her brother-in-law threatened to kill her and so she ran to Wa to inform a relative, who suggested that they reported the matter to the police.
She said the three, Bagabu Naa, Kojo Zineta and the soothsayer, Naasoyili Anderanaa, were charged after police investigations and processed before court but after almost two years of court sittings, the accused persons were acquitted and discharged.
She said the whole incident had affected her psychologically and that she sometimes did not feel like a human being who deserved to live, adding that as a result of the threats on her life, among other accusations, she had been compelled to run away from Sokpeyiri for her safety.
The woman, Madam Sunkari Ghanyi, said she felt humiliated, depressed and demoralised when she was wrongly accused of being a witch and having a hand in the death of her husband’s relative for which she was forced to drink a concoction, which has since had some psychological effects on her.
She explained that the concoction was made of the blood of a slaughtered fowl mixed with water and sand, as well as the chopped legs of a live toad.
Madam Ghanyi, who was in the company of some members of her family, called at the Wa office of the Daily Graphic to narrate her story, is, therefore, appealing to the Chief Justice and human rights organisations to intervene in the matter so that justice would be done.
Amid sobbing, she said, “I feel I have been handed a raw deal by the Wa District Magistrate’s Court, which acquitted and discharged the three suspects involved in the matter”.
She said sometime in the year 2008, the wife of her husband’s nephew had some complications during pregnancy and died while in labour together with her unborn baby at the Wa Hospital.
She said a few months after the death of the woman, her brother-in-law, one Bagabu Naa, who had travelled to the southern part of the country at the time of the death of the woman, returned to Sokpeyiri and did not take kindly to the news of the death of his daughter-in-law.
She said Bagabu Naa, in the company of one Kojo Zineta, who was the guardian of the deceased, went in for a soothsayer known as Naasoyili Anderanaa to find out the cause of the death of the woman.
She said she (Ghanyi) and others were assembled by the soothsayer, who performed some rituals.
She said the soothsayer first pointed at one woman as the one who caused the death of the pregnant woman but her children, who were around, protested vehemently as a result of which the soothsayer rescinded the decision.
She said after a few incantations, he pointed to another person, whose children also resisted all attempts to blame their mother for the death of the pregnant woman.
She said the soothsayer then pointed to her as the main culprit who caused the death of the pregnant woman and her unborn baby.
She said because she did not have anyone to talk for her, she was not given a hearing after she and her son challenged the soothsayer, who, she said, by then had the total support of those present.
In the ensuing hot exchanges, Madam Ghanyi said the soothsayer then claimed he was going to prepare some concoction for her to drink and that if she did not confess within three days she would die.
“He already had some liquid in a calabash and so he slaughtered a fowl, poured the blood into the calabash, mixed it with sand and added the chopped legs of a live toad after which he (the soothsayer) asked me to drink,” she said, amid tears, adding that for fear of her life, she had no choice but to gulp down the concoction.
Madam Ghanyi said when after three days nothing happened to her, Bagabu Naa, her brother-in-law threatened to kill her and so she ran to Wa to inform a relative, who suggested that they reported the matter to the police.
She said the three, Bagabu Naa, Kojo Zineta and the soothsayer, Naasoyili Anderanaa, were charged after police investigations and processed before court but after almost two years of court sittings, the accused persons were acquitted and discharged.
She said the whole incident had affected her psychologically and that she sometimes did not feel like a human being who deserved to live, adding that as a result of the threats on her life, among other accusations, she had been compelled to run away from Sokpeyiri for her safety.
DON'T TAKE PEACE IN UW FOR GRANTED — MINISTER (PAGE 16, JAN 13, 2010)
THE Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, has advised security personnel in the region not to take the peace the region was enjoying for granted.
He has, therefore, called on the security personnel particularly the police service to forge a harmonious relationship with the citizenry in order not to breed any tension amongst them and the people.
Mr Khalid gave the advice when he addressed a get- together of senior officers of the Upper West Regional Police in Wa.
“There seemed to be some kind of mistrust between you and the people but it is how you handle yourselves which would bring members of the service and the people together” he noted.
Commenting on the role of the security in containing chieftaincy disputes especially the Wa chieftaincy dispute over the years, Mr Khalid commended the security services for their professionalism.
He pledged the support of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) and said, “We would continue to collaborate with you.”
The Regional Police Commander, ACP Alex Bedie, called on the people to be lawabiding and continue to cooperate with the police to sustain the peace.
He described the police as a friends who were ever ready to protect lives and properties of the populace.
ACP Bedie stressed the resolve of the personnel to deal with crime and other vices in the region and urged all personnel to brace themselves up for the challenge.
He has, therefore, called on the security personnel particularly the police service to forge a harmonious relationship with the citizenry in order not to breed any tension amongst them and the people.
Mr Khalid gave the advice when he addressed a get- together of senior officers of the Upper West Regional Police in Wa.
“There seemed to be some kind of mistrust between you and the people but it is how you handle yourselves which would bring members of the service and the people together” he noted.
Commenting on the role of the security in containing chieftaincy disputes especially the Wa chieftaincy dispute over the years, Mr Khalid commended the security services for their professionalism.
He pledged the support of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) and said, “We would continue to collaborate with you.”
The Regional Police Commander, ACP Alex Bedie, called on the people to be lawabiding and continue to cooperate with the police to sustain the peace.
He described the police as a friends who were ever ready to protect lives and properties of the populace.
ACP Bedie stressed the resolve of the personnel to deal with crime and other vices in the region and urged all personnel to brace themselves up for the challenge.
DERY SUPPORTS LAWRA-NANDOM CONSTITUENTS (PAGE 21, JAN 12)
THE Member of Parliament (MP), for Lawra-Nandom Constituency, Mr Ambrose Dery, has undertaken a number of projects including the rehabilitation of broken down bore holes, supply of sports equipment to communities and support for needy students and women’s groups.
He told the Daily Graphic at Kokoligu, his hometown, where he feted hundreds of constituents, that through his influence the St Maria Goretti Junior High School at Nandom received 633 text books worth $4,000 from the Rotary club of Tema.
He said as a result of closer collaboration and deliberation with stakeholders in education in the area, some of the problems hindering effective teaching and learning which resulted in the poor Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results in the constituency were identified and were being solved.
Mr Dery said allowances of circuit supervisors amounting to GH¢1, 030 were paid to boost their morale while the salaries of teachers at the Boo community which were in arrears for six months were being paid.
Mr Dery, who is also the deputy minority leader in parliament, explained that an amount of GH¢8,890 had been given out to 47 tertiary students.
In consultation with the Nandom Catholic Parish, 17 very poor students had been identified from the JHS level and were also given GH¢50 each to cater for some of their expenses at school.
The MP further assisted the students representative council (SRC) of the Lawra Senior High School with an amount of GH¢200 to acquire a new set of musical instruments to enrich entertainment programmes at the school.
Mr Dery opened an account with the credit union in the constituency with an initial amount of GH¢12, 500 to support members of the Sungtang Nyong women’s group and other women’s groups in the constituency.
According to him, when the amount matures, the women could access it as soft loans.
The MP presented 10 sets of jerseys and a number of footballs to some communities and also assisted in the rehabilitation of a number of boreholes including that of the Eremon Secondary Technical School, Kunguo community, St Ceceilia Primary School and the Tampale community.
He said that was just the beginning and that there were plans to ensure that many communities benefited from the facility.
To improve information flow and also to maintain regular contact with his constituents, Mr Ambrose Dery raised an amount of GH¢12, 500 from his HIPC account to acquire a new mast for the community based radio station, Radio Freed for it to reach out to majority of the people.
Mr Dery has also seen to it that lessons were prepared and played on the Radio Freed for JHS students under a distance education programme.
He said recorded messages on best farming practices and HIV/AIDS were also played occasionally on radio to sensitise the people to the subjects.
Mr Dery expressed profound appreciation to the people for their unflinching support throughout the year and encouraged them not to relent since he was their spokesperson and representative in Parliament.
The end-of-year parties were held in eight demarcated zones in the constituency including Babile, Lawra, Eremon, Zabo.
He told the Daily Graphic at Kokoligu, his hometown, where he feted hundreds of constituents, that through his influence the St Maria Goretti Junior High School at Nandom received 633 text books worth $4,000 from the Rotary club of Tema.
He said as a result of closer collaboration and deliberation with stakeholders in education in the area, some of the problems hindering effective teaching and learning which resulted in the poor Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results in the constituency were identified and were being solved.
Mr Dery said allowances of circuit supervisors amounting to GH¢1, 030 were paid to boost their morale while the salaries of teachers at the Boo community which were in arrears for six months were being paid.
Mr Dery, who is also the deputy minority leader in parliament, explained that an amount of GH¢8,890 had been given out to 47 tertiary students.
In consultation with the Nandom Catholic Parish, 17 very poor students had been identified from the JHS level and were also given GH¢50 each to cater for some of their expenses at school.
The MP further assisted the students representative council (SRC) of the Lawra Senior High School with an amount of GH¢200 to acquire a new set of musical instruments to enrich entertainment programmes at the school.
Mr Dery opened an account with the credit union in the constituency with an initial amount of GH¢12, 500 to support members of the Sungtang Nyong women’s group and other women’s groups in the constituency.
According to him, when the amount matures, the women could access it as soft loans.
The MP presented 10 sets of jerseys and a number of footballs to some communities and also assisted in the rehabilitation of a number of boreholes including that of the Eremon Secondary Technical School, Kunguo community, St Ceceilia Primary School and the Tampale community.
He said that was just the beginning and that there were plans to ensure that many communities benefited from the facility.
To improve information flow and also to maintain regular contact with his constituents, Mr Ambrose Dery raised an amount of GH¢12, 500 from his HIPC account to acquire a new mast for the community based radio station, Radio Freed for it to reach out to majority of the people.
Mr Dery has also seen to it that lessons were prepared and played on the Radio Freed for JHS students under a distance education programme.
He said recorded messages on best farming practices and HIV/AIDS were also played occasionally on radio to sensitise the people to the subjects.
Mr Dery expressed profound appreciation to the people for their unflinching support throughout the year and encouraged them not to relent since he was their spokesperson and representative in Parliament.
The end-of-year parties were held in eight demarcated zones in the constituency including Babile, Lawra, Eremon, Zabo.
OLY LOSE 1-2 (PAGE 55, JAN 11, 2010)
TWO goal keeping errors by Isaac Amoah in post for visiting Accra Great Olympics cost the visitors as they succumbed 1-2 to Wa All Stars in the last of their first round matches of the Glo Premier League match played at the Wa stadium.
All Stars took the lead as early as the 4th minute when goal keeper Amoah failed to grab first time, a harmless shot from the foot of Issah Salihu.
Even though the visitors sent signals they were in for serious business, keeping their composure and mounting a series of attacks into the area of All Stars, goal keeper Amoah for the second time let the visitors down and heartbroken when he failed to deal with a very ineffective cross from Adinaan Saeed on the 15th minute for for the second goal.
Oly returned from recess playing very impressively and pinning All Stars to their own half for most part of the game. This yielded the needed result when they managed to reduce the deficit on the 76th minute, courtesy Ibrahim Fuseini.
From then on Olympics were a delight to watch, especially Akowiah Malik, who took charge of the entire midfield and kept pushing his attackers forward.But try as they did, they could not find the deserved goal to at least split the points with All Stars.
All Stars took the lead as early as the 4th minute when goal keeper Amoah failed to grab first time, a harmless shot from the foot of Issah Salihu.
Even though the visitors sent signals they were in for serious business, keeping their composure and mounting a series of attacks into the area of All Stars, goal keeper Amoah for the second time let the visitors down and heartbroken when he failed to deal with a very ineffective cross from Adinaan Saeed on the 15th minute for for the second goal.
Oly returned from recess playing very impressively and pinning All Stars to their own half for most part of the game. This yielded the needed result when they managed to reduce the deficit on the 76th minute, courtesy Ibrahim Fuseini.
From then on Olympics were a delight to watch, especially Akowiah Malik, who took charge of the entire midfield and kept pushing his attackers forward.But try as they did, they could not find the deserved goal to at least split the points with All Stars.
Monday, February 22, 2010
NPP DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE IN OPPOSITION — BIN SALIH (PAGE 16, JAN 07, 2010)
ONE of the candidates vying for the position of second vice chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Upper West Region, Mr Hafiz Bin Salih, has said the NPP does not deserve to be out of power, considering the support and loyalty it enjoyed from Ghanaians during its eight years reign.
He has therefore stressedon the need for Dankwa-Busia faithful to do everything possible to reclaim political power from the ruling National Democratic Congress, as well as redeem the party from its present position.
Mr Bin Salih said if the few months that the NDC had been in power was anything to go by, then the chances of the NPP in 2012 were brighter.
Mr Bin Salih who was interacting with the Daily Graphic in Wa, therefore called on all delegates to endorse candidates who have the growth and sustenance of the NPP at heart in order to reclaim power from the NDC, come 2012.
Describing himself as one of such candidates, Mr Bin Salih catalogued some of his achievements when he was the youth organiser of the NPP in the Upper West Region as a facilitator in the establishment of the Tertiary Education Student Confederacy (TESCON) of the NPP in the College of Education and the Nursing Training College in Wa, whipping up the interest of the youth in the activities of the NPP in the region, the establishment of youth clubs for the party in the region as well as the establishment of a public relations unit for the party in the region.
He said it was on the basis of such credentials that he must be given the chance to support the other winning candidates to carry the party on their shoulders for a sounding victory, come the year 2012.
Mr Bin Salih also used the platform to express appreciation to all those who supported him and the NPP in diverse ways during his role as a regional youth organiser.
Mr Bin Salih, holds a Master of Arts (MA) from the University of Cape Coast (UCC), a postgraduate diploma from the Paris Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Education from the University College of Education, Winneba.
During his schooldays, he served as President of the Northern Students Union, Vice-President of the Ghana Muslim Students Union and President of TESCON.
On his role in the NPP since he started full time politics, the soft-spoken candidate said he served as a member of the election committee for the NPP in the Nadowli West and Jirapa constituencies in 2008 and was also a member of the fund raising committee during the 2004 general election.
Mr Bin Salih was an assembly member at the Wa Municipal Assembly.
He has therefore stressedon the need for Dankwa-Busia faithful to do everything possible to reclaim political power from the ruling National Democratic Congress, as well as redeem the party from its present position.
Mr Bin Salih said if the few months that the NDC had been in power was anything to go by, then the chances of the NPP in 2012 were brighter.
Mr Bin Salih who was interacting with the Daily Graphic in Wa, therefore called on all delegates to endorse candidates who have the growth and sustenance of the NPP at heart in order to reclaim power from the NDC, come 2012.
Describing himself as one of such candidates, Mr Bin Salih catalogued some of his achievements when he was the youth organiser of the NPP in the Upper West Region as a facilitator in the establishment of the Tertiary Education Student Confederacy (TESCON) of the NPP in the College of Education and the Nursing Training College in Wa, whipping up the interest of the youth in the activities of the NPP in the region, the establishment of youth clubs for the party in the region as well as the establishment of a public relations unit for the party in the region.
He said it was on the basis of such credentials that he must be given the chance to support the other winning candidates to carry the party on their shoulders for a sounding victory, come the year 2012.
Mr Bin Salih also used the platform to express appreciation to all those who supported him and the NPP in diverse ways during his role as a regional youth organiser.
Mr Bin Salih, holds a Master of Arts (MA) from the University of Cape Coast (UCC), a postgraduate diploma from the Paris Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Education from the University College of Education, Winneba.
During his schooldays, he served as President of the Northern Students Union, Vice-President of the Ghana Muslim Students Union and President of TESCON.
On his role in the NPP since he started full time politics, the soft-spoken candidate said he served as a member of the election committee for the NPP in the Nadowli West and Jirapa constituencies in 2008 and was also a member of the fund raising committee during the 2004 general election.
Mr Bin Salih was an assembly member at the Wa Municipal Assembly.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)