THE Wa Municipal Assembly has resolved to blacklist and withdraw support for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other stakeholders engaged in anti HIV/AIDS activities in the municipality if they fail to regularly submit reports on their activities to the assembly.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Duogo Yakubu, who gave the warning, therefore, urged the NGOs and other stakeholders to involve the assembly, especially the Municipal AIDS committee in its activities since it was the duty of the assembly to co-ordinate and monitor their activities.
The MCE expressed the concern at a day's review meeting of the Wa Municipal HIV/AIDS committee in Wa in the Upper West Region.
Security agencies, NGOs and other members of the public attended the meeting.
Mr Yakubu stated that although there had been an increase in the knowledge on the disease, the difficulty now was how people would change their behaviour.
He also commended some NGOs for keeping faith with the assembly and working hard to ensure that the prevalence rate of the pandemic in the municipality was reduced.
The Wa Municipal Monitoring and Evaluation Focal Person on HIV/AIDS, Mr Michael Bayel, challenged all NGOs engaged in anti HIV/AIDS activities in the municipality to regularly submit reports on their activities to the Municipal AIDS committee.
According to him, the decision was to enable the committee to monitor and co-ordinate their activities and properly inform the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC).
He said the aim was also to get in touch with the GAC regularly in order to continue to receive support from the commission.
Mr Bayel commended the various NGOs and other partners for their immense roles in the fight against the disease and said their efforts had led to the stability of HIV prevalence in the municipality.
He said the HIV prevalence in the municipality in 2007 was 5.8 per cent which dropped to 2.0 per cent in 2008 and 2009.
Mr Bayel, therefore, entreated the various stakeholders to work hard to possibly reduce the prevalence rate to 1.0 per cent.
Monday, September 27, 2010
1,500 ENGAGED FOR CENSUS IN UPPER WEST (PAGE 22, SEPT 25, 2010
ONE thousand, five hundred field workers are to make the final list of field workers for the up coming national housing and population census in the Upper West Region.
The Regional Statistician, Mr Francis Nyarko Larbi, made this known to the Daily Graphic at Wa.
He said, currently, a number of applicants for the position as field workers were being taken through training on how to collect data among other issues during the exercise.
Mr Nyarko Larbi appealed to residents to be forthcoming with information when the enumerators call on them.
“The national housing and population census is highly confidential for which the enumerators are aware and so people must not hesitate to provide all the answers to their questions,” he stressed.
Mr Nyarko Larbi advised the enumerators to comport themselves and carry out their duties professionally.
Touching on information dissemination on the national exercise, the regional statistician said his outfit had liaised with various stakeholders, including the Information Services Department, the National Commission for Civic Education and the media to spread the message on the exercise throughout the region.
He appealed to Ghanaians to disabuse their minds that the exercise would be used for taxation purposes, stressing that the exercise would serve as a guide to policy makers to come out with very feasible development programmes.
Mr Nyarko Larbi further advised the populace to embrace the exercise by availing themselves on September 26, 2010 which had been earmarked as the census night to make the entire exercise very successful.
He also urged those who would be given the opportunity to work as enumerators to take the programme seriously.
The Regional Statistician, Mr Francis Nyarko Larbi, made this known to the Daily Graphic at Wa.
He said, currently, a number of applicants for the position as field workers were being taken through training on how to collect data among other issues during the exercise.
Mr Nyarko Larbi appealed to residents to be forthcoming with information when the enumerators call on them.
“The national housing and population census is highly confidential for which the enumerators are aware and so people must not hesitate to provide all the answers to their questions,” he stressed.
Mr Nyarko Larbi advised the enumerators to comport themselves and carry out their duties professionally.
Touching on information dissemination on the national exercise, the regional statistician said his outfit had liaised with various stakeholders, including the Information Services Department, the National Commission for Civic Education and the media to spread the message on the exercise throughout the region.
He appealed to Ghanaians to disabuse their minds that the exercise would be used for taxation purposes, stressing that the exercise would serve as a guide to policy makers to come out with very feasible development programmes.
Mr Nyarko Larbi further advised the populace to embrace the exercise by availing themselves on September 26, 2010 which had been earmarked as the census night to make the entire exercise very successful.
He also urged those who would be given the opportunity to work as enumerators to take the programme seriously.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
USE NKRUMAH'S DAY TO RELECT ON DEV — BABA (PAGE 12, SEPT 23, 2010)
THE Wa Central Constituency Secretary of the Convention People Party (CPP), Mr Elyasu Yussif Baba, has stressed the need for Ghanaians to use Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s birthday to reflect on the direction of the country’s development and chart a new course.
This, he said, was because Dr Nkrumah’s vision for the country in terms of development still lingered on and therefore upon reflection on a day such as Dr Nkrumah’s day of birth, all Ghanaians especially those in leadership positions, would be able to tell whether the country was on the right path to development or otherwise.
Mr Yussif Baba, who was speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Wa, in the Upper West region, said the time had come for all Ghanaians to unite and support in the development process of the country.
He said irrespective of whichever party was in power, the development of the entire country and improvement in the living standards of the people was paramount and therefore there was the need for all well-meaning Ghanaians to support the government to move the country forward.
He commended the current government for honouring Dr Nkrumah with a holiday but said more needed to be done to fully appreciate Dr Nkrumah’s legacy as a country.
Touching on how to make the CPP a formidable party to be able to bounce back as one of the political forces in the country to be reckoned with, the Wa central CPP constituency secretary urged all CPP faithful across the country to also use the day to change their ways with respect to the growth of the CPP.
He said the CPP had the potential to capture political power from the NDC when it became more united adding that “We may have differences in opinions as party members but that must not divide our ranks”.
Mr Yussif Baba, therefore, called on the leadership of the CPP to possibly hold meetings across the country as a way of reviving the fortunes of the party.
For his part, a former CPP parliamentary candidate for Wa central constituency, Mr Issahaku Suleiman, urged the NDC government to honour its campaign promises since the people were still suffering.
He said with almost two years after assuming the presidency, the people of Ghana were yet to have a feel of what the NDC promised.
Mr Suleman also charged the youth and the media to continue to keep the government on its toes to deliver.
On the fortunes of the CPP, he also reiterated the need for unity among the leadership of the party as well as the rank and file pointing out that “That is the only way the impact of the CPP would be felt come the 2012 general elections”.
He further called on Ghanaians to give Dr Kwame Nkrumah a befitting honour by bringing the CPP back to the reigns of governance during the 2012 general elections.
This, he said, was because Dr Nkrumah’s vision for the country in terms of development still lingered on and therefore upon reflection on a day such as Dr Nkrumah’s day of birth, all Ghanaians especially those in leadership positions, would be able to tell whether the country was on the right path to development or otherwise.
Mr Yussif Baba, who was speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Wa, in the Upper West region, said the time had come for all Ghanaians to unite and support in the development process of the country.
He said irrespective of whichever party was in power, the development of the entire country and improvement in the living standards of the people was paramount and therefore there was the need for all well-meaning Ghanaians to support the government to move the country forward.
He commended the current government for honouring Dr Nkrumah with a holiday but said more needed to be done to fully appreciate Dr Nkrumah’s legacy as a country.
Touching on how to make the CPP a formidable party to be able to bounce back as one of the political forces in the country to be reckoned with, the Wa central CPP constituency secretary urged all CPP faithful across the country to also use the day to change their ways with respect to the growth of the CPP.
He said the CPP had the potential to capture political power from the NDC when it became more united adding that “We may have differences in opinions as party members but that must not divide our ranks”.
Mr Yussif Baba, therefore, called on the leadership of the CPP to possibly hold meetings across the country as a way of reviving the fortunes of the party.
For his part, a former CPP parliamentary candidate for Wa central constituency, Mr Issahaku Suleiman, urged the NDC government to honour its campaign promises since the people were still suffering.
He said with almost two years after assuming the presidency, the people of Ghana were yet to have a feel of what the NDC promised.
Mr Suleman also charged the youth and the media to continue to keep the government on its toes to deliver.
On the fortunes of the CPP, he also reiterated the need for unity among the leadership of the party as well as the rank and file pointing out that “That is the only way the impact of the CPP would be felt come the 2012 general elections”.
He further called on Ghanaians to give Dr Kwame Nkrumah a befitting honour by bringing the CPP back to the reigns of governance during the 2012 general elections.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
UDS STUDENT STRUCK BY LIGHTNING (BACK PAGE, SEPT 22, 2010)
GRIEF struck the Wa campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS) on Monday morning when a final year student died after she had reportedly been struck by lightning.
The deceased, Faustina Mensah, believed to be in her late 20s and a level 400 Development Communication student of the Faculty of Integrated Development Studies, was said to be leaving for lectures in the company of her friends when the incident occurred.
The lightning preceded a heavy downpour in the Wa municipality.
Eyewitnesses told the Daily Graphic that Faustina and her two friends had just come out of her Kpaguri residence and walked a few metres away from the doorstep when the lightning suddenly struck her midsection.
The deceased, Faustina Mensah, believed to be in her late 20s and a level 400 Development Communication student of the Faculty of Integrated Development Studies, was said to be leaving for lectures in the company of her friends when the incident occurred.
The lightning preceded a heavy downpour in the Wa municipality.
Eyewitnesses told the Daily Graphic that Faustina and her two friends had just come out of her Kpaguri residence and walked a few metres away from the doorstep when the lightning suddenly struck her midsection.
Monday, September 20, 2010
ASHGOLD LOSE AT WA (BACK PAGE, SEPT 20, 2010)
Ashantigold once again proved to be tough customers for Wa All Stars at their own backyard but lost 0-1 in their Glo Premier League match played at the Wa stadium yesterday.
Determined to repeat their 2-0 win over All Stars at the Wa stadium last season, Ashgold started the game with much seriousness and hit the post on the fourth minute.
The tide then changed as that near miss by Ashgold gingered the homesters who stepped up their attack in the 23rd minute, with Nortey Frank Sowah breaking the deadlock through a goal mouth melee.
In the second session, Ashgold, who felt wounded, took the game to All Stars with lots of incursions but goalkeeper Isshaku Shaibu in post for All Stars stood between the two sides with some great saves.
• Sunyani-based B.A. Stars recorded their second home victory at the Coronation Park in the Glo Premier League when they beat visiting Real Tamale United (RTU) 1-0 in their third week encounter yesterday, reports Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Sunyani .
Midfielder, Sulemana Mamudu scored the only goal of the match on the 60th minute during a goalmouth struggle to ease the anxiety of the home fans who had turned up in their number.
Determined to repeat their 2-0 win over All Stars at the Wa stadium last season, Ashgold started the game with much seriousness and hit the post on the fourth minute.
The tide then changed as that near miss by Ashgold gingered the homesters who stepped up their attack in the 23rd minute, with Nortey Frank Sowah breaking the deadlock through a goal mouth melee.
In the second session, Ashgold, who felt wounded, took the game to All Stars with lots of incursions but goalkeeper Isshaku Shaibu in post for All Stars stood between the two sides with some great saves.
• Sunyani-based B.A. Stars recorded their second home victory at the Coronation Park in the Glo Premier League when they beat visiting Real Tamale United (RTU) 1-0 in their third week encounter yesterday, reports Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Sunyani .
Midfielder, Sulemana Mamudu scored the only goal of the match on the 60th minute during a goalmouth struggle to ease the anxiety of the home fans who had turned up in their number.
Monday, September 6, 2010
ALL STARS BEAT LIBERTY (BACK PAGE, SEPT 6, 2010)
A new-look Wa All Stars side yesterday beat Dansoman Liberty Professionals 2-0 in their Glo Premier League opener at the Wa stadium.
Goals from arrowhead Nathaniel Asamoah and substitute James Kwame Abban on the 26th and 82nd minutes were all that All Stars needed to convince the home supporters of what is in store for visiting teams this season.
Liberty Professionals, who played their hearts out throughout the 90 minutes, were unlucky on many occasions, particularly on the 44th minute, when what looked like a good goal from Isaac Amoah was ruled offside by Asamankese-based referee Vincent Otoo.
Playing the entire second half on a soggy pitch due to a downpour, All Stars took advantage of the situation to pile pressure on the visitors, leading to the second goal.
The visitors who were very comfortable on the ball continued to make some incursions into the area of All Stars and kept shooting at goal but were denied at least a consolation, thanks to the agility of Robert Dabuo in post for the homesters.
Goals from arrowhead Nathaniel Asamoah and substitute James Kwame Abban on the 26th and 82nd minutes were all that All Stars needed to convince the home supporters of what is in store for visiting teams this season.
Liberty Professionals, who played their hearts out throughout the 90 minutes, were unlucky on many occasions, particularly on the 44th minute, when what looked like a good goal from Isaac Amoah was ruled offside by Asamankese-based referee Vincent Otoo.
Playing the entire second half on a soggy pitch due to a downpour, All Stars took advantage of the situation to pile pressure on the visitors, leading to the second goal.
The visitors who were very comfortable on the ball continued to make some incursions into the area of All Stars and kept shooting at goal but were denied at least a consolation, thanks to the agility of Robert Dabuo in post for the homesters.
REGIONAL MINISTER VISITS ISLAMIC CLERICS (PAGE 42, SEPT 6, 2010)
THE new Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Issahaku Saliah, has paid courtesy calls on Islamic clerics, landowners (tendamba) and the local council of churches and some opinion leaders in the Wa Municipality.
He stressed the need for unity from all sectors of the society in order to push the development agenda of the region forward.
Alhaji Salia was accompanied on the tour by the former acting Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Moses Magbengba, who is also the Northern Regional Minister, the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Caesar Kale, and other officials from the Regional Co-ordinating Council.
The Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Issahaku Yakubu, described Mr Magbengba as a very lucky person whose luck shined upon the region during the three months that he was acting as the regional minister.
“We believe it is because of your luck that both the Upper West and the Northern regions have been very peaceful when you acted as Regional Minister in our region.
The Chief Imam advised Mr Magbengba and the new Regional Minister, Alhaji Saliah, to learn to forgive at all times because as humans, we are all fallible.”
Both Mr Magbengba and Alhaji Saliah expressed appreciation to the Chief Imam and his elders for their prayers and support and urged them to continue doing so.
Alhaji Saliah and his entourage also visited the Ahmediyya Muslim Mission where the First National Deputy Ameer of the mission, Maulvi Yusif Yawson, stressed the resolve of the mission to continue to partner the government in its development efforts.
Maulvi Yawson further prayed that the proposed Wa-Walewale road was constructed in due course as promised by the government to make travelling from Wa to Tamale very smooth and convenient.
At the meeting with the Local Council of Churches, Alhaji Saliah further stressed the need for unity among the people of the region, saying, “It is good to see all the churches coming together under one umbrella as the local council of churches in the region and I hope our Muslim community would take a cue from this and have that tolerance and unite.”
That, Alhaji Saliah said, made the followers one and to work towards a common goal.
For his part, the outgoing acting Regional Minister, Mr Magbengba, thanked the opinion and religious leaders, as well as the people of the region, for their support during the few months he took over as the regional minister.
It would be recalled that the position of Upper West Regional Minister became vacant when a few disgruntled youth of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) rose up against the former Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, and destroyed tender documents leading to his sacking by President John Atta Mills.
He stressed the need for unity from all sectors of the society in order to push the development agenda of the region forward.
Alhaji Salia was accompanied on the tour by the former acting Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Moses Magbengba, who is also the Northern Regional Minister, the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Caesar Kale, and other officials from the Regional Co-ordinating Council.
The Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Issahaku Yakubu, described Mr Magbengba as a very lucky person whose luck shined upon the region during the three months that he was acting as the regional minister.
“We believe it is because of your luck that both the Upper West and the Northern regions have been very peaceful when you acted as Regional Minister in our region.
The Chief Imam advised Mr Magbengba and the new Regional Minister, Alhaji Saliah, to learn to forgive at all times because as humans, we are all fallible.”
Both Mr Magbengba and Alhaji Saliah expressed appreciation to the Chief Imam and his elders for their prayers and support and urged them to continue doing so.
Alhaji Saliah and his entourage also visited the Ahmediyya Muslim Mission where the First National Deputy Ameer of the mission, Maulvi Yusif Yawson, stressed the resolve of the mission to continue to partner the government in its development efforts.
Maulvi Yawson further prayed that the proposed Wa-Walewale road was constructed in due course as promised by the government to make travelling from Wa to Tamale very smooth and convenient.
At the meeting with the Local Council of Churches, Alhaji Saliah further stressed the need for unity among the people of the region, saying, “It is good to see all the churches coming together under one umbrella as the local council of churches in the region and I hope our Muslim community would take a cue from this and have that tolerance and unite.”
That, Alhaji Saliah said, made the followers one and to work towards a common goal.
For his part, the outgoing acting Regional Minister, Mr Magbengba, thanked the opinion and religious leaders, as well as the people of the region, for their support during the few months he took over as the regional minister.
It would be recalled that the position of Upper West Regional Minister became vacant when a few disgruntled youth of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) rose up against the former Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, and destroyed tender documents leading to his sacking by President John Atta Mills.
REGIONAL MINISTER VISITS ISLAMIC CLERICS (PAGE 35, SEPT 6, 2010)
THE new Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Issahaku Saliah, has paid courtesy calls on Islamic clerics, landowners (tendamba) and the local council of churches and some opinion leaders in the Wa Municipality.
He stressed the need for unity from all sectors of the society in order to push the development agenda of the region forward.
Alhaji Salia was accompanied on the tour by the former acting Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Moses Magbengba, who is also the Northern Regional Minister, the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Caesar Kale and other officials from the regional co-ordinating Council.
The Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Issahaku Yakubu, described Mr Magbengba as a very lucky person whose luck shined upon the region during the three months that he acted as the regional minister.
“We believe it is because of your luck that both the Upper West and Northern regions have been very peaceful when you acted as Regional Minister.
The Chief Imam advised Mr Magbengba and the new Regional Minister, Alhaji Saliah, to learn to forgive at all times because as humans, we are all fallible.”
Both Mr Magbengba and Alhaji Saliah expressed appreciation to the Chief Imam and his elders for their prayers and support and urged them to continue doing so.
Alhaji Saliah and his entourage also visited the Ahmediyya Muslim Mission where the First National Deputy Ameer of the mission, Maulvi Yusif Yawson, stressed the resolve of the mission to continue to partner the government in its development efforts.
Maulvi Yawson further prayed that the proposed Wa-Walewale road would be constructed in due course as promised by the government to make travelling from Wa to Tamale very smooth and convenient.
At the meeting with the Local Council of Churches, Alhaji Saliah further stressed the need for unity among the people of the region, saying “It is good to see all the churches coming together under one umbrella as the local council of churches in the region and I hope our Muslim community would take a cue from this and have that tolerance and unite”.
That, Alhaji Saliah said, made the followers one and to work towards a common goal.
For his part, the outgoing acting Regional Minister, Mr Magbengba, thanked the opinion and religious leaders, as well as the people of the region for their support during the few months he took over as the regional minister.
It would be recalled that the position of Upper West Regional Minister became vacant when a few disgruntled youth of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) rose up against the former Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid and destroyed tender documents leading to his sacking by President John Atta Mills.
He stressed the need for unity from all sectors of the society in order to push the development agenda of the region forward.
Alhaji Salia was accompanied on the tour by the former acting Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Moses Magbengba, who is also the Northern Regional Minister, the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Caesar Kale and other officials from the regional co-ordinating Council.
The Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Issahaku Yakubu, described Mr Magbengba as a very lucky person whose luck shined upon the region during the three months that he acted as the regional minister.
“We believe it is because of your luck that both the Upper West and Northern regions have been very peaceful when you acted as Regional Minister.
The Chief Imam advised Mr Magbengba and the new Regional Minister, Alhaji Saliah, to learn to forgive at all times because as humans, we are all fallible.”
Both Mr Magbengba and Alhaji Saliah expressed appreciation to the Chief Imam and his elders for their prayers and support and urged them to continue doing so.
Alhaji Saliah and his entourage also visited the Ahmediyya Muslim Mission where the First National Deputy Ameer of the mission, Maulvi Yusif Yawson, stressed the resolve of the mission to continue to partner the government in its development efforts.
Maulvi Yawson further prayed that the proposed Wa-Walewale road would be constructed in due course as promised by the government to make travelling from Wa to Tamale very smooth and convenient.
At the meeting with the Local Council of Churches, Alhaji Saliah further stressed the need for unity among the people of the region, saying “It is good to see all the churches coming together under one umbrella as the local council of churches in the region and I hope our Muslim community would take a cue from this and have that tolerance and unite”.
That, Alhaji Saliah said, made the followers one and to work towards a common goal.
For his part, the outgoing acting Regional Minister, Mr Magbengba, thanked the opinion and religious leaders, as well as the people of the region for their support during the few months he took over as the regional minister.
It would be recalled that the position of Upper West Regional Minister became vacant when a few disgruntled youth of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) rose up against the former Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid and destroyed tender documents leading to his sacking by President John Atta Mills.
Friday, September 3, 2010
30 JUVENILE PLAYERS FOR NATIONAL TEAM (PAGE 11, SEPT 3, 2010)
The technical committee of the 13th national juvenile football competition held in Wa in the Upper West Region has selected 30 outstanding players to form the nucleus of the national Under-12 and U-15 teams.
The competition which drew 24 teams from across the country last Saturday saw Wa All Stars Babies beating Zenaps FC from Teshie in the Greater Accra Region 2-1 in the Under-12 division. The Under-15 final, however, saw Wa All Stars Babies losing 0-2 to Kumasi-based Anokye Stars.
Alhassan Saeed of All Stars was adjudged the Best Goalkeeper in the under-12 division, while Future Stars’ Gift Kumalo won the Best Player and Golden Boot awards.
Wa All Stars Babies took home a trophy, four footballs and GH¢300, with the second-placed Zenaps FC taking home two footballs and GH¢200. The third-placed team in the under-12 division also took home two footballs and GH¢150.
In the U-15 division, Anokye Stars took home a trophy, five footballs and GH¢400, while runners-up Wa All Stars Babies, who qualified for the final after winning a protest against Greater Accra’s Future Stars for fielding an unqualified player, Wa All Stars Babies received four footballs and GH¢300.
Wa All Stars Babies swept all the individual awards in the U-15 division, with goalkeeper Salifu Suleimana picking the best goalkeeper award, while Alipo Ranow was adjudged the best player.
Other teams and officials who excelled at the competition were also honoured with certificates of participation.
The week-long tournament saw some exciting matches which attracted sizable crowds to the various venues.
The next edition of the competition is expected to be held in the Volta regional capital, Ho.
The competition which drew 24 teams from across the country last Saturday saw Wa All Stars Babies beating Zenaps FC from Teshie in the Greater Accra Region 2-1 in the Under-12 division. The Under-15 final, however, saw Wa All Stars Babies losing 0-2 to Kumasi-based Anokye Stars.
Alhassan Saeed of All Stars was adjudged the Best Goalkeeper in the under-12 division, while Future Stars’ Gift Kumalo won the Best Player and Golden Boot awards.
Wa All Stars Babies took home a trophy, four footballs and GH¢300, with the second-placed Zenaps FC taking home two footballs and GH¢200. The third-placed team in the under-12 division also took home two footballs and GH¢150.
In the U-15 division, Anokye Stars took home a trophy, five footballs and GH¢400, while runners-up Wa All Stars Babies, who qualified for the final after winning a protest against Greater Accra’s Future Stars for fielding an unqualified player, Wa All Stars Babies received four footballs and GH¢300.
Wa All Stars Babies swept all the individual awards in the U-15 division, with goalkeeper Salifu Suleimana picking the best goalkeeper award, while Alipo Ranow was adjudged the best player.
Other teams and officials who excelled at the competition were also honoured with certificates of participation.
The week-long tournament saw some exciting matches which attracted sizable crowds to the various venues.
The next edition of the competition is expected to be held in the Volta regional capital, Ho.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
ARMED ROBBERS ATTACK TRAVELLERS (BACK PAGE, AUGUST 31, 2010)
SCORES of travellers on the Wa-Tumu-Bolgatanga road were subjected to a traumatic ordeal by suspected armed robbers who ambushed six vehicles, including two Metro-Mass Transport (MMT) buses, and robbed the occupants of valuable items and money.
The dawn attack occurred at Nadakui near Tumu in the Sissala East District, where the robbers, numbering about six and said to be wielding AK 47 and G3 rifles and in police and military uniforms, seized the keys to the vehicles and asked all the passengers to alight.
They seized laptops, mobile phones, bags containing clothes and undisclosed sums of money at gunpoint after some of the passengers had received some slaps.
A victim of the robbery, Madam Mariga Musah, who was on a MMT bus from Wa to Bolgatanga, told the Daily Graphic that after starting from Wa at about 5 a.m. their bus got to a spot between Jeffisi in the Sissala West District and Tumu in the Sissala East District both in the Upper West Region at about 7:30 am.
She said upon reaching the spot their driver spotted a fleet of vehicles parked ahead of him and so he also slowed down.
She said a few minutes after their driver had halted they overheard voices commanding the driver and the passengers to raise up their hands only to see two men in Ghana Police uniforms armed with guns ordering everybody aboard the bus to surrender his or her money and mobile phones into a bag one of the robbers was holding.
She said the other robbers were by then taking care of the other passengers who had been held hostage and were already lying on the floor with their faces down.
She said after handing over their phones, money and other valuables to the robbers, they were also asked to come out from the bus to join those who were lying down.
Madam Mariga Musah, who is a teacher at the Nuriya Primary School in Wa, said while they lay down the robbers again came and searched them one after the other and took whatever they found on them.
She said the robbers, after the operation, packed their booty into a saloon car and a jeep with registration numbers GR 5526 X and GR 8850 X belonging to some of the victims and sped off.
She said when they were about to continue with their journey at about 10 a.m. after the robbers had left, they then met a team of police personnel from Tumu approaching while another came from a different direction.
She said the police were informed of the robbery and they pursued the robbers.
The Deputy Upper West Regional Police Commander, ACP Kofi Danso Adei Acheampong, confirmed the incident and said the police later saw the saloon car and the jeep abandoned at Kuntulo, also near Tumu, and towed the cars to the Tumu Police Station.
He said no arrests had been made so far but said the police were investigating.
The dawn attack occurred at Nadakui near Tumu in the Sissala East District, where the robbers, numbering about six and said to be wielding AK 47 and G3 rifles and in police and military uniforms, seized the keys to the vehicles and asked all the passengers to alight.
They seized laptops, mobile phones, bags containing clothes and undisclosed sums of money at gunpoint after some of the passengers had received some slaps.
A victim of the robbery, Madam Mariga Musah, who was on a MMT bus from Wa to Bolgatanga, told the Daily Graphic that after starting from Wa at about 5 a.m. their bus got to a spot between Jeffisi in the Sissala West District and Tumu in the Sissala East District both in the Upper West Region at about 7:30 am.
She said upon reaching the spot their driver spotted a fleet of vehicles parked ahead of him and so he also slowed down.
She said a few minutes after their driver had halted they overheard voices commanding the driver and the passengers to raise up their hands only to see two men in Ghana Police uniforms armed with guns ordering everybody aboard the bus to surrender his or her money and mobile phones into a bag one of the robbers was holding.
She said the other robbers were by then taking care of the other passengers who had been held hostage and were already lying on the floor with their faces down.
She said after handing over their phones, money and other valuables to the robbers, they were also asked to come out from the bus to join those who were lying down.
Madam Mariga Musah, who is a teacher at the Nuriya Primary School in Wa, said while they lay down the robbers again came and searched them one after the other and took whatever they found on them.
She said the robbers, after the operation, packed their booty into a saloon car and a jeep with registration numbers GR 5526 X and GR 8850 X belonging to some of the victims and sped off.
She said when they were about to continue with their journey at about 10 a.m. after the robbers had left, they then met a team of police personnel from Tumu approaching while another came from a different direction.
She said the police were informed of the robbery and they pursued the robbers.
The Deputy Upper West Regional Police Commander, ACP Kofi Danso Adei Acheampong, confirmed the incident and said the police later saw the saloon car and the jeep abandoned at Kuntulo, also near Tumu, and towed the cars to the Tumu Police Station.
He said no arrests had been made so far but said the police were investigating.
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