Story: Chris Nunoo, Wa
CONSTRUCTION work on the 1000 bed hostel facility for the Wa Polytechnic has been halted by the school authorities to be reallocated to a new contractor.
This, according to the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr Godwin Aflakpui, was as a result of the inability of the first contractor to meet the expectations and projections of the institution.
He said his outfit had met with a consultant for the project in relation to the re-allocation of the work to a new contractor.
Similarly, Dr Aflakpui said, work on the construction of a new official residence for the rector had also been stalled due to the lack of capacity on the part of the contractors to proceed with the project.
He explained that the rector’s residence, like the hostel, was being built with funds from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) with an estimated amount of GH¢506,000 which had to be re-awarded for the third consecutive time.
Dr Aflakpui who was interacting with the Daily Graphic in Wa, in the Upper West Region, said even though the work on the rector’s residence was expected to be completed within 18 months, the inability of the previous contractors to meet the requirements would affect both the duration for the completion of the project as well as the amount earmarked for the projects.
Presently, Dr Aflakpui is staying at a guest house and is expecting to be re-allocated a temporary bungalow by the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) in due course.
Meanwhile, the Daily Graphic has gathered that the non-completion of the hostel facility is putting a lot of financial pressure on both parents and students, as they have to comb through the Wa municipality searching for accommodation which are exorbitant .
Dr Aflakpui, however, noted that work on the polytechnic library complex had almost been completed with the exception of the fixing of a concrete encavement for the installation of an elevator.
On academic issues, the rector explained that due to the national strike action embarked on by the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) last year, the Wa Polytechnic had re-aligned its academic calendar in order to maintain the standards.
He said the polytechnic was bent on establishing itself as a centre of excellence and therefore, it would not deviate from the Polytechnic Act 2007 which ensured that qualified and the right calibre of staff were employed to teach at the school.
He said the Polytechnic was in the process of equipping itself both in terms of staff and logistics to be able to fully introduce new programmes in Industrial Arts, Cosmetology and Laboratory Technology.
He further advised students to take their studies seriously and abide by the rules of the polytechnic.
The rector noted that access roads to the school would soon be given a facelift.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
UPPER WEST MAKES PLANS TO BATTLE CSM (BACK PAGE, JAN 25, 2011)
THE Upper West Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has prepared an emergency plan towards the fight against cerebro-spinal meningitis (CSM).
The objective of the plan is to help detect, confirm and respond appropriately to CSM in the region and also ensure a multi–sectoral approach and adequate resource mobilisation to respond to the epidemic and contribute to reduce its negative socio-economic impact.
As of September 2010, there had been 388 reported cases of meningitis, with 40 deaths.
Addressing a stakeholders’ meeting in Wa, the Upper West Regional Director of Public Health, Dr Kofi Issah, said the region had experienced almost annual outbreaks of meningitis since 1997, with a case fatality rate ranging between 10 and 25 per cent
He said the high mobility of persons in the western corridor of the region, that is, from the north-western parts of the Northern Region, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, as well as southern Ghana, meant the disease could be transmitted easily.
He said in addition to that, the urban area of the Wa municipality, with a high population of susceptible subjects made up of the over 12,000 students on the Wa Campus of the University for Development Studies, 6,000 students of the Wa Polytechnic and the senior high schools and newly posted public servants, made it important for strategic planning.
Dr Issah said under the plan, district disease control officers and other relevant staff were to be trained in outbreak investigations and response and also in surveillance to enable them to effectively supervise community-based volunteers.
“There will also be sensitisation programmes which will be carried out in the various tertiary institutions, while epidemic management teams are reactivated,” he added
He said the epidemic management teams, in most cases, should not be for only meningitis but other disease conditions with the relevant stakeholders.
According to Dr Issah, all health facilities would be required to manage patients according to national guidelines and develop effective referral systems for complicated cases, while the regional co-ordinating council would mobilise extra resources for mass campaigns.
CSM is caused by long, dry and dusty season lasting over a period of five months each year, poorly ventilated houses, overcrowded areas, the movement of people to and from regions and districts, among others.
The objective of the plan is to help detect, confirm and respond appropriately to CSM in the region and also ensure a multi–sectoral approach and adequate resource mobilisation to respond to the epidemic and contribute to reduce its negative socio-economic impact.
As of September 2010, there had been 388 reported cases of meningitis, with 40 deaths.
Addressing a stakeholders’ meeting in Wa, the Upper West Regional Director of Public Health, Dr Kofi Issah, said the region had experienced almost annual outbreaks of meningitis since 1997, with a case fatality rate ranging between 10 and 25 per cent
He said the high mobility of persons in the western corridor of the region, that is, from the north-western parts of the Northern Region, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, as well as southern Ghana, meant the disease could be transmitted easily.
He said in addition to that, the urban area of the Wa municipality, with a high population of susceptible subjects made up of the over 12,000 students on the Wa Campus of the University for Development Studies, 6,000 students of the Wa Polytechnic and the senior high schools and newly posted public servants, made it important for strategic planning.
Dr Issah said under the plan, district disease control officers and other relevant staff were to be trained in outbreak investigations and response and also in surveillance to enable them to effectively supervise community-based volunteers.
“There will also be sensitisation programmes which will be carried out in the various tertiary institutions, while epidemic management teams are reactivated,” he added
He said the epidemic management teams, in most cases, should not be for only meningitis but other disease conditions with the relevant stakeholders.
According to Dr Issah, all health facilities would be required to manage patients according to national guidelines and develop effective referral systems for complicated cases, while the regional co-ordinating council would mobilise extra resources for mass campaigns.
CSM is caused by long, dry and dusty season lasting over a period of five months each year, poorly ventilated houses, overcrowded areas, the movement of people to and from regions and districts, among others.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
ALL STARS STOP CHELSEA (BACK PAGE, JAN 20, 2011)
Wa All Stars ysterday pulled the brakes on league leaders, Berekum Chelsea, by beating them 2-0 in their premier league match played at the Wa Stadium.
Perhaps the presence of the bankroller of Wa All Stars, Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi, did the trick as the homesters who have not fared very well at home in their last two games against Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Medeama S/C played as if they were possessed and took charge of all departments of the game.
After a drab first half, All Stars came in strongly in the second half and managed to break the deadlock in the 50th minute through Godfred Kwame Gyasi.The goal boosted the confidence of All Stars who kept the goal area of the visitors boiling until the 70th minute when their new striker, Sam Ocran, who looked more of a music artiste than a footballer, connected a powerful shot from the foot of Edwin Gyimah, resulting in spontaneous cheers from the estatic home fans.
After the second goal, the game became a ding-dong affair, with both sides missing a couple of chances until Kumasi-based referee, Lord Mansfield Vuvor, brought proceedings to an end amidst a standing ovation for the All Stars players.
Perhaps the presence of the bankroller of Wa All Stars, Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi, did the trick as the homesters who have not fared very well at home in their last two games against Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Medeama S/C played as if they were possessed and took charge of all departments of the game.
After a drab first half, All Stars came in strongly in the second half and managed to break the deadlock in the 50th minute through Godfred Kwame Gyasi.The goal boosted the confidence of All Stars who kept the goal area of the visitors boiling until the 70th minute when their new striker, Sam Ocran, who looked more of a music artiste than a footballer, connected a powerful shot from the foot of Edwin Gyimah, resulting in spontaneous cheers from the estatic home fans.
After the second goal, the game became a ding-dong affair, with both sides missing a couple of chances until Kumasi-based referee, Lord Mansfield Vuvor, brought proceedings to an end amidst a standing ovation for the All Stars players.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
NDC SET UP COMMITTEE TO RESOLVE DIFFERENCES (PAGE 12, JAN 19, 2011)
THE Upper West regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has set up a committee to resolve differences within the party to ensure a united front towards next year’s general elections.
Differences beyond the committee will be referred to the appropriate quarters for early and amicable determination.
In addition to this, the party has also re-constituted a disciplinary committee to deal with members whose stock in trade is to spread false information about some personalities within the party in the region.
These were some of the outcome of a meeting between the core regional executives, District Chief Executives (DCE)’s and ministers of state from the region.
Briefing the Daily Graphic after the meeting, the Regional Secretary of the party, Mr Eric Dakurah, said the meeting also discussed how to mobilise resources to fund the activities of the party.
“We want to support the major wings of the party, particularly the youth and women’s wings which are dear to the heart of the party,” he added.
He said indiscipline among some party members had been of grave concern to the party hence measures had been introduced at both the constituency and regional levels to arrest the situation.
“We will not spare the rod as errant members will be dealt with per the NDC party’s constitution,” he warned.
Mr Dakurah said a programme had been drawn to visit all the constituencies in the region to listen to aggrieved members of the party and their concerns to ensure a stable and united front.
According to him, unity was paramount and the surest way to win elections, adding that “we have resolved to retain all seats won in the last elections and re-capture the lost ones.”
He said a post-mortem analysis of the 2008 elections was being done to address all weaknesses.
Mr Dakurah advised those interested in becoming Members of Parliament and flag bearers to be guided by the party’s constitution.
Differences beyond the committee will be referred to the appropriate quarters for early and amicable determination.
In addition to this, the party has also re-constituted a disciplinary committee to deal with members whose stock in trade is to spread false information about some personalities within the party in the region.
These were some of the outcome of a meeting between the core regional executives, District Chief Executives (DCE)’s and ministers of state from the region.
Briefing the Daily Graphic after the meeting, the Regional Secretary of the party, Mr Eric Dakurah, said the meeting also discussed how to mobilise resources to fund the activities of the party.
“We want to support the major wings of the party, particularly the youth and women’s wings which are dear to the heart of the party,” he added.
He said indiscipline among some party members had been of grave concern to the party hence measures had been introduced at both the constituency and regional levels to arrest the situation.
“We will not spare the rod as errant members will be dealt with per the NDC party’s constitution,” he warned.
Mr Dakurah said a programme had been drawn to visit all the constituencies in the region to listen to aggrieved members of the party and their concerns to ensure a stable and united front.
According to him, unity was paramount and the surest way to win elections, adding that “we have resolved to retain all seats won in the last elections and re-capture the lost ones.”
He said a post-mortem analysis of the 2008 elections was being done to address all weaknesses.
Mr Dakurah advised those interested in becoming Members of Parliament and flag bearers to be guided by the party’s constitution.
GIVE REASONS FOR REMOVAL OF DCEs (PAGE 12, JAN 19, 2011)
A FORMER Convention Peoples Party (CPP) Parliamentary Candidate for the Wa Central Constituency in the Upper West Region, Mr Issahaque Suleman, has called on the government to explain to Ghanaians the reasons for the recent dismissal of some District Chief Executives (DCE).
That, he said, would end speculations and rumours about the intentions of the President.
“We know some of them have amassed wealth just within the two years in office. Other DCEs have also indulged in other corrupt practices and have taken actions which do not fall in line with laid down practices and that is why the people of Ghana ought to know the reasons for the dismissal of those DCEs,” Mr Suleman stated.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Wa, Mr Suleman, however, commended President Mills for the bold action he took on the DCEs and said that would keep other DCEs on their toes and also serve as a check mechanism on political appointees who have the intentions of acting contrary to laid down practices.
He urged President Mills not to hesitate to extend the exercise to regions like the Upper West.
Mr Suleman said some of the DCEs in the Upper West Region were not performing enough to improve the living conditions of their people and, therefore, there was the need for the President to apply the whip.
He described the NDC and the NPP as the same people who, after getting the mandate of the people, tended to forget about those at the grassroots, saying the CPP and the PNC contributed a lot to the victory of the NDC during the 2008 general elections.
He, therefore, reminded the NDC government to think about the people at grassroots who were very instrumental in bringing them to power.
On the increase in petroleum prices, Mr Suleman appealed to the government to take a second look at the situation because it had made life difficult for people.
“Prices of almost every commodity has shot up and this has worsened the plight of the already over burdened Ghanaian,” he added.
Touching on the CPP and its unity talks with the Peoples National Convention (PNC), Mr Suleman encouraged both parties to earnestly work to patch up their internal squabbles in order to enhance the process.
He was of the view that Ghanaians had lost faith in both the NPP and the NDC and was yearning for a CPP government.
“The only way the CPP could win power is to unite as one Nkrumaist family with the same ideology,” he noted and pointed out that this was the time for the CPP.
Mr Suleman further called on Ghanaians to do the late Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah the honour by embracing and giving the CPP the chance to salvage the country from its present state.
That, he said, would end speculations and rumours about the intentions of the President.
“We know some of them have amassed wealth just within the two years in office. Other DCEs have also indulged in other corrupt practices and have taken actions which do not fall in line with laid down practices and that is why the people of Ghana ought to know the reasons for the dismissal of those DCEs,” Mr Suleman stated.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Wa, Mr Suleman, however, commended President Mills for the bold action he took on the DCEs and said that would keep other DCEs on their toes and also serve as a check mechanism on political appointees who have the intentions of acting contrary to laid down practices.
He urged President Mills not to hesitate to extend the exercise to regions like the Upper West.
Mr Suleman said some of the DCEs in the Upper West Region were not performing enough to improve the living conditions of their people and, therefore, there was the need for the President to apply the whip.
He described the NDC and the NPP as the same people who, after getting the mandate of the people, tended to forget about those at the grassroots, saying the CPP and the PNC contributed a lot to the victory of the NDC during the 2008 general elections.
He, therefore, reminded the NDC government to think about the people at grassroots who were very instrumental in bringing them to power.
On the increase in petroleum prices, Mr Suleman appealed to the government to take a second look at the situation because it had made life difficult for people.
“Prices of almost every commodity has shot up and this has worsened the plight of the already over burdened Ghanaian,” he added.
Touching on the CPP and its unity talks with the Peoples National Convention (PNC), Mr Suleman encouraged both parties to earnestly work to patch up their internal squabbles in order to enhance the process.
He was of the view that Ghanaians had lost faith in both the NPP and the NDC and was yearning for a CPP government.
“The only way the CPP could win power is to unite as one Nkrumaist family with the same ideology,” he noted and pointed out that this was the time for the CPP.
Mr Suleman further called on Ghanaians to do the late Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah the honour by embracing and giving the CPP the chance to salvage the country from its present state.
Monday, January 17, 2011
NDC YOUTH URGED NOT TO BE COMPETENT (PAGE 12, JAN 17, 2011)
THE Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Caesar Kale, has advised the youth of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) not to be complacent about the present status of the party but rather work harder to sustain it in power beyond 2012.
Addressing a reception held for the Wa Central Constituency NDC youth in Wa, Mr Kale told them not to despair in the face of the initial difficulties and said everything was being done by the party and the government to ensure that their efforts and sacrifices which brought the party this far were not in vain.
He said winning power in the 2008 elections alone was not enough for the party and, therefore, there was the need for all hands to be on deck to retain power after the 2012 general election.
The reception, which attracted a sizeable number of NDC youth in the Wa municipality, was attended by the Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Issahaku Salia; the Member of Parliament for Wa Central, Alhaji Rashid Pelpuo; the Wa Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Duogo Yakubu, as well as members of the party executive.
It was also to inaugurate a 17-member NDC youth working committee for the Wa Central Constituency.
The Deputy Regional Minister urged the youth of the party to continue to preach the good works of the government, saying, "When the party wins elections again, it will be the entire NDC family which has won, and vice versa."
He acknowledged the support of the leadership of the party from the constituency through to the national level and pointed out that “the NDC leadership recognises your works and has not forgotten you because we know you all sacrificed for the party".
Alhaji Pelpuo expressed appreciation to the youth of the party for their commitment and support over the years.
He explained the essence of constituting the youth working committees within the party, saying they were meant to ensure that the NDC was not static but vibrant at all times.
Alhaji Pelpuo, who is also the Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, advised members of the working committee to liaise with all other stakeholders within the party to get the party on its feet.
He further urged them to remain focused and united so that they could achieve the objectives they were all aiming at.
For his part, the Wa Central Constituency Youth Organiser, Alhaji Mumuni Mankama, reaffirmed the commitment of the youth to the NDC and called for unity.
Addressing a reception held for the Wa Central Constituency NDC youth in Wa, Mr Kale told them not to despair in the face of the initial difficulties and said everything was being done by the party and the government to ensure that their efforts and sacrifices which brought the party this far were not in vain.
He said winning power in the 2008 elections alone was not enough for the party and, therefore, there was the need for all hands to be on deck to retain power after the 2012 general election.
The reception, which attracted a sizeable number of NDC youth in the Wa municipality, was attended by the Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Issahaku Salia; the Member of Parliament for Wa Central, Alhaji Rashid Pelpuo; the Wa Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Duogo Yakubu, as well as members of the party executive.
It was also to inaugurate a 17-member NDC youth working committee for the Wa Central Constituency.
The Deputy Regional Minister urged the youth of the party to continue to preach the good works of the government, saying, "When the party wins elections again, it will be the entire NDC family which has won, and vice versa."
He acknowledged the support of the leadership of the party from the constituency through to the national level and pointed out that “the NDC leadership recognises your works and has not forgotten you because we know you all sacrificed for the party".
Alhaji Pelpuo expressed appreciation to the youth of the party for their commitment and support over the years.
He explained the essence of constituting the youth working committees within the party, saying they were meant to ensure that the NDC was not static but vibrant at all times.
Alhaji Pelpuo, who is also the Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, advised members of the working committee to liaise with all other stakeholders within the party to get the party on its feet.
He further urged them to remain focused and united so that they could achieve the objectives they were all aiming at.
For his part, the Wa Central Constituency Youth Organiser, Alhaji Mumuni Mankama, reaffirmed the commitment of the youth to the NDC and called for unity.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
RIOTS MAR ALL STARS-MEDEAMA MATCH (BACK PAGE, JAN 13, 2011)
ROWDY scenes by supporters of Wa All Stars nearly marred the midweek Glo Premier League encounter between Medeama S/C and All Stars which ended 1-1 at Wa stadium yesterday.
Angry home fans threw sachets of water and stones onto the field with others hurling insults at referee J.A. Amenya in protest against perceived unfair officiating against All Stars. Other fans directed their anger at the club’s Chief Executive, Samuel Oduro-Nyarko for allegedly depleting their team by selling all the quality players to other teams.
The atmosphere at the stadium was so tensed that some petrified spectators left the stadium midway through the match out of fear.
As a result, the few police personnel detailed to keep peace at the stadium also had a hectic time controlling the irate fans but managed to arrest one culprit.
The match itself hardly lived up to expectation and was marred by rough play by both teams until Louis Agyeman drew first blood in 16th minute after heading home a corner-kick.
All Stars however, laboured hard into time added on until Frank Sarfo Gyamfi snatched the equaliser on the 92nd minute after a solo effort.
Angry home fans threw sachets of water and stones onto the field with others hurling insults at referee J.A. Amenya in protest against perceived unfair officiating against All Stars. Other fans directed their anger at the club’s Chief Executive, Samuel Oduro-Nyarko for allegedly depleting their team by selling all the quality players to other teams.
The atmosphere at the stadium was so tensed that some petrified spectators left the stadium midway through the match out of fear.
As a result, the few police personnel detailed to keep peace at the stadium also had a hectic time controlling the irate fans but managed to arrest one culprit.
The match itself hardly lived up to expectation and was marred by rough play by both teams until Louis Agyeman drew first blood in 16th minute after heading home a corner-kick.
All Stars however, laboured hard into time added on until Frank Sarfo Gyamfi snatched the equaliser on the 92nd minute after a solo effort.
GHANAIANS URGED TO REJECT NDC (PAGE 12, JAN 13, 2011)
THE Upper West Regional Second Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Hafiz Bin Salih, has called on Ghanaians to reject the National Democratic Congress (NDC) during the 2012 general elections.
That, he said, was because the NDC government lacked ideas, resulting in the decisions of the government telling negatively on Ghanaians after two years in power.
Mr Bin Salih mentioned the increase in petroleum prices and the promise by the then candidate Mills to put money in people’s pockets when the NDC won power as some of the promises made during the 2008 campaign which had not been fulfilled.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Wa in the Upper West Region, Mr Bin Salih said even if there was a change at all, that change had been for the worse, adding that “I anticipate a gloomy year for the country in spite of the fact that they have declared this year an action year.”
On education, he said two years after coming into office, the NDC government was yet to meet the infrastructure needs, particularly in the two premier tertiary institutions in the Upper West Region.
“We are yet to see any new infrastructure at the Wa campus of UDS and also the Wa Polytechnic. This situation, coupled with an increase in admissions in these schools, is really over-stretching the existing facilities thereby bringing lots of hardships to students,” he stressed.
Mr Bin Salih said in addition, many of the six-unit classroom blocks under construction for senior high schools across the country to house form one students were also yet to be completed.
That situation, he said, had led to many first year senior high school students still attending classes in dining halls, libraries and in laboratories.
Mr Bin Salih said instead of coming out with a policy direction to move the country towards the direction of prosperity and improvement in the lives of the people, the government was rather running down programmes introduced by the former government.
He noted that the NPP was very focused and that its Presidential Candidate, Nana Akufo Addo, would not leave any stone unturned, come the 2012 presidential elections, saying the NPP would expose the lapses of the NDC as well as make Ghanaians aware of its failures.
That, he said, was because the NDC government lacked ideas, resulting in the decisions of the government telling negatively on Ghanaians after two years in power.
Mr Bin Salih mentioned the increase in petroleum prices and the promise by the then candidate Mills to put money in people’s pockets when the NDC won power as some of the promises made during the 2008 campaign which had not been fulfilled.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Wa in the Upper West Region, Mr Bin Salih said even if there was a change at all, that change had been for the worse, adding that “I anticipate a gloomy year for the country in spite of the fact that they have declared this year an action year.”
On education, he said two years after coming into office, the NDC government was yet to meet the infrastructure needs, particularly in the two premier tertiary institutions in the Upper West Region.
“We are yet to see any new infrastructure at the Wa campus of UDS and also the Wa Polytechnic. This situation, coupled with an increase in admissions in these schools, is really over-stretching the existing facilities thereby bringing lots of hardships to students,” he stressed.
Mr Bin Salih said in addition, many of the six-unit classroom blocks under construction for senior high schools across the country to house form one students were also yet to be completed.
That situation, he said, had led to many first year senior high school students still attending classes in dining halls, libraries and in laboratories.
Mr Bin Salih said instead of coming out with a policy direction to move the country towards the direction of prosperity and improvement in the lives of the people, the government was rather running down programmes introduced by the former government.
He noted that the NPP was very focused and that its Presidential Candidate, Nana Akufo Addo, would not leave any stone unturned, come the 2012 presidential elections, saying the NPP would expose the lapses of the NDC as well as make Ghanaians aware of its failures.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
NCCE DIRECTOR CAUTIONS DCES (PAGE 12, JAN 11, 2011)
THE Upper West Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Ben N. Banye, has cautioned District Chief Executives (DCE’s) to learn to stay and work in their respective districts.
He noted that the practice where DCE’s were always loitering in the regional capitals must be discouraged so that people at the grass roots would appreciate their roles as representatives of government at the local level.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Wa, Mr Banye said such attitudes by some DCE’s held back efforts to widen the scope and entrenched governance in rural communities.
He said people were presently wide awake and were constantly monitoring the performance of their political leaders, adding that leaders whose stewardship would be deemed unsatisfactory would be rejected when it was time for politics.
He further encouraged people at the grass roots to honour their tax obligations because it complemented other sources of funds used for the development of the respective areas.
“Present-day electorates are not ignorant anymore as it used to be and so I expect politicians to sit up, stop playing on the conscience of electorates and give proper meaning to democracy,” Mr Banye advised.
Commenting on the relations between members of opposing political parties, the NCCE director said there was the need for politicians to recognise one another as their brothers’ keeper.
He said playing politics as if they were at one another’s throat was detrimental to the unity and peace in the society and the entire country.
Sharing his views on the recently held district level and unit committee elections, Mr Banye said the high turnout in rural communities was a manifestation that rural people had come to appreciate the local governance system as compared to the urban areas.
However, he attributed the interest in the elections in some rural areas to the politicisation of the system by certain politicians and advised that the practice must be discouraged.
“I think that the issue of giving assembly members and unit committee members some remuneration must be revisited because it would really entice and motivate people to play very active roles under the local governance system,” he emphasised.
The NCCE director was also happy that the Electoral Commission (EC) involved its outfit in educating the electorate during the assembly elections and said there was the need for all stakeholders to team up to ensure the success of such national exercises.
He noted that the practice where DCE’s were always loitering in the regional capitals must be discouraged so that people at the grass roots would appreciate their roles as representatives of government at the local level.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Wa, Mr Banye said such attitudes by some DCE’s held back efforts to widen the scope and entrenched governance in rural communities.
He said people were presently wide awake and were constantly monitoring the performance of their political leaders, adding that leaders whose stewardship would be deemed unsatisfactory would be rejected when it was time for politics.
He further encouraged people at the grass roots to honour their tax obligations because it complemented other sources of funds used for the development of the respective areas.
“Present-day electorates are not ignorant anymore as it used to be and so I expect politicians to sit up, stop playing on the conscience of electorates and give proper meaning to democracy,” Mr Banye advised.
Commenting on the relations between members of opposing political parties, the NCCE director said there was the need for politicians to recognise one another as their brothers’ keeper.
He said playing politics as if they were at one another’s throat was detrimental to the unity and peace in the society and the entire country.
Sharing his views on the recently held district level and unit committee elections, Mr Banye said the high turnout in rural communities was a manifestation that rural people had come to appreciate the local governance system as compared to the urban areas.
However, he attributed the interest in the elections in some rural areas to the politicisation of the system by certain politicians and advised that the practice must be discouraged.
“I think that the issue of giving assembly members and unit committee members some remuneration must be revisited because it would really entice and motivate people to play very active roles under the local governance system,” he emphasised.
The NCCE director was also happy that the Electoral Commission (EC) involved its outfit in educating the electorate during the assembly elections and said there was the need for all stakeholders to team up to ensure the success of such national exercises.
Monday, January 10, 2011
KOTOKO BACK TO WINNING WAYS (BACK PAGE, JAN 10, 2011)
A rejuvenated Kumasi Asante Kotoko side yesterday defeated Wa All Stars 2-0 at the Wa , thanks to a brace by former All Stars marksman, Nathaniel Amoah, in the 30th and the 88th minutes.
Parading three former players of their opponents — Asamoah, Sabato Mohammed and Fatau Mohammed — Kotoko matched the home side in all departments of the game right from the blast of FIFA referee Mercy Tagoe’s whistle, and the visitors’ effort paid off in the 30th minute when Mohammed took on two All Stars defenders and laid a pass for Asamoah to shoot past onrushing All Stars goalkeeper Robert Dabuo to break the deadlock.
The stadium went dead silent after the opening goal but All Stars coach Maxwell Konadu reorganised his team and they subsequently pinned Kotoko to their own half to end of the first session.
After recess, All Stars continuing with their onslaught, reduced Kotoko’s midfield efficiency but lanky Awal Mohammed was unyielding in the heart of the Kotoko defence to thwart efforts by the home side.
Such was the trend until the 88th minute when a counter-attack by Kotoko saw midfielder Daniel Nii Adjei rounding up goalkeeper Livingstone Logoh in the All Stars penalty box who passed the ball to Asamoah to fire home his second goal.
Parading three former players of their opponents — Asamoah, Sabato Mohammed and Fatau Mohammed — Kotoko matched the home side in all departments of the game right from the blast of FIFA referee Mercy Tagoe’s whistle, and the visitors’ effort paid off in the 30th minute when Mohammed took on two All Stars defenders and laid a pass for Asamoah to shoot past onrushing All Stars goalkeeper Robert Dabuo to break the deadlock.
The stadium went dead silent after the opening goal but All Stars coach Maxwell Konadu reorganised his team and they subsequently pinned Kotoko to their own half to end of the first session.
After recess, All Stars continuing with their onslaught, reduced Kotoko’s midfield efficiency but lanky Awal Mohammed was unyielding in the heart of the Kotoko defence to thwart efforts by the home side.
Such was the trend until the 88th minute when a counter-attack by Kotoko saw midfielder Daniel Nii Adjei rounding up goalkeeper Livingstone Logoh in the All Stars penalty box who passed the ball to Asamoah to fire home his second goal.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
LET"S ADDRESS ELECTIONS HICCUPS -AMBROSE DERY (PAGE 12, JAN 4, 2011)
THE Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament, Mr Ambrose Dery, has advised the Electoral Commission (EC) to put measures in place to forestall any future electoral hiccups.
That, he said, was to avert a repetition of what he described as “Horrible, disastrous and poorly organised elections in the just ended district level and unit committee elections.
He said the manner in which the district level and unit committee elections were held clearly depicted the lack of commitment of the authorities on good governance.
“We do not want to go back to the dark days and so everything must be done by the government from now to ensure a successful national election in the year 2012,” he stressed.
Mr Dery expressed these concerns when he interacted with the Daily Graphic during his annual new year party for his constituents at Kokoligu near Hamile in the Upper West Region.
The well-attended get together attracted a large crowd from various parts of the constituency who arrived on motorcycles, trucks and buses.
He acknowledged that although the EC might have its problems in holding the elections, those problems could have been averted if the government had been proactive.
He said the good governance under the stewardship of the NPP and the smooth handing over of power by former President Kufuor in 2008 made Ghana the beacon of democracy on the African continent and, therefore, nothing should be done by the NDC administration to tarnish this image.
To this end, Mr Dery, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Lawra-Nandom Constituency, reminded the government to come clear on its position on the crisis in Cote d’ Ivoire in order not to tarnish the image of the country, especially at a time ECOWAS was led by a Ghanaian.
Touching on the performance of the Mills led government, Mr Dery described the NDC administration as a “Government of broken promises,” pointing out that the government must be reliable and stick to its word.
He further described the NDC administration and its performance as “abysmal, incompetent and a government full of confusion and inertia”, adding that “Mistakes are bound to occur, but those mistakes must be corrected. Presently, the NDC government is behaving like a ship at sea adrift with no destination”.
Citing some of the utterances of Professor Mills during the electioneering before the 2008 elections, the Deputy Minority Leader said the President had not been truthful to Ghanaians because even though he talked much about putting money in people’s pockets, the present situation was contrary to his campaign promise.
He said Professor Mills also promised to reduce the prices of petroleum products after assuming the reigns of government but he has failed to do that and instead of apologising to the people, the government was rather indulging in populism.
Such moves, according to Mr Dery, raised doubts about the sincerity of the government.
On the state of the economy and the implementation of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), the Deputy Minority Leader explained that the NPP in 2006 inherited181 per cent debt to GDP but was able to bring it down to below 50 per cent in 2008, however, instead of the NDC doing more to reduce it further, it had rather risen to 70 per cent as at October last year.
“The debt, the NDC claimed the NPP left went into the construction of the Bui dam, stadia and roads among other development projects but in the case of the NDC, it has nothing to show” he indicated.
He also explained that the SADA was an after thought by the NDC after learning from the NPP’s proposed Northern Development Authority.
However, he cautioned the government to support the SADA with the needed funds, particularly for its administration to sustain it.
That, he said, was to avert a repetition of what he described as “Horrible, disastrous and poorly organised elections in the just ended district level and unit committee elections.
He said the manner in which the district level and unit committee elections were held clearly depicted the lack of commitment of the authorities on good governance.
“We do not want to go back to the dark days and so everything must be done by the government from now to ensure a successful national election in the year 2012,” he stressed.
Mr Dery expressed these concerns when he interacted with the Daily Graphic during his annual new year party for his constituents at Kokoligu near Hamile in the Upper West Region.
The well-attended get together attracted a large crowd from various parts of the constituency who arrived on motorcycles, trucks and buses.
He acknowledged that although the EC might have its problems in holding the elections, those problems could have been averted if the government had been proactive.
He said the good governance under the stewardship of the NPP and the smooth handing over of power by former President Kufuor in 2008 made Ghana the beacon of democracy on the African continent and, therefore, nothing should be done by the NDC administration to tarnish this image.
To this end, Mr Dery, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Lawra-Nandom Constituency, reminded the government to come clear on its position on the crisis in Cote d’ Ivoire in order not to tarnish the image of the country, especially at a time ECOWAS was led by a Ghanaian.
Touching on the performance of the Mills led government, Mr Dery described the NDC administration as a “Government of broken promises,” pointing out that the government must be reliable and stick to its word.
He further described the NDC administration and its performance as “abysmal, incompetent and a government full of confusion and inertia”, adding that “Mistakes are bound to occur, but those mistakes must be corrected. Presently, the NDC government is behaving like a ship at sea adrift with no destination”.
Citing some of the utterances of Professor Mills during the electioneering before the 2008 elections, the Deputy Minority Leader said the President had not been truthful to Ghanaians because even though he talked much about putting money in people’s pockets, the present situation was contrary to his campaign promise.
He said Professor Mills also promised to reduce the prices of petroleum products after assuming the reigns of government but he has failed to do that and instead of apologising to the people, the government was rather indulging in populism.
Such moves, according to Mr Dery, raised doubts about the sincerity of the government.
On the state of the economy and the implementation of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), the Deputy Minority Leader explained that the NPP in 2006 inherited181 per cent debt to GDP but was able to bring it down to below 50 per cent in 2008, however, instead of the NDC doing more to reduce it further, it had rather risen to 70 per cent as at October last year.
“The debt, the NDC claimed the NPP left went into the construction of the Bui dam, stadia and roads among other development projects but in the case of the NDC, it has nothing to show” he indicated.
He also explained that the SADA was an after thought by the NDC after learning from the NPP’s proposed Northern Development Authority.
However, he cautioned the government to support the SADA with the needed funds, particularly for its administration to sustain it.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
UW NPP LAUDS KLUFUOR (PAGE 12, NOV 2, 2010)
THE Upper West Regional branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has congratulated former President John Agyekum Kufuor on the conferment of the award of the Knight Commander of St Gregory the Great by Pope Benedict XVI.
The branch said it was not surprised the Pontiff had honoured him with the highest ecclesiastical award considering the role he played in entrenching good governance as well as deepening the country’s democracy.
In a statement signed by the Regional Chairman of the NPP, Alhaji Abdul Rahman Short, the NPP also expressed delight at the honour done the former first lady Mrs Theresa Kufuor with the award of the Papal Award Dame of St Gregory the Great.
“We acknowledge your contribution to the development of this great nation of ours through your well thought policies and programmes which positively touched the lives of many” the statement noted adding that “You ruled this nation with a great sense of humility, dignity, justice, respect and above all the fear of God”.
The statement further mentioned the introduction of social intervention programmes such as the school feeding, capitation grant, the national health insurance and the metro mass transport system among others and said it was hopeful that the award would inspire former President Kufuor and his wife to do greater things.
It also urged former President Kufuor to focuse on all that he was doing and said he should not be perturbed by the actions of persons who were bent on denigrating his achievements.
On how the NPP could wrest power come the year 2012, the statement reiterated the need for all members of the party to join hands and work harder to ensure victory.
It also urged the leadership of the party to be focused.
The branch said it was not surprised the Pontiff had honoured him with the highest ecclesiastical award considering the role he played in entrenching good governance as well as deepening the country’s democracy.
In a statement signed by the Regional Chairman of the NPP, Alhaji Abdul Rahman Short, the NPP also expressed delight at the honour done the former first lady Mrs Theresa Kufuor with the award of the Papal Award Dame of St Gregory the Great.
“We acknowledge your contribution to the development of this great nation of ours through your well thought policies and programmes which positively touched the lives of many” the statement noted adding that “You ruled this nation with a great sense of humility, dignity, justice, respect and above all the fear of God”.
The statement further mentioned the introduction of social intervention programmes such as the school feeding, capitation grant, the national health insurance and the metro mass transport system among others and said it was hopeful that the award would inspire former President Kufuor and his wife to do greater things.
It also urged former President Kufuor to focuse on all that he was doing and said he should not be perturbed by the actions of persons who were bent on denigrating his achievements.
On how the NPP could wrest power come the year 2012, the statement reiterated the need for all members of the party to join hands and work harder to ensure victory.
It also urged the leadership of the party to be focused.
ASPIRING ASSEMBLY MEMBERS CAN MOUNT OWN PLATFORMS — EC )PAGE 13, NOV 2, 2010)
PROSPECTIVE candidates for the forthcoming District Level Elections (DLE) can now mount their own platforms in their respective electoral areas but with the consent of the Electoral Commission (EC).
This, according to the Electoral Officer responsible for the Upper West Region, Mr Ebenezer Aggrey-Fynn, is a departure from the previous system where the EC mounted the platforms for the candidates.
He, however, cautioned against politicising the event, adding that non-political institutions and organisations could support the exercise by making resources available to the EC to be used to support the candidates.
Mr Aggrey-Fynn made this known during an interaction between the EC and media personnel in Wa, in the Upper West Region, at the weekend.
Dubbed Regional Media Dialogue on the 2010 DLE, the meeting was aimed at equipping the media to be able to sensitise the populace as well as disseminate more information to the people on the upcoming local government elections.
It was on the theme: “Improving citizen participation in the 2010 DLE through enhanced knowledge.”
Speaking on the topic “Preparations for the DLE so far, changes in the legal framework and planned awareness programmes,” Mr Aggrey-Fynn noted that with the reduction of the number of unit committee members from the previous number of 15 to five, all of whom are to be elected, he foresaw a keenly contested elections at the grass-roots level.
He, therefore, suggested that the government considered giving members of the committee some incentives or remuneration as a means of making the unit committees more effective.
On why the elections were fixed for December 28, 2010, the commissioner in charge of the Upper West Region explained that due to certain changes by the EC with respect to the number of electoral areas which has been increased from 5,000 to 6,000 as a result of the rapid increase in population and the springing up of more settlements among other factors, the EC was waiting for Parliament to pass the law governing the DLE before it could go ahead with the elections.
He mentioned for instance, that the Upper West region use to have 198 electoral areas but presently it has shot up to 296.
“All these were done in consultation with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, chiefs, opinion and other traditional leaders,” Mr Aggrey-Fynn added.
The Regional Director of the EC, Mr Yahaya Mahama, for his part, said the EC relied so much on the media in ensuring a successful DLE as well as any other elections.
He, therefore, appealed to media personnel to do their best to reach out to the people with the messages on the DLE.
This, according to the Electoral Officer responsible for the Upper West Region, Mr Ebenezer Aggrey-Fynn, is a departure from the previous system where the EC mounted the platforms for the candidates.
He, however, cautioned against politicising the event, adding that non-political institutions and organisations could support the exercise by making resources available to the EC to be used to support the candidates.
Mr Aggrey-Fynn made this known during an interaction between the EC and media personnel in Wa, in the Upper West Region, at the weekend.
Dubbed Regional Media Dialogue on the 2010 DLE, the meeting was aimed at equipping the media to be able to sensitise the populace as well as disseminate more information to the people on the upcoming local government elections.
It was on the theme: “Improving citizen participation in the 2010 DLE through enhanced knowledge.”
Speaking on the topic “Preparations for the DLE so far, changes in the legal framework and planned awareness programmes,” Mr Aggrey-Fynn noted that with the reduction of the number of unit committee members from the previous number of 15 to five, all of whom are to be elected, he foresaw a keenly contested elections at the grass-roots level.
He, therefore, suggested that the government considered giving members of the committee some incentives or remuneration as a means of making the unit committees more effective.
On why the elections were fixed for December 28, 2010, the commissioner in charge of the Upper West Region explained that due to certain changes by the EC with respect to the number of electoral areas which has been increased from 5,000 to 6,000 as a result of the rapid increase in population and the springing up of more settlements among other factors, the EC was waiting for Parliament to pass the law governing the DLE before it could go ahead with the elections.
He mentioned for instance, that the Upper West region use to have 198 electoral areas but presently it has shot up to 296.
“All these were done in consultation with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, chiefs, opinion and other traditional leaders,” Mr Aggrey-Fynn added.
The Regional Director of the EC, Mr Yahaya Mahama, for his part, said the EC relied so much on the media in ensuring a successful DLE as well as any other elections.
He, therefore, appealed to media personnel to do their best to reach out to the people with the messages on the DLE.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
POOR ATTENTION TO EYE CARE WORRIES DR DEBRAH (PAGE 42, OCT 20, 2010)
THE Head of the National Eye Care Unit of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Oscar Debrah, has expressed concern about the lack of attention given to eye care as compared to diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS or tuberculosis.
He said unlike the attention other sectors of the healthcare services were receiving across the country in recent times, eye care in particular lacked specialists in the Upper West and the Volta regions while the Northern, Upper East and the Brong Ahafo regions had a specialist each even though Accra alone had 54 eye specialists.
Dr Debrah expressed the concern when he addressed a durbar in Wa, the Upper West regional capital, to mark the launch of the national edition of the world sight day.
“Poverty and blindness go hand-in-hand so if Ghana as a country wants to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), then we have to pay much attention to eye care”, he stated.
Dr Debrah, therefore, called on the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to help address the problem.
The event, although national in character, attracted an unimpressive crowd, who went on a float through the principal streets of Wa before converging on the jubilee park for the durbar.
It was on the theme: “Count down to vision 2020: The right to sight, how far have we come?
Health personnel took turns to take members of the public through several medical and health checks including, eye care, blood pressure and Voluntary Counselling and Testing of HIV status.
Dr Debrah, who is an ophthalmologist, lamented that throughout the country, when it came to infrastructure for optical services, it was always an afterthought and questioned why in most cases, many of those facilities were sited close to the mortuary.
On the furnishing of those structures, Dr Debrah said, “We always have the worst of equipment, which are very archaic and obsolete,” adding that it was unfortunate that the Ministry of Health was not investing in eyecare equipment.
He mentioned cataract, glaucoma and trachoma as the major causes of blindness in the country.
Dr Debrah explained that cataract was the leading cause of blindness across the country contributing to over 50 per cent of blind cases.
He said about 46,000 surgeries would have to be conducted in a year if people were to be prevented from going blind through cataract infections.
On Trachoma, Dr Debrah called for intensive surveillance to identify and attend to new cases before it got out of hand.
He said due to some interventions such as child immunisation, blind cases, particularly among children in the Northern and Upper West regions had declined considerably.
Touching on Glaucoma, he stated that it was inherited from relations, adding that over 600,000 people across the country had the disease but 90 per cent of those people were not aware that they had it.
He commended various institutions, including the Standard Chartered Bank, the Swiss Red Cross and Sight Savers, for their immense contribution to eye care in the country over the years.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of Health, Dr Benjamin Kunbour, expressed the support of the government to improve on eye care in the country.
He called for the integration of primary eye care into the primary healthcare systems to enable eye health to receive the necessary recognition it deserved.
The Upper West Regional Director of the GHS, Dr Alexis Nang Beifubah, said with the support of the Catholic Church and the Swiss Red Cross, the region could now boast eye care services in all the district health facilities.
He added that the challenge currently was the non-availability of a resident ophthalmologist.
Dr Beifubah, however, appealed to the people to take advantage of the existing facilities rather than visiting quack doctors for such care.
He said unlike the attention other sectors of the healthcare services were receiving across the country in recent times, eye care in particular lacked specialists in the Upper West and the Volta regions while the Northern, Upper East and the Brong Ahafo regions had a specialist each even though Accra alone had 54 eye specialists.
Dr Debrah expressed the concern when he addressed a durbar in Wa, the Upper West regional capital, to mark the launch of the national edition of the world sight day.
“Poverty and blindness go hand-in-hand so if Ghana as a country wants to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), then we have to pay much attention to eye care”, he stated.
Dr Debrah, therefore, called on the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to help address the problem.
The event, although national in character, attracted an unimpressive crowd, who went on a float through the principal streets of Wa before converging on the jubilee park for the durbar.
It was on the theme: “Count down to vision 2020: The right to sight, how far have we come?
Health personnel took turns to take members of the public through several medical and health checks including, eye care, blood pressure and Voluntary Counselling and Testing of HIV status.
Dr Debrah, who is an ophthalmologist, lamented that throughout the country, when it came to infrastructure for optical services, it was always an afterthought and questioned why in most cases, many of those facilities were sited close to the mortuary.
On the furnishing of those structures, Dr Debrah said, “We always have the worst of equipment, which are very archaic and obsolete,” adding that it was unfortunate that the Ministry of Health was not investing in eyecare equipment.
He mentioned cataract, glaucoma and trachoma as the major causes of blindness in the country.
Dr Debrah explained that cataract was the leading cause of blindness across the country contributing to over 50 per cent of blind cases.
He said about 46,000 surgeries would have to be conducted in a year if people were to be prevented from going blind through cataract infections.
On Trachoma, Dr Debrah called for intensive surveillance to identify and attend to new cases before it got out of hand.
He said due to some interventions such as child immunisation, blind cases, particularly among children in the Northern and Upper West regions had declined considerably.
Touching on Glaucoma, he stated that it was inherited from relations, adding that over 600,000 people across the country had the disease but 90 per cent of those people were not aware that they had it.
He commended various institutions, including the Standard Chartered Bank, the Swiss Red Cross and Sight Savers, for their immense contribution to eye care in the country over the years.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of Health, Dr Benjamin Kunbour, expressed the support of the government to improve on eye care in the country.
He called for the integration of primary eye care into the primary healthcare systems to enable eye health to receive the necessary recognition it deserved.
The Upper West Regional Director of the GHS, Dr Alexis Nang Beifubah, said with the support of the Catholic Church and the Swiss Red Cross, the region could now boast eye care services in all the district health facilities.
He added that the challenge currently was the non-availability of a resident ophthalmologist.
Dr Beifubah, however, appealed to the people to take advantage of the existing facilities rather than visiting quack doctors for such care.
Friday, October 15, 2010
CLIENT SERVICE CENTRE FOR WA LANDS COMMISSION (PAGE 22, OCT 15, 2010)
THE new Lands Commission in Wa in the Upper West Region has set up a client service centre to help streamline the activities of the secretariat.
The acting Regional Lands Officer, Mr David Mwinfor Deribaa, who made this known to the Daily Graphic in Wa, said the measures were aimed at warding off all quack land officers who invaded the premises of the secretariat and claimed to be offering services on behalf of the office.
He said with the new service centre in place, all visitors who needed the services of the office must pass through the client service centre before any service would be rendered to them.
“The purpose of these measures is to streamline and ensure a transparent, sustainable, efficient, cost effective and timely delivery of our services to the public,” he stated.
According to Mr Deribaa, the measures were to ensure the production of reliable, credible and secured tenures for land title holdings.
“From October 1, 2010, any person who obtains our services without passing through the customer service centre will be to his/her own disadvantage,” he warned.
Mr Deribaa mentioned some of the services of the secretariat as site plans for the preparation of leases, investigations into the genuineness of lands purchased, stamping of documents for stamp duty payments which included tax clearance certificates and deeds registration.
He said the situation where clients sought the services of people from the veranda of the secretariat to offer those services would be a thing of the past.
Mr Deribaa said some of those practices led to situations where many people fell prey to the activities of some staff of the commission who collected money from them without doing any work.
He added that apart from taking money from unsuspecting clients, most of those people who collected the money might not even be competent enough.
Mr Deribaa charged the building inspectorate division of the district assemblies to be up to the task by regularly checking and abating all haphazard developments.
The acting Regional Lands Officer, Mr David Mwinfor Deribaa, who made this known to the Daily Graphic in Wa, said the measures were aimed at warding off all quack land officers who invaded the premises of the secretariat and claimed to be offering services on behalf of the office.
He said with the new service centre in place, all visitors who needed the services of the office must pass through the client service centre before any service would be rendered to them.
“The purpose of these measures is to streamline and ensure a transparent, sustainable, efficient, cost effective and timely delivery of our services to the public,” he stated.
According to Mr Deribaa, the measures were to ensure the production of reliable, credible and secured tenures for land title holdings.
“From October 1, 2010, any person who obtains our services without passing through the customer service centre will be to his/her own disadvantage,” he warned.
Mr Deribaa mentioned some of the services of the secretariat as site plans for the preparation of leases, investigations into the genuineness of lands purchased, stamping of documents for stamp duty payments which included tax clearance certificates and deeds registration.
He said the situation where clients sought the services of people from the veranda of the secretariat to offer those services would be a thing of the past.
Mr Deribaa said some of those practices led to situations where many people fell prey to the activities of some staff of the commission who collected money from them without doing any work.
He added that apart from taking money from unsuspecting clients, most of those people who collected the money might not even be competent enough.
Mr Deribaa charged the building inspectorate division of the district assemblies to be up to the task by regularly checking and abating all haphazard developments.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
UDS NEEDS MORE FACILITIES (PAGE 11, OCT 13, 2010)
THE Dean of the Faculty of Integrated Development Studies (FIDS) of the Wa Campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS), Professor Abraham Berinyu, has called for a rigorous approach in the improvement of facilities of the university, particularly the Wa Campus.
That, he noted, would enhance the quality of programmes offered by the university.
Addressing the 18th matriculation ceremony of the Wa Campus of the UDS at Wa in the Upper West Region, Professor Berinyu stressed the need for an urgent look at the provision of residential accommodation for both lecturers and students.
He further mentioned in particular the exploitation by landlords in the Wa municipality who charged both lecturers and students astronomical rates and called on the government to assist the school.
“The government through the appropriate institutions must ensure that both staff and students of this university are not exploited, especially by landlords who charge exhorbitant rents because staff and students are in dire need of accommodation”, he emphasized.
Professor Berinyu also appealed for more resources to be allocated to the university.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Vice Chancellor of the UDS, Professor Haruna Yakubu, paid tribute to his predecessors and stated his vision for the institution.
“My vision for this university is to provide continuing leadership in the areas already developed and to further develop the university into a practically oriented institution which is international-recognized for academic excellence and community development”, the Vice Chancellor indicated.
In the area of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) development, Professor Yakubu gave the assurance that the university was developing an ICT policy and robust programme aimed at making the entire university community ICT compliant.
Out of a total of 16, 025 applications received by the university, only 14, 526 applicants were admitted to pursue both degree and diploma programmes.
He said a deliberate strategy had been adopted by the university to ensure an increase in the admission of more female applicants and those from deprived communities in the three northern regions, especially for the medical programmes.
He mentioned some of the new programmes introduced at the Wa Campus of the university as Bachelor of Education and BA in Integrated Management and Business Studies.
On the graduate programmes, the Vice Chancellor said MSc in Leadership and Development, MSc in Business Finance, as well as MSc and MPhil in Community Health and Development had also been introduced this year.
That, he noted, would enhance the quality of programmes offered by the university.
Addressing the 18th matriculation ceremony of the Wa Campus of the UDS at Wa in the Upper West Region, Professor Berinyu stressed the need for an urgent look at the provision of residential accommodation for both lecturers and students.
He further mentioned in particular the exploitation by landlords in the Wa municipality who charged both lecturers and students astronomical rates and called on the government to assist the school.
“The government through the appropriate institutions must ensure that both staff and students of this university are not exploited, especially by landlords who charge exhorbitant rents because staff and students are in dire need of accommodation”, he emphasized.
Professor Berinyu also appealed for more resources to be allocated to the university.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Vice Chancellor of the UDS, Professor Haruna Yakubu, paid tribute to his predecessors and stated his vision for the institution.
“My vision for this university is to provide continuing leadership in the areas already developed and to further develop the university into a practically oriented institution which is international-recognized for academic excellence and community development”, the Vice Chancellor indicated.
In the area of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) development, Professor Yakubu gave the assurance that the university was developing an ICT policy and robust programme aimed at making the entire university community ICT compliant.
Out of a total of 16, 025 applications received by the university, only 14, 526 applicants were admitted to pursue both degree and diploma programmes.
He said a deliberate strategy had been adopted by the university to ensure an increase in the admission of more female applicants and those from deprived communities in the three northern regions, especially for the medical programmes.
He mentioned some of the new programmes introduced at the Wa Campus of the university as Bachelor of Education and BA in Integrated Management and Business Studies.
On the graduate programmes, the Vice Chancellor said MSc in Leadership and Development, MSc in Business Finance, as well as MSc and MPhil in Community Health and Development had also been introduced this year.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
CHANGE ATTITUDE TOWARDS MENTALLY CHALLENGED — BAHASS FOUNDATION (BACK PAGE, OCT 12, 2010)
THE Executive Director of the Bahass Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, Mr Samsideen Iddrisu, has called for a change of attitude towards the mentally challenged in society.
He said the present way of catering for that category of people and the neglect by society came along with dire consequences.
He, therefore, stressed the need for a multi-faceted approach towards taking care of mentally challenged persons in the country.
Mr Iddrisu said this when the Rural Action Aid Programme (RAAP) presented items, including a cheque for GH¢50, used clothes, bags of rice, cooking oil and a motorcycle, all worth GH¢1,750, to the Bahass Foundation in Wa.
The items are to facilitate the work of the foundation in its quest to clear the Wa municipality of the mentally ill and to cater for their needs.
Earlier, members of the foundation had gone round the municipality to pick about 60 mentally sick people, bathed, shaved and clothed them, after which they were given food.
At the presentation ceremony, the Upper West Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare, Mr Hamidu Haruna, urged the various district assemblies to extend the disability fund of their common fund for the upkeep of the mentally deranged.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Issahaku Salia, who presented the items to the foundation, also reiterated the need to give more attention and support to mental patients.
He said the present way of catering for that category of people and the neglect by society came along with dire consequences.
He, therefore, stressed the need for a multi-faceted approach towards taking care of mentally challenged persons in the country.
Mr Iddrisu said this when the Rural Action Aid Programme (RAAP) presented items, including a cheque for GH¢50, used clothes, bags of rice, cooking oil and a motorcycle, all worth GH¢1,750, to the Bahass Foundation in Wa.
The items are to facilitate the work of the foundation in its quest to clear the Wa municipality of the mentally ill and to cater for their needs.
Earlier, members of the foundation had gone round the municipality to pick about 60 mentally sick people, bathed, shaved and clothed them, after which they were given food.
At the presentation ceremony, the Upper West Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare, Mr Hamidu Haruna, urged the various district assemblies to extend the disability fund of their common fund for the upkeep of the mentally deranged.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Issahaku Salia, who presented the items to the foundation, also reiterated the need to give more attention and support to mental patients.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
SUPPORT GOVT TO DELIVER AGENDA — DAKURA (PAGE 12, OCT 9, 2010)
THE Upper West Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Eric Dakurah, has said the ‘Better Ghana’ agenda set by Professor Mills’ government is not meant for a selective few but rather the entire Ghanaian populace.
He has, therefore, called on all to give the government the total support in its quest to deliver on its promises.
He said instances where some people dissociated themselves or undermined programmes and projects being undertaken by the government was an affront to the total development of the country and its people.
Mr Dakurah, who was speaking to the Daily Graphic in Wa, expressed concern about reports of shortage of materials and other logistics for the ongoing national population and housing census and said, “I suspect some saboteurs who are at work to ensure that the exercise does not succeed.”
He described the situation as worrisome, saying the staff of the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) are professionals who are on top of their work and therefore, it was surprising that there are reports of shortage of materials.
“It is the will of God for the NDC to be in power and so once we are in power, I expect all Ghanaians irrespective of ethnic, political or religious background to support President Mills’ government to deliver,” the NDC regional secretary stated.
Commenting on Presidents Mills’ recent trip to China and Japan, Mr Dakurah said considering the support from the two countries, it was an indication that the ‘Better Ghana’ agenda of the NDC government was on course.
That, he explained, was because the total amount to be derived from the President’s trip would facilitate a massive infrastructure development, as well as a drastic improvement in services in the country.
Mr Dakurah further mentioned in particular the support the Upper West Region and the whole country had enjoyed over the years from the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) in the area of training and capacity building for health workers and commended the two countries, Japan and China, for continuing to forge a closer relationship with Ghana.
He expressed optimism that with the kind of assistance Ghana was enjoying from its international partners, the mandate of the NDC would be renewed by Ghanaians come the 2012 general elections.
That, he said, would be based on the works of the NDC government which would be a testimony for all to use as a yardstick to measure the performance of President Mills’ government.
He has, therefore, called on all to give the government the total support in its quest to deliver on its promises.
He said instances where some people dissociated themselves or undermined programmes and projects being undertaken by the government was an affront to the total development of the country and its people.
Mr Dakurah, who was speaking to the Daily Graphic in Wa, expressed concern about reports of shortage of materials and other logistics for the ongoing national population and housing census and said, “I suspect some saboteurs who are at work to ensure that the exercise does not succeed.”
He described the situation as worrisome, saying the staff of the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) are professionals who are on top of their work and therefore, it was surprising that there are reports of shortage of materials.
“It is the will of God for the NDC to be in power and so once we are in power, I expect all Ghanaians irrespective of ethnic, political or religious background to support President Mills’ government to deliver,” the NDC regional secretary stated.
Commenting on Presidents Mills’ recent trip to China and Japan, Mr Dakurah said considering the support from the two countries, it was an indication that the ‘Better Ghana’ agenda of the NDC government was on course.
That, he explained, was because the total amount to be derived from the President’s trip would facilitate a massive infrastructure development, as well as a drastic improvement in services in the country.
Mr Dakurah further mentioned in particular the support the Upper West Region and the whole country had enjoyed over the years from the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) in the area of training and capacity building for health workers and commended the two countries, Japan and China, for continuing to forge a closer relationship with Ghana.
He expressed optimism that with the kind of assistance Ghana was enjoying from its international partners, the mandate of the NDC would be renewed by Ghanaians come the 2012 general elections.
That, he said, would be based on the works of the NDC government which would be a testimony for all to use as a yardstick to measure the performance of President Mills’ government.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
NPP URGES GOVT TO RESOLVE STRIKE ACTION BY UTAG (PAGE 13, OCT 6, 2010)
THE Upper West Regional Second Vice- Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Hafiz Bin Salih, has called for a swift resolution of the strike action by the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) in order not to disrupt the academic calendar of public universities in the country.
He said the education sector had in recent times been bedevilled with too many problems and, therefore, if care was not taken, the country’s education system would be in disarray.
“We do not want a situation where the academic calendar of the universities would be thrown overboard. Already, we are having problems with the senior high schools and as of now, parents do not even know whether their wards who have qualified into the SHS are going to school or not,” Mr Bin Salih noted with concern and called on the government to dialogue with the UTAG.
He cautioned the government against taking an entrenched position on the matter, saying “Government must tolerate UTAG and sit down with them to address their concerns”.
Mr Salih was not happy about the manner in which the NDC government seemed to be toying with the future of the country’s youth through its posture on matters related to education and said this was a government he expected much from with respect to education since the president himself was a teacher.
He described the strike action of UTAG as unfortunate and also appealed to members of UTAG to soften their stand and consider the plight of students.
Commenting on the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS), the NPP Vice- Chairman stressed the need for the government to take a holistic view of the scheme and address all the shortfalls.
He said if care was not taken, the scheme could lead to series of agitations amongst various aggrieved workers group which could throw the country into anarchy through strikes and demonstrations.
He urged the government of the NDC to sit up by honouring its campaign promises, pointing out that Ghanaians were fed up with the continuous assurances.
“What the government must realise is that the campaign period is over and, therefore, it is time for serious business. We have had enough of the assurances, it is time to do the job” he said.
In a related development, a visit by the Daily Graphic to the Wa campus of the University for Development (UDS) revealed that there were no lectures as students attended to their personal businesses.
While some of the students were spotted in the lecture halls reading, others sat in groups chatting.
Some of the students who spoke to the Daily Graphic also added their voice to the calls on the government to attend to the needs of the UTAG so that they could soon start serious academic work.
They expressed concern about the seemingly war of words from both parties and appealed to them to soften their stands and resolve the issues amicably.
He said the education sector had in recent times been bedevilled with too many problems and, therefore, if care was not taken, the country’s education system would be in disarray.
“We do not want a situation where the academic calendar of the universities would be thrown overboard. Already, we are having problems with the senior high schools and as of now, parents do not even know whether their wards who have qualified into the SHS are going to school or not,” Mr Bin Salih noted with concern and called on the government to dialogue with the UTAG.
He cautioned the government against taking an entrenched position on the matter, saying “Government must tolerate UTAG and sit down with them to address their concerns”.
Mr Salih was not happy about the manner in which the NDC government seemed to be toying with the future of the country’s youth through its posture on matters related to education and said this was a government he expected much from with respect to education since the president himself was a teacher.
He described the strike action of UTAG as unfortunate and also appealed to members of UTAG to soften their stand and consider the plight of students.
Commenting on the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS), the NPP Vice- Chairman stressed the need for the government to take a holistic view of the scheme and address all the shortfalls.
He said if care was not taken, the scheme could lead to series of agitations amongst various aggrieved workers group which could throw the country into anarchy through strikes and demonstrations.
He urged the government of the NDC to sit up by honouring its campaign promises, pointing out that Ghanaians were fed up with the continuous assurances.
“What the government must realise is that the campaign period is over and, therefore, it is time for serious business. We have had enough of the assurances, it is time to do the job” he said.
In a related development, a visit by the Daily Graphic to the Wa campus of the University for Development (UDS) revealed that there were no lectures as students attended to their personal businesses.
While some of the students were spotted in the lecture halls reading, others sat in groups chatting.
Some of the students who spoke to the Daily Graphic also added their voice to the calls on the government to attend to the needs of the UTAG so that they could soon start serious academic work.
They expressed concern about the seemingly war of words from both parties and appealed to them to soften their stands and resolve the issues amicably.
Monday, September 27, 2010
WA ASSEMBLY TO BLACKLIST DEFAULTING NGOS (PAGE 22, SEPT 25, 2010)
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.
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.
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