A spirited first half perfomance by Wa All Stars propelled them to collect the three maximum points against a resilient New Edubiase side in their Glo Premier League match played at the Wa stadium yesterday.
Diminutive Seidu Shaibu Zida drew first blood in the eighth minute for the home side when he slowly planted the ball past good old James Nanor, who together with his defenders, were caught ball-watching after a throw-in into the vital area of New Edubiase.
However, the visitors did not allow the early goal to unsettle them as they quickly reorganised and kept the pressure on the homesters. It was during one of these incursions that a quick ball from Nanor saw Eric Fordjour controlling the ball well and quickly putting it behind onrushing Robert Dabuo in post for All Stars in the 12th minute.
From then on it was a game of equals until a Daniel Bomfah deflection from a Nortey Frank Sowah shot in the 19th minute sealed the doom of the visitors.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
CEPS IMPOUNDS UNCUSTOMED CIGARETES...At Bonda in Wa East Distric (PAGE 16, DEC 16)
FORTY-FIVE cartons of Gold Seal cigarettes, with a duty value of GH¢9,350, have been impounded at Bonaa in the Wa East District in a police and the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) collaboration.
The cigarettes were allegedly being smuggled from Kulebi, near Kalba, a Northern Region town bordering Cote d’Ivoire.
Those arrested in the operation are Abubakar Abdullai, 24, Majid Iddrisu, 42, both traders, and Siita Mahama, a galamsey operator.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Upper West Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr Alex Bedie, said CEPS officials on duty at Kulmasa on December 10, 2009 were privy to information that some people were transporting goods through some unapproved routes from Cote d’Ivoire into the country.
He said when the consignment got into Ghana, the alleged smugglers passed through Lassie via Ga in the Wa West District before crossing over onto the Wa–Kumasi road through to Bonaa in the Wa East District.
At that time, Mr Bedie said, the CEPS officials were trailing the vehicle conveying the cigarettes.
He said on arrival at Bonaa with the consignment, the suspects quickly unloaded the goods and took to their heels but the CEPS officials were able to arrest Abdulai.
He said CEPS informed the police, who later dispatched the goods to the head office of CEPS to unload.
Upon interrogation, Abdulai admitted that he had been doing the business for some time now.
Abdulai again told the police that he was engaged by Iddrisu to help transport the cigarettes from Kulebi into Bonaa.
He said they then chartered the KIA truck, with registration number UE 98 R, which was being driven by one Abu Mahama, who is at large to convey the goods to Wa.
Mr Bedie said further investigations by the police led to the arrest of Majid Iddrisu, who claimed he was a dealer in cigarettes in Wa.
The cigarettes were allegedly being smuggled from Kulebi, near Kalba, a Northern Region town bordering Cote d’Ivoire.
Those arrested in the operation are Abubakar Abdullai, 24, Majid Iddrisu, 42, both traders, and Siita Mahama, a galamsey operator.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Upper West Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr Alex Bedie, said CEPS officials on duty at Kulmasa on December 10, 2009 were privy to information that some people were transporting goods through some unapproved routes from Cote d’Ivoire into the country.
He said when the consignment got into Ghana, the alleged smugglers passed through Lassie via Ga in the Wa West District before crossing over onto the Wa–Kumasi road through to Bonaa in the Wa East District.
At that time, Mr Bedie said, the CEPS officials were trailing the vehicle conveying the cigarettes.
He said on arrival at Bonaa with the consignment, the suspects quickly unloaded the goods and took to their heels but the CEPS officials were able to arrest Abdulai.
He said CEPS informed the police, who later dispatched the goods to the head office of CEPS to unload.
Upon interrogation, Abdulai admitted that he had been doing the business for some time now.
Abdulai again told the police that he was engaged by Iddrisu to help transport the cigarettes from Kulebi into Bonaa.
He said they then chartered the KIA truck, with registration number UE 98 R, which was being driven by one Abu Mahama, who is at large to convey the goods to Wa.
Mr Bedie said further investigations by the police led to the arrest of Majid Iddrisu, who claimed he was a dealer in cigarettes in Wa.
UNEASY CALM IN UPPER WEST NDC (PAGE 16, DEC 16)
THE call for change in the hierarchy of the Upper West Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has angered some party gurus in the region, including Members of Parliament (MPs).
The latest to join the fray is the MP for Jirapa, Dr Francis Bawaana Dakurah, who has lashed out at those calling for change.
Ever since Mr Mathew Sung-Aabo, also known as Matco, declared his intention of challenging the incumbent Regional Chairman, Mr Malik Issahaque, a businessman who has been in office for the past 17 years, it has resulted in an uneasy calm among the party faithful across the region.
They have accused Matco of playing politics along ethnic lines, which has been described by the party gurus as “baseless and dangerous”.
Previously, positions in the party were distributed to appease the major ethnic groups in the region.
The announcement by Matco is seen as an act of betrayal, in bad faith and a show of “disrespect”.
Mr Issahaque is seen as a father figure who, for the past years, has laid down his life for the growth and consolidation of the NDC.
While supporters of Matco are calling for a new face and vision to propel the party to a different height, the supporters of the incumbent chairman are arguing that Matco’s group is a Mafia which must not be tolerated, Matco has the democratic right to contest.
Matco’s group has been accused of fielding candidates who are from Nadowli, who are predominantly Dagabas. Issahaque has Wala and Dagaba parentage but he was born and bred in Wa.
It is against this background that Dr Dakurah held a press conference to state his position on the seeming conflict in the party in the region.
Addressing the press conference at the GNAT Hall in Wa, the MP for Jirapa said any member of the party was free, if only qualified, to contest any election in the party.
He said the Upper West Region had only one ethnic group and that is “all the ethnic groups in the region”.
He declared his support for Alhaji Issahaque and called on all party members to do same.
On recent events in the party, Dr Dakurah said former President Rawlings, like any other past leader of the country, was appreciated by all.
“We all have different approaches of seeing things and so when President Rawlings says something, he has the right to do so,” he pointed out.
He said there were no cracks in the NDC, except that sometimes people used the wrong platform and approach to put their views across.
“In my opinion, Mrs Rawlings should let go her intention to contest as national vice-chairperson of the NDC and rather sit back as a mother, just like President Rawlings who has been playing a fatherly role since he left power,” Dr Dakurah noted.
He called on all Ghanaians to rally behind the Mills government as it worked to improve the lot of the people.
Come Saturday, December 19, 2009, the NDC in the Upper West would hold its delegates conference and, unlike on previous occasions when the leadership of the party ensured that the positions were spread across the length and breadth of the region, the opposition by Matco and the other contestants, all from Nadowli, is seen as a step to change the status quo and make the congress more interesting and very competitive.
The latest to join the fray is the MP for Jirapa, Dr Francis Bawaana Dakurah, who has lashed out at those calling for change.
Ever since Mr Mathew Sung-Aabo, also known as Matco, declared his intention of challenging the incumbent Regional Chairman, Mr Malik Issahaque, a businessman who has been in office for the past 17 years, it has resulted in an uneasy calm among the party faithful across the region.
They have accused Matco of playing politics along ethnic lines, which has been described by the party gurus as “baseless and dangerous”.
Previously, positions in the party were distributed to appease the major ethnic groups in the region.
The announcement by Matco is seen as an act of betrayal, in bad faith and a show of “disrespect”.
Mr Issahaque is seen as a father figure who, for the past years, has laid down his life for the growth and consolidation of the NDC.
While supporters of Matco are calling for a new face and vision to propel the party to a different height, the supporters of the incumbent chairman are arguing that Matco’s group is a Mafia which must not be tolerated, Matco has the democratic right to contest.
Matco’s group has been accused of fielding candidates who are from Nadowli, who are predominantly Dagabas. Issahaque has Wala and Dagaba parentage but he was born and bred in Wa.
It is against this background that Dr Dakurah held a press conference to state his position on the seeming conflict in the party in the region.
Addressing the press conference at the GNAT Hall in Wa, the MP for Jirapa said any member of the party was free, if only qualified, to contest any election in the party.
He said the Upper West Region had only one ethnic group and that is “all the ethnic groups in the region”.
He declared his support for Alhaji Issahaque and called on all party members to do same.
On recent events in the party, Dr Dakurah said former President Rawlings, like any other past leader of the country, was appreciated by all.
“We all have different approaches of seeing things and so when President Rawlings says something, he has the right to do so,” he pointed out.
He said there were no cracks in the NDC, except that sometimes people used the wrong platform and approach to put their views across.
“In my opinion, Mrs Rawlings should let go her intention to contest as national vice-chairperson of the NDC and rather sit back as a mother, just like President Rawlings who has been playing a fatherly role since he left power,” Dr Dakurah noted.
He called on all Ghanaians to rally behind the Mills government as it worked to improve the lot of the people.
Come Saturday, December 19, 2009, the NDC in the Upper West would hold its delegates conference and, unlike on previous occasions when the leadership of the party ensured that the positions were spread across the length and breadth of the region, the opposition by Matco and the other contestants, all from Nadowli, is seen as a step to change the status quo and make the congress more interesting and very competitive.
GHANA TO RECEIVE H1N1 VACCINES FROM WHO (BACK PAGE, DEC 16)
THE World Health Organisation (WHO) is to supply Ghana with 2.4 million doses of H1N1 vaccines in February 2010 as a contingency measure to deal with reported cases of the influenza.
When delivered, the vaccines will benefit only 10 per cent of the country’s population. They will be given to health workers, community-based surveillance volunteers, pregnant women, security personnel at the borders and people with chronic ailments whose immune systems are very weak.
The Upper West Regional Disaster Surveillance Officer of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Mr Jacob Kojo Aleeba, who gave the hint, said the country was yet to come up with any form of vaccine to counter the pandemic in case of an unexpected outbreak.
“The vaccines are not on our market. They are also very expensive and so even if one has the money, it will be difficult getting them,” he stated.
Mr Aleeba was speaking at a day’s sensitisation workshop on H1N1 influenza in Wa.
The workshop was organised by the GHS for representatives from various media houses, the security agencies and some health workers.
On the outbreak of cerebro-spinal meningitis (CSM), he said the health directorate did not have any vaccine to combat the disease and was working tirelessly to prevent its total occurrence in the region.
He, therefore, entreated the populace to sleep in well-ventilated rooms and take in more water when the heat set in early next year.
In a presentation, the Medical Officer in charge of the Nandom Hospital, Dr Richard Seme-Wodah, pointed out that the region was yet to record any case of the H1N1 influenza since its outbreak.
He, however, added that in the case of suspected cases of the influenza, samples had been taken from victims to be tested, saying, “With the onset of the harmattan, we are likely to have cases of the H1N1 in this region.”
He mentioned some of the symptoms that led to early detection of the pandemic as sore throat, coughing and sneezing.
Dr Seme-Wodah , therefore, stressed the need for a thorough public sensitisation to the H1N1 pandemic, adding, “We must observe stringent hygienic practices, such as the regular washing of hands, the use of tissue when sneezing and coughing, among other measures.”
When delivered, the vaccines will benefit only 10 per cent of the country’s population. They will be given to health workers, community-based surveillance volunteers, pregnant women, security personnel at the borders and people with chronic ailments whose immune systems are very weak.
The Upper West Regional Disaster Surveillance Officer of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Mr Jacob Kojo Aleeba, who gave the hint, said the country was yet to come up with any form of vaccine to counter the pandemic in case of an unexpected outbreak.
“The vaccines are not on our market. They are also very expensive and so even if one has the money, it will be difficult getting them,” he stated.
Mr Aleeba was speaking at a day’s sensitisation workshop on H1N1 influenza in Wa.
The workshop was organised by the GHS for representatives from various media houses, the security agencies and some health workers.
On the outbreak of cerebro-spinal meningitis (CSM), he said the health directorate did not have any vaccine to combat the disease and was working tirelessly to prevent its total occurrence in the region.
He, therefore, entreated the populace to sleep in well-ventilated rooms and take in more water when the heat set in early next year.
In a presentation, the Medical Officer in charge of the Nandom Hospital, Dr Richard Seme-Wodah, pointed out that the region was yet to record any case of the H1N1 influenza since its outbreak.
He, however, added that in the case of suspected cases of the influenza, samples had been taken from victims to be tested, saying, “With the onset of the harmattan, we are likely to have cases of the H1N1 in this region.”
He mentioned some of the symptoms that led to early detection of the pandemic as sore throat, coughing and sneezing.
Dr Seme-Wodah , therefore, stressed the need for a thorough public sensitisation to the H1N1 pandemic, adding, “We must observe stringent hygienic practices, such as the regular washing of hands, the use of tissue when sneezing and coughing, among other measures.”
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
MICRO FINANCE SAVINGS FOR WOMEN IN SISSALA (PAGE 11, DEC 15)
ABOUT 10,000 women in the Sissala East and West districts in the Upper West Region have formed the Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA) and mobilised GH¢90,000 through a micro finance savings model code-named Accumulating Savings and Credit Associations (ASCA).
Plan Ghana, a child centred international non-governmental organisation, assembled the people and provided them with technical advice. Members of the association are made up of poor and vulnerable women who are engaged in agricultural production, processing and marketing. Others are also into petty trading and medium-scale trading.
The VSLA model is designed to be more flexible, and members take loans at an interest rate and repay at a period determined by the members.
Each of the VSLA has an average membership of 25, who meet regularly on a weekly basis during which they contribute and save money.
According to the Tumu Area Programme Manager of Plan Ghana, Mr Richard Boadu, beneficiaries repay the loans through the straight line method, which involves splitting the interest over an initial period by paying the principal at the end and they receive the loan according to their contributions to the savings.
Speaking at the second graduation of the second batch of members of the VSLA in Tumu, Mr Boadu, who quoted from the 2005 Ghana Human Development report, explained that 30 per cent of people did not have access to any form of financial services, which is a serious drawback to rural growth.
Based on this, he said, Plan Ghana through its microfinance model introduced the VSLA in the Sissala West District in 2007 to whip up membership drive, improve on the savings habit among the people to enable them to mobilise funds to start new businesses in their respective communities.
“As of October 2009, a number of communities in the Sissala West and Sissala East districts with over 10,000 members from 400 associations are benefiting directly from the Plan Ghana VSLA scheme. Out of the total membership, 87 per cent are women. Similarly, 80 VSLA groups from 15 communities graduated in the year 2008 but today we are celebrating the graduation of 313 associations from 40 communities” Mr Boadu indicated.
He added that Plan Ghana had also trained about 45 village agents to support members of the associations and their groups in their work and also to work to form more groups, pointing out that “painstaking efforts had been made to build the capacities of the members of the associations”.
He said recent reports from some communities indicated that more women had been empowered financially under the scheme.
He commended the women who availed themselves to kick start the VSLA, and that Plan Ghana sought to link the VSLA groups to recognised financial institutions for more grants to train more groups under the scheme.
The Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Caesar Kale, expressed appreciation to Plan Ghana for the initiative and was optimistic that the scheme would bring great relief to people since it would provide them with an immediate access to credit.
“As a sustainable financial service it would promote businesses and also pave the way for people to access loans timely and at affordable interest” he said.
Mr Kale further urged members of the associations to spread the good news to entice more members to their fold to sustain the scheme.
Plan Ghana, a child centred international non-governmental organisation, assembled the people and provided them with technical advice. Members of the association are made up of poor and vulnerable women who are engaged in agricultural production, processing and marketing. Others are also into petty trading and medium-scale trading.
The VSLA model is designed to be more flexible, and members take loans at an interest rate and repay at a period determined by the members.
Each of the VSLA has an average membership of 25, who meet regularly on a weekly basis during which they contribute and save money.
According to the Tumu Area Programme Manager of Plan Ghana, Mr Richard Boadu, beneficiaries repay the loans through the straight line method, which involves splitting the interest over an initial period by paying the principal at the end and they receive the loan according to their contributions to the savings.
Speaking at the second graduation of the second batch of members of the VSLA in Tumu, Mr Boadu, who quoted from the 2005 Ghana Human Development report, explained that 30 per cent of people did not have access to any form of financial services, which is a serious drawback to rural growth.
Based on this, he said, Plan Ghana through its microfinance model introduced the VSLA in the Sissala West District in 2007 to whip up membership drive, improve on the savings habit among the people to enable them to mobilise funds to start new businesses in their respective communities.
“As of October 2009, a number of communities in the Sissala West and Sissala East districts with over 10,000 members from 400 associations are benefiting directly from the Plan Ghana VSLA scheme. Out of the total membership, 87 per cent are women. Similarly, 80 VSLA groups from 15 communities graduated in the year 2008 but today we are celebrating the graduation of 313 associations from 40 communities” Mr Boadu indicated.
He added that Plan Ghana had also trained about 45 village agents to support members of the associations and their groups in their work and also to work to form more groups, pointing out that “painstaking efforts had been made to build the capacities of the members of the associations”.
He said recent reports from some communities indicated that more women had been empowered financially under the scheme.
He commended the women who availed themselves to kick start the VSLA, and that Plan Ghana sought to link the VSLA groups to recognised financial institutions for more grants to train more groups under the scheme.
The Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Caesar Kale, expressed appreciation to Plan Ghana for the initiative and was optimistic that the scheme would bring great relief to people since it would provide them with an immediate access to credit.
“As a sustainable financial service it would promote businesses and also pave the way for people to access loans timely and at affordable interest” he said.
Mr Kale further urged members of the associations to spread the good news to entice more members to their fold to sustain the scheme.
Monday, December 7, 2009
MILITARY AND POLICE CLAMP DOWN ON CRIMINALS (PAGE 35, DEC 7)
A joint police and military swoop at the Jamboree area in the Wa municipality, has led to the arrest of 10 suspected drug peddlers and criminals who are reported to be terrorising innocent residents in the vicinity.
The suspects are Yaw Ketewa 37, unemployed; Adamu Emmanuel, 22, a student; Issah Dalifu, 35, a galamsey miner; Salifu Braimah, 45, a farmer, and Peter Saali, 37, a mason.
The rest are Witoh Isahaque, 50; Zakaria Seidu, 54; Ibrahim Seidu, 45, all drivers, Masaud Kaleonaa, 21, an electrician, and Dauda Yahaya, 51, a mechanic.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Upper West Regional Police Commander, ACP Alex Bedie, said following persistent reports of threats and harassment by residents, the police and the military decided to mount an operation in the area.
He said the police with support from the military stormed the area last Tuesday, leading to the arrest of the 10 suspects.
He added that other suspects managed to flee from the scene upon seeing the security personnel.
ACP Bedie said some of the suspects were arrested while they were openly smoking dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp while others were selling the stuff.
He said a search conducted on the suspects in the area also led to the discovery of quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, five motorcycles, four bicycles and eight mobile phones, some of which were left behind by those who took to their heels.
Mr Bedie said the police were conducting further investigations into the issue after which the suspects would be processed for court.
He cautioned all citizens in the region to learn to live within the confines of the law, since the security apparatus would surely come after them when they broke the law.
Mr Bedie indicated that the operation was the first of a series of such exercises to be carried out throughout the region to ensure a crime-free and a peaceful Christmas season.
It would be recalled that a few weeks ago, a police constable who was on patrol duties within the Jamboree area was attacked by some unsuspecting people and dumped into a nearby pond.
The suspects are Yaw Ketewa 37, unemployed; Adamu Emmanuel, 22, a student; Issah Dalifu, 35, a galamsey miner; Salifu Braimah, 45, a farmer, and Peter Saali, 37, a mason.
The rest are Witoh Isahaque, 50; Zakaria Seidu, 54; Ibrahim Seidu, 45, all drivers, Masaud Kaleonaa, 21, an electrician, and Dauda Yahaya, 51, a mechanic.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Upper West Regional Police Commander, ACP Alex Bedie, said following persistent reports of threats and harassment by residents, the police and the military decided to mount an operation in the area.
He said the police with support from the military stormed the area last Tuesday, leading to the arrest of the 10 suspects.
He added that other suspects managed to flee from the scene upon seeing the security personnel.
ACP Bedie said some of the suspects were arrested while they were openly smoking dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp while others were selling the stuff.
He said a search conducted on the suspects in the area also led to the discovery of quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, five motorcycles, four bicycles and eight mobile phones, some of which were left behind by those who took to their heels.
Mr Bedie said the police were conducting further investigations into the issue after which the suspects would be processed for court.
He cautioned all citizens in the region to learn to live within the confines of the law, since the security apparatus would surely come after them when they broke the law.
Mr Bedie indicated that the operation was the first of a series of such exercises to be carried out throughout the region to ensure a crime-free and a peaceful Christmas season.
It would be recalled that a few weeks ago, a police constable who was on patrol duties within the Jamboree area was attacked by some unsuspecting people and dumped into a nearby pond.
ACTIVISM ON GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE LAUNCHED IN WA (PAGE 35, DEC 7)
activism on gender-based violence has been marked in Wa in the Upper West Region with a call on all and sundry, particularly men, to reorientate themselves about their perception that women must always succumb to their whims and caprices.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, who launched the event, said violence against women was not only an abuse of the rights of the victims but also inimical to the quest of the majority of the people for peace in the world.
He commended members of the Gender and Women’s Rights Activists Network (GAWNET) for initiating such a forum to discuss issues affecting women.
Mr Khalid also called on the organisers of the programme to take stock of past activities and see where they fell short so they could take it up from there.
“Though there is a global resolve to end violence in any form, it is incumbent on us to constantly prick ourselves about our commitment to this crusade and move beyond the rhetoric to an action-oriented one,” he said.
The regional minister further called on all stakeholders to rededicate themselves to the crusade on violence against women and devote more resources towards the challenge.
On the role of civil society towards pushing the fight to stop all forms of violence against women, Mr Mahmud Khalid cautioned against settling cases of sexual abuse, especially defilement cases, by families.
He advised people to report such incidents to the appropriate authorities.
“Similarly women should disabuse their minds that domestic violence is part of marital life; it certainly has no place in the homes,” he emphasised. The regional minister said it was the determination of the Government to come up with policies which promoted gender equality and equity for the vulnerable in both the rural and urban areas.
He added that the Government would pursue and support the training of gender desk officers in the various districts to empower them to continue to champion the cause of women.
A representative of Action Aid Ghana, an international non-governmental organisation, Ms Esther Aboagye, in a solidarity message reiterated the resolve of the organisation to continue to champion the cause of women.
She also urged women not to relent in their efforts but to support all efforts geared towards promoting their welfare to eliminate entirely all forms of violence against them.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, who launched the event, said violence against women was not only an abuse of the rights of the victims but also inimical to the quest of the majority of the people for peace in the world.
He commended members of the Gender and Women’s Rights Activists Network (GAWNET) for initiating such a forum to discuss issues affecting women.
Mr Khalid also called on the organisers of the programme to take stock of past activities and see where they fell short so they could take it up from there.
“Though there is a global resolve to end violence in any form, it is incumbent on us to constantly prick ourselves about our commitment to this crusade and move beyond the rhetoric to an action-oriented one,” he said.
The regional minister further called on all stakeholders to rededicate themselves to the crusade on violence against women and devote more resources towards the challenge.
On the role of civil society towards pushing the fight to stop all forms of violence against women, Mr Mahmud Khalid cautioned against settling cases of sexual abuse, especially defilement cases, by families.
He advised people to report such incidents to the appropriate authorities.
“Similarly women should disabuse their minds that domestic violence is part of marital life; it certainly has no place in the homes,” he emphasised. The regional minister said it was the determination of the Government to come up with policies which promoted gender equality and equity for the vulnerable in both the rural and urban areas.
He added that the Government would pursue and support the training of gender desk officers in the various districts to empower them to continue to champion the cause of women.
A representative of Action Aid Ghana, an international non-governmental organisation, Ms Esther Aboagye, in a solidarity message reiterated the resolve of the organisation to continue to champion the cause of women.
She also urged women not to relent in their efforts but to support all efforts geared towards promoting their welfare to eliminate entirely all forms of violence against them.
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