THE Wa West District Assembly is to cultivate 20,000 exotic mangoes interspersed with sunflower for export.
The GH¢260,000 project covering about 80 acres would be funded by the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF).
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Seidu Tungbani, disclosed this to the new Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Issahaku Salia, during a working visit to the district.
The Deputy Regional Minister, Mr Caesar Kale, led Alhaji Salia to tour the district.
The Regional Minister said 200 farmers had been roped into the project under the Wa West Co-operative Mango Farmers Association.
“Because we have two paramountcies in this district, we have decided that 100 of the farmers should come from the Dorimon paramountcy while the other 100 comes from Wechiau, the district capital,” he explained, adding that each farmer would be entitled to an acre of land.
Mr Tungbani further stated that the funds would go into the preparation of the land, servicing of pipes and support structures, the purchase of a tractor and accessories, mango seedlings, weedicides and insecticides as well as other farming implements.
He said to ensure the successful implementation of the project and for the farmers to have a feeling of ownership of the project, a management team made up of some selected farmers had been set up to effectively manage the assets of the entire farmers.
The management team, the DCE said, included a representative from the respective villages where the farmer association was proactive.
Addressing heads of department later at the district assembly hall, the DCE expressed gratitude to them and members of the assembly for the co-operation given him since he assumed office, and urged them to keep it up.
Alhaji Salia commended the heads of department and members of the assembly for working hard towards the development of the district in particular, and the region in general.
He appealed to them to exercise restraint as the government was on track to bring development to the people.
Alhaji Salia and his entourage also called on the paramount chief of the Dorimon Traditional Area, Naa S.D. Gore, at his palace where he called for the support of the chiefs, stressing that he would seek their advice and suggestions when the need arose.
Naa Gore, who is the President of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs, was not happy about the frequency at which the region kept changing political leaders.
“We are the last region in the country but the manner in which we change political leadership is not good,” he stressed and urged the regional minister to check the activities of foot soldiers of his political party.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
GAWU SUPPORTS WA FARMERS (PAGE 22, AUGUST 13, 2010)
150 farmers from five communities in the Wa Municipality have received protective clothing worth GH¢1,850 to boost their farming activities.
The items including nose masks, gloves spraying machines and Wellington boots, were donated by the General Agriculture Workers Union (GAWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) with support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
Presenting the items, the Upper West Regional Industrial Relations Officer, Mr Alfred M. Ingah said the items were a token from the GAWU to promote the farming operations of rural women farmers from Kperisi, Sagu, Guli, Kunjeihi and Chegile.
He said it was also to empower the farmers economically through post-harvest management.
Mr Ingah called for the strengthening of the various farmer groups through training programmes organised for them in their respective communities.
He expressed the hope that the farmers would use the items effectively to enhance post-harvest management.
Mr Ingah told the farmers that even though the items belonged to the communities, it must remain with those who were members of GAWU.
He further assured the farmers that they would be assisted on how to use the machines.
The Regional Chairperson of GAWU, Madam Cecilia Mwin advised the farmers on the side-effects of the chemicals.
The items including nose masks, gloves spraying machines and Wellington boots, were donated by the General Agriculture Workers Union (GAWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) with support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
Presenting the items, the Upper West Regional Industrial Relations Officer, Mr Alfred M. Ingah said the items were a token from the GAWU to promote the farming operations of rural women farmers from Kperisi, Sagu, Guli, Kunjeihi and Chegile.
He said it was also to empower the farmers economically through post-harvest management.
Mr Ingah called for the strengthening of the various farmer groups through training programmes organised for them in their respective communities.
He expressed the hope that the farmers would use the items effectively to enhance post-harvest management.
Mr Ingah told the farmers that even though the items belonged to the communities, it must remain with those who were members of GAWU.
He further assured the farmers that they would be assisted on how to use the machines.
The Regional Chairperson of GAWU, Madam Cecilia Mwin advised the farmers on the side-effects of the chemicals.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
ASSEMBLY INITIATES MANGO EXPORT PROJECT (PAGE 51, AUGUST 12, 2010)
THE Wa West District Assembly has initiated a project under which 20,000 exotic mangoes are to be cultivated, interspersed with sunflower for export.
The project, which is expected to cover about 200 acres, is being financed by the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF) at a cost of GH¢260,000.
About 200 farmers from the Dorimon and Wechiau Traditional areas are expected to benefit from the project.
The Wa District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Seidu Tungbani, announced this when the Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Issahaku Salia, paid a working visit to the district.
“Because we have two paramountcies in this district, we have decided that 100 of the farmers will come from Dorimon, while the other 100 come from Wechiau, the district capital,” he explained.
He said each farmer would be entitled to an acre of land.
Mr Tungbani further explained that the funds would go into the preparation of the land, the laying of service pipes and support structures, the purchase of a tractor and accessories, mango seedlings, weedicides, insecticides, as well as other farming implements.
To ensure the successful implementation of the project and for the farmers to have a feeling of it, the DCE said a management team made up of some selected farmers had been set up to effectively manage the project.
Addressing heads of departments later at the district assembly hall, the DCE expressed his gratitude to members of the assembly and the heads of departments for the level of co-operation accorded him since he assumed office and urged them to keep it up.
Alhaji Salia commended the heads of departments and members of the assembly for working to bring the district and the entire region that far.
He appealed to them to exercise restraint, as the government was on track in working to bring development to the people.
Alhaji Salia and his entourage also called on the Paramount Chief of the Dorimon Traditional Area, Naa S. D. Gore, at his palace, where the regional minister called for the support of the chiefs, saying he would not hesitate to seek their advice and suggestions.
The project, which is expected to cover about 200 acres, is being financed by the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF) at a cost of GH¢260,000.
About 200 farmers from the Dorimon and Wechiau Traditional areas are expected to benefit from the project.
The Wa District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Seidu Tungbani, announced this when the Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Issahaku Salia, paid a working visit to the district.
“Because we have two paramountcies in this district, we have decided that 100 of the farmers will come from Dorimon, while the other 100 come from Wechiau, the district capital,” he explained.
He said each farmer would be entitled to an acre of land.
Mr Tungbani further explained that the funds would go into the preparation of the land, the laying of service pipes and support structures, the purchase of a tractor and accessories, mango seedlings, weedicides, insecticides, as well as other farming implements.
To ensure the successful implementation of the project and for the farmers to have a feeling of it, the DCE said a management team made up of some selected farmers had been set up to effectively manage the project.
Addressing heads of departments later at the district assembly hall, the DCE expressed his gratitude to members of the assembly and the heads of departments for the level of co-operation accorded him since he assumed office and urged them to keep it up.
Alhaji Salia commended the heads of departments and members of the assembly for working to bring the district and the entire region that far.
He appealed to them to exercise restraint, as the government was on track in working to bring development to the people.
Alhaji Salia and his entourage also called on the Paramount Chief of the Dorimon Traditional Area, Naa S. D. Gore, at his palace, where the regional minister called for the support of the chiefs, saying he would not hesitate to seek their advice and suggestions.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
AHMADIYYA MUSLIM WOMEN DISCUSS INDISCIPLINE AMONG YOUTH (PAGE 11, AUGUST 10, 2010)
THE Upper West Regional Director of the Department of Women, Mrs Catherine Bob-Milliar, has called for a multi-disciplinary approach to address the deteriorating moral standard and indiscipline among the youth in the society.
Speaking at the 31st annual national convention of the lajna imaillah of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Women Association in Wa, Mrs Bob-Milliar, therefore, called on women, particularly mothers, to begin to see every child as their own and correct them where they fell short.
She said the time had come for mothers to correct the children of their neighbours when they went wrong, politicians must also play their part, while the media, the security agencies and law enforcers also need to collaborate with all the stakeholders “to correct this anomaly which is eating up our youth and engulfing our society today”.
The two-day event was on the theme: “Curbing moral decadence in the society- The role of the Muslim woman”.
Mrs Bob-Milliar stated for instance, that indecent dressing of young women and men alike cast a slur on mothers because it was a reflection of the kind of upbringing of the young man or woman, and therefore advised mothers to be more assertive and support the crusade against immorality and indiscipline.
The Sissala East District Chief Executive (DCE), Madam Alijata Sulemana, noted that irresponsible behaviour on the part of mothers greatly influenced their children hence the need for parents to be obedient, disciplined and upright in all their endeavours.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Issahaku Saliah, who was on his first formal assignment since his assumption of office, said if the society continued to glorify wealth irrespective of one’s conduct “then we could be well assured of an indisciplined society.”
Speaking at the 31st annual national convention of the lajna imaillah of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Women Association in Wa, Mrs Bob-Milliar, therefore, called on women, particularly mothers, to begin to see every child as their own and correct them where they fell short.
She said the time had come for mothers to correct the children of their neighbours when they went wrong, politicians must also play their part, while the media, the security agencies and law enforcers also need to collaborate with all the stakeholders “to correct this anomaly which is eating up our youth and engulfing our society today”.
The two-day event was on the theme: “Curbing moral decadence in the society- The role of the Muslim woman”.
Mrs Bob-Milliar stated for instance, that indecent dressing of young women and men alike cast a slur on mothers because it was a reflection of the kind of upbringing of the young man or woman, and therefore advised mothers to be more assertive and support the crusade against immorality and indiscipline.
The Sissala East District Chief Executive (DCE), Madam Alijata Sulemana, noted that irresponsible behaviour on the part of mothers greatly influenced their children hence the need for parents to be obedient, disciplined and upright in all their endeavours.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Issahaku Saliah, who was on his first formal assignment since his assumption of office, said if the society continued to glorify wealth irrespective of one’s conduct “then we could be well assured of an indisciplined society.”
Sunday, August 8, 2010
DON'T PUSH GIRLS INTO EARLY MARRIAGE — VEEP (PAGE 11, AUGUST 7, 2010)
THE Vice President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, has cautioned parents against pushing their female children into early marriages. He pointed out that the practice hampered their development and affected their efforts to develop their full potential and to achieve their ambitions.
He said it was therefore necessary for parents to change their attitude towards the education of their daughters and collaborate effectively with teachers and other school authorities to ensure their proper development.
Mr Mahama gave the advice when he addressed the fourth speech and prize giving day of the Islamic Senior High School in Wa, in the Upper West Region.
He said studies show that girls have gradually formed a significant proportion of the population of many institutions of higher learning in the country and many of them were doing very well, adding that, for these reasons that they must be encouraged to pursue their education with all seriousness to unearth their talents.
Mr Mahama also advised parents to discourage children from engaging in street hawking at the expense of their education, pointing out that the lukewarm attitude of parents who left the responsibility of the upbringing of their children, solely to teachers in schools without paying attention to their school work and educational needs, must change.
“The moral decadence rearing its head in our society could be arrested if all parents, teachers, politicians and all other stakeholders collectively work together in that direction” Mr Mahama stressed and said “Posterity would not forgive us if we are not able to tackle this social canker”.
He indicated the resolve of the government to improve the lot of teachers through the provision of incentives, allowances and infrastructure, especially in deprived areas.
He also commended the Islamic Senior High School and Muslims for embracing secular education which he said, had a lot of positive implications and advised students to be disciplined and concentrate on their books in order to achieve academic excellence.
Mr Mahama further advised students to respect their parents and teachers.
The Headmaster of the School, Mr Sulemana Alhassan, revisited the issue of the use of mobile phones in schools and urged parents and guardians to partner school authorities to ensure that their wards did not come to school with mobile phones.
He mentioned inadequate accommodation for both students and teachers as a major challenge facing the school, and said there was also the need to construct a wall for the school to curb the frequent visit to town by the students.
He said it was therefore necessary for parents to change their attitude towards the education of their daughters and collaborate effectively with teachers and other school authorities to ensure their proper development.
Mr Mahama gave the advice when he addressed the fourth speech and prize giving day of the Islamic Senior High School in Wa, in the Upper West Region.
He said studies show that girls have gradually formed a significant proportion of the population of many institutions of higher learning in the country and many of them were doing very well, adding that, for these reasons that they must be encouraged to pursue their education with all seriousness to unearth their talents.
Mr Mahama also advised parents to discourage children from engaging in street hawking at the expense of their education, pointing out that the lukewarm attitude of parents who left the responsibility of the upbringing of their children, solely to teachers in schools without paying attention to their school work and educational needs, must change.
“The moral decadence rearing its head in our society could be arrested if all parents, teachers, politicians and all other stakeholders collectively work together in that direction” Mr Mahama stressed and said “Posterity would not forgive us if we are not able to tackle this social canker”.
He indicated the resolve of the government to improve the lot of teachers through the provision of incentives, allowances and infrastructure, especially in deprived areas.
He also commended the Islamic Senior High School and Muslims for embracing secular education which he said, had a lot of positive implications and advised students to be disciplined and concentrate on their books in order to achieve academic excellence.
Mr Mahama further advised students to respect their parents and teachers.
The Headmaster of the School, Mr Sulemana Alhassan, revisited the issue of the use of mobile phones in schools and urged parents and guardians to partner school authorities to ensure that their wards did not come to school with mobile phones.
He mentioned inadequate accommodation for both students and teachers as a major challenge facing the school, and said there was also the need to construct a wall for the school to curb the frequent visit to town by the students.
Friday, August 6, 2010
YWO TO DIE BY HANGING (MIRROR, PAGE 20, AUGUST 7, 2010)
From Chris Nunoo, Wa
Two Burkinabe nationals and a Ghanaian have been convicted of murder and manslaughter respectively by a Wa High Court presided over by Justice George Koomson.
The two Burkinabe convicts, Salou Bari 28 and Draman Yewana 26, were convicted on charges of murder and were sentenced to death by hanging, while Kobina Tangba, the Ghanaian, was also sentenced to 25 years in prison.
They were convicted by a seven member jury.
A Principal State Attorney, Mr Robert Beke who briefed The Mirror, said Bari, who was serving his sentence for some other offences in Ghana was handed over to the Burkinabe security in 2006 but managed to find his way back into Ghana two years ago to murder Abdul Sambo, a Fulani man at Han in the Jirapa District of the Upper West Region.
He said Bari confessed that the deceased, Sanbo, was the one who gave him up to the police which led to his incarceration in Ghana.
Mr Beke said sometime last year, Yewana also murdered a woman at Fatchu in the Gwollu District when he attempted to rape the woman after she had resisted him.
He said Yewana got infuriated by the womans’ actions and pulled a club which he used to hit her head, resulting in her death.
He said he was subsequently arrested and put before court.
The Principal State Attorney said in the case of Kobina Tangba, who lived with his stepmother at Konjokala in the Nadowli District, he returned from the farm one evening and found out that the entrance to his room was wet, indicating someone had poured water at his doorstep.
He said he suspected his stepmother and therefore, confronted her. In the ensuing confusion, the stepmother pulled a pestle but he collected it and in an extreme provocation hit her, leading to her death.
Two Burkinabe nationals and a Ghanaian have been convicted of murder and manslaughter respectively by a Wa High Court presided over by Justice George Koomson.
The two Burkinabe convicts, Salou Bari 28 and Draman Yewana 26, were convicted on charges of murder and were sentenced to death by hanging, while Kobina Tangba, the Ghanaian, was also sentenced to 25 years in prison.
They were convicted by a seven member jury.
A Principal State Attorney, Mr Robert Beke who briefed The Mirror, said Bari, who was serving his sentence for some other offences in Ghana was handed over to the Burkinabe security in 2006 but managed to find his way back into Ghana two years ago to murder Abdul Sambo, a Fulani man at Han in the Jirapa District of the Upper West Region.
He said Bari confessed that the deceased, Sanbo, was the one who gave him up to the police which led to his incarceration in Ghana.
Mr Beke said sometime last year, Yewana also murdered a woman at Fatchu in the Gwollu District when he attempted to rape the woman after she had resisted him.
He said Yewana got infuriated by the womans’ actions and pulled a club which he used to hit her head, resulting in her death.
He said he was subsequently arrested and put before court.
The Principal State Attorney said in the case of Kobina Tangba, who lived with his stepmother at Konjokala in the Nadowli District, he returned from the farm one evening and found out that the entrance to his room was wet, indicating someone had poured water at his doorstep.
He said he suspected his stepmother and therefore, confronted her. In the ensuing confusion, the stepmother pulled a pestle but he collected it and in an extreme provocation hit her, leading to her death.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
TEACHER JAILED 7 YEARS FOR RAPE (BACK PAGE, AUGUST 3, 2010)
A 31-YEAR-OLD Social Studies teacher of the Kanton Senior High School in Tumu in the Sissala East District of the Upper West Region has been sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment with hard labour for raping a final-year female student of the school.
Richard Banousin pleaded not guilty to the offence but the Wa High Court, presided over by Mr Justice George Koomson, found him guilty of raping the student in his room.
A Principal State Attorney, Mr Robert Beke, who briefed the Daily Graphic, said some time last year, the convict invited the female student to his residence to collect an item which had been seized from her during an inspection exercise in the school.
Unknown to the victim, the convict had other ideas and so when she got to his house, he invited her to his room.
He said the convict then started making advances at the student but she resisted and indicated her resolve to leave the room if he would not stop.
He said the convict quickly rushed to lock the door when the student decided to leave the room, after which he forcibly had sex with her.
Mr Beke said the student, after gaining her freedom, quickly rushed to inform her parents at home and they, in turn, reported the conduct of the teacher to the school authorities and the police.
He said the convict was subsequently arrested in July last year and the case brought before the Wa Office of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) for further investigations.
He said the police, after investigations, charged the tutor with the offence of rape, to which he pleaded not guilty.
Mr Justice Koomson, before convicting the suspect, asked him if he had anything to say.
He said the convict pleaded that the court should deal leniently with him since he was married and was the breadwinner of his family.
Mr Beke said the judge, in his response, said he took all of that into consideration but was also of the view that teachers inculcated good morals in children and so for him to have turned round to abuse the girl was very unfortunate.
Justice Koomson further told the court that the law would deal with such people appropriately.
Richard Banousin pleaded not guilty to the offence but the Wa High Court, presided over by Mr Justice George Koomson, found him guilty of raping the student in his room.
A Principal State Attorney, Mr Robert Beke, who briefed the Daily Graphic, said some time last year, the convict invited the female student to his residence to collect an item which had been seized from her during an inspection exercise in the school.
Unknown to the victim, the convict had other ideas and so when she got to his house, he invited her to his room.
He said the convict then started making advances at the student but she resisted and indicated her resolve to leave the room if he would not stop.
He said the convict quickly rushed to lock the door when the student decided to leave the room, after which he forcibly had sex with her.
Mr Beke said the student, after gaining her freedom, quickly rushed to inform her parents at home and they, in turn, reported the conduct of the teacher to the school authorities and the police.
He said the convict was subsequently arrested in July last year and the case brought before the Wa Office of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) for further investigations.
He said the police, after investigations, charged the tutor with the offence of rape, to which he pleaded not guilty.
Mr Justice Koomson, before convicting the suspect, asked him if he had anything to say.
He said the convict pleaded that the court should deal leniently with him since he was married and was the breadwinner of his family.
Mr Beke said the judge, in his response, said he took all of that into consideration but was also of the view that teachers inculcated good morals in children and so for him to have turned round to abuse the girl was very unfortunate.
Justice Koomson further told the court that the law would deal with such people appropriately.
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