THE new Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Issahaku Saliah, has paid courtesy calls on Islamic clerics, landowners (tendamba) and the local council of churches and some opinion leaders in the Wa Municipality.
He stressed the need for unity from all sectors of the society in order to push the development agenda of the region forward.
Alhaji Salia was accompanied on the tour by the former acting Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Moses Magbengba, who is also the Northern Regional Minister, the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Caesar Kale and other officials from the regional co-ordinating Council.
The Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Issahaku Yakubu, described Mr Magbengba as a very lucky person whose luck shined upon the region during the three months that he acted as the regional minister.
“We believe it is because of your luck that both the Upper West and Northern regions have been very peaceful when you acted as Regional Minister.
The Chief Imam advised Mr Magbengba and the new Regional Minister, Alhaji Saliah, to learn to forgive at all times because as humans, we are all fallible.”
Both Mr Magbengba and Alhaji Saliah expressed appreciation to the Chief Imam and his elders for their prayers and support and urged them to continue doing so.
Alhaji Saliah and his entourage also visited the Ahmediyya Muslim Mission where the First National Deputy Ameer of the mission, Maulvi Yusif Yawson, stressed the resolve of the mission to continue to partner the government in its development efforts.
Maulvi Yawson further prayed that the proposed Wa-Walewale road would be constructed in due course as promised by the government to make travelling from Wa to Tamale very smooth and convenient.
At the meeting with the Local Council of Churches, Alhaji Saliah further stressed the need for unity among the people of the region, saying “It is good to see all the churches coming together under one umbrella as the local council of churches in the region and I hope our Muslim community would take a cue from this and have that tolerance and unite”.
That, Alhaji Saliah said, made the followers one and to work towards a common goal.
For his part, the outgoing acting Regional Minister, Mr Magbengba, thanked the opinion and religious leaders, as well as the people of the region for their support during the few months he took over as the regional minister.
It would be recalled that the position of Upper West Regional Minister became vacant when a few disgruntled youth of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) rose up against the former Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid and destroyed tender documents leading to his sacking by President John Atta Mills.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
30 JUVENILE PLAYERS FOR NATIONAL TEAM (PAGE 11, SEPT 3, 2010)
The technical committee of the 13th national juvenile football competition held in Wa in the Upper West Region has selected 30 outstanding players to form the nucleus of the national Under-12 and U-15 teams.
The competition which drew 24 teams from across the country last Saturday saw Wa All Stars Babies beating Zenaps FC from Teshie in the Greater Accra Region 2-1 in the Under-12 division. The Under-15 final, however, saw Wa All Stars Babies losing 0-2 to Kumasi-based Anokye Stars.
Alhassan Saeed of All Stars was adjudged the Best Goalkeeper in the under-12 division, while Future Stars’ Gift Kumalo won the Best Player and Golden Boot awards.
Wa All Stars Babies took home a trophy, four footballs and GH¢300, with the second-placed Zenaps FC taking home two footballs and GH¢200. The third-placed team in the under-12 division also took home two footballs and GH¢150.
In the U-15 division, Anokye Stars took home a trophy, five footballs and GH¢400, while runners-up Wa All Stars Babies, who qualified for the final after winning a protest against Greater Accra’s Future Stars for fielding an unqualified player, Wa All Stars Babies received four footballs and GH¢300.
Wa All Stars Babies swept all the individual awards in the U-15 division, with goalkeeper Salifu Suleimana picking the best goalkeeper award, while Alipo Ranow was adjudged the best player.
Other teams and officials who excelled at the competition were also honoured with certificates of participation.
The week-long tournament saw some exciting matches which attracted sizable crowds to the various venues.
The next edition of the competition is expected to be held in the Volta regional capital, Ho.
The competition which drew 24 teams from across the country last Saturday saw Wa All Stars Babies beating Zenaps FC from Teshie in the Greater Accra Region 2-1 in the Under-12 division. The Under-15 final, however, saw Wa All Stars Babies losing 0-2 to Kumasi-based Anokye Stars.
Alhassan Saeed of All Stars was adjudged the Best Goalkeeper in the under-12 division, while Future Stars’ Gift Kumalo won the Best Player and Golden Boot awards.
Wa All Stars Babies took home a trophy, four footballs and GH¢300, with the second-placed Zenaps FC taking home two footballs and GH¢200. The third-placed team in the under-12 division also took home two footballs and GH¢150.
In the U-15 division, Anokye Stars took home a trophy, five footballs and GH¢400, while runners-up Wa All Stars Babies, who qualified for the final after winning a protest against Greater Accra’s Future Stars for fielding an unqualified player, Wa All Stars Babies received four footballs and GH¢300.
Wa All Stars Babies swept all the individual awards in the U-15 division, with goalkeeper Salifu Suleimana picking the best goalkeeper award, while Alipo Ranow was adjudged the best player.
Other teams and officials who excelled at the competition were also honoured with certificates of participation.
The week-long tournament saw some exciting matches which attracted sizable crowds to the various venues.
The next edition of the competition is expected to be held in the Volta regional capital, Ho.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
ARMED ROBBERS ATTACK TRAVELLERS (BACK PAGE, AUGUST 31, 2010)
SCORES of travellers on the Wa-Tumu-Bolgatanga road were subjected to a traumatic ordeal by suspected armed robbers who ambushed six vehicles, including two Metro-Mass Transport (MMT) buses, and robbed the occupants of valuable items and money.
The dawn attack occurred at Nadakui near Tumu in the Sissala East District, where the robbers, numbering about six and said to be wielding AK 47 and G3 rifles and in police and military uniforms, seized the keys to the vehicles and asked all the passengers to alight.
They seized laptops, mobile phones, bags containing clothes and undisclosed sums of money at gunpoint after some of the passengers had received some slaps.
A victim of the robbery, Madam Mariga Musah, who was on a MMT bus from Wa to Bolgatanga, told the Daily Graphic that after starting from Wa at about 5 a.m. their bus got to a spot between Jeffisi in the Sissala West District and Tumu in the Sissala East District both in the Upper West Region at about 7:30 am.
She said upon reaching the spot their driver spotted a fleet of vehicles parked ahead of him and so he also slowed down.
She said a few minutes after their driver had halted they overheard voices commanding the driver and the passengers to raise up their hands only to see two men in Ghana Police uniforms armed with guns ordering everybody aboard the bus to surrender his or her money and mobile phones into a bag one of the robbers was holding.
She said the other robbers were by then taking care of the other passengers who had been held hostage and were already lying on the floor with their faces down.
She said after handing over their phones, money and other valuables to the robbers, they were also asked to come out from the bus to join those who were lying down.
Madam Mariga Musah, who is a teacher at the Nuriya Primary School in Wa, said while they lay down the robbers again came and searched them one after the other and took whatever they found on them.
She said the robbers, after the operation, packed their booty into a saloon car and a jeep with registration numbers GR 5526 X and GR 8850 X belonging to some of the victims and sped off.
She said when they were about to continue with their journey at about 10 a.m. after the robbers had left, they then met a team of police personnel from Tumu approaching while another came from a different direction.
She said the police were informed of the robbery and they pursued the robbers.
The Deputy Upper West Regional Police Commander, ACP Kofi Danso Adei Acheampong, confirmed the incident and said the police later saw the saloon car and the jeep abandoned at Kuntulo, also near Tumu, and towed the cars to the Tumu Police Station.
He said no arrests had been made so far but said the police were investigating.
The dawn attack occurred at Nadakui near Tumu in the Sissala East District, where the robbers, numbering about six and said to be wielding AK 47 and G3 rifles and in police and military uniforms, seized the keys to the vehicles and asked all the passengers to alight.
They seized laptops, mobile phones, bags containing clothes and undisclosed sums of money at gunpoint after some of the passengers had received some slaps.
A victim of the robbery, Madam Mariga Musah, who was on a MMT bus from Wa to Bolgatanga, told the Daily Graphic that after starting from Wa at about 5 a.m. their bus got to a spot between Jeffisi in the Sissala West District and Tumu in the Sissala East District both in the Upper West Region at about 7:30 am.
She said upon reaching the spot their driver spotted a fleet of vehicles parked ahead of him and so he also slowed down.
She said a few minutes after their driver had halted they overheard voices commanding the driver and the passengers to raise up their hands only to see two men in Ghana Police uniforms armed with guns ordering everybody aboard the bus to surrender his or her money and mobile phones into a bag one of the robbers was holding.
She said the other robbers were by then taking care of the other passengers who had been held hostage and were already lying on the floor with their faces down.
She said after handing over their phones, money and other valuables to the robbers, they were also asked to come out from the bus to join those who were lying down.
Madam Mariga Musah, who is a teacher at the Nuriya Primary School in Wa, said while they lay down the robbers again came and searched them one after the other and took whatever they found on them.
She said the robbers, after the operation, packed their booty into a saloon car and a jeep with registration numbers GR 5526 X and GR 8850 X belonging to some of the victims and sped off.
She said when they were about to continue with their journey at about 10 a.m. after the robbers had left, they then met a team of police personnel from Tumu approaching while another came from a different direction.
She said the police were informed of the robbery and they pursued the robbers.
The Deputy Upper West Regional Police Commander, ACP Kofi Danso Adei Acheampong, confirmed the incident and said the police later saw the saloon car and the jeep abandoned at Kuntulo, also near Tumu, and towed the cars to the Tumu Police Station.
He said no arrests had been made so far but said the police were investigating.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
ENSURE SURVIVAL OF VRA — BAENA (PAGE 22, AUGUST 28, 2010)
THE Upper West Area Manager of the Northern Electricity Department (NED) of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Mr Nathaniel Baena, has stressed the need for Ghanaians to be more concerned about the survival of the VRA.
He said that was imperative because the development of the nation would be a mirage if the VRA should collapse.
“Ghanaians must be concerned about the survival of the VRA because if it collapses, the whole country would collapse. This is because without electricity, the nation cannot develop,” Mr Baena stated.
Mr Baena expressed the concern when the Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Issahaku Salia and his Deputy, Mr Caesar Kale called on the management of the VRA in Wa.
He was not happy about the irregular payment of electricity bills by the people.
Mr Baena said the tapping of electricity illegally by some residents of the area was also a matter of grave concern to the NED/VRA.
Alhaji Issahaku Salia and his entourage also called on the management of the Aqua Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL) where he was briefed on the water situation of the region.
The Regional Operations Officer of AVRL, Mr Ahmed Sorogho Tahiru, said the region had 17 mechanised boreholes out of which nine were automated.
He urged the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) to see to the execution of two major projects for the region, namely the sinking of additional boreholes and the construction of a commercial treatment plant from the Black Volta to supply water to the people of Wa and its environs.
Alhaji Salia gave the assurance that the government was putting the necessary measures in place to improve on the quality of utility services across the country.
He also urged the two institutions to collaborate to ensure the provision of efficient services.
He said that was imperative because the development of the nation would be a mirage if the VRA should collapse.
“Ghanaians must be concerned about the survival of the VRA because if it collapses, the whole country would collapse. This is because without electricity, the nation cannot develop,” Mr Baena stated.
Mr Baena expressed the concern when the Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Issahaku Salia and his Deputy, Mr Caesar Kale called on the management of the VRA in Wa.
He was not happy about the irregular payment of electricity bills by the people.
Mr Baena said the tapping of electricity illegally by some residents of the area was also a matter of grave concern to the NED/VRA.
Alhaji Issahaku Salia and his entourage also called on the management of the Aqua Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL) where he was briefed on the water situation of the region.
The Regional Operations Officer of AVRL, Mr Ahmed Sorogho Tahiru, said the region had 17 mechanised boreholes out of which nine were automated.
He urged the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) to see to the execution of two major projects for the region, namely the sinking of additional boreholes and the construction of a commercial treatment plant from the Black Volta to supply water to the people of Wa and its environs.
Alhaji Salia gave the assurance that the government was putting the necessary measures in place to improve on the quality of utility services across the country.
He also urged the two institutions to collaborate to ensure the provision of efficient services.
WA HOSPITAL IN DISTRESS...Following departure of Cuban doctors (BACK PAGE, AUGUST 27, 2010)
HEALTH delivery at the Wa Regional Hospital faces a major setback following the expiry this month of the tenure of five Cuban doctors who have been complementing the efforts of their two Ghanaian colleagues.
The situation leaves only the two Ghanaian doctors in a hospital built to operate with 25 doctors.
The Upper West Regional Director of Health, Dr Alexis Nang Beifubah, described the situation as “getting out of hand” and pleaded with the authorities to treat it as a matter of urgency.
Briefing the Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Issahaku Salia, and his deputy, Mr Caesar Kale, during a visit to the hospital, Dr Beifubah said the time had come for the political heads in the region to help create the conditions that would attract doctors to the region.
He also called on the citizens to take up the challenge and help improve conditions at home rather than wait until national authorities come to the aid of the region.
He called for a massive improvement in the accommodation situation for workers, particularly health personnel in the region, pointing out that monetary incentives were also very important.
Citing examples from Bawku and Bolgatanga hospitals, Dr Nang Beifubah suggested that the respective local government assemblies be made to contribute some money into a common source which must be under the care of the regional minister, to make all the assemblies responsible for accommodation and other peculiar needs of health personnel posted to the districts.
“I think that the doctor-patient ratio in the Wa Regional Hospital and the entire region is very disturbing and our politicians must show much interest and must be seen to be working to address these issues,” the regional director said pathetically.
The medical director at the hospital, Dr Aduko Amiah, also expressed grave concern about the absence of adequate nurses at the hospital.
He said all the nurses at the hospital were ageing and that there was the need to really work hard to attract and retain younger ones.
He also expressed concern about the distance between the maternity ward of the hospital and the theatre, saying it was not in the best interest of both the medical personnel and the patients to have a theatre very far away from the maternity ward.
Dr Amiah, therefore, suggested that a theatre be constructed close to the maternity ward to avert any unforeseen problems.
Responding, the regional minister, Alhaji Issahaku Salia, said the RCC recognised the vital role health personnel played in the region and gave an assurance that he and his outfit were ever ready to assist in improving on healthcare delivery in the region.
He emphasised the need for the two institutions to collaborate effectively to address the challenges confronting the hospital.
The regional minister later donated 20 pieces of mattresses, a bull and 16 bags of cereals to the hospital.
The situation leaves only the two Ghanaian doctors in a hospital built to operate with 25 doctors.
The Upper West Regional Director of Health, Dr Alexis Nang Beifubah, described the situation as “getting out of hand” and pleaded with the authorities to treat it as a matter of urgency.
Briefing the Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Issahaku Salia, and his deputy, Mr Caesar Kale, during a visit to the hospital, Dr Beifubah said the time had come for the political heads in the region to help create the conditions that would attract doctors to the region.
He also called on the citizens to take up the challenge and help improve conditions at home rather than wait until national authorities come to the aid of the region.
He called for a massive improvement in the accommodation situation for workers, particularly health personnel in the region, pointing out that monetary incentives were also very important.
Citing examples from Bawku and Bolgatanga hospitals, Dr Nang Beifubah suggested that the respective local government assemblies be made to contribute some money into a common source which must be under the care of the regional minister, to make all the assemblies responsible for accommodation and other peculiar needs of health personnel posted to the districts.
“I think that the doctor-patient ratio in the Wa Regional Hospital and the entire region is very disturbing and our politicians must show much interest and must be seen to be working to address these issues,” the regional director said pathetically.
The medical director at the hospital, Dr Aduko Amiah, also expressed grave concern about the absence of adequate nurses at the hospital.
He said all the nurses at the hospital were ageing and that there was the need to really work hard to attract and retain younger ones.
He also expressed concern about the distance between the maternity ward of the hospital and the theatre, saying it was not in the best interest of both the medical personnel and the patients to have a theatre very far away from the maternity ward.
Dr Amiah, therefore, suggested that a theatre be constructed close to the maternity ward to avert any unforeseen problems.
Responding, the regional minister, Alhaji Issahaku Salia, said the RCC recognised the vital role health personnel played in the region and gave an assurance that he and his outfit were ever ready to assist in improving on healthcare delivery in the region.
He emphasised the need for the two institutions to collaborate effectively to address the challenges confronting the hospital.
The regional minister later donated 20 pieces of mattresses, a bull and 16 bags of cereals to the hospital.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
SPREAD MESSAGE ON POPULATION CENSUS — YAKUBU (PAGE 22, AUGUST 24, 2010)
THE Chairman of the Upper West Regional Census Implementation Committee (RCIC), Mr David Yakubu, has stressed the need for stakeholders to consciously spread the message on the upcoming national housing and population census.
He said that prevented situations where people took to their heels when census officials got to their villages for them to be enumerated.
“The people in the village believe the enumerators are disciples of the devil and that if they count them, calamity will befall the entire village,” Mr Yakubu said.
He has, therefore, appealed to all to put their shoulders to the wheel and help spread the message on the exercise.
Mr Yakubu was addressing the opening of a day’s sensitisation workshop for personnel of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the Information Services Department (ISD) and media practitioners among other stakeholders in Wa in the Upper West Region.
He said the only way for a country to know its development parameters was to have an idea about the number of people living in the country, and that called for wider circulation of the message on the impending census.
The Regional Statistician, Mr Francis Nyarko-Larbi, gave the assurance that his outfit was far ahead with preparations towards the national exercise.
“Manuals and questionnaires have been developed, trainer of trainees have also been trained,” adding that what was left was the training of enumerators and the interview of short-listed applicants at the district level by next week,” he stated.
He said about 56,000 individuals would be trained for the exercise.
Mr Nyarko-Larbi urged the citizenry to feel free to give out information to enumerators since every information would be kept confidential.
“A non-census official should not handle census questionnaire and material,” he warned, and further advised people not to rush to travel to their hometowns or villages to be counted.
That, he explained, was because on the census night, which is September 26, 2010, everybody in the country irrespective of one’s location at the time would be covered.
On the role of the media in ensuring a successful national exercise, Mr Nyarko-Larbi stressed the need for them to intensify the education and the sensitisation of the populace.
He also appealed to the media to assist enumerators, especially, at potential conflict areas.
He said that prevented situations where people took to their heels when census officials got to their villages for them to be enumerated.
“The people in the village believe the enumerators are disciples of the devil and that if they count them, calamity will befall the entire village,” Mr Yakubu said.
He has, therefore, appealed to all to put their shoulders to the wheel and help spread the message on the exercise.
Mr Yakubu was addressing the opening of a day’s sensitisation workshop for personnel of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the Information Services Department (ISD) and media practitioners among other stakeholders in Wa in the Upper West Region.
He said the only way for a country to know its development parameters was to have an idea about the number of people living in the country, and that called for wider circulation of the message on the impending census.
The Regional Statistician, Mr Francis Nyarko-Larbi, gave the assurance that his outfit was far ahead with preparations towards the national exercise.
“Manuals and questionnaires have been developed, trainer of trainees have also been trained,” adding that what was left was the training of enumerators and the interview of short-listed applicants at the district level by next week,” he stated.
He said about 56,000 individuals would be trained for the exercise.
Mr Nyarko-Larbi urged the citizenry to feel free to give out information to enumerators since every information would be kept confidential.
“A non-census official should not handle census questionnaire and material,” he warned, and further advised people not to rush to travel to their hometowns or villages to be counted.
That, he explained, was because on the census night, which is September 26, 2010, everybody in the country irrespective of one’s location at the time would be covered.
On the role of the media in ensuring a successful national exercise, Mr Nyarko-Larbi stressed the need for them to intensify the education and the sensitisation of the populace.
He also appealed to the media to assist enumerators, especially, at potential conflict areas.
COLTS CHAMPIONSHIP OPENS AT WA (PAGE 31, AUGUST 24, 2010)
THE 13th edition of the national colts football competition has kicked off in Wa, the Upper West regional capital, with the objective of unearthing more talents from the grassroots to feed the country’s respective national teams.
The week-long tournament which is being played at four venues in the Wa municipality, namely Wa Senior High Technical School, the Islamic Senior High School, Wa Senior High School and the Wa stadium, has attracted 24 colts clubs drawn from the under 12 and 15 levels across the country.
They include Paa Badu Stars, Wa All Stars Babies, Tamale Shooting Starlets, Ankara FC, Dynamo FC, Anokye Stars and Oguaa United.
Addressing a ceremony to mark the opening of the games at the Wa stadium last Sunday, the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi, stressed the commitment of the FA to unearth more football talents, particularly from the under 12, 15 and the 17 levels.
He said juvenile football was the bedrock for the development of football at all levels and that the FA would place more emphasis on regional colts’ teams as against individual clubs. This, he said, was to ensure the survival of colts football.
Mr Nyantakyi advised the organisers not to encourage the use of over age players but to co-operate with the FA in that regard.
Mr Nyantakyi advised the young players to play their hearts out and exhibit their talents, pointing out that “in the next two years after the tournament the cream of the country’s under-17 national team must come from here”.
“We encourage you to also be in school and be serious with your studies. You will be a good footballer when you are in school because it helps you to polish your academic and sporting skills so that you do not become a liability to the country”, the FA president emphaisised.
He further expressed appreciation to all stakeholders such as the schools which offered their playgrounds for the tournaments and dormitories to house the teams and the media among other institutions for their immense support towards the organisation of the event.
The Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Caesar Kale, who graced the occasion, stressed the need for sports men and women to remain disciplined at all times and to train regularly.
He said the recent World Cup in South Africa was enough testimony that the country was a force to reckon with as far as world football was concerned and,therefore, urged the players to prove their worth.
The week-long tournament which is being played at four venues in the Wa municipality, namely Wa Senior High Technical School, the Islamic Senior High School, Wa Senior High School and the Wa stadium, has attracted 24 colts clubs drawn from the under 12 and 15 levels across the country.
They include Paa Badu Stars, Wa All Stars Babies, Tamale Shooting Starlets, Ankara FC, Dynamo FC, Anokye Stars and Oguaa United.
Addressing a ceremony to mark the opening of the games at the Wa stadium last Sunday, the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi, stressed the commitment of the FA to unearth more football talents, particularly from the under 12, 15 and the 17 levels.
He said juvenile football was the bedrock for the development of football at all levels and that the FA would place more emphasis on regional colts’ teams as against individual clubs. This, he said, was to ensure the survival of colts football.
Mr Nyantakyi advised the organisers not to encourage the use of over age players but to co-operate with the FA in that regard.
Mr Nyantakyi advised the young players to play their hearts out and exhibit their talents, pointing out that “in the next two years after the tournament the cream of the country’s under-17 national team must come from here”.
“We encourage you to also be in school and be serious with your studies. You will be a good footballer when you are in school because it helps you to polish your academic and sporting skills so that you do not become a liability to the country”, the FA president emphaisised.
He further expressed appreciation to all stakeholders such as the schools which offered their playgrounds for the tournaments and dormitories to house the teams and the media among other institutions for their immense support towards the organisation of the event.
The Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Caesar Kale, who graced the occasion, stressed the need for sports men and women to remain disciplined at all times and to train regularly.
He said the recent World Cup in South Africa was enough testimony that the country was a force to reckon with as far as world football was concerned and,therefore, urged the players to prove their worth.
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