THE dust of confusion surrounding the Upper West Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is far from settling, after the dismissal of the former Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, last Wednesday.
This is because of calls by another group of NDC youth, the Concerned Youth of NDC, on President Mills to equally remove the Deputy Regional Minister, Mr Caesar Kale, and bring in neutral people to administer the region.
The group alleged that Mr Kale had undermined his boss, the former regional minister, and seen to his exit and that in the same vein Mr Kale must opt out.
It threatened to replicate what the other NDC youth group did by causing confusion and going on rampage to get its concerns across if the President failed to act accordingly.
That, it said, was because President Mills succumbed to such pressure the group alleged.
At a press conference organised by the group, a former NDC Deputy Secretary in the Nadowli West Constituency, Mr Saandong Mwiniban-era, pointed out that problems in the Wa Central Constituency of the party must not be made to cloud the fortunes of the NDC across the entire region.
“People must not confuse issues in the region with those in the Wa Central Constituency,” he noted, and described the action of the President in dismissing Mr Khalid as a wrong step which would greatly affect the fortunes of the NDC in the region, come the 2012 general election.
Mr Mwiniban-era called on President Mills to be proactive and not bow to pressure for the sake of peace and development in the region, as well as the continuous growth of the party.
He also called on the Upper West NDC Caucus in Parliament to see to the removal of Mr Kale because his continued stay in office as deputy regional minister would worsen the already fragile peace in the region.
Other members of the group are Mr Mathew Sung Aabo, former treasurer of the party; Alhaji Kabore, Wa Central; Mr Yahaya Mahama, Wa West; Joseph Konuba, Nadowli West; Abdul Jaleel Mahama, Wa Central, and Mohammed Ayamga, Sissala East.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
UPPER WEST NDC APOLOGISES TO PREZ (PAGE 14, MAY 15, 2010)
The Upper West Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has rendered an unqualified apology to President John Evans Atta Mills and the entire party for the disturbances which took place in Wa, the regional capital, prior to the dismissal of the immediate past Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid.
It condemned the unruly behaviour of the youth of the party, which led to the disturbances in the Wa municipality, and expressed gratitude to the President for the competent manner in which he continued to handle affairs of the party.
That, it said, had restored sanity and peace to the party in particular and the region in general.
A statement signed and read on behalf of the regional party executives by the Upper West Regional Secretary of the NDC, Mr Eric Dakura, at a press briefing in Wa reaffirmed the confidence and trust of the regional branch in the President and the NDC, saying, “We believe and trust in the President and his team to deliver the better Ghana agenda we promised.”
“Now that the malignant growth has been effectively removed by the wonderful political surgeon who is the President, peace and harmony will prevail,” it added, saying, “We are not against competent businessmen and women from other political parties being given jobs because we believe that any Ghanaian, whether from the NPP, CPP, PNC or any other political party, is entitled to the national cake.”
The statement further pledged its unflinching support for the Deputy Regional Minister, Mr Caesar Kale, whom it described as hardworking and somebody who had the interest of the party at heart, and commended the police and the military for the able manner in which they handled the disturbances.
It pointed out that but for the intervention of the deputy regional minister, the party in the region would have been torn into shreds by now.
It said the branch would never condone any violent behaviour that undermined the rule of law and party discipline in the region.
In a related development, the Upper West Regional Police Command has released on bail the eight suspected NDC youth who were arrested in connection with the disturbances in the Wa municipality last Tuesday.
They are Mohammed Imoro, Moomin Malik, Alhassan Lukman and Ibrahim Salifu.
The others are Ibrahim Abdul Rahman, Aburahman Fataw, Mohammed Jimba and Issahaku Nuhu.
The Regional Crime Officer, Mr Wisdom Lavoe, who briefed the Daily Graphic, said the police were still investigating the matter, since all the suspects had distanced themselves from the act, claiming that they had only been arrested on suspicion.
That, he said, was making it difficult for the police to suitably charge the suspects for the crime, since they were not arrested in the act.
Mr Lavoe did not, however, rule out the possibility of an identification parade when the need arose and advised the youth, particularly those belonging to political parties, to be law abiding and adhere to laid down procedures in addressing their grievances.
He said the days when things were done any how were gone and now it was a system of rule of law and respect for human rights.
Meanwhile, the Wa municipality is calm, with the citizenry going about their duties.
It condemned the unruly behaviour of the youth of the party, which led to the disturbances in the Wa municipality, and expressed gratitude to the President for the competent manner in which he continued to handle affairs of the party.
That, it said, had restored sanity and peace to the party in particular and the region in general.
A statement signed and read on behalf of the regional party executives by the Upper West Regional Secretary of the NDC, Mr Eric Dakura, at a press briefing in Wa reaffirmed the confidence and trust of the regional branch in the President and the NDC, saying, “We believe and trust in the President and his team to deliver the better Ghana agenda we promised.”
“Now that the malignant growth has been effectively removed by the wonderful political surgeon who is the President, peace and harmony will prevail,” it added, saying, “We are not against competent businessmen and women from other political parties being given jobs because we believe that any Ghanaian, whether from the NPP, CPP, PNC or any other political party, is entitled to the national cake.”
The statement further pledged its unflinching support for the Deputy Regional Minister, Mr Caesar Kale, whom it described as hardworking and somebody who had the interest of the party at heart, and commended the police and the military for the able manner in which they handled the disturbances.
It pointed out that but for the intervention of the deputy regional minister, the party in the region would have been torn into shreds by now.
It said the branch would never condone any violent behaviour that undermined the rule of law and party discipline in the region.
In a related development, the Upper West Regional Police Command has released on bail the eight suspected NDC youth who were arrested in connection with the disturbances in the Wa municipality last Tuesday.
They are Mohammed Imoro, Moomin Malik, Alhassan Lukman and Ibrahim Salifu.
The others are Ibrahim Abdul Rahman, Aburahman Fataw, Mohammed Jimba and Issahaku Nuhu.
The Regional Crime Officer, Mr Wisdom Lavoe, who briefed the Daily Graphic, said the police were still investigating the matter, since all the suspects had distanced themselves from the act, claiming that they had only been arrested on suspicion.
That, he said, was making it difficult for the police to suitably charge the suspects for the crime, since they were not arrested in the act.
Mr Lavoe did not, however, rule out the possibility of an identification parade when the need arose and advised the youth, particularly those belonging to political parties, to be law abiding and adhere to laid down procedures in addressing their grievances.
He said the days when things were done any how were gone and now it was a system of rule of law and respect for human rights.
Meanwhile, the Wa municipality is calm, with the citizenry going about their duties.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
UPPER WEST MINISTER SACKED (PAGE 3, MAY 12, 2010)
PRESIDENT John Evans Atta Mills yesterday relieved Mr Mahmood Khalid of his post as Upper West Regional Minister with immediate effect and asked Mr Moses Mabengba, the Northern Regional Minister, to take temporary responsibility for the Upper West.
A statement signed by the Secretary to the President, Mr J.K. Bebaako-Mensah, gave no reason for the action but the beleaguered Mr Khalid has for some time been under intense pressure from National Democratic Congress (NDC) activists in the region who had persisted with calls for his resignation or removal from office.
A few hours before the Presidential statement, eight persons were arrested, while the Upper West Regional executives of the NDC were invited for questioning by the police after irate youth of the NDC in Wa had stormed the premises of the Upper West Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) and ransacked tender documents which had been sent to the conference room to commence a bidding process.
The staff of the RCC looked on helplessly as the youth, who were about 40 in number, engaged in the ignoble act, compelling Mr Khalid’s bodyguard to fire a number of warning shots, after calling for re-enforcement.
The action was so swift that by the time the police and military personnel arrived at the offices of the RCC, the youth had left with the tender documents on their motorcycles.
The regional minister was at the time of the incident held up in a meeting with some foreign dignitaries.
The situation, for a moment, brought panic among workers and onlookers who wondered what was happening in the relatively peaceful Wa municipality, particularly after hearing the warning shots.
The same youth group had, in the evening of Monday, invaded the old presidential residence where Mr Khalid was holding a meeting with regional executives of the party, including the member of the Council of State from the region, Naa Seidu Braimah.
They disrupted the meeting and deflated the tyres of a pick-up vehicle, with registration number GE 5962 Z, said to be owned by the Regional Vice-Chairman of the NDC, Alhaji Natornaa.
But for the timely arrival of a detachment of policemen who cordoned off the streets and the entrance to the old presidential residence, the situation could have been very nasty.
The youth swore to ensure the removal of the regional minister, saying he was not fighting the cause of the NDC in the region.
They told the Daily Graphic that no amount of pleas from the party chairman would make them soften their stance.
In his reaction, Mr Khalid acknowledged that there had been some disagreements between him and the Regional Chairman of the party, Alhaji Malik Issahaque, which had gone as far as the Presidency.
He said the President asked them to return and patch up their differences and he had made every effort to reconcile with the chairman and bring all on board.
He said after a series of scheduled meetings between him and the regional chairman could not come off, they managed to fix a meeting for Monday.
Mr Khalid said they were at that meeting when a number of motorcycle riders tooting their horns stormed the premises of the old presidential residence and demanded the keys to the pick-up vehicle belonging to the vice-chairman.
He said when the youth insisted, the vice-chairman handed over the keys to the chairman, who in turn handed them over to the regional secretary, Eric Dakurah.
He said the youth then went ahead to deflate the tyres of the pick-up.
The police later had to escort the minister’s vehicle from the old presidential residence to his residence.
Mr Khalid called for calm and said he would continue to extend an olive branch to the youth and all members of the party so that they would unite and work for the good of the party in the region.
He was, however, not happy about the security lapse yesterday which, he said, paved the way for the youth to have access to the RCC premises.
“I alerted the police after yesterday’s incident and so it is unfortunate that this security lapse came in,” he lamented.
As of press time yesterday, the party executives were still being questioned at the police station.
The Daily Graphic also gathered that an emergency Regional Security Council (REGSEC) meeting was to have been held yesterday afternoon to point the way forward.
A statement signed by the Secretary to the President, Mr J.K. Bebaako-Mensah, gave no reason for the action but the beleaguered Mr Khalid has for some time been under intense pressure from National Democratic Congress (NDC) activists in the region who had persisted with calls for his resignation or removal from office.
A few hours before the Presidential statement, eight persons were arrested, while the Upper West Regional executives of the NDC were invited for questioning by the police after irate youth of the NDC in Wa had stormed the premises of the Upper West Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) and ransacked tender documents which had been sent to the conference room to commence a bidding process.
The staff of the RCC looked on helplessly as the youth, who were about 40 in number, engaged in the ignoble act, compelling Mr Khalid’s bodyguard to fire a number of warning shots, after calling for re-enforcement.
The action was so swift that by the time the police and military personnel arrived at the offices of the RCC, the youth had left with the tender documents on their motorcycles.
The regional minister was at the time of the incident held up in a meeting with some foreign dignitaries.
The situation, for a moment, brought panic among workers and onlookers who wondered what was happening in the relatively peaceful Wa municipality, particularly after hearing the warning shots.
The same youth group had, in the evening of Monday, invaded the old presidential residence where Mr Khalid was holding a meeting with regional executives of the party, including the member of the Council of State from the region, Naa Seidu Braimah.
They disrupted the meeting and deflated the tyres of a pick-up vehicle, with registration number GE 5962 Z, said to be owned by the Regional Vice-Chairman of the NDC, Alhaji Natornaa.
But for the timely arrival of a detachment of policemen who cordoned off the streets and the entrance to the old presidential residence, the situation could have been very nasty.
The youth swore to ensure the removal of the regional minister, saying he was not fighting the cause of the NDC in the region.
They told the Daily Graphic that no amount of pleas from the party chairman would make them soften their stance.
In his reaction, Mr Khalid acknowledged that there had been some disagreements between him and the Regional Chairman of the party, Alhaji Malik Issahaque, which had gone as far as the Presidency.
He said the President asked them to return and patch up their differences and he had made every effort to reconcile with the chairman and bring all on board.
He said after a series of scheduled meetings between him and the regional chairman could not come off, they managed to fix a meeting for Monday.
Mr Khalid said they were at that meeting when a number of motorcycle riders tooting their horns stormed the premises of the old presidential residence and demanded the keys to the pick-up vehicle belonging to the vice-chairman.
He said when the youth insisted, the vice-chairman handed over the keys to the chairman, who in turn handed them over to the regional secretary, Eric Dakurah.
He said the youth then went ahead to deflate the tyres of the pick-up.
The police later had to escort the minister’s vehicle from the old presidential residence to his residence.
Mr Khalid called for calm and said he would continue to extend an olive branch to the youth and all members of the party so that they would unite and work for the good of the party in the region.
He was, however, not happy about the security lapse yesterday which, he said, paved the way for the youth to have access to the RCC premises.
“I alerted the police after yesterday’s incident and so it is unfortunate that this security lapse came in,” he lamented.
As of press time yesterday, the party executives were still being questioned at the police station.
The Daily Graphic also gathered that an emergency Regional Security Council (REGSEC) meeting was to have been held yesterday afternoon to point the way forward.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
BISHOP AFRIYIE CALLS FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY (PAGE 22, MAY 11, 2010)
THE Methodist Bishop of the Northern Ghana Diocese, Rt Revd Emmanuel Maclord Afriyie, has observed that oneness in the church is paramount if Christendom is to accomplish its missionary mandate.
He has therefore, called on Christians and the world at large to shake themselves from all forms of negativity and be transformed as renewed minds.
Rt Revd Afriyie was preaching a sermon to mark the opening of the 49th annual synod of the northern Ghana Diocese of the Methodist Church of Ghana at the Rev. Paul Adu Memorial Methodist Church at Wa in the Upper West Region.
The three-day synod was on the theme: “With oneness in Christ, we contend for the faith of the gospel”.
Rt Revd Afriyie stressed the need for unity in diversity in all deliberations of the church, stressing that it was the only means through which mankind would be redeemed.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, who graced the occasion, stressed that the recent upsurge in indiscipline and impatience, which were creeping into the church was worrying and did not augur well for people who wanted to serve God.
Mr Khalid called on the church to ascertain what had gone wrong to correct the situation.
“Is it a problem of greater accountability demanded by the youth, wrong people in leadership positions, the current generation being hard-hearted or is it a problem of the sermons not getting down well with the congregation?,” the regional minister asked.
He appealed to all churches to join the Christian Council of Ghana or similar recognised Christian bodies to adopt uniformed regulation and the application of a common disciplinary code for all.
Mr Khalid said that would help maintain and uphold the sanctity of the church.
The regional minister, also urged the church and the Christian community to strive to let their activities be in line with the teachings of Christ.
He has therefore, called on Christians and the world at large to shake themselves from all forms of negativity and be transformed as renewed minds.
Rt Revd Afriyie was preaching a sermon to mark the opening of the 49th annual synod of the northern Ghana Diocese of the Methodist Church of Ghana at the Rev. Paul Adu Memorial Methodist Church at Wa in the Upper West Region.
The three-day synod was on the theme: “With oneness in Christ, we contend for the faith of the gospel”.
Rt Revd Afriyie stressed the need for unity in diversity in all deliberations of the church, stressing that it was the only means through which mankind would be redeemed.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, who graced the occasion, stressed that the recent upsurge in indiscipline and impatience, which were creeping into the church was worrying and did not augur well for people who wanted to serve God.
Mr Khalid called on the church to ascertain what had gone wrong to correct the situation.
“Is it a problem of greater accountability demanded by the youth, wrong people in leadership positions, the current generation being hard-hearted or is it a problem of the sermons not getting down well with the congregation?,” the regional minister asked.
He appealed to all churches to join the Christian Council of Ghana or similar recognised Christian bodies to adopt uniformed regulation and the application of a common disciplinary code for all.
Mr Khalid said that would help maintain and uphold the sanctity of the church.
The regional minister, also urged the church and the Christian community to strive to let their activities be in line with the teachings of Christ.
Monday, May 10, 2010
DERY CALLS FOR UNITED FRONT (PAGE 13, MAY 10, 2010)
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for the Lawra-Nandom Constituency, Mr Ambrose Dery, has called for a united front on the part of leaders from the entire political divide in the constituency.
He said differences in political ideologies and the colours of political parties must not be misconstrued as political opponents being at each others throat.
Mr Dery who was addressing the first ordinary meeting of the fourth session of the Lawra District Assembly at Lawra in the Upper West region, stressed the need for political leaders to work to promote unity at all times.
“We in leadership are friends, classmates and schoolmates but many a time, we do not potray these characters to trickle down to our people” Mr Dery noted and said “The interest of the people must always be above our parochial interest”.
Touching on the relationship between District Chief Executives (DCE)’s and members of the assembly, Mr Dery, who is also the deputy minority leader in parliament, advised assembly members to relate well with their DCEs and all those who matter in the assembly so that they could work together as partners in development.
He equally called for effective collaboration between DCEs and MP’s to get the best for the people saying, the role of the members of the assembly and sub assemblies was very critical to the country’s decentralisation process and the democratic dispensation.
The Lawra-Nandom MP further commended all workers, particularly those on transfer to the district for their immense contributions towards the development of the district over the years and urged them to put in their best.
On the security and the relative peace prevailing in the district, Mr Dery cautioned the chiefs and people not to take them for granted but to work to sustain it saying “When we take a cue from the people of Gonja for instance, it means that we could traditionally pass power from one person to the other without encountering any problems”.
For his part, the Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, who also graced the occasion, expressed grave concern about the bad blood among some members of the various political divide in the region, especially among members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and called for a change of stance among the people.
Mr Khalid further called for unity if the region was to accelerate its pace of development pointing out that “Whether we are in opposition or in government, we are all working to attain one goal and that is to sought the welfare of our people”.
He said differences in political ideologies and the colours of political parties must not be misconstrued as political opponents being at each others throat.
Mr Dery who was addressing the first ordinary meeting of the fourth session of the Lawra District Assembly at Lawra in the Upper West region, stressed the need for political leaders to work to promote unity at all times.
“We in leadership are friends, classmates and schoolmates but many a time, we do not potray these characters to trickle down to our people” Mr Dery noted and said “The interest of the people must always be above our parochial interest”.
Touching on the relationship between District Chief Executives (DCE)’s and members of the assembly, Mr Dery, who is also the deputy minority leader in parliament, advised assembly members to relate well with their DCEs and all those who matter in the assembly so that they could work together as partners in development.
He equally called for effective collaboration between DCEs and MP’s to get the best for the people saying, the role of the members of the assembly and sub assemblies was very critical to the country’s decentralisation process and the democratic dispensation.
The Lawra-Nandom MP further commended all workers, particularly those on transfer to the district for their immense contributions towards the development of the district over the years and urged them to put in their best.
On the security and the relative peace prevailing in the district, Mr Dery cautioned the chiefs and people not to take them for granted but to work to sustain it saying “When we take a cue from the people of Gonja for instance, it means that we could traditionally pass power from one person to the other without encountering any problems”.
For his part, the Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, who also graced the occasion, expressed grave concern about the bad blood among some members of the various political divide in the region, especially among members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and called for a change of stance among the people.
Mr Khalid further called for unity if the region was to accelerate its pace of development pointing out that “Whether we are in opposition or in government, we are all working to attain one goal and that is to sought the welfare of our people”.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
MAKE BILL ON SADA PUBLIC (PAGE 58, MAY 10, 2010)
PARTICIPANTS at a forum on the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) have called on the government to make public the bill on the SADA which was recently approved by cabinet before it is subsequently forwarded to Parliament for consideration.
This, they believe, would enable the respective beneficiary regions and the people to make inputs into the bill.
They were also of the view that it was the only way the people would know that they owned the initiative.
Making a submission at an open forum during a stakeholders seminar at Wa, a member of the Council of State, Naa Seidu Braimah, expressed regret that much had not been done with respect to the involvement of traditional rulers from the beneficiary communities of the SADA.
Naa Braimah, therefore, stressed the need for the bill to be sent down to the ordinary Ghanaian for them to come to appreciate the programme.
Stressing on how the SADA could succeed, Naa Braimah appealed to the chiefs and people of the three northern regions and the Volta and Brong Ahafo regions, who are the beneficiaries of the SADA to be ready to make land available under the programme, eschew all forms of disputes and give peace a chance.
He said it was only when there was peace that the SADA would succeed in the beneficiary areas.
“We must learn to be one, stop the ethnic differences and see each other as the brother’s keeper,” he emphasised, saying “we have to free ourselves from the shackles of hatred, corruption and nepotism as northerners to be able to make progress”.
Other speakers called for the training of farmers in modernised agriculture if agriculture was to be modernised under the SADA. Other contributors also wanted to know the relation between the existing Northern Rural Growth Project (NRGP) and the SADA.
There were those who also expressed concern about the politicisation of the SADA by successive governments so that it did not become a nine-day wonder.
The forum, which was organised by SEND Ghana, a non-governmental organisation, was on the theme: “Realising the goal of the SADA, the responsibility of government and citizens”.
Earlier, the Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, had expressed regret that stakeholders had not been able to propagate information on the SADA to permeate all sectors of the society.
“It is a problem that when people attend workshops or seminars they always keep the information to themselves. Municipal, Metropolitan and District Chief Executives ( MMDCEs) among other stakeholders, have had the opportunity to provide insight into what the SADA entailed and by now that information should have been on the finger tips of the ordinary people,” Mr Khalid lamented.
He said “we have to be careful that we do not have a situation where moneys budgeted for the implementation of programmes are spent on workshops and then we are found wanting when it comes to implementation”.
Mr Khalid said the government placed a lot of premium on the SADA, and urged people to erase the misconception about the programme and reposition themselves for the reality.
He highlighted some of the results to be derived from the SADA, such as the development of infrastructure, to attract investors and that the government would consciously source for funding to give the SADA a sound financial foundation.
The regional minister further urged the media and civil society organisations to join efforts in sensitising the populace to the SADA and its work for the people to appreciate the roles they ought to play during its implementation as well as the opportunities which would come with the SADA.
For his part, the Upper West Regional Programme Officer of SEND Ghana, Mr Adamu Munkaila, traced the history of development programmes initiated by successive governments to bridge the gap between the north and the south, and said with the required commitment the SADA must succeed.
Mr Munkaila also called for a continued and free flow of information on the programme to the people at the grassroots for them to be abreast of developments as far as the implementation of the SADA was concerned.
This, they believe, would enable the respective beneficiary regions and the people to make inputs into the bill.
They were also of the view that it was the only way the people would know that they owned the initiative.
Making a submission at an open forum during a stakeholders seminar at Wa, a member of the Council of State, Naa Seidu Braimah, expressed regret that much had not been done with respect to the involvement of traditional rulers from the beneficiary communities of the SADA.
Naa Braimah, therefore, stressed the need for the bill to be sent down to the ordinary Ghanaian for them to come to appreciate the programme.
Stressing on how the SADA could succeed, Naa Braimah appealed to the chiefs and people of the three northern regions and the Volta and Brong Ahafo regions, who are the beneficiaries of the SADA to be ready to make land available under the programme, eschew all forms of disputes and give peace a chance.
He said it was only when there was peace that the SADA would succeed in the beneficiary areas.
“We must learn to be one, stop the ethnic differences and see each other as the brother’s keeper,” he emphasised, saying “we have to free ourselves from the shackles of hatred, corruption and nepotism as northerners to be able to make progress”.
Other speakers called for the training of farmers in modernised agriculture if agriculture was to be modernised under the SADA. Other contributors also wanted to know the relation between the existing Northern Rural Growth Project (NRGP) and the SADA.
There were those who also expressed concern about the politicisation of the SADA by successive governments so that it did not become a nine-day wonder.
The forum, which was organised by SEND Ghana, a non-governmental organisation, was on the theme: “Realising the goal of the SADA, the responsibility of government and citizens”.
Earlier, the Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, had expressed regret that stakeholders had not been able to propagate information on the SADA to permeate all sectors of the society.
“It is a problem that when people attend workshops or seminars they always keep the information to themselves. Municipal, Metropolitan and District Chief Executives ( MMDCEs) among other stakeholders, have had the opportunity to provide insight into what the SADA entailed and by now that information should have been on the finger tips of the ordinary people,” Mr Khalid lamented.
He said “we have to be careful that we do not have a situation where moneys budgeted for the implementation of programmes are spent on workshops and then we are found wanting when it comes to implementation”.
Mr Khalid said the government placed a lot of premium on the SADA, and urged people to erase the misconception about the programme and reposition themselves for the reality.
He highlighted some of the results to be derived from the SADA, such as the development of infrastructure, to attract investors and that the government would consciously source for funding to give the SADA a sound financial foundation.
The regional minister further urged the media and civil society organisations to join efforts in sensitising the populace to the SADA and its work for the people to appreciate the roles they ought to play during its implementation as well as the opportunities which would come with the SADA.
For his part, the Upper West Regional Programme Officer of SEND Ghana, Mr Adamu Munkaila, traced the history of development programmes initiated by successive governments to bridge the gap between the north and the south, and said with the required commitment the SADA must succeed.
Mr Munkaila also called for a continued and free flow of information on the programme to the people at the grassroots for them to be abreast of developments as far as the implementation of the SADA was concerned.
FIVE UPPER WEST DISTRICTS GET FREE SCHOOL UNIFORMS (BACK PAGE, MAY 8, 2010)
FIVE out of the nine districts in the Upper West Region have so far received their share of the free school uniforms from the government.
They are the Lambussie Karni, Nadowli, Jirapa, Wa East and Wa West districts.
At a brief ceremony at the forecourt of the Upper West Regional Co-ordinating Council to present the materials to the districts, the Regional Director of Education, Mr Fabian Belieb, said each of the districts was given 2,000 pieces of the materials.
He appealed to tailors and seamstresses who would have the opportunity to sew the uniforms to do a good job.
The Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, said it was the desire of the government to recognise the efforts of local artisans, hence the directive that the uniforms be sewn by the local people.
He noted that it was the first phase of contracting the services of local tailors and seamstresses to sew the free school uniforms and advised them to live up to expectation in order to sustain the confidence that had been reposed in them.
“This is a challenge to our tailors and seamstresses to prove their worth and I expect DCEs to monitor and ensure value for money,” the minister added.
He charged DCEs to ensure that the uniforms went to needy pupils, pointing out that “we cannot fail and so we must all be responsive”.
Mr Khalid said giving out free school uniforms, increasing the capitation grant, among other interventions, were all tenets of good governance which should convince people to see politics as satisfying the needs of the people and not mere rhetoric.
He added that the desire for free education could not be realised if parents could not afford school uniforms for their children.
On what was being done to improve school infrastructure in the region, Mr Khalid explained that tenders for contracts and the construction of schools blocks to replace schools under trees had opened.
They are the Lambussie Karni, Nadowli, Jirapa, Wa East and Wa West districts.
At a brief ceremony at the forecourt of the Upper West Regional Co-ordinating Council to present the materials to the districts, the Regional Director of Education, Mr Fabian Belieb, said each of the districts was given 2,000 pieces of the materials.
He appealed to tailors and seamstresses who would have the opportunity to sew the uniforms to do a good job.
The Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, said it was the desire of the government to recognise the efforts of local artisans, hence the directive that the uniforms be sewn by the local people.
He noted that it was the first phase of contracting the services of local tailors and seamstresses to sew the free school uniforms and advised them to live up to expectation in order to sustain the confidence that had been reposed in them.
“This is a challenge to our tailors and seamstresses to prove their worth and I expect DCEs to monitor and ensure value for money,” the minister added.
He charged DCEs to ensure that the uniforms went to needy pupils, pointing out that “we cannot fail and so we must all be responsive”.
Mr Khalid said giving out free school uniforms, increasing the capitation grant, among other interventions, were all tenets of good governance which should convince people to see politics as satisfying the needs of the people and not mere rhetoric.
He added that the desire for free education could not be realised if parents could not afford school uniforms for their children.
On what was being done to improve school infrastructure in the region, Mr Khalid explained that tenders for contracts and the construction of schools blocks to replace schools under trees had opened.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)