THE Tamale Polytechnic has appealed against the ruling of the Tamale High Court on the case in which some lecturers of the polytechnic were dismissed for their alleged involvement in the sexual harassment of some female students in the school.
One of the counsels for the defendants, Mr Issah Mahmudu explained that their clients were not satisfied with the judgement on the case, for which reason they would pursue it at the Appeals Court.
Following a newspaper report of an alleged sexual harassment of some female students of the polytechnic in the 2007 academic year, the governing council of the polytechnic set up a four-member committee to investigate the matter.
And upon the recommendations of the committee, a dismissal letter was issued to the affected lecturers.
The lecturers however filed a motion for judicial review of the case against the defendants at the Tamale High Court in October 2007.
Subsequently, the Court presided over by Justice Lawrence Mensal on May 13 this year, gave a ruling in favour of the plaintiffs.
According to the Judge, the committee set up by the governing council on the respondent was flawed for which reason, “I hereby declare the findings of the committee null and void.”
Justice Mensah also declared the termination of the appointment void and that the applicants were entitled to collect 24 months damages.
He further recommended that they be paid all their entitlements under their contract of service and a cost of GH¢1,000 each.
The affected lecturers are Adam Bawah Yussif, Abdulai Abdul-Mumin, Abdul-Azeez Mikhail and Adams Issahaku.
In a related development, the Daily Graphic would like to acknowledge that portions on the matter as published on page 53 in its May 18, 2009 edition in connection with the ruling on the case contained some inaccuracies.
In the said story, the paper inadvertently stated that the polytechnic was ordered to pay two years salary entitlements in advance, and 16 months salaries for damages to the lecturers.
The Court did not also order, as published,that the dismissed lecturers be paid 15 months’ salary each for damages neither did it recommend the setting up of a high powered body to investigate the daily administration of the school.
The errors are very much regretted. We apologise to the authorities of the polytechnic for the inconvenience the said story might have caused them.
Friday, May 29, 2009
MANGULI RESIDENTS HAPPY OVER REHABILITATED DAM (PAGE 29)
IT was all smiles and merry-making by the people of Manguli and surrounding farming communities near Tamale when the only dam in the area which was destroyed by erosion was reconstructed.
“We have every reason to be joyful because our only dam that was nearly destroyed through massive erosion has been reconstructed,” a resident, Abu Iddi, indicated with a wide grin.
The coloured dam water is the only source of potable water for the about 2,000 people and their animals at Manguli and nearby communities.
It is also used for small irrigation farming.
However, in July last year, the people were alarmed when a large portion of the embankment of the dam was washed away as a result of massive erosion thus threatening their livelihoods.
It took the intervention of the chiefs and the assembly member for the Fooshegu Electoral Area, Prince A.A. Mohammed, to get a number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), to help rehabilitate the dam.
“We were so desperate, because the dam is our only source of water and livelihood. Although we sent an S.O.S. to a number of organisations to come to our aid and have the dam reconstructed, only the GTZ responded timely and we are very grateful,’’ Mr Mohammed explained.
The deputy project manager of the GTZ, Mr Anthony Dzatse, who spoke to the Daily Graphic during a ceremony at which the rehabilitated dam was handed over to the Manguli community, explained that the gesture was part of the response by the German government to the resettlement of the victims of the 2007 floods that hit northern Ghana.
The intervention by GTZ is under the Dam Rehabilitation Project (DRP) of the Market Oriented Agriculture Programme (MOAP) of the German organisation in partnership with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA).
The GTZ supported the people with equipment, technical know-how and food while the MoFA offered training with the people providing labour within the three months that the rehabilitation lasted.
According to Mr Dzatse, the main reason for the food for work programme was to provide needy people with food to enable them provide communal labour to improve livelihoods and food security in their respective communities.
He further explained that the food rationing programme was under the DRP Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty programme.
“We also build the capacity of small and low income farmers and traders in agriculture, in tool handling to become competitive in the marketplace.
“We also embark on preventive and emergency response measures such as planting of grass on the banks of the dams to bind the soil against erosion,” the officer stated.
The Northern Regional Director of the MoFA, Mr Sylvester Adongo, observed that farming as a means of livelihood had faced some challenges in northern Ghana in recent years, as a result of drought or floods.
He said those factors had culminated in high food insecurity, migration of the youth to the south, high child morbidity and mortality, as well as chronic poverty.
“The government is very much concerned about the poverty and food insecurity in rural farm families and is putting structures in place to alleviate the plight of the poor farmers,” the regional director of agriculture indicated.
Mr Adongo further advised farmers in the area to take advantage of the rehabilitated dam to “produce two or three crops in the year and thereby ensure family food security.”
“We have every reason to be joyful because our only dam that was nearly destroyed through massive erosion has been reconstructed,” a resident, Abu Iddi, indicated with a wide grin.
The coloured dam water is the only source of potable water for the about 2,000 people and their animals at Manguli and nearby communities.
It is also used for small irrigation farming.
However, in July last year, the people were alarmed when a large portion of the embankment of the dam was washed away as a result of massive erosion thus threatening their livelihoods.
It took the intervention of the chiefs and the assembly member for the Fooshegu Electoral Area, Prince A.A. Mohammed, to get a number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), to help rehabilitate the dam.
“We were so desperate, because the dam is our only source of water and livelihood. Although we sent an S.O.S. to a number of organisations to come to our aid and have the dam reconstructed, only the GTZ responded timely and we are very grateful,’’ Mr Mohammed explained.
The deputy project manager of the GTZ, Mr Anthony Dzatse, who spoke to the Daily Graphic during a ceremony at which the rehabilitated dam was handed over to the Manguli community, explained that the gesture was part of the response by the German government to the resettlement of the victims of the 2007 floods that hit northern Ghana.
The intervention by GTZ is under the Dam Rehabilitation Project (DRP) of the Market Oriented Agriculture Programme (MOAP) of the German organisation in partnership with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA).
The GTZ supported the people with equipment, technical know-how and food while the MoFA offered training with the people providing labour within the three months that the rehabilitation lasted.
According to Mr Dzatse, the main reason for the food for work programme was to provide needy people with food to enable them provide communal labour to improve livelihoods and food security in their respective communities.
He further explained that the food rationing programme was under the DRP Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty programme.
“We also build the capacity of small and low income farmers and traders in agriculture, in tool handling to become competitive in the marketplace.
“We also embark on preventive and emergency response measures such as planting of grass on the banks of the dams to bind the soil against erosion,” the officer stated.
The Northern Regional Director of the MoFA, Mr Sylvester Adongo, observed that farming as a means of livelihood had faced some challenges in northern Ghana in recent years, as a result of drought or floods.
He said those factors had culminated in high food insecurity, migration of the youth to the south, high child morbidity and mortality, as well as chronic poverty.
“The government is very much concerned about the poverty and food insecurity in rural farm families and is putting structures in place to alleviate the plight of the poor farmers,” the regional director of agriculture indicated.
Mr Adongo further advised farmers in the area to take advantage of the rehabilitated dam to “produce two or three crops in the year and thereby ensure family food security.”
TASK FORCE TO RESTORE PEOPLES DIGNITY IN TAMALE (PAGE 29)
THE Tamale Metropolis is basking in peace and harmony. Business and social activities have stepped up significantly with both foreign and local visitors trouping in daily to savour the hospitality of the people.
The prevailing tranquillity in the metropolis has, however, often been disturbed by some unscrupulous persons who hide behind the existing chieftaincy impasse between the two main protagonists in the age old Dagbon Chieftaincy issue, the Abudu and Andani to cause mischief.
As a result of the irresponsible behaviour of such people, Tamale had been given a negative tag that was becoming difficult to discount.
One only has to visit the sprawling metropolis to get the real feel and picture of the area that is an epitome of the proverbial Ghanaian hospitality.
It is, therefore, not surprising that most visitors leave the metropolis with very fond memories and impressive opinions.
“Is this the Tamale we have been hearing so much about violence and insecurity,” a development worker, Abraham Osei, asked after a week’s workshop in the metropolis.
And as part of measures to help stem the tide of indiscipline by such few miscreants to enable the metropolis to enjoy sustainable peace, the Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive, Alhaji Abdulai Harunah Friday, has declared his intention to constitute a task force to be known as “Bilchinsi,” for the restoration of the people’s dignity.
The task force, according to him, would be established in all communities within the metropolis. Its membership will include chiefs, assembly members and religious, opinion and youth leaders.
Members of the task force would be charged with the responsibility for championing the crusade against irresponsible and indiscipline behaviour in their respective communities.
They would also help in the restoration and preservation of the cherished values and cultures of the people that have either been forgotten, adulterated or lost to modernity.
Alhaji Friday announced the initiative during separate calls on some chiefs in the metropolis where he formally introduced himself to them and also outlined his vision for the accelerated development of the metropolis.
This initiative by the metropolitan chief executive has already received the attention and endorsement of the chiefs in the metropolis with some individuals and interest groups declaring their intention to join the crusade. Among the chiefs he visited were the Dakpema, Guma-Naa, the Tuutingli-Tingdana, the Kpanvo-Naa, Kalari-Naa and the Vittin-Lana.
Alhaji Friday also visited the Kpanvo Health Centre which had been besieged by bats and lacks a midwife, thus compelling patients especially pregnant women to travel long distances for medical care.
He made a passionate appeal to the Tamale Metropolitan Health Directorate to, as a matter of urgency, post at least a midwife to the health centre and gave a pledge that the assembly was committed to improve conditions at the facility.
Alhaji Friday was accompanied on the tour by the assembly member for Kakpagyili, the Duli-Lana Ibrahim Yussif and Harunah Nburdiba, assembly member for the Vitting Electoral Area.
The prevailing tranquillity in the metropolis has, however, often been disturbed by some unscrupulous persons who hide behind the existing chieftaincy impasse between the two main protagonists in the age old Dagbon Chieftaincy issue, the Abudu and Andani to cause mischief.
As a result of the irresponsible behaviour of such people, Tamale had been given a negative tag that was becoming difficult to discount.
One only has to visit the sprawling metropolis to get the real feel and picture of the area that is an epitome of the proverbial Ghanaian hospitality.
It is, therefore, not surprising that most visitors leave the metropolis with very fond memories and impressive opinions.
“Is this the Tamale we have been hearing so much about violence and insecurity,” a development worker, Abraham Osei, asked after a week’s workshop in the metropolis.
And as part of measures to help stem the tide of indiscipline by such few miscreants to enable the metropolis to enjoy sustainable peace, the Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive, Alhaji Abdulai Harunah Friday, has declared his intention to constitute a task force to be known as “Bilchinsi,” for the restoration of the people’s dignity.
The task force, according to him, would be established in all communities within the metropolis. Its membership will include chiefs, assembly members and religious, opinion and youth leaders.
Members of the task force would be charged with the responsibility for championing the crusade against irresponsible and indiscipline behaviour in their respective communities.
They would also help in the restoration and preservation of the cherished values and cultures of the people that have either been forgotten, adulterated or lost to modernity.
Alhaji Friday announced the initiative during separate calls on some chiefs in the metropolis where he formally introduced himself to them and also outlined his vision for the accelerated development of the metropolis.
This initiative by the metropolitan chief executive has already received the attention and endorsement of the chiefs in the metropolis with some individuals and interest groups declaring their intention to join the crusade. Among the chiefs he visited were the Dakpema, Guma-Naa, the Tuutingli-Tingdana, the Kpanvo-Naa, Kalari-Naa and the Vittin-Lana.
Alhaji Friday also visited the Kpanvo Health Centre which had been besieged by bats and lacks a midwife, thus compelling patients especially pregnant women to travel long distances for medical care.
He made a passionate appeal to the Tamale Metropolitan Health Directorate to, as a matter of urgency, post at least a midwife to the health centre and gave a pledge that the assembly was committed to improve conditions at the facility.
Alhaji Friday was accompanied on the tour by the assembly member for Kakpagyili, the Duli-Lana Ibrahim Yussif and Harunah Nburdiba, assembly member for the Vitting Electoral Area.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
TAMALE MP INAUGURATES POWER PROJECT (PAGE 16)
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale South, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, has inaugurated an electricity project for the people of Adubliyili, a farming community in Tamale, where he entreated Ghanaians to support the government in its strive to help improve on their lot.
He assured the people of the government's preparedness to address their needs in areas such as health, education, agriculture, youth employment and women empowerment to alleviate their plight, particularly those in the rural communities.
The MP, who is also the Minister of Communications, mentioned agriculture, where he said plans by the government to revamp the sector by importing more farming equipment and inputs needed to support farmers, especially those in the northern Ghana where farming is the mainstay of majority of the people.
He stated that such an initiative would not only help the farmers to generate enough income to improve on their well-being and ensure food security but, would also make the north reclaim its potential as the food basket of the country.
On the extension of electricity to the beneficiary community, the minister explained that it was in fulfilment of his campaign promise to the people and expressed his appreciation to them for their patience over the years.
Until now, the community that is located along the Tamale-Kumasi road has not enjoyed electricity supply thus compelling the inhabitants, particularly women to travel long distances to grind their cereals and legumes.
The project, worth GH¢6,000, was funded from Mr Iddrisu’s share of the MPs common fund.
The minister further gave the assurance that the government would fulfil its campaign promises and therefore urged party loyalists to stand firm behind the ideals of the party to enable it to retain power, come the next general elections.
A resident of Adubilyili, Mr Imoro Fuseini, described the extension of electricity to the community as "timely and a dream come true" for which reason, he expressed appreciation to the MP for his intervention.
He assured the people of the government's preparedness to address their needs in areas such as health, education, agriculture, youth employment and women empowerment to alleviate their plight, particularly those in the rural communities.
The MP, who is also the Minister of Communications, mentioned agriculture, where he said plans by the government to revamp the sector by importing more farming equipment and inputs needed to support farmers, especially those in the northern Ghana where farming is the mainstay of majority of the people.
He stated that such an initiative would not only help the farmers to generate enough income to improve on their well-being and ensure food security but, would also make the north reclaim its potential as the food basket of the country.
On the extension of electricity to the beneficiary community, the minister explained that it was in fulfilment of his campaign promise to the people and expressed his appreciation to them for their patience over the years.
Until now, the community that is located along the Tamale-Kumasi road has not enjoyed electricity supply thus compelling the inhabitants, particularly women to travel long distances to grind their cereals and legumes.
The project, worth GH¢6,000, was funded from Mr Iddrisu’s share of the MPs common fund.
The minister further gave the assurance that the government would fulfil its campaign promises and therefore urged party loyalists to stand firm behind the ideals of the party to enable it to retain power, come the next general elections.
A resident of Adubilyili, Mr Imoro Fuseini, described the extension of electricity to the community as "timely and a dream come true" for which reason, he expressed appreciation to the MP for his intervention.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
MAKE RESEARCH FINDINGS ON GSFP PUBLIC (PAGE 17)
THE Liaison officer at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) on the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP), Mrs Levina Owusu, has stressed on the need for results of various research works on the GSFP to be made public and available.
She noted that when such findings were integrated into the programme, it would not only help in sustaining it, but will also improve significantly on the quality of food and hygiene in the beneficiary schools.
Mrs Owusu called for effective collaboration with various stakeholders on the programme to pluck out the loopholes and map out workable strategies to realise the impact of the programme in reducing child mortality, poverty reduction and ensuring high school enrolment in the deprived communities.
The officer, who was speaking at a roundtable meeting on sustainable cooking energy for the GSFP in Tamale, accepted the shortcomings in the programme, and said with effective teamwork by all players, the programme could be improved.
The meeting was organised by New Energy, a Tamale-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), in collaboration with the Civil Society Organisation Platform on GSFP.
The two-day workshop dialogued on clean, environmentally safe, efficient, user-friendly and culturally acceptable and affordable sources of energy for the GSFP.
Some of the participants expressed concern about the irregular supply of gas and the fear of its usage.
It also came out that some stoves and regulators that were supplied to some beneficiary schools were still not in use because they were inappropriate for the tasks, while some other schools have no kitchens.
On the way forward, they suggested the improvement of charcoal stoves, promotion of biogas use and the institutionalisation of cook stove programme alongside upgrading entire kitchens and harmonisation of research outcomes among stakeholders.
The Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS), Professor David Millar, emphasised the need for the establishment of a traditional energy unit at the Ministry of Energy to address alternative energy needs of communities.
The Chairperson of the CSO Platform, Ms Adama Jehanfo, said since the inception of the GSFP in 2005, there had been various evaluations by some NGOs on the programme.
These research findings, reports and evaluations have contributed to an awakened interest of the CSO/NGOs and have encouraged them more to increase their involvement in the GSFP to ensure that the programme was kept on track to meet its objectives, she indicated.
She noted that when such findings were integrated into the programme, it would not only help in sustaining it, but will also improve significantly on the quality of food and hygiene in the beneficiary schools.
Mrs Owusu called for effective collaboration with various stakeholders on the programme to pluck out the loopholes and map out workable strategies to realise the impact of the programme in reducing child mortality, poverty reduction and ensuring high school enrolment in the deprived communities.
The officer, who was speaking at a roundtable meeting on sustainable cooking energy for the GSFP in Tamale, accepted the shortcomings in the programme, and said with effective teamwork by all players, the programme could be improved.
The meeting was organised by New Energy, a Tamale-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), in collaboration with the Civil Society Organisation Platform on GSFP.
The two-day workshop dialogued on clean, environmentally safe, efficient, user-friendly and culturally acceptable and affordable sources of energy for the GSFP.
Some of the participants expressed concern about the irregular supply of gas and the fear of its usage.
It also came out that some stoves and regulators that were supplied to some beneficiary schools were still not in use because they were inappropriate for the tasks, while some other schools have no kitchens.
On the way forward, they suggested the improvement of charcoal stoves, promotion of biogas use and the institutionalisation of cook stove programme alongside upgrading entire kitchens and harmonisation of research outcomes among stakeholders.
The Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS), Professor David Millar, emphasised the need for the establishment of a traditional energy unit at the Ministry of Energy to address alternative energy needs of communities.
The Chairperson of the CSO Platform, Ms Adama Jehanfo, said since the inception of the GSFP in 2005, there had been various evaluations by some NGOs on the programme.
These research findings, reports and evaluations have contributed to an awakened interest of the CSO/NGOs and have encouraged them more to increase their involvement in the GSFP to ensure that the programme was kept on track to meet its objectives, she indicated.
Friday, May 22, 2009
TAMALE NEEDS MORE CHPS CENTRES (PAGE 29)
A Senior Midwifery Officer with the Tamale Metropolitan Health Directorate, Mrs Cecilia Mahama, has appealed for the establishment of more Community Health Planning and Service (CHPS) compounds in the metropolis.
She indicated that apart from the growing population and the resultant need for health service in the metropolis, some of the existing CHPS compounds were far away from some communities, making health care difficult access.
According to the officer who made the appeal in an interview at the Zuo CHPS compound, there were currently seven CHPS compounds in the metropolis, which she observed were not adequate because of the unavailability of health centres in most communities in the area.
The compound serves more than five thousand people in eight communities, including Zuo, Chanzeini, Paga Zaa, and Zobogu.
It is equipped with facilities such as a consulting room, dispensary, out-patients department, antenatal care and a community health unit.
Mrs Mahama said malaria was the commonest disease reported at the centre, particularly during rainy season, and, therefore, advised the people to always keep their surroundings tidy at all times.
She said it was better to prevent diseases than to wait to be infected before seeking cure, and that her outfit was also intensifying efforts at reducing maternal and child morbidity rates in the area.
More than 66 peri-urban communities in the metropolis are benefiting from the Ministry of Health CHPS initiative, which is aimed at bringing quality health care closer to the doorsteps of people living in deprived communities.
She indicated that apart from the growing population and the resultant need for health service in the metropolis, some of the existing CHPS compounds were far away from some communities, making health care difficult access.
According to the officer who made the appeal in an interview at the Zuo CHPS compound, there were currently seven CHPS compounds in the metropolis, which she observed were not adequate because of the unavailability of health centres in most communities in the area.
The compound serves more than five thousand people in eight communities, including Zuo, Chanzeini, Paga Zaa, and Zobogu.
It is equipped with facilities such as a consulting room, dispensary, out-patients department, antenatal care and a community health unit.
Mrs Mahama said malaria was the commonest disease reported at the centre, particularly during rainy season, and, therefore, advised the people to always keep their surroundings tidy at all times.
She said it was better to prevent diseases than to wait to be infected before seeking cure, and that her outfit was also intensifying efforts at reducing maternal and child morbidity rates in the area.
More than 66 peri-urban communities in the metropolis are benefiting from the Ministry of Health CHPS initiative, which is aimed at bringing quality health care closer to the doorsteps of people living in deprived communities.
SAMED YET TO BE FOUND ...Two years after he disappeared from Tamale (PAGE 29)
FAMILY, friends and relations are still baffled over the mysterious disappearance of the 31-year-old Development Worker, Mr Abdul-Samed Seidu, from his residence in Tamale two years ago. Indeed, last Wednesday, May 13, 2009 marked exactly two years of his disappearance.
While the Police are yet to unravel the puzzle over the disappearance of the University of Cape Coast graduate, the only person who could have helped in unravelling the whereabouts of the affable gentleman is also supposedly at large. The accused and namesake of the victim, Abdul-Samed Seidu, disappeared after the Appeals Court in Accra granted him bail, and he has since failed to appear before the Tamale District Court that executed the bail.
The family has, therefore, appealed to the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, the Inspector-General of Police and Members of Parliament for Tamale North, Central and South constituencies to ensure justice in the matter.
“I humbly submit this petition to Your Ladyship praying for urgent action to be taken in order to remedy a grave injustice, preserve the image of the Judiciary, and to prevent the administration of justice from being brought into ridicule and disrepute,” the letter, signed by an uncle of the victim, Alhaji Mallam Issah Seidu,stated.
According to the petitioner, in May 2007 his nephew, also known as Abdul-Samed Seidu, hosted the accused person, a friend and citizen of Canada, at his Tamale residence as his guest.
A few days later, the host, who lived alone with the accused in his house at Kalpohin Estates, Tamale, disappeared and could not be traced.
Alhaji Seidu alleged that the guest failed to inform any member of the host’s family about his disappearance until family members and friends of the victim noticed his conspicuous absence from work and other social events and confronted the guest.
The uncle of the victim claimed the suspect, after the disappearance of his nephew, moved out of the nephew’s house and checked into a hotel.
“All efforts by the Police in Tamale to get the suspect to assist them in investigation proved futile as he surrepitiously left Tamale, even though he kept deceiving the Police that he was on his way to assist them unravel the mystery of my nephew’s disappearance,” Alhaji Seidu alleged.
The petitioner claimed, upon receiving information that the accused was making frantic efforts to leave the country and to evade arrest, he informed the Police who obtained an absconding warrant from the Tamale District Court, upon which the accused was arrested on board a Delta Airlines flight en route to New York, USA and taken to Tamale where the court remanded him in prison custody.
He further alleged that when the suspect’s luggage was searched, a laptop,one digital camera, one iPod, documents of a house and two mobile phone batteries, all belonging to his nephew, were found.
“It was also discovered that the accused had falsified documents purporting to cover the purchase of a vehicle in Canada for my nephew, to enable the accused defraud my nephew.
Also, the accused was discovered to have sent text messages impersonating my nephew after the latter’s disappearance,” Alhaji Seidu alleged.
The suspect was initially charged with kidnapping, murder and stealing, and after several attempts by lawyers for the accused to secure bail for him at the district court failed, two other applications for bail were again made to the High Court, Tamale, but both applications were dismissed. Counsel for the accused then applied to the Court of Appeal for bail.
After several adjournments, a new panel was constituted and the accused was eventually granted bail to be executed by the Tamale District Court.
“I was informed that the Law Office had advised the Police to drop the charges of kidnapping and murder against the accused person,and be charged with stealing.
I appeared several times to testify in court with other witnesses in the stealing case, but the trial could not commence for reasons I do not know,” the petitioner stated.
The suspect subsequently failed to appear before the court after his passport was released to him, contrary to the Appeal Court’s order.
“I am reliably informed that the accused person, after the release of his passports, has returned to Canada where he is a citizen, which explains his persistent absence from court,” he alleged.
Alhaji Samed explained that it was for this reason that he was making a passionate appeal to the Chief Justice to cause an investigation to be conducted into the circumstances leading to the release of the accused person’s passport to him, as well as the long adjournment, which he claimed, facilitated the suspect’s plans to escape justice.
“I am further appealing to you to take the necessary action to ensure that the accused person is extradited to Ghana to stand trial,” he entreated.
While the Police are yet to unravel the puzzle over the disappearance of the University of Cape Coast graduate, the only person who could have helped in unravelling the whereabouts of the affable gentleman is also supposedly at large. The accused and namesake of the victim, Abdul-Samed Seidu, disappeared after the Appeals Court in Accra granted him bail, and he has since failed to appear before the Tamale District Court that executed the bail.
The family has, therefore, appealed to the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, the Inspector-General of Police and Members of Parliament for Tamale North, Central and South constituencies to ensure justice in the matter.
“I humbly submit this petition to Your Ladyship praying for urgent action to be taken in order to remedy a grave injustice, preserve the image of the Judiciary, and to prevent the administration of justice from being brought into ridicule and disrepute,” the letter, signed by an uncle of the victim, Alhaji Mallam Issah Seidu,stated.
According to the petitioner, in May 2007 his nephew, also known as Abdul-Samed Seidu, hosted the accused person, a friend and citizen of Canada, at his Tamale residence as his guest.
A few days later, the host, who lived alone with the accused in his house at Kalpohin Estates, Tamale, disappeared and could not be traced.
Alhaji Seidu alleged that the guest failed to inform any member of the host’s family about his disappearance until family members and friends of the victim noticed his conspicuous absence from work and other social events and confronted the guest.
The uncle of the victim claimed the suspect, after the disappearance of his nephew, moved out of the nephew’s house and checked into a hotel.
“All efforts by the Police in Tamale to get the suspect to assist them in investigation proved futile as he surrepitiously left Tamale, even though he kept deceiving the Police that he was on his way to assist them unravel the mystery of my nephew’s disappearance,” Alhaji Seidu alleged.
The petitioner claimed, upon receiving information that the accused was making frantic efforts to leave the country and to evade arrest, he informed the Police who obtained an absconding warrant from the Tamale District Court, upon which the accused was arrested on board a Delta Airlines flight en route to New York, USA and taken to Tamale where the court remanded him in prison custody.
He further alleged that when the suspect’s luggage was searched, a laptop,one digital camera, one iPod, documents of a house and two mobile phone batteries, all belonging to his nephew, were found.
“It was also discovered that the accused had falsified documents purporting to cover the purchase of a vehicle in Canada for my nephew, to enable the accused defraud my nephew.
Also, the accused was discovered to have sent text messages impersonating my nephew after the latter’s disappearance,” Alhaji Seidu alleged.
The suspect was initially charged with kidnapping, murder and stealing, and after several attempts by lawyers for the accused to secure bail for him at the district court failed, two other applications for bail were again made to the High Court, Tamale, but both applications were dismissed. Counsel for the accused then applied to the Court of Appeal for bail.
After several adjournments, a new panel was constituted and the accused was eventually granted bail to be executed by the Tamale District Court.
“I was informed that the Law Office had advised the Police to drop the charges of kidnapping and murder against the accused person,and be charged with stealing.
I appeared several times to testify in court with other witnesses in the stealing case, but the trial could not commence for reasons I do not know,” the petitioner stated.
The suspect subsequently failed to appear before the court after his passport was released to him, contrary to the Appeal Court’s order.
“I am reliably informed that the accused person, after the release of his passports, has returned to Canada where he is a citizen, which explains his persistent absence from court,” he alleged.
Alhaji Samed explained that it was for this reason that he was making a passionate appeal to the Chief Justice to cause an investigation to be conducted into the circumstances leading to the release of the accused person’s passport to him, as well as the long adjournment, which he claimed, facilitated the suspect’s plans to escape justice.
“I am further appealing to you to take the necessary action to ensure that the accused person is extradited to Ghana to stand trial,” he entreated.
WE WONT MEDDLE IN CHIEFTAINCY ISSUES (PAGE 31)
THE Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has pledged its absolute neutrality in the Dagbon chieftaincy stalemate and expressed its commitment not to interfere in chieftaincy matters in the region.
“We wish to reiterate the stand of the REGSEC not to meddle in chieftaincy matters but we will be swift to intervene and deal with any situation that will endanger the peace and security of the area,” the council emphasised.
The Chairman of the REGSEC, Mr Stephen Nayina, who made the pledge at a news conference in Tamale yesterday, further appealed to the people to support the quest by the council to find a sustainable solution to the chieftaincy impasse.
According to the REGSEC, “We shall also continue to remain neutral in the Dagbon chieftaincy dispute and support actively all negotiations and moves by the government and the Committee of Eminent Chiefs to bring sustainable peace to Dagbon.”
Mr Nayina, who is also the Northern Regional Minister, however, sounded a word of caution to trouble makers in the region that “the REGSEC will deal swiftly and decisively with any person or group who intend to take the law into their own hands to achieve their selfish, parochial and political agenda”.
The news conference was in response to the reaction by the Abudu Royal Family over the rehabilitation of the Katini-duu (Royal Mausoleum) in the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi last Sunday.
At a press conference in Tamale on Tuesday, the Abudus accused the minister of bias in the handling of chieftaincy matters and appealed to the President to relieve him of his position.
They indicated that it was only a sitting Ya-Na who could authorise any work to be carried out on the mausoleum, in consultation with a sitting Kuga-Na.
“In view of the current peculiar circumstances in Dagbon today, where there is neither a sitting Ya-Na nor a sitting Kuga-Na, the family believes that it is only prudent that both Royal families abide by the provisions of the road map to peace on matters pertaining to the Gbewaa Palace,” they stated.
The minister, however, explained that the decision to provide security for the rehabilitation of the Katini-duu was not his alone but rather a collective decision arrived at by the REGSEC.
According to him, the council received a letter on May 3, this month from the Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya-Naa Abdulai Andani, indicating his preparedness to rehabilitate the mausoleum, in consultation with the customary leadership.
“The council exhaustively discussed the issue and appreciated the fact that the mausoleum is the heritage of Dagbon and as such it should not be allowed to further deteriorate,” Mr Nayina indicated.
He said the REGSEC subsequently gave the approval and tasked the Yendi Municipal Security Committee to undertake consultations and also provide security for the rehabilitation works that were successfully carried out last Sunday.
“It, therefore, came as a big surprise to REGSEC when a press conference was organised by the Royal Abudu Family, ostensibly to give the whole rehabilitation exercise a political twist,” the minister said.
“We wish to reiterate the stand of the REGSEC not to meddle in chieftaincy matters but we will be swift to intervene and deal with any situation that will endanger the peace and security of the area,” the council emphasised.
The Chairman of the REGSEC, Mr Stephen Nayina, who made the pledge at a news conference in Tamale yesterday, further appealed to the people to support the quest by the council to find a sustainable solution to the chieftaincy impasse.
According to the REGSEC, “We shall also continue to remain neutral in the Dagbon chieftaincy dispute and support actively all negotiations and moves by the government and the Committee of Eminent Chiefs to bring sustainable peace to Dagbon.”
Mr Nayina, who is also the Northern Regional Minister, however, sounded a word of caution to trouble makers in the region that “the REGSEC will deal swiftly and decisively with any person or group who intend to take the law into their own hands to achieve their selfish, parochial and political agenda”.
The news conference was in response to the reaction by the Abudu Royal Family over the rehabilitation of the Katini-duu (Royal Mausoleum) in the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi last Sunday.
At a press conference in Tamale on Tuesday, the Abudus accused the minister of bias in the handling of chieftaincy matters and appealed to the President to relieve him of his position.
They indicated that it was only a sitting Ya-Na who could authorise any work to be carried out on the mausoleum, in consultation with a sitting Kuga-Na.
“In view of the current peculiar circumstances in Dagbon today, where there is neither a sitting Ya-Na nor a sitting Kuga-Na, the family believes that it is only prudent that both Royal families abide by the provisions of the road map to peace on matters pertaining to the Gbewaa Palace,” they stated.
The minister, however, explained that the decision to provide security for the rehabilitation of the Katini-duu was not his alone but rather a collective decision arrived at by the REGSEC.
According to him, the council received a letter on May 3, this month from the Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya-Naa Abdulai Andani, indicating his preparedness to rehabilitate the mausoleum, in consultation with the customary leadership.
“The council exhaustively discussed the issue and appreciated the fact that the mausoleum is the heritage of Dagbon and as such it should not be allowed to further deteriorate,” Mr Nayina indicated.
He said the REGSEC subsequently gave the approval and tasked the Yendi Municipal Security Committee to undertake consultations and also provide security for the rehabilitation works that were successfully carried out last Sunday.
“It, therefore, came as a big surprise to REGSEC when a press conference was organised by the Royal Abudu Family, ostensibly to give the whole rehabilitation exercise a political twist,” the minister said.
19 DAMS DAMAGED BY FLOODS REHABILITATED (BACK PAGE)
NINETEEN of the dams that were destroyed by the 2007 floods in the three northern regions have been rehabilitated while work is ongoing to repair more of the damaged dams and bridges.
About 30,000 vulnerable households have also benefited from food rations in the area.
The interventions were part of the Dam Rehabilitation Project (DRP) of the Market Oriented Agricultural Programme (MOAP) of the German Technical Co-operation (GTZ) in partnership with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
The support was a response by the German government to help in resettling the victims of the 2007 floods that hit the northern parts of the country.
The Deputy Project Manager of GTZ, Mr Anthony Dzatse, who was speaking during the handover of a rehabilitated dam at Manguli, a peri-urban community near Tamale, pegged the total cost of work on the dams at 35,000 euros.
The GTZ supported the people with equipment, technical know-how and food while the MoFA offered training with the people providing labour during the three-month work period.
According to Mr Dzatse, the main reason for the food for work programme was to provide needy people with food to enhance communal labour to improve livelihoods and food security.
He further explained that the food rationing was under the DRP Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty Programme.
The Northern Regional Director of MoFA, Mr Sylvester Adongo, said the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) also provided 210 pumps, vegetable seeds, chemicals and fertilisers for crop production during the dry season.
“It is heartening to report that beneficiaries are using these pumps to produce two crops in a year; it is hoped that with these interventions those farmers who lost all their investments to the combined drought and floods in 2007 will be on their own again,” he stated.
The Assembly Member for the Fooshegu Electoral Area, Prince A. A. Mohammed, expressed appreciation to the benefactors for their immense assistance and promised that the dams would help in ensuring adequate food production and security to improve the quality of life of the people.
About 30,000 vulnerable households have also benefited from food rations in the area.
The interventions were part of the Dam Rehabilitation Project (DRP) of the Market Oriented Agricultural Programme (MOAP) of the German Technical Co-operation (GTZ) in partnership with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
The support was a response by the German government to help in resettling the victims of the 2007 floods that hit the northern parts of the country.
The Deputy Project Manager of GTZ, Mr Anthony Dzatse, who was speaking during the handover of a rehabilitated dam at Manguli, a peri-urban community near Tamale, pegged the total cost of work on the dams at 35,000 euros.
The GTZ supported the people with equipment, technical know-how and food while the MoFA offered training with the people providing labour during the three-month work period.
According to Mr Dzatse, the main reason for the food for work programme was to provide needy people with food to enhance communal labour to improve livelihoods and food security.
He further explained that the food rationing was under the DRP Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty Programme.
The Northern Regional Director of MoFA, Mr Sylvester Adongo, said the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) also provided 210 pumps, vegetable seeds, chemicals and fertilisers for crop production during the dry season.
“It is heartening to report that beneficiaries are using these pumps to produce two crops in a year; it is hoped that with these interventions those farmers who lost all their investments to the combined drought and floods in 2007 will be on their own again,” he stated.
The Assembly Member for the Fooshegu Electoral Area, Prince A. A. Mohammed, expressed appreciation to the benefactors for their immense assistance and promised that the dams would help in ensuring adequate food production and security to improve the quality of life of the people.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
YENDI CALM AFTER REHABILITATION OF MAUSOLEUM, BUT... (PAGE 31)
THE Acting Northern Regional Police Commander, ACOP Patrick Edusei Sarpong, has described the situation at Yendi as calm after the successful rehabilitation of the Royal Mausoleum in the Gbewaa Palace in the municipality.
The rehabilitation of the mausoleum follows a letter received from the Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya Naa Abdulai Andani, by the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and the subsequent approval by the REGSEC.
According to Mr Sarpong, after the REGSEC had received the letter, it was found out that the mausoleum was indeed deteriorating with the onset of the rains.
"The REGSEC, therefore, gave the approval and provided security for the work to be executed, and by 4pm on Sunday, the rehabilitation work had been completed on the said unit," he further explained.
The commander also indicated that since the completion of the rehabilitation works, there had not been any breach of the peace in the traditional area that has suffered some intermittent disturbances since the murder of the Dagbon King, Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, on March 27, 2002.
However, the Abudu Royal Family in the Dagbon Chieftaincy divide has expressed concern over the latest development.
According to the secretary to the family, Mr Iddrisu Alhassan, they were earlier invited to the Yendi Municipal Security Committee, where they were informed of a directive from the REGSEC for the renovation of the mausoleum.
• Meanwhile members of the Abudu royal family have appealed to President John Evans Atta Mills to consider reassigning the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Stephen Nayina, and “appointing a neutral and matured politician to administer the region” reports Vincent Amenuveve, Tamale.
They noted that the minister’s style of leadership and his alleged bias in handling sensitive matters, particularly on Dagbon chieftaincy matters, was unhealthy for the smooth administration of the region.
Speaking on behalf of the members at a press conference in Tamale on Tuesday, Dr Ziblim Iddi, a lecturer at the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, Legon, said the family had “lost confidence in Mr Nayina as a leader and an honest peace broker”.
He said that on May 14, 2009, the family was invited to a meeting by the Yendi Municipal Coordinating Director where it was informed that the minister had allegedly ordered the coordinating director to provide security for the renovation of the Yilikpani by Members of the Andani family. The Yilikpani is one of the five compounds that constitute the Gbewaa Palace.
According to Dr Iddi, the family objected to such a decision based on a number of reasons, including the fact that by Dagbon custom and tradition, it was only a Ya-Na who could authorise any works to be done at the Yilikpani in consultation with the Kuga-Na.
The rehabilitation of the mausoleum follows a letter received from the Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya Naa Abdulai Andani, by the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and the subsequent approval by the REGSEC.
According to Mr Sarpong, after the REGSEC had received the letter, it was found out that the mausoleum was indeed deteriorating with the onset of the rains.
"The REGSEC, therefore, gave the approval and provided security for the work to be executed, and by 4pm on Sunday, the rehabilitation work had been completed on the said unit," he further explained.
The commander also indicated that since the completion of the rehabilitation works, there had not been any breach of the peace in the traditional area that has suffered some intermittent disturbances since the murder of the Dagbon King, Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, on March 27, 2002.
However, the Abudu Royal Family in the Dagbon Chieftaincy divide has expressed concern over the latest development.
According to the secretary to the family, Mr Iddrisu Alhassan, they were earlier invited to the Yendi Municipal Security Committee, where they were informed of a directive from the REGSEC for the renovation of the mausoleum.
• Meanwhile members of the Abudu royal family have appealed to President John Evans Atta Mills to consider reassigning the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Stephen Nayina, and “appointing a neutral and matured politician to administer the region” reports Vincent Amenuveve, Tamale.
They noted that the minister’s style of leadership and his alleged bias in handling sensitive matters, particularly on Dagbon chieftaincy matters, was unhealthy for the smooth administration of the region.
Speaking on behalf of the members at a press conference in Tamale on Tuesday, Dr Ziblim Iddi, a lecturer at the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, Legon, said the family had “lost confidence in Mr Nayina as a leader and an honest peace broker”.
He said that on May 14, 2009, the family was invited to a meeting by the Yendi Municipal Coordinating Director where it was informed that the minister had allegedly ordered the coordinating director to provide security for the renovation of the Yilikpani by Members of the Andani family. The Yilikpani is one of the five compounds that constitute the Gbewaa Palace.
According to Dr Iddi, the family objected to such a decision based on a number of reasons, including the fact that by Dagbon custom and tradition, it was only a Ya-Na who could authorise any works to be done at the Yilikpani in consultation with the Kuga-Na.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
SEEK ADVICE BEFORE RELEASING LAND TO INVESTORS (PAGE 20)
TRADITIONAL landowners have been entreated to be cautious and always seek expert advice before releasing lands to investors for commercial purposes in order to achieve maximum benefits from such transactions.
They have also been reminded of the devastating effects of the wanton sale of land — resulting in loss of farmlands, economic trees, natural resources and other livelihood sources.
It also facilitates privatisation of rights in land, as opposed to communal ownership system.
A consultant on land matters, M. Bakari Sadiq Nyari, gave the advice when he was speaking at a validation workshop on Biofuels Production in Ghana and Community Land Rights and Livelihoods in Tamale.
He further observed that the inappropriate disposal of land to investors could also spark conflict within communities.
“It also has the potential for destroying vocations such as fishing, contamination of water sources and destruction of biodiversity and can further increase the marginalisation of women who already use the so-called marginal lands,” Mr Nyari added.
The study was commissioned in the latter part of last year by the Civil Society Coalition on Land (CICOL), a network of civil society organisations and individuals.
CICOL was formed in 2007 and works with communities, organisations and government on land-related issues to influence land reform processes and administration at all levels in the country.
The validation workshop was to discuss the draft report of the study, share its major findings and also embark on effective advocacy work to address the shortcomings the study had identified.
Areas covered in the study were Yendi, East and Central Gonja districts in the Northern Region, Atebubu in the Brong Ahafo Region and Obuasi in the Ashanti Region.
It was also focused on plantation development of jatropha and sugarcane and the alternative livelihood programme of the Chamber of Mines in the mining communities.
The participants included officials from the Chamber of Mines, the Energy Commission, Ministry of Agriculture, biofuel companies, stool lands and some community members.
Mr Nyari further expressed concern about the lack of adequate information and involvement of the people, including chiefs, on the acquisition of land by some investors in the communities.
He cited a disparity in the size of an acquired land by a biofuel company in a recent advertisement in a newspaper.
“While the advertisement was quoting the measurement in hectares, the documents on the land were talking about acres,” Mr Nyari added.
The Chairperson of the Steering Committee of CICOL, Ms Francesca Issaka, said the organisation recognised the pivotal role that land played in poverty reduction and sustainable national development.
“We know from the many years of work we have done with communities that insecurity of land tenure contributes greatly to the decline in agricultural productivity and a growing difficulty in meeting basic livelihood needs by many in both rural and urban areas,” she stated.
Ms Issaka expressed appreciation to their collaborators who supported the establishment, growth and development of the organisation and pledged the association’s commitment to live up to expectation.
They have also been reminded of the devastating effects of the wanton sale of land — resulting in loss of farmlands, economic trees, natural resources and other livelihood sources.
It also facilitates privatisation of rights in land, as opposed to communal ownership system.
A consultant on land matters, M. Bakari Sadiq Nyari, gave the advice when he was speaking at a validation workshop on Biofuels Production in Ghana and Community Land Rights and Livelihoods in Tamale.
He further observed that the inappropriate disposal of land to investors could also spark conflict within communities.
“It also has the potential for destroying vocations such as fishing, contamination of water sources and destruction of biodiversity and can further increase the marginalisation of women who already use the so-called marginal lands,” Mr Nyari added.
The study was commissioned in the latter part of last year by the Civil Society Coalition on Land (CICOL), a network of civil society organisations and individuals.
CICOL was formed in 2007 and works with communities, organisations and government on land-related issues to influence land reform processes and administration at all levels in the country.
The validation workshop was to discuss the draft report of the study, share its major findings and also embark on effective advocacy work to address the shortcomings the study had identified.
Areas covered in the study were Yendi, East and Central Gonja districts in the Northern Region, Atebubu in the Brong Ahafo Region and Obuasi in the Ashanti Region.
It was also focused on plantation development of jatropha and sugarcane and the alternative livelihood programme of the Chamber of Mines in the mining communities.
The participants included officials from the Chamber of Mines, the Energy Commission, Ministry of Agriculture, biofuel companies, stool lands and some community members.
Mr Nyari further expressed concern about the lack of adequate information and involvement of the people, including chiefs, on the acquisition of land by some investors in the communities.
He cited a disparity in the size of an acquired land by a biofuel company in a recent advertisement in a newspaper.
“While the advertisement was quoting the measurement in hectares, the documents on the land were talking about acres,” Mr Nyari added.
The Chairperson of the Steering Committee of CICOL, Ms Francesca Issaka, said the organisation recognised the pivotal role that land played in poverty reduction and sustainable national development.
“We know from the many years of work we have done with communities that insecurity of land tenure contributes greatly to the decline in agricultural productivity and a growing difficulty in meeting basic livelihood needs by many in both rural and urban areas,” she stated.
Ms Issaka expressed appreciation to their collaborators who supported the establishment, growth and development of the organisation and pledged the association’s commitment to live up to expectation.
MORE CHILDREN IN RISKY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES...In Northern Region (PAGE 20)
THERE are more children involved in various hazardous economic activities in the Northern Region than any other region in the country.
A child labour survey conducted by the Ghana Statistical Survey Service and published in 2003, indicates that there are almost 332,664 children in the region who were engaged in some form of economic activity.
Child trafficking is also a major challenge in the region. The area is considered as a transit point for both domestic and cross- boarder trafficking with females being the most vulnerable.
A number of reasons, according to the Statistical Service, accounts for this rising phenomenon. They include economic factors as a result of unemployment, under-employment and inadequate income from poor harvests and natural disasters.
The undeveloped labour markets, coupled with weak enforcement of child labour laws and the vulnerability of children also account for the worsening situation.
The prevailing harsh economic conditions also compel children to accept any form of job to support themselves and sometimes their families.
Other motives identified by the report include socio-cultural factors such as the breakdown of the extended and nuclear family system, single parenthood and peer pressure. Child fosterage system in the area is also being abused resulting in discrimination, destitution and teenage pregnancy culminating in inter-generational child labour.
These issues were raised at a roundtable discussion to disseminate good practices in combating child trafficking and reaching of consensus among stakeholders on the development of a road map and replication scaling up in Tamale.
The two-day programme was organised by the International Labour Organisation and the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour ILO/IPEC in collaboration with other stakeholders.
The participants discussed lessons learnt under LUTRENA 1, an ILO/IPEC initiative aimed at tackling child trafficking in West Africa.
The practices include increased enrolment in school and the provision of recreational resources, economic empowerment of families and tackling high school dropout rate. The rest are establishment of anti-child trafficking clubs and support and partnership with community surveillance teams and the passage and enforcement of human trafficking laws.
In a speech read on behalf of the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Stephen S. Nayina, he described the prevailing situation as most unfortunate and that all forms of child labour was a development challenge for government.
He stated that as part of measures to contain the multi-sectoral problem, the issues had accordingly been included in the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy II document.
“We also have in place laws such as the Children’s and the Human Trafficking Acts to protect children and institutions that implement policies related to the welfare of children,” the minister said.
Mr Nayina further observed that there was direct correlation between child trafficking and basic education, and expressed hope that the capitation grant and school feeding programme would help stem the tide.
The Programme Co-ordinator of ILO/IPEC, Dr Margaret Sackey, said 200,000 children were estimated to have been trafficked in Africa in 2000.
According to her, the ILO through its IPEC project to combat trafficking of children for labour exploitation, was working with key stakeholders in Benin, Burkina Faso and Ghana to reduce the demand for trafficked children and provide direct assistance to victims and their families.
She further stated that since the establishment of the Denmark/ILO Programme Co-operation Agreement in 2004, the project had withdrawn 3,840 girls and boys from exploitation and also prevented another 7,256 children from being trafficked thus surpassing its targets of 600 children withdrawn and 2,500 children prevented.
Dr Sackey explained that it was in view of the complex and dynamic nature of the trafficking, particularly children, that IPEC found it expedient to document the good practices of its projects to serve as reference for knowledge building, replication and up-scaling of interventions.
She said her organisation was also working in collaboration with other stakeholders such as the Regional Advisory Integrated Network Systems (RAINS), a Tamale-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), to eliminate child trafficking from some selected districts in the Northern and Upper East regions.
A child labour survey conducted by the Ghana Statistical Survey Service and published in 2003, indicates that there are almost 332,664 children in the region who were engaged in some form of economic activity.
Child trafficking is also a major challenge in the region. The area is considered as a transit point for both domestic and cross- boarder trafficking with females being the most vulnerable.
A number of reasons, according to the Statistical Service, accounts for this rising phenomenon. They include economic factors as a result of unemployment, under-employment and inadequate income from poor harvests and natural disasters.
The undeveloped labour markets, coupled with weak enforcement of child labour laws and the vulnerability of children also account for the worsening situation.
The prevailing harsh economic conditions also compel children to accept any form of job to support themselves and sometimes their families.
Other motives identified by the report include socio-cultural factors such as the breakdown of the extended and nuclear family system, single parenthood and peer pressure. Child fosterage system in the area is also being abused resulting in discrimination, destitution and teenage pregnancy culminating in inter-generational child labour.
These issues were raised at a roundtable discussion to disseminate good practices in combating child trafficking and reaching of consensus among stakeholders on the development of a road map and replication scaling up in Tamale.
The two-day programme was organised by the International Labour Organisation and the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour ILO/IPEC in collaboration with other stakeholders.
The participants discussed lessons learnt under LUTRENA 1, an ILO/IPEC initiative aimed at tackling child trafficking in West Africa.
The practices include increased enrolment in school and the provision of recreational resources, economic empowerment of families and tackling high school dropout rate. The rest are establishment of anti-child trafficking clubs and support and partnership with community surveillance teams and the passage and enforcement of human trafficking laws.
In a speech read on behalf of the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Stephen S. Nayina, he described the prevailing situation as most unfortunate and that all forms of child labour was a development challenge for government.
He stated that as part of measures to contain the multi-sectoral problem, the issues had accordingly been included in the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy II document.
“We also have in place laws such as the Children’s and the Human Trafficking Acts to protect children and institutions that implement policies related to the welfare of children,” the minister said.
Mr Nayina further observed that there was direct correlation between child trafficking and basic education, and expressed hope that the capitation grant and school feeding programme would help stem the tide.
The Programme Co-ordinator of ILO/IPEC, Dr Margaret Sackey, said 200,000 children were estimated to have been trafficked in Africa in 2000.
According to her, the ILO through its IPEC project to combat trafficking of children for labour exploitation, was working with key stakeholders in Benin, Burkina Faso and Ghana to reduce the demand for trafficked children and provide direct assistance to victims and their families.
She further stated that since the establishment of the Denmark/ILO Programme Co-operation Agreement in 2004, the project had withdrawn 3,840 girls and boys from exploitation and also prevented another 7,256 children from being trafficked thus surpassing its targets of 600 children withdrawn and 2,500 children prevented.
Dr Sackey explained that it was in view of the complex and dynamic nature of the trafficking, particularly children, that IPEC found it expedient to document the good practices of its projects to serve as reference for knowledge building, replication and up-scaling of interventions.
She said her organisation was also working in collaboration with other stakeholders such as the Regional Advisory Integrated Network Systems (RAINS), a Tamale-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), to eliminate child trafficking from some selected districts in the Northern and Upper East regions.
HAJIA BAWA'S NOMINATION OPPOSED (PAGE 15)
THE Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo Constituency executive of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has protested against the nomination of Hajia Mavis Bawa as the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area.
They stated that any attempt to endorse her candidature would amount to an imposition, which they would resist since, according to them, she was not a card-bearing member of the party in the constituency.
The Propaganda Secretary of the NDC in the constituency, Mr Dominick Jatuat, said this at a press conference in Tamale in reaction to claims that President Atta Mills intended to nominate Hajia Bawa for consideration as DCE.
In the first batch of President Mills’s nominations, Mr Abdulai Subri Nanyuni was selected for confirmation by the assembly but his nomination was revoked after protests by the same group.
Explaining their actions further, Mr Jatuat alleged that their latest protest stemmed from information they had received that the Vice-President, Mr John Mahama, was allegedly soliciting support for the nomination of Hajia Bawa who, according to them, stood as an independent candidate during the last parliamentary election.
When asked about their preferred candidate the propaganda secretary mentioned one Duut Abdulai Boncheli, whom he described as the best person who could unite the people and also champion their development agenda.
The Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo District was carved out of the East Mamprusi District. The people are mainly farmers and the area has witnessed a number of chieftaincy and ethnic conflicts, some of which are yet to be resolved.
They stated that any attempt to endorse her candidature would amount to an imposition, which they would resist since, according to them, she was not a card-bearing member of the party in the constituency.
The Propaganda Secretary of the NDC in the constituency, Mr Dominick Jatuat, said this at a press conference in Tamale in reaction to claims that President Atta Mills intended to nominate Hajia Bawa for consideration as DCE.
In the first batch of President Mills’s nominations, Mr Abdulai Subri Nanyuni was selected for confirmation by the assembly but his nomination was revoked after protests by the same group.
Explaining their actions further, Mr Jatuat alleged that their latest protest stemmed from information they had received that the Vice-President, Mr John Mahama, was allegedly soliciting support for the nomination of Hajia Bawa who, according to them, stood as an independent candidate during the last parliamentary election.
When asked about their preferred candidate the propaganda secretary mentioned one Duut Abdulai Boncheli, whom he described as the best person who could unite the people and also champion their development agenda.
The Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo District was carved out of the East Mamprusi District. The people are mainly farmers and the area has witnessed a number of chieftaincy and ethnic conflicts, some of which are yet to be resolved.
Monday, May 18, 2009
TAMALE POLY ORDERED TO PAY DISMISSED LECTURERS (PAGE 53)
THE Tamale High Court has declared that the committee that recommended the dismissal of the five lecturers of the Tamale Polytechnic for their alleged involvement in the sexual harassment of female students was not properly constituted.
The court, presided over by Mr Justice Lawrence Mensah, has, therefore, ordered the polytechnic to pay all the accumulated salaries of the victims.
The dismissed lecturers are also to be paid 15 months’ salary each for damages and GH¢1000 each as costs.
The court, however, refused to recommend the reinstatement of the lecturers because as the judge put it, “the atmosphere in the school is too poisonous for you”.
According to the court, the four-member governing council subcommittee, chaired by Mr John Agyekwena, was not in conformity with the rules and regulations of the school and that the procedures adopted by the committee were also wrong, adding that there was no cross-examination of the accused persons.
Following a newspaper report of an alleged sexual harassment of some female students of the polytechnic in 2007, the governing council of the polytechnic set up a four-member subcommittee to investigate the matter.
And upon the recommendations of the committee, dismissal letters were issued to the affected lecturers.
The first letter, written by the governing council and signed by the Rector of the polytechnic, Alhaji Dr Yakubu Seidu Peligah, on behalf of the acting council chairman and dated September 17, 2007, stated that “your appointment with the polytechnic has been terminated; the termination takes effect from October 31, 2007”.
A second letter signed by the registrar of the institution later explained that their appointment had simply been terminated based on the contractual agreement the polytechnic had with her employees in reference with Article 4.5.3 of the conditions of service for senior members and staff of the school.
However, the court, in its ruling, explained that Article 191 of the 1992 Constitution indicated that a public servant could not be removed or dismissed without a just cause and that this superseded Article 4.5.3 of the conditions of service of the polytechnic.
It further recommended among other proposals, the setting up of a high-powered body to investigate the daily administration of the school.
As a result of the dismissals, the Tamale branch of the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) embarked on a strike in solidarity with their colleagues in October, 2007.
They described the recommendations and actions by the polytechnic as unfortunate, pointing out that the constitution of the subcommittee, including its proceedings, cast doubts over its legitimacy and credibility.
The affected lecturers whose appointments were terminated are Messrs Abdulai Abdul-Mumin of the Department of Statistics, Science and Mathematics, Adam Bawa Yussif of the Department of Languages and Liberal Studies and Mikhail Abdul-Aziz of the Accountancy Department.
The rest are Shiraz Wumbei of the Department of Accountancy and Adams Issahaku of the Department of Secretaryship and Management Studies.
The court, presided over by Mr Justice Lawrence Mensah, has, therefore, ordered the polytechnic to pay all the accumulated salaries of the victims.
The dismissed lecturers are also to be paid 15 months’ salary each for damages and GH¢1000 each as costs.
The court, however, refused to recommend the reinstatement of the lecturers because as the judge put it, “the atmosphere in the school is too poisonous for you”.
According to the court, the four-member governing council subcommittee, chaired by Mr John Agyekwena, was not in conformity with the rules and regulations of the school and that the procedures adopted by the committee were also wrong, adding that there was no cross-examination of the accused persons.
Following a newspaper report of an alleged sexual harassment of some female students of the polytechnic in 2007, the governing council of the polytechnic set up a four-member subcommittee to investigate the matter.
And upon the recommendations of the committee, dismissal letters were issued to the affected lecturers.
The first letter, written by the governing council and signed by the Rector of the polytechnic, Alhaji Dr Yakubu Seidu Peligah, on behalf of the acting council chairman and dated September 17, 2007, stated that “your appointment with the polytechnic has been terminated; the termination takes effect from October 31, 2007”.
A second letter signed by the registrar of the institution later explained that their appointment had simply been terminated based on the contractual agreement the polytechnic had with her employees in reference with Article 4.5.3 of the conditions of service for senior members and staff of the school.
However, the court, in its ruling, explained that Article 191 of the 1992 Constitution indicated that a public servant could not be removed or dismissed without a just cause and that this superseded Article 4.5.3 of the conditions of service of the polytechnic.
It further recommended among other proposals, the setting up of a high-powered body to investigate the daily administration of the school.
As a result of the dismissals, the Tamale branch of the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) embarked on a strike in solidarity with their colleagues in October, 2007.
They described the recommendations and actions by the polytechnic as unfortunate, pointing out that the constitution of the subcommittee, including its proceedings, cast doubts over its legitimacy and credibility.
The affected lecturers whose appointments were terminated are Messrs Abdulai Abdul-Mumin of the Department of Statistics, Science and Mathematics, Adam Bawa Yussif of the Department of Languages and Liberal Studies and Mikhail Abdul-Aziz of the Accountancy Department.
The rest are Shiraz Wumbei of the Department of Accountancy and Adams Issahaku of the Department of Secretaryship and Management Studies.
Friday, May 15, 2009
WORK PROGRESSES ON TAMALE SOS VILLAGE (PAGE 29)
WORK is progressing steadily on an SOS Village for disadvantaged children in the Tamale metropolis .
The project, which commenced about nine months ago, is being executed by Consar Construction Limited along the Tamale-Kumasi road, near the University for Development Studies (UDS) Medical School.
According to the site engineer, Mr Martin Addo, work was scheduled to be completed within a year. Facilities at the village will include a kindergarten, primary and junior high schools, home economics block, library, science laboratory, workshop and a canteen.
The village, which would be fenced upon its completion, would also have medical and social centres, bungalows for staff and a guests house.
The main family house would consist of 12 bungalows.
The engineer further said a proposed academy, including a three-storey building accommodation would later be added to the existing facility.
SOS Children’s Village is a social welfare organisation that provides orphaned, abandoned and destitute children with a secure and permanent family home and educational prospects.
Currently, the Nyohini Children’s Home in Tamale is among the few of such institutions that are catering for the needs of such underprivileged children in the Northern Region.
The home, which was established by the government in 1970 for the northern sector of the country, has its challenges in the provision of care and protection to the vulnerable.
Apart from the scanty quarterly budgetary support, which does not even come regularly, and compels the managers of the home to rely heavily on charity to provide some level of care for the children. The home is under the Department of Social Welfare.
The home also suffers from encroachment, lack of transport and medical facilities, among others.
The project, which commenced about nine months ago, is being executed by Consar Construction Limited along the Tamale-Kumasi road, near the University for Development Studies (UDS) Medical School.
According to the site engineer, Mr Martin Addo, work was scheduled to be completed within a year. Facilities at the village will include a kindergarten, primary and junior high schools, home economics block, library, science laboratory, workshop and a canteen.
The village, which would be fenced upon its completion, would also have medical and social centres, bungalows for staff and a guests house.
The main family house would consist of 12 bungalows.
The engineer further said a proposed academy, including a three-storey building accommodation would later be added to the existing facility.
SOS Children’s Village is a social welfare organisation that provides orphaned, abandoned and destitute children with a secure and permanent family home and educational prospects.
Currently, the Nyohini Children’s Home in Tamale is among the few of such institutions that are catering for the needs of such underprivileged children in the Northern Region.
The home, which was established by the government in 1970 for the northern sector of the country, has its challenges in the provision of care and protection to the vulnerable.
Apart from the scanty quarterly budgetary support, which does not even come regularly, and compels the managers of the home to rely heavily on charity to provide some level of care for the children. The home is under the Department of Social Welfare.
The home also suffers from encroachment, lack of transport and medical facilities, among others.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
ALHASSAN RED REJECTED AS DCE (PAGE 15)
MEMBERS of the Savelugu/Nanton District Assembly in the Northern Region have eventually rejected the nominee for the district chief executive position, Abdulai Alhassan Red, in an emotionally packed election.
At the end of the second round of voting on Wednesday, 28 members voted against the confirmation of Mr Red while 21 assented with one rejected ballot in the 52-member assembly.
In the first election on April 27, the nominee received 19 votes as against 32. With the latest development, the President, Atta Mills will have to nominate another person for consideration by the assembly. Mr Red’s rejection is the first by any assembly in the region so far.
The nominee who looked calm accepted the verdict of the people and expressed appreciation to the President for his nomination.
“The NDC party is bigger than any individual or group. I will therefore entreat the assembly to support and accept whoever the President will nominate,” he pleaded.
Mr Red further advised his sympathisers not to feel embittered by the outcome of the elections neither should they engage in any act that will disturb the peace in the area.
The deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabengba, described the process as a victory for democracy. “The party has spoken and we must accept the verdict of the people.”
He commended the people for the peaceful conduct of the entire process inspite of the seeming tension that had engulfed the elections earlier in the day.
The Presiding Member of the assembly, Mr Yakubu Abdul-Rahman, called for restraint while the President made fresh nomination. He entreated them to refrain from engaging in any disturbances as a result of the assembly’s decision.
At the end of the second round of voting on Wednesday, 28 members voted against the confirmation of Mr Red while 21 assented with one rejected ballot in the 52-member assembly.
In the first election on April 27, the nominee received 19 votes as against 32. With the latest development, the President, Atta Mills will have to nominate another person for consideration by the assembly. Mr Red’s rejection is the first by any assembly in the region so far.
The nominee who looked calm accepted the verdict of the people and expressed appreciation to the President for his nomination.
“The NDC party is bigger than any individual or group. I will therefore entreat the assembly to support and accept whoever the President will nominate,” he pleaded.
Mr Red further advised his sympathisers not to feel embittered by the outcome of the elections neither should they engage in any act that will disturb the peace in the area.
The deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabengba, described the process as a victory for democracy. “The party has spoken and we must accept the verdict of the people.”
He commended the people for the peaceful conduct of the entire process inspite of the seeming tension that had engulfed the elections earlier in the day.
The Presiding Member of the assembly, Mr Yakubu Abdul-Rahman, called for restraint while the President made fresh nomination. He entreated them to refrain from engaging in any disturbances as a result of the assembly’s decision.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
KNUST ALUMNI HOLD 5TH BIENNIAL CONGRESS (PAGE 38)
THE Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Alumni Association (TEKNOKRATS) has held its fifth biennial national congress in Tamale with a call on members to show more commitment and support towards the development of the university.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, who made the call indicated that there was the need to further strengthen the existing collaboration between the old students and their alma mater, “because without the alumni, the future of our university will be doomed.”
He particularly mentioned infrastructure development and the acquisition of teaching and learning materials as some of the areas that would need the intervention of the alumni since the budgetary allocation to those sectors by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) had reduced over the past couple of years.
The congress that had the theme: “The role of Teknokrats in easing students’ accommodation cries on campus: so far, how far,” attracted alumni from various parts of the country.
The Vice-Chancellor also enumerated the successes chalked up by the university over the past years and the numerous challenges they were currently encountering in ensuring that KNUST becomes a centre of excellence, not only in the country but globally.
He mentioned some of the ongoing projects, including those on the drawing board and appealed to the government, the alumni, individuals and groups to support the university in its development agenda.
“At the moment we have not received our subvention for the month of March this year, yet the university must run and salaries paid in order that academic work is not disrupted,” Prof. Adarkwa stated.
He said the university was also tackling the growing indiscipline among some students on campus and, therefore, entreated the old students to refrain from interfering in matters of ensuring that disciplinary tenets were upheld at all times “because we will not compromise on discipline; and we should not condone wrongdoing.”
Prof. Adarkwa added that in spite of all those challenges, the KNUST placed 53rd among top African universities. The University of Ghana was the only other higher institution of learning in the country that placed 55th. The rest did not make it in that category.
The university currently has a student population of 24,000 while 1,041 are undergoing the distance learning programme with 724 international students from 27 countries. Fourteen university colleges are affiliated to it in the country.
The immediate past National President of the association, Prof. Seth Opuni Esiamah, said local chapters of the alumni had been established in all 10 regions and some towns. Other countries where the branches are located include the UK, America and Australia.
He urged members to contribute generously towards the completion of the Alumni Jubilee House on campus, adding, “The university has been faithful to us over the years and we need to return the favour.”
The outgoing president who has served for the past four years, urged the incoming executive to continue with the membership mobilisation drive by the association. The new National President is Mr Tony Danklu, a Tema-based businessman.
The Northern Regional Chairman of the alumni, Mr Adam Kaleem, underlined the immense contribution of members to the development of the country and advised the younger ones to work harder to achieve greater heights in their respective carreers.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, who made the call indicated that there was the need to further strengthen the existing collaboration between the old students and their alma mater, “because without the alumni, the future of our university will be doomed.”
He particularly mentioned infrastructure development and the acquisition of teaching and learning materials as some of the areas that would need the intervention of the alumni since the budgetary allocation to those sectors by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) had reduced over the past couple of years.
The congress that had the theme: “The role of Teknokrats in easing students’ accommodation cries on campus: so far, how far,” attracted alumni from various parts of the country.
The Vice-Chancellor also enumerated the successes chalked up by the university over the past years and the numerous challenges they were currently encountering in ensuring that KNUST becomes a centre of excellence, not only in the country but globally.
He mentioned some of the ongoing projects, including those on the drawing board and appealed to the government, the alumni, individuals and groups to support the university in its development agenda.
“At the moment we have not received our subvention for the month of March this year, yet the university must run and salaries paid in order that academic work is not disrupted,” Prof. Adarkwa stated.
He said the university was also tackling the growing indiscipline among some students on campus and, therefore, entreated the old students to refrain from interfering in matters of ensuring that disciplinary tenets were upheld at all times “because we will not compromise on discipline; and we should not condone wrongdoing.”
Prof. Adarkwa added that in spite of all those challenges, the KNUST placed 53rd among top African universities. The University of Ghana was the only other higher institution of learning in the country that placed 55th. The rest did not make it in that category.
The university currently has a student population of 24,000 while 1,041 are undergoing the distance learning programme with 724 international students from 27 countries. Fourteen university colleges are affiliated to it in the country.
The immediate past National President of the association, Prof. Seth Opuni Esiamah, said local chapters of the alumni had been established in all 10 regions and some towns. Other countries where the branches are located include the UK, America and Australia.
He urged members to contribute generously towards the completion of the Alumni Jubilee House on campus, adding, “The university has been faithful to us over the years and we need to return the favour.”
The outgoing president who has served for the past four years, urged the incoming executive to continue with the membership mobilisation drive by the association. The new National President is Mr Tony Danklu, a Tema-based businessman.
The Northern Regional Chairman of the alumni, Mr Adam Kaleem, underlined the immense contribution of members to the development of the country and advised the younger ones to work harder to achieve greater heights in their respective carreers.
CARGO TRUCK KILLS CYCLIST IN TAMALE (PAGE 28)
A CYCLIST died on the spot when a cargo truck hit him at a spot near the Ghana Post in Tamale on Tuesday afternoon.
The deceased, who was believed to be in his 50’s, was yet to be identified at the time of filing this report.
The accident caused a temporary traffic hold-up on the road as the cargo truck, with registration number GR 4904 B, had virtually blocked the road.
An eye-witness account indicated that the driver of truck absconded after realising that the victim had died on the spot.
He said the deceased was riding from the Nascent Ventures direction towards the Agricultural Development Bank while the truck was also coming from the Anokyeman Junction.
“All we heard was a bang !. After sometime we saw the deceased lying in a pool of blood beside his bicycle,” the eyewitness alleged, maintaining that the breaks of the vehicle might have been faulty.
The body has since been deposited at the mortuary of the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
The Tamale metropolis and the Northern Region in general has over the last couple of months experienced several accidents which had claimed many lives
For instance within the first quarter of this year over 64 people have lost their lives in road accidents as compared to 70 for the whole of last year, and about 130 people have sustained various degrees of injury.
The Northern Regional Co-ordinator of the National Road Safety Committee, Mr Sumani Mbo, has attributed the accidents mainly to human error, and advised road users to abide by road traffic regulations, and also exercise patience in their bid to reach their destinations.
Among the causes of accidents in the area are speeding, illegal parking, intermittent breakdown of traffic lights and substance abuse.
Other problems include faulty and rickety vehicles,lack of adequate road signs, inaction by law enforcement agencies to duly apprehend and prosecute road traffic offenders and the lack of co-ordination among various stakeholders on road safety.
The deceased, who was believed to be in his 50’s, was yet to be identified at the time of filing this report.
The accident caused a temporary traffic hold-up on the road as the cargo truck, with registration number GR 4904 B, had virtually blocked the road.
An eye-witness account indicated that the driver of truck absconded after realising that the victim had died on the spot.
He said the deceased was riding from the Nascent Ventures direction towards the Agricultural Development Bank while the truck was also coming from the Anokyeman Junction.
“All we heard was a bang !. After sometime we saw the deceased lying in a pool of blood beside his bicycle,” the eyewitness alleged, maintaining that the breaks of the vehicle might have been faulty.
The body has since been deposited at the mortuary of the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
The Tamale metropolis and the Northern Region in general has over the last couple of months experienced several accidents which had claimed many lives
For instance within the first quarter of this year over 64 people have lost their lives in road accidents as compared to 70 for the whole of last year, and about 130 people have sustained various degrees of injury.
The Northern Regional Co-ordinator of the National Road Safety Committee, Mr Sumani Mbo, has attributed the accidents mainly to human error, and advised road users to abide by road traffic regulations, and also exercise patience in their bid to reach their destinations.
Among the causes of accidents in the area are speeding, illegal parking, intermittent breakdown of traffic lights and substance abuse.
Other problems include faulty and rickety vehicles,lack of adequate road signs, inaction by law enforcement agencies to duly apprehend and prosecute road traffic offenders and the lack of co-ordination among various stakeholders on road safety.
RAINS ENLIGHTENS YOUTH ON HIV/AIDS (PAGE 29)
A two-week football coaching project, dubbed: "Goal Ghana Football Gala 2009" to help create awareness on HIV/AIDS in some selected schools in the Tamale metropolis has ended with a gala match involving participating schools.
In all, 160 coaches including 270 children from three suburbs of the metropolis benefited from the project.
Among the topics covered were diet and nutrition, delivering drills and session planning.
Two FA qualified coaches from TackleAfrica, also a UK charity, engaged the participants in the two-week training.
They were also taken through HIV/AIDS awareness lessons on the pitch before the kick-off of the matches.
Both players and spectators were taken through an hour’s education on contracting, the transmission and the prevention of the disease.
It was followed by questions and answers time.
All the participating teams, including the winners of the Gala match, were presented with awards including contraceptives.
The project was organised by the Regional Advisory Information and Network Systems (RAINS), a Tamale-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), in collaboration with their UK-based partners, Goal Ghana, a fund-raising organisation.
The programme followed a successful one held in February last year.
A co-ordinator of the RAINS project, Mr Shaibu Ibrahim, further explained that the programme was aimed at educating the general public, particularly the youth, on the dangers of unprotected sex, especially HIV/AIDS.
He said the occasion also provided the forum for the youth to enlighten themselves and also clear doubts about the disease.
Mr Ibrahim also observed that building programmes on youth-friendly endeavours, such as sport, would go a long way to produce the desired impact in the country’s drive to eradicate the disease.
In all, 160 coaches including 270 children from three suburbs of the metropolis benefited from the project.
Among the topics covered were diet and nutrition, delivering drills and session planning.
Two FA qualified coaches from TackleAfrica, also a UK charity, engaged the participants in the two-week training.
They were also taken through HIV/AIDS awareness lessons on the pitch before the kick-off of the matches.
Both players and spectators were taken through an hour’s education on contracting, the transmission and the prevention of the disease.
It was followed by questions and answers time.
All the participating teams, including the winners of the Gala match, were presented with awards including contraceptives.
The project was organised by the Regional Advisory Information and Network Systems (RAINS), a Tamale-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), in collaboration with their UK-based partners, Goal Ghana, a fund-raising organisation.
The programme followed a successful one held in February last year.
A co-ordinator of the RAINS project, Mr Shaibu Ibrahim, further explained that the programme was aimed at educating the general public, particularly the youth, on the dangers of unprotected sex, especially HIV/AIDS.
He said the occasion also provided the forum for the youth to enlighten themselves and also clear doubts about the disease.
Mr Ibrahim also observed that building programmes on youth-friendly endeavours, such as sport, would go a long way to produce the desired impact in the country’s drive to eradicate the disease.
DUTCH SCHOOL SUPPORTS NYOHINI C COMPUTER SCHOOL (PAGE 29)
STUDENTS of the Amersfoortste Berg, a secondary school in Holland, have donated computers to some deprived schools in the Tamale metropolis to support them in their Information and Communication Technology lessons.
The Savelugu School for the Deaf (SAVDEAF) received 15 computers and the Future Administrators Academy at Gurugu, 10.
The students have also agreed to sponsor 10 needy children at Nyohini, a Tamale suburb, in their education for the next five years.
The students also refurbished the Nyohini Computer School (NCS) and offered free computer services to the community.
A tutor at the Dutch school, who led the three-member team to Tamale to make the presentation, Mr Vincent Pol, said the total cost of the items including the funds for the sponsorship totalled €10,000.
He explained that the money was realised through voluntary service during which the students undertook various vocation jobs in their respective communities.
Mr Pol further indicated that their decision to support the school and students was based on information about the plight of the beneficiaries particularly the SAVDEAF whose computers, which were earlier donated by the NCS, had broken down.
The two students who accompanied Mr Pol, who is also a board member of the NCS, were Merlija Van Bokhorst and Max Mulder.
The Deputy Director of Education in charge of the Savelugu/Nanton District, Mr Moses Akwotugu, received the computers on behalf of the SAVDEAF.
The Headmistress of the school, Madam Immaculate A. Atoriyah, expressed appreciation to their benefactors for their valuable support to the special institution.
“We appeal to other individuals and philanthropic groups to complement the efforts of our foreign partners by supporting us with items and facilities that will help improve on the quality of teaching and learning in the school,” she said.
The NCS, which was established in 2004, is offering free computer training to pupils and students in the metropolis who cannot afford to enrol at the various commercial computer centres in the area.
The establishment of the school was the initiative of some Dutch volunteers and their Ghanaian collaborators.
The volunteers, Messrs Eef Bijlsma, Ruud van Soelen and Martin van Dam, decided to establish the school after they had returned home at the end of their service at the Tamale Women’s Training Institute.
The Technical Co-ordinator of the NCS, Mr Alhassan Mohammed, thanked his Dutch collaborators for their commitment and immense support to the people over the years.
The Savelugu School for the Deaf (SAVDEAF) received 15 computers and the Future Administrators Academy at Gurugu, 10.
The students have also agreed to sponsor 10 needy children at Nyohini, a Tamale suburb, in their education for the next five years.
The students also refurbished the Nyohini Computer School (NCS) and offered free computer services to the community.
A tutor at the Dutch school, who led the three-member team to Tamale to make the presentation, Mr Vincent Pol, said the total cost of the items including the funds for the sponsorship totalled €10,000.
He explained that the money was realised through voluntary service during which the students undertook various vocation jobs in their respective communities.
Mr Pol further indicated that their decision to support the school and students was based on information about the plight of the beneficiaries particularly the SAVDEAF whose computers, which were earlier donated by the NCS, had broken down.
The two students who accompanied Mr Pol, who is also a board member of the NCS, were Merlija Van Bokhorst and Max Mulder.
The Deputy Director of Education in charge of the Savelugu/Nanton District, Mr Moses Akwotugu, received the computers on behalf of the SAVDEAF.
The Headmistress of the school, Madam Immaculate A. Atoriyah, expressed appreciation to their benefactors for their valuable support to the special institution.
“We appeal to other individuals and philanthropic groups to complement the efforts of our foreign partners by supporting us with items and facilities that will help improve on the quality of teaching and learning in the school,” she said.
The NCS, which was established in 2004, is offering free computer training to pupils and students in the metropolis who cannot afford to enrol at the various commercial computer centres in the area.
The establishment of the school was the initiative of some Dutch volunteers and their Ghanaian collaborators.
The volunteers, Messrs Eef Bijlsma, Ruud van Soelen and Martin van Dam, decided to establish the school after they had returned home at the end of their service at the Tamale Women’s Training Institute.
The Technical Co-ordinator of the NCS, Mr Alhassan Mohammed, thanked his Dutch collaborators for their commitment and immense support to the people over the years.
WATER SHORTAGE HITS YENDI MUNICIPALITY (BACK PAGE)
A SEVERE water shortage has hit the Yendi Municipality following the breakdown of the electricity transformer at the water pumping station.
For almost three weeks now, business and social activities have virtually slowed down, while workers and schoolchildren have been compelled to report late to work and classes.
A visit to the area was greeted with people carrying various types and sizes of water containers on their heads, on bicycles and in vehicles, combing the length and breadth of the municipality and beyond in search of water.
The few wells in the area were also drying up as a result of the high demand for water.
The people and institutions such as the Yendi Hospital are now relying on some few water tankers that are supplying water from Tamale, a distance of about 97 kilometres.
During the harmattan season last year, when the main water source, River Dakar, dried up, a similar water crisis hit the area .
According to the Yendi Municipal Manager of the Ghana Water Company, Mr Peter Wuni, a well from which the company was temporarily supplying water had also dried up.
He said the transformer might have been damaged from the frequent power fluctuation that had been occurring at the pumping station of late.
Mr Wuni said his outfit was currently collaborating with the management of the Volta River Authority to rectify the situation.
The Yendi Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Mahama Adama Walvis Hudu, appealed to the people to remain calm as the assembly was working hard with the other stakeholders to address the problem.
He, however, entreated the Ghana Water Company to instal a stand-by generator to forestall future occurrences.
He noted that since the population of the area was increasing, it was important that service providers expanded their systems to meet such needs.
For almost three weeks now, business and social activities have virtually slowed down, while workers and schoolchildren have been compelled to report late to work and classes.
A visit to the area was greeted with people carrying various types and sizes of water containers on their heads, on bicycles and in vehicles, combing the length and breadth of the municipality and beyond in search of water.
The few wells in the area were also drying up as a result of the high demand for water.
The people and institutions such as the Yendi Hospital are now relying on some few water tankers that are supplying water from Tamale, a distance of about 97 kilometres.
During the harmattan season last year, when the main water source, River Dakar, dried up, a similar water crisis hit the area .
According to the Yendi Municipal Manager of the Ghana Water Company, Mr Peter Wuni, a well from which the company was temporarily supplying water had also dried up.
He said the transformer might have been damaged from the frequent power fluctuation that had been occurring at the pumping station of late.
Mr Wuni said his outfit was currently collaborating with the management of the Volta River Authority to rectify the situation.
The Yendi Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Mahama Adama Walvis Hudu, appealed to the people to remain calm as the assembly was working hard with the other stakeholders to address the problem.
He, however, entreated the Ghana Water Company to instal a stand-by generator to forestall future occurrences.
He noted that since the population of the area was increasing, it was important that service providers expanded their systems to meet such needs.
Monday, May 4, 2009
PRAGMATIC MEASURES NEEDED...To bridge North-South divide (PAGE 15)
THE United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Ghana, Dauda Toure, has underscored the need for pragmatic measures to be worked out to reduce the development disparities between the northern and southern parts of the country.
He also observed that development interventions in the north would not achieve the desired impact if people at the beneficiary communities were not actively involved in the planning and implementation of such programmes.
“It is always important to work with people at the communities to find out their priority areas before any intervention is carried out to address their problems,” Mr Dauda indicated.
The Resident Representative who was on a two-day working visit to the Northern Region was speaking during a courtesy call on the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Sumani Nayina in Tamale on Tuesday.
He said there were 40 UN agencies currently working in the country, and mentioned the various roles his outfit was playing to achieve lasting peace in the North which he noted was necessary in accelerating development in that part of the country.
On the way forward in the protracted conflicts in the area, Mr Dauda proposed a two-prong approach to the issue; creation of employment opportunities and continuous dialogue.
In these regard he said the UN agencies in the north were already working towards improving the lives of the people in that area and that his outfit had also engaged some prominent persons, including the National House of Chiefs and government on achieving sustainable peace in the region.
Touching on natural disasters such as floods, the Resident Representative noted that with the onset of this year’s rains, it was important to take precautionary measures to prevent and mitigate possible effects of floods in the area.
He recounted the 2007 floods in the north and its devastating effects and the subsequent interventions by the UN agencies and other collaborators in the reconstruction efforts.
“As we move into the rainy season, we look forward to working with the government and other stakeholders in order that life and property are not destroyed,” Mr Dauda stated.
He however emphasised that structural and long term measures must be fashioned out to mitigate the effects of such disasters on the vulnerable in future.
Mr Nayina, for his part, expressed appreciation to the UN agencies for their immense support to the people, particularly during the flood period.
He said even though agriculture was the mainstay of the people, the area also abound in natural resources such as mineral deposits.
The minister mentioned the lack of irrigation facilities, educational and employment opportunities as some of the difficulties facing the people.
Other challenges confronting the people, Mr Nayina said, were the long-drawn-out chieftaincy conflicts, and cited the Bimbilla, Gushiegu, Central Gonja and the Dagbon cases as some of the issues yet to be resolved.
He also observed that development interventions in the north would not achieve the desired impact if people at the beneficiary communities were not actively involved in the planning and implementation of such programmes.
“It is always important to work with people at the communities to find out their priority areas before any intervention is carried out to address their problems,” Mr Dauda indicated.
The Resident Representative who was on a two-day working visit to the Northern Region was speaking during a courtesy call on the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Sumani Nayina in Tamale on Tuesday.
He said there were 40 UN agencies currently working in the country, and mentioned the various roles his outfit was playing to achieve lasting peace in the North which he noted was necessary in accelerating development in that part of the country.
On the way forward in the protracted conflicts in the area, Mr Dauda proposed a two-prong approach to the issue; creation of employment opportunities and continuous dialogue.
In these regard he said the UN agencies in the north were already working towards improving the lives of the people in that area and that his outfit had also engaged some prominent persons, including the National House of Chiefs and government on achieving sustainable peace in the region.
Touching on natural disasters such as floods, the Resident Representative noted that with the onset of this year’s rains, it was important to take precautionary measures to prevent and mitigate possible effects of floods in the area.
He recounted the 2007 floods in the north and its devastating effects and the subsequent interventions by the UN agencies and other collaborators in the reconstruction efforts.
“As we move into the rainy season, we look forward to working with the government and other stakeholders in order that life and property are not destroyed,” Mr Dauda stated.
He however emphasised that structural and long term measures must be fashioned out to mitigate the effects of such disasters on the vulnerable in future.
Mr Nayina, for his part, expressed appreciation to the UN agencies for their immense support to the people, particularly during the flood period.
He said even though agriculture was the mainstay of the people, the area also abound in natural resources such as mineral deposits.
The minister mentioned the lack of irrigation facilities, educational and employment opportunities as some of the difficulties facing the people.
Other challenges confronting the people, Mr Nayina said, were the long-drawn-out chieftaincy conflicts, and cited the Bimbilla, Gushiegu, Central Gonja and the Dagbon cases as some of the issues yet to be resolved.
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