MORE banks are being attracted to the prevailing business opportunities in the sprawling Tamale metropolis with the establishment of new branches in the area.
The latest to open a branch in the business district of the metropolis is the Prudential Bank. This brings to 25 the number of branches established by the bank nationwide.
According to the Deputy Managing Director of the bank, Mr Joseph Okine-Afraine, the setting up of the branches was in conformity with the bank’s objective of extending their services to customers in all parts of the country to encourage savings and trade.
He explained that the bank was an indigenous Ghanaian entity that had made significant gains in the banking sector since its establishment some 13 years ago.
Mr Okine-Afraine said in line with the bank’s vision to offer quality service to their customers the bank would move to the door steps of its customers to collect their daily savings. He said for those who could not come to the offices to check on their balance, the bank would send the notices through the Mobile Text System.
He also indicated that the bank would offer services to all other sectors of the economy with special focus on small and medium scale enterprises in the country.
The manager therefore entreated the people to always patronise the services of the bank to enjoy its innovative products, quality service, reliability, safety and comfortability in banking.
The Dakpema, Mohammed Dawuni, Chief of Tamale, observed that the relocation of banks to the Tamale Metropolis was an ample manifestation of the fact that the area was peaceful and congenial for commerce.
He, therefore, entreated investors not to hesitate in establishing their business in the metropolis.
He futher advised the people particularly traders to cultivate the habit of saving in the banks to ensure safety and sustainability of their businesses.
Most residents also commended the decision of the various banks to establish their branches in the metropolis but urged the management of the banks to explore more innovative technologies to improve on their services to their customers and also reduce their interest rates on borrowing.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
NDC DELEGATES INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT (PAGE 15, JAN 21, 2010)
SOME delegates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who were on their way back to Accra after attending the 8th national conference in Tamale were involved in an accident last Monday .
The four occupants of the pickup on which they were travelling sustained various degrees of injuries around Buipe Junction on the Tamale-Kumasi highway.
The victims have been identified as Alex Ankrah, 50, Charles Tay, 28, Osbon Tham, 28, and Mauli Akpanga, 42.
The victims, who are believed to be staff of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in Accra, are, however, responding to treatment at the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
According to the Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Ebenezer Tetteh, the victims could be airlifted to Accra for further medical attention if their condition was observed to be critical.
Mr Tetteh explained that the driver of the vehicle, Mauli Akpanga, lost control after the vehicle burst one of its front tyres.
The four occupants of the pickup on which they were travelling sustained various degrees of injuries around Buipe Junction on the Tamale-Kumasi highway.
The victims have been identified as Alex Ankrah, 50, Charles Tay, 28, Osbon Tham, 28, and Mauli Akpanga, 42.
The victims, who are believed to be staff of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in Accra, are, however, responding to treatment at the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
According to the Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Ebenezer Tetteh, the victims could be airlifted to Accra for further medical attention if their condition was observed to be critical.
Mr Tetteh explained that the driver of the vehicle, Mauli Akpanga, lost control after the vehicle burst one of its front tyres.
ELECTRIFYING ATMOSPHERE, BARREN MATCH (PAGE 21, JAN 20, 2010)
THE atmosphere was electrifying, the spectators were hysteric, but the match itself was drippy. No wonder the outcome was a barren draw.
Even though I went to the Badenova Stadium with a colleague on December 12, last year to witness an anticipated competitive premier league match between the home side, SC Freiburg and FC Koln, the passionate supporters of the two uninspiring teams ended up entertaining me.
They were there in their thousands and in the chilly weather, stood on their feet, drumming, cheering, jumping and waving their respective flags to urge their teams on to victory that never came.
The stadium was earlier set ablaze with the arrival of the teams onto the turf. The supporters gleefully screamed the names of their beloved players as it blared out of the loud speakers.
And at the end of the lacklustre match, it became a shouting duel between the partisan Freiburg crowd and the marginal visiting supporters at both ends of the posts. As to be expected, the home side eventually won the shouting competition.
The buzz on the match began on a Friday night with the arrival of supporters of the visiting team into Freiburg. And by the following morning, almost everybody was spotted in the colours of the two teams: red and white.
Vehicles and trams were packed with supporters made up of the young and old of both sexes all heading to the stadium. And by 3:30 p.m. (kick-off) local time, the 25,000 capacity stadium was full.
The contrast was sharp. A premier league match involving my home team, Real Tamale United (RTU), in Tamale, does not receive such patronage. Only few supporters turn up to watch matches at the 21,000 plush stadium. They usually prefer to stay back and pay paltry fees to watch English Premiership matches that have become popular in Ghana, following the exploits of some celebrated Ghanaian players such as Michael Essien. They describe the local matches as lacking in quality.
The Freiburg-Koln match did not live up to my expectation either but their raucous supporters won my admiration for the display of loyalty and adoration for their respective teams.
Never mind that players upfront for the home team were particularly disappointing as they kept on fumbling and dancing around the ball as if they had never directed a ball into the net. Have they?
The vociferous supporters won the day for me after all. And as I walked out of the stadium in a numb feet in the frigid temperature of about two degrees Celsius, I said to myself, “What a match!”
Even though I went to the Badenova Stadium with a colleague on December 12, last year to witness an anticipated competitive premier league match between the home side, SC Freiburg and FC Koln, the passionate supporters of the two uninspiring teams ended up entertaining me.
They were there in their thousands and in the chilly weather, stood on their feet, drumming, cheering, jumping and waving their respective flags to urge their teams on to victory that never came.
The stadium was earlier set ablaze with the arrival of the teams onto the turf. The supporters gleefully screamed the names of their beloved players as it blared out of the loud speakers.
And at the end of the lacklustre match, it became a shouting duel between the partisan Freiburg crowd and the marginal visiting supporters at both ends of the posts. As to be expected, the home side eventually won the shouting competition.
The buzz on the match began on a Friday night with the arrival of supporters of the visiting team into Freiburg. And by the following morning, almost everybody was spotted in the colours of the two teams: red and white.
Vehicles and trams were packed with supporters made up of the young and old of both sexes all heading to the stadium. And by 3:30 p.m. (kick-off) local time, the 25,000 capacity stadium was full.
The contrast was sharp. A premier league match involving my home team, Real Tamale United (RTU), in Tamale, does not receive such patronage. Only few supporters turn up to watch matches at the 21,000 plush stadium. They usually prefer to stay back and pay paltry fees to watch English Premiership matches that have become popular in Ghana, following the exploits of some celebrated Ghanaian players such as Michael Essien. They describe the local matches as lacking in quality.
The Freiburg-Koln match did not live up to my expectation either but their raucous supporters won my admiration for the display of loyalty and adoration for their respective teams.
Never mind that players upfront for the home team were particularly disappointing as they kept on fumbling and dancing around the ball as if they had never directed a ball into the net. Have they?
The vociferous supporters won the day for me after all. And as I walked out of the stadium in a numb feet in the frigid temperature of about two degrees Celsius, I said to myself, “What a match!”
AN EXPERIENCE WITH WINTER (PAGE 20, JAN 20, 2010)
INDEED, this is not the best time to be in Europe. At least not for one who comes from the northern part of Ghana where the temperature mostly swings between 36 and 40 degrees Celsius.
I had to spend part of my time virtually “imprisoned” in my humble abode in Freiburg where the weather was mostly freezing (below zero) just like in other parts of Europe as the days drew closer to last Christmas.
In spite of all the thick sets of warm shirts, “pullovers” and multiple socks coupled with the woollen gloves that I always wore during my outdoor activities I still suffered from the unrelenting and unsympathetic bite of the wintry weather.
Sometimes both my hands and feet became numb as the cold wafted through my ears and nose while my lips trembled.
Almost everybody is spotted in gloves, hats, boots, snickers and scarves of different types and shapes and colour just to provide some warmth and comfort in a region with seasonal extremes and changes in weather.
It is the period of the year when a lot of people catch bouts of cold with muscle aches, runny nose with intermittent coughs.
Even though I was able to manage the uncomfortable situation for the entire period of my stay, days leading to the Xmas became more chilly as the snowflakes began falling “painting” everything white.
The roads became slippery compelling pedestrians, cyclists and motorists to tread more cautiously.
In other parts of Europe such as Britain and France, airlines were compelled to either delay or cancel their flights, as the freezing temperatures and heavy storms swept across those countries.
There were large numbers of frustrated commuters journeying for the Christmas holidays at airports, bus and train stations as witnessed on television.
In spite of all the challenges the weather brought along, it was also a time for fun for both kids and adults as they engaged in outdoor activities such as building of snow houses and castles, making walls and creating paths to connect to the buildings. They eventually created snow villages with much fanfare.
I really enjoyed every bit of my stay in the “Eco-City” of Freiburg except for the chilly temperatures. I arrived back home in Tamale on December 27 to the glowing smiles of the Sun and the warm embrace of family and friends.
But I am not done yet, as I will be journeying back to Berlin in the last week of January this month to wrap up on the “close-up” programme organised and sponsored by the Goethe Institute for practising journalists from various parts of the world.
The Goethe Institute is a German cultural institution operating worldwide. It promotes the study of the German language abroad and also encourages international cultural exchange and relations.
I had to spend part of my time virtually “imprisoned” in my humble abode in Freiburg where the weather was mostly freezing (below zero) just like in other parts of Europe as the days drew closer to last Christmas.
In spite of all the thick sets of warm shirts, “pullovers” and multiple socks coupled with the woollen gloves that I always wore during my outdoor activities I still suffered from the unrelenting and unsympathetic bite of the wintry weather.
Sometimes both my hands and feet became numb as the cold wafted through my ears and nose while my lips trembled.
Almost everybody is spotted in gloves, hats, boots, snickers and scarves of different types and shapes and colour just to provide some warmth and comfort in a region with seasonal extremes and changes in weather.
It is the period of the year when a lot of people catch bouts of cold with muscle aches, runny nose with intermittent coughs.
Even though I was able to manage the uncomfortable situation for the entire period of my stay, days leading to the Xmas became more chilly as the snowflakes began falling “painting” everything white.
The roads became slippery compelling pedestrians, cyclists and motorists to tread more cautiously.
In other parts of Europe such as Britain and France, airlines were compelled to either delay or cancel their flights, as the freezing temperatures and heavy storms swept across those countries.
There were large numbers of frustrated commuters journeying for the Christmas holidays at airports, bus and train stations as witnessed on television.
In spite of all the challenges the weather brought along, it was also a time for fun for both kids and adults as they engaged in outdoor activities such as building of snow houses and castles, making walls and creating paths to connect to the buildings. They eventually created snow villages with much fanfare.
I really enjoyed every bit of my stay in the “Eco-City” of Freiburg except for the chilly temperatures. I arrived back home in Tamale on December 27 to the glowing smiles of the Sun and the warm embrace of family and friends.
But I am not done yet, as I will be journeying back to Berlin in the last week of January this month to wrap up on the “close-up” programme organised and sponsored by the Goethe Institute for practising journalists from various parts of the world.
The Goethe Institute is a German cultural institution operating worldwide. It promotes the study of the German language abroad and also encourages international cultural exchange and relations.
1,900 DELEGATES, 64 CANDIDATES ATTENDED NDC CONGRESS (PAGE 15, JAN 20, 2010)
THE crowd was massive, the mood was exhilarating and the outcome of the Eighth National Delegates’ Conference of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Tamale was not only peaceful but also highly successful.
The perceived tension and animosity in the party that preceded the holding of the congress in Tamale eventually gave way to hugs and chanting of unity and victory songs amongst the protagonists.
Indeed most delegates to the congress have described the three-day event on the theme “Fulfilling the better Ghana agenda” as a victory for the NDC and for democracy.
In all, there were 1,900 delegates with 64 candidates contesting for nine positions. It attracted thousands of accredited observers, including diplomats from Ghana and the rest of Africa, Europe and North America.
Indeed the congress virtually brought the seat of government to the sprawling northern regional capital of Tamale. The people who gathrered included the President, Vice President former President, Ministers of State, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives and other government functionaries from all parts of the country.
“This congress will certainly leave a lasting impression, for its successful outcome has amply demonstrated that we can always disagree to agree, as well as use dialogue to iron out our differences,” Hajia Fulera Mahama, a delegate, stated.
She also commended the residents of Tamale, leadership and supporters of the NDC for the maturity displayed during the entire period of the congress and indicated that “we have shown the whole world that our party is not made up of people of violent characters after all and has also reinforced the fact that the people of Tamale are hospitable and peace-loving rather than what we have been made to believe sometimes to the contrary.”
The closing remarks of President Atta Mills also summed up the outcome of the congress when he said, “If our detractors are disappointed, we have no apology for them. The result of the congress is a determination of all to build a better Ghana.”
Indeed, commendation should go to the Northern Regional Chairman of the NDC, Alhaji Sumani Zakari, and his team of executive, who worked very hard to ensure the success of the programme, which was the first of its kind to be organised in the northern part of the country. It was also the first mass gathering of the ruling party since the 2005 congress in Koforidua.
The Northern Regional Police Commander, Mr Angwutugbe Awuni, must also be given thumbs up for leading the 200 strong police personnel to ensure peace and order before, during and after the congress.
Equally deserving of mention is the NDC Northern Regional vice-chairman of the party, Alhaji Chief Sofo Azorka who organised some able-bodied men to complement the police efforts in controlling the enthusiastic crowd who had massed up at the congress grounds to have a feel of the euphoria.
All was certainly not rosy. The issues about accreditation and accommodation were major challenges to the organisers. Majority of the media personnel who covered the congress spent two days of frustration after taking several photographs. At because at the end we all had to make do with our identity cards.
Some few delegates and party supporters who had travelled from far and near as observers had to put up on the tables in the auditorium and elsewhere.
At the end of the orderly but gruelling election supervised by the Electoral Commission, the incumbent Chairman and General Secretary, Dr Kwabena Adjei and Asiedu Nketia, aka General Mosquito, respectively, retained their positions with overwhelming approval.
The six vice-chairmanship positions went to the wife of former President Rawlings, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya Kofi Porturphy, Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Alhaji Said Sinare and Mr Danny Annan.
The Spokesperson for the former President, Mr Kofi Adam, and George Lawson became the two Deputy General Secretaries of the party, while the position of Propaganda Secretary went to Richard Quarshigah, with Kamel Noshie becoming the Treasurer.
New National Executive Committee members including Alhaji Babalamin Abu-Sadat, Victoria Kumah Mintah, John Owusu Agyeman, Richard Lartey and Dr E.K. Hayford were also sworn in.
Congress also amended portions of the party’s constitution. The delegates voted in favour of some amendments, including the creation of a Party Leader position.
The position, voted for massively by the delegates, will have a sitting President of the country who is a member of the NDC as the leader, or the party chairman takes up the position when the party is out of government or any person elected the flag bearer of the party in case the sitting President is not elected the flag bearer.
Congress also accepted to expand its constituency delegates to regional conferences from six to eight besides the creation of a three-man special complaints committee to deal with complaints of and about party officers and the creation of an office of a director of electoral issues.
Consideration and voting on some other proposals, including the amendment of the Propaganda Secretary in favour of Communications Secretary or Political Education Officer, were, however, deferred for either being too controversial or the time not beingconducive.
Most of the delegates expressed satisfaction with the choices they made. Alhaji Musah Issah from the Ashanti Region described the new executive as very matured. “Our elected leaders are made up of a blend of very experienced persons who have mastered the art of politics over the years.”
According to President Mills, “the campaign for the 2012 elections has just begun, and we will win”.
The President, who had in an earlier speech described himself as a serial loser turned serial winner, stressed that the NDC would surely win in the coming elections.
“If our detractors are disappointed, we owe them no apology because God is on our side. He listened to us and gave us more than what we asked from Him,” he said to a loud applause from the delegates.
Well, time will surely tell whether or not the NDC will be united for victory in the 2012 elections.
The perceived tension and animosity in the party that preceded the holding of the congress in Tamale eventually gave way to hugs and chanting of unity and victory songs amongst the protagonists.
Indeed most delegates to the congress have described the three-day event on the theme “Fulfilling the better Ghana agenda” as a victory for the NDC and for democracy.
In all, there were 1,900 delegates with 64 candidates contesting for nine positions. It attracted thousands of accredited observers, including diplomats from Ghana and the rest of Africa, Europe and North America.
Indeed the congress virtually brought the seat of government to the sprawling northern regional capital of Tamale. The people who gathrered included the President, Vice President former President, Ministers of State, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives and other government functionaries from all parts of the country.
“This congress will certainly leave a lasting impression, for its successful outcome has amply demonstrated that we can always disagree to agree, as well as use dialogue to iron out our differences,” Hajia Fulera Mahama, a delegate, stated.
She also commended the residents of Tamale, leadership and supporters of the NDC for the maturity displayed during the entire period of the congress and indicated that “we have shown the whole world that our party is not made up of people of violent characters after all and has also reinforced the fact that the people of Tamale are hospitable and peace-loving rather than what we have been made to believe sometimes to the contrary.”
The closing remarks of President Atta Mills also summed up the outcome of the congress when he said, “If our detractors are disappointed, we have no apology for them. The result of the congress is a determination of all to build a better Ghana.”
Indeed, commendation should go to the Northern Regional Chairman of the NDC, Alhaji Sumani Zakari, and his team of executive, who worked very hard to ensure the success of the programme, which was the first of its kind to be organised in the northern part of the country. It was also the first mass gathering of the ruling party since the 2005 congress in Koforidua.
The Northern Regional Police Commander, Mr Angwutugbe Awuni, must also be given thumbs up for leading the 200 strong police personnel to ensure peace and order before, during and after the congress.
Equally deserving of mention is the NDC Northern Regional vice-chairman of the party, Alhaji Chief Sofo Azorka who organised some able-bodied men to complement the police efforts in controlling the enthusiastic crowd who had massed up at the congress grounds to have a feel of the euphoria.
All was certainly not rosy. The issues about accreditation and accommodation were major challenges to the organisers. Majority of the media personnel who covered the congress spent two days of frustration after taking several photographs. At because at the end we all had to make do with our identity cards.
Some few delegates and party supporters who had travelled from far and near as observers had to put up on the tables in the auditorium and elsewhere.
At the end of the orderly but gruelling election supervised by the Electoral Commission, the incumbent Chairman and General Secretary, Dr Kwabena Adjei and Asiedu Nketia, aka General Mosquito, respectively, retained their positions with overwhelming approval.
The six vice-chairmanship positions went to the wife of former President Rawlings, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya Kofi Porturphy, Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Alhaji Said Sinare and Mr Danny Annan.
The Spokesperson for the former President, Mr Kofi Adam, and George Lawson became the two Deputy General Secretaries of the party, while the position of Propaganda Secretary went to Richard Quarshigah, with Kamel Noshie becoming the Treasurer.
New National Executive Committee members including Alhaji Babalamin Abu-Sadat, Victoria Kumah Mintah, John Owusu Agyeman, Richard Lartey and Dr E.K. Hayford were also sworn in.
Congress also amended portions of the party’s constitution. The delegates voted in favour of some amendments, including the creation of a Party Leader position.
The position, voted for massively by the delegates, will have a sitting President of the country who is a member of the NDC as the leader, or the party chairman takes up the position when the party is out of government or any person elected the flag bearer of the party in case the sitting President is not elected the flag bearer.
Congress also accepted to expand its constituency delegates to regional conferences from six to eight besides the creation of a three-man special complaints committee to deal with complaints of and about party officers and the creation of an office of a director of electoral issues.
Consideration and voting on some other proposals, including the amendment of the Propaganda Secretary in favour of Communications Secretary or Political Education Officer, were, however, deferred for either being too controversial or the time not beingconducive.
Most of the delegates expressed satisfaction with the choices they made. Alhaji Musah Issah from the Ashanti Region described the new executive as very matured. “Our elected leaders are made up of a blend of very experienced persons who have mastered the art of politics over the years.”
According to President Mills, “the campaign for the 2012 elections has just begun, and we will win”.
The President, who had in an earlier speech described himself as a serial loser turned serial winner, stressed that the NDC would surely win in the coming elections.
“If our detractors are disappointed, we owe them no apology because God is on our side. He listened to us and gave us more than what we asked from Him,” he said to a loud applause from the delegates.
Well, time will surely tell whether or not the NDC will be united for victory in the 2012 elections.
FULANI LEADERS READY TO WORK FOR PEACE (PAGE 14, JAN 20, 2010)
THE leadership of Fulanis in the country have expressed their willingness to support the government in its efforts at bringing sanity into the activities of Fulani herdsmen in the country.
As part of the measures being rolled out by the National Union of Fulanis to check the nefarious activities by some of its members, the union has begun registering alien herdsmen in the country.
So far some members in Yeji in the Brong Ahafo Region and some parts of the Northern Region have been issued with identification cards in order to track their movements. The National Secretary of the union, Mr Burhanu Deen Babalwaiz, who was speaking during a meeting with the Northern Regional Minister, Stephen Nayina in Tamale, entreated the authorities to always liaise with his outfit on matters of erring herdsmen in the country.
The Public Relations Officer of the union, Alhaji Osman Yaro, expressed dissatisfaction that some chiefs and people in the host communities in the country were supporting the criminal activities of some herdsmen by shielding them for personal gains, instead of reporting them to the law enforcement agencies.
He, therefore, appealed to the government to prevail upon the leadership of such communities to always volunteer information on the activities of the erring herdsmen to the police for the law to take its course.
The minister for his part, noted that despite the fact that the government recognised the ECOWAS Protocol that allowed citizens of member states to move about freely , “our guests should not take undue advantage of the treaty to perpetuate heinous crimes in the country”.
“There has been a series of armed robbery attacks by some Fulanis in some corridors of the region that is quite alarming and those grazing their cattle indulge in raping our women in the wilderness while destroying farm produce,” the minister alleged.
He noted that even though there were law abiding members of the union, the few miscreants among them were dragging the union’s name in the mud and urged them to educate such people to live above reproach.
Other members present at the meeting were the Fulani chief of Tamale, Alhaji Garibu Prempeh, his counterpart from Yeji who is also the national chairman of the union, Ali Issah Bukari.
As part of the measures being rolled out by the National Union of Fulanis to check the nefarious activities by some of its members, the union has begun registering alien herdsmen in the country.
So far some members in Yeji in the Brong Ahafo Region and some parts of the Northern Region have been issued with identification cards in order to track their movements. The National Secretary of the union, Mr Burhanu Deen Babalwaiz, who was speaking during a meeting with the Northern Regional Minister, Stephen Nayina in Tamale, entreated the authorities to always liaise with his outfit on matters of erring herdsmen in the country.
The Public Relations Officer of the union, Alhaji Osman Yaro, expressed dissatisfaction that some chiefs and people in the host communities in the country were supporting the criminal activities of some herdsmen by shielding them for personal gains, instead of reporting them to the law enforcement agencies.
He, therefore, appealed to the government to prevail upon the leadership of such communities to always volunteer information on the activities of the erring herdsmen to the police for the law to take its course.
The minister for his part, noted that despite the fact that the government recognised the ECOWAS Protocol that allowed citizens of member states to move about freely , “our guests should not take undue advantage of the treaty to perpetuate heinous crimes in the country”.
“There has been a series of armed robbery attacks by some Fulanis in some corridors of the region that is quite alarming and those grazing their cattle indulge in raping our women in the wilderness while destroying farm produce,” the minister alleged.
He noted that even though there were law abiding members of the union, the few miscreants among them were dragging the union’s name in the mud and urged them to educate such people to live above reproach.
Other members present at the meeting were the Fulani chief of Tamale, Alhaji Garibu Prempeh, his counterpart from Yeji who is also the national chairman of the union, Ali Issah Bukari.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
PREZ DEBUNKS FACTIONS IN NDC (SPREAD, JAN 18, 2010)
President John Atta Mills has said the perceived factionalism in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lacks any substance and that he is not aware of any such division.
He, therefore, advised those who were holding themselves up as belonging to the Atta Mills faction to desist from that since they were wasting their time.
“Those who hold themselves up as belonging to Atta Mills faction, if there is any, are wasting their time. Atta Mills is not a product by itself but an entity created by the NDC,” he stated.
The President, who was addressing the eighth national delegates congress of the NDC in Tamale last Saturday, however, reminded the people of the need to close their ranks and ensure that unity prevailed at various structures of the party at all times to position the party for future victories.
He asked them to count their blessings that the party won the 2008 elections and wondered where they would have found themselves if the NDC had failed to win the elections.
The President further acknowledged that even though they might have some reservations or be frustrated in the scheme of things, it was better for the party to be in power than found itself in opposition.
He, therefore, advised both leadership and supporters of the party to use the opportunity the congress had offered to forgive each other and chart a path of unity for the strengthening of the party.
“Let this congress be remembered as the event that brought total unity and renewal of a better NDC,” he stated.
President Mills described those wishing for the demise of the party as doomsday prophets and emphasised that, “we should not give the doomsday’s prophets their due; let us not allow the media to set the agenda for us”.
On the elections, the President entreated those who did not win not to be troubled because there was always another chance.
He asked them to take a cue from his personal experience concerning his attempts at the presidency and said, “the serial loser has become a winner and he will be a serial winner”.
The President also tasked the new national executive of the NDC to institute an enquiry into the allegation of vote buying and bribery at the recent election of the National Youth and Women’s Organiser at Sunyani and Winneba respectively.
The allegations were made by some of the disappointed candidates after the elections at Sunyani on January 9, 2010, in which an aide to the President, Mr Ludwig Hlodze, was elected as the new National Youth Organiser of the party, replacing Mr Iddrisu Haruna, who did not contest.
“I am concerned and disturbed about reports of alleged doling of monies to obtain votes; even as they relate to the Castle and I think it is important we all realise that what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong,” he stated.
Touching on governance, the President admitted his government’s inadequacies in some sectors but gave the assurance that the situation would improve to give meaning to his better Ghana mantra.
President Mills, however, asked the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to spare his government “the sanctimonious and self-serving effusions,” since they created the mess the nation was undergoing.
“The country that we took over was certainly not a country that had seen eight years of positive change; if there had been candour on the part of the NPP, people’s expectations will not have been high as they are today,” he stated.
The President, however, affirmed that he and his team were undaunted because the government was guided by their commitment to raise the standard of living of Ghanaians. “We are more united, focused and determined to build a better nation for our people.”
President Mills pledged his readiness to accept constructive criticisms from party members and Ghanaians and expressed appreciation for former President Rawlings for his suggestions and advice to the government.
The Vice-President, John Mahama, described the congress as historic, being the first mass gathering of the party since 2005 and the maiden assembly of such event in the northern sector of the country.
He acknowledged that the party had faced some challenges lately and urged members to reflect soberly on those happenings to chart a new progressive course.
Mr Mahama attributed the bickering to open criticisms and hostilities towards each other and the breakdown in the communication system.
He, however, reminded the people that “we have gone through difficult times during which people have died and others maimed. Therefore, our destiny is in our own hands”.
Former President Rawlings also called for party harmony and observed that the NDC might have overcome the NPP government’s malice and viciousness but that the government might also have to deal with the vindictiveness of some of its party members.
He advised the delegates to vote with their conscience by electing credible and hard-working people who could support the government to fulfil its electoral promises to the people.
He, therefore, advised those who were holding themselves up as belonging to the Atta Mills faction to desist from that since they were wasting their time.
“Those who hold themselves up as belonging to Atta Mills faction, if there is any, are wasting their time. Atta Mills is not a product by itself but an entity created by the NDC,” he stated.
The President, who was addressing the eighth national delegates congress of the NDC in Tamale last Saturday, however, reminded the people of the need to close their ranks and ensure that unity prevailed at various structures of the party at all times to position the party for future victories.
He asked them to count their blessings that the party won the 2008 elections and wondered where they would have found themselves if the NDC had failed to win the elections.
The President further acknowledged that even though they might have some reservations or be frustrated in the scheme of things, it was better for the party to be in power than found itself in opposition.
He, therefore, advised both leadership and supporters of the party to use the opportunity the congress had offered to forgive each other and chart a path of unity for the strengthening of the party.
“Let this congress be remembered as the event that brought total unity and renewal of a better NDC,” he stated.
President Mills described those wishing for the demise of the party as doomsday prophets and emphasised that, “we should not give the doomsday’s prophets their due; let us not allow the media to set the agenda for us”.
On the elections, the President entreated those who did not win not to be troubled because there was always another chance.
He asked them to take a cue from his personal experience concerning his attempts at the presidency and said, “the serial loser has become a winner and he will be a serial winner”.
The President also tasked the new national executive of the NDC to institute an enquiry into the allegation of vote buying and bribery at the recent election of the National Youth and Women’s Organiser at Sunyani and Winneba respectively.
The allegations were made by some of the disappointed candidates after the elections at Sunyani on January 9, 2010, in which an aide to the President, Mr Ludwig Hlodze, was elected as the new National Youth Organiser of the party, replacing Mr Iddrisu Haruna, who did not contest.
“I am concerned and disturbed about reports of alleged doling of monies to obtain votes; even as they relate to the Castle and I think it is important we all realise that what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong,” he stated.
Touching on governance, the President admitted his government’s inadequacies in some sectors but gave the assurance that the situation would improve to give meaning to his better Ghana mantra.
President Mills, however, asked the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to spare his government “the sanctimonious and self-serving effusions,” since they created the mess the nation was undergoing.
“The country that we took over was certainly not a country that had seen eight years of positive change; if there had been candour on the part of the NPP, people’s expectations will not have been high as they are today,” he stated.
The President, however, affirmed that he and his team were undaunted because the government was guided by their commitment to raise the standard of living of Ghanaians. “We are more united, focused and determined to build a better nation for our people.”
President Mills pledged his readiness to accept constructive criticisms from party members and Ghanaians and expressed appreciation for former President Rawlings for his suggestions and advice to the government.
The Vice-President, John Mahama, described the congress as historic, being the first mass gathering of the party since 2005 and the maiden assembly of such event in the northern sector of the country.
He acknowledged that the party had faced some challenges lately and urged members to reflect soberly on those happenings to chart a new progressive course.
Mr Mahama attributed the bickering to open criticisms and hostilities towards each other and the breakdown in the communication system.
He, however, reminded the people that “we have gone through difficult times during which people have died and others maimed. Therefore, our destiny is in our own hands”.
Former President Rawlings also called for party harmony and observed that the NDC might have overcome the NPP government’s malice and viciousness but that the government might also have to deal with the vindictiveness of some of its party members.
He advised the delegates to vote with their conscience by electing credible and hard-working people who could support the government to fulfil its electoral promises to the people.
ARMED ROBBERS ESCAPE FROM JAIL (PAGE 47, JAN 16, 2010)
A notorious armed robber, Johnson Kombian, aka Garkum, 32, has escaped from the Tamale Prison where he was serving his jail term.
The escape occurred last Thursday night and brings to three the number of times he has succeeded in running away from lawful custody.
A police source who confirmed the story said all efforts were being made to apprehend the fugitive.
Authorities at the prison were tight-lipped when the Daily Graphic visited there last Friday to enquire about the circumstances of the convict’s latest break-out.
However, according to the police source, Kombian was arrested late August last year at his hideout in Bolgatanga and sentenced to 56 months’ imprisonment with hard labour by the Tamale Circuit Court for escaping from the Tamale Prison in January 2006.
He had earlier escaped from custody at Gambaga in 2005 after he had been arrested for committing various criminal offences.
“We were preparing other charges of murder and robbery against the convict when we received the unfortunate news of his escape from lawful custody on Thursday evening,” it added.
Kombian’s escape from the prison in 2006 led to the dismissal and the reduction in rank of a number of prison officers in Tamale who were on duty that day.
According to the police, the convict had been on the police wanted list since 2005 for his alleged involvement in eight robberies, including the murder of some military persons at Nakpanduri in the East Mamprusi District.
He was also alleged to be responsible for the robbery at the BESSFA Rural Bank at Garu; the robbery, kidnapping and attempted murder of one Mathias Jato at Nakpanduri on August 1, 2005, May 5 and June 20, 2009, respectively.
Records with the police also indicate that Kombian stole an AK 47 assault rifle from the Nakpanduri Police Station on April 26, 2005, among other offences.
The convict is noted to visit mayhem on his victims and causes fear and panic wherever he operates.
The escape occurred last Thursday night and brings to three the number of times he has succeeded in running away from lawful custody.
A police source who confirmed the story said all efforts were being made to apprehend the fugitive.
Authorities at the prison were tight-lipped when the Daily Graphic visited there last Friday to enquire about the circumstances of the convict’s latest break-out.
However, according to the police source, Kombian was arrested late August last year at his hideout in Bolgatanga and sentenced to 56 months’ imprisonment with hard labour by the Tamale Circuit Court for escaping from the Tamale Prison in January 2006.
He had earlier escaped from custody at Gambaga in 2005 after he had been arrested for committing various criminal offences.
“We were preparing other charges of murder and robbery against the convict when we received the unfortunate news of his escape from lawful custody on Thursday evening,” it added.
Kombian’s escape from the prison in 2006 led to the dismissal and the reduction in rank of a number of prison officers in Tamale who were on duty that day.
According to the police, the convict had been on the police wanted list since 2005 for his alleged involvement in eight robberies, including the murder of some military persons at Nakpanduri in the East Mamprusi District.
He was also alleged to be responsible for the robbery at the BESSFA Rural Bank at Garu; the robbery, kidnapping and attempted murder of one Mathias Jato at Nakpanduri on August 1, 2005, May 5 and June 20, 2009, respectively.
Records with the police also indicate that Kombian stole an AK 47 assault rifle from the Nakpanduri Police Station on April 26, 2005, among other offences.
The convict is noted to visit mayhem on his victims and causes fear and panic wherever he operates.
THOUSANDS ATTEND NDC CONGRESS IN TAMALE (PAGE 16, JAN 18, 2010)
THOUSANDS of sympathisers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), including visitors across the length and breadth of the country and the world at large, thronged the Tamale metropolis at the weekend to witness one of the most peaceful and successful party national delegates congresses in recent times.
The excitement that characterised the congress were conspicuous and memorable. The streets and the entrance to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Hall, the venue for the congress, were filled with party enthusiasts who were draped in NDC colours. The Choggu Roundabout in particular, which links the WAEC Hall building, was awash with NDC colours and the portraits of the 64 candidates vying for various positions in the party.
Vehicles were not left out, as most of them were decorated with portraits of the candidates vying for nine positions in the party. Indeed, the vehicular traffic was heavy and vehicles spent several hours to meander their way through the Choggu Roundabout-Tamale Sports Stadium road that links the WAEC Hall building, as security personnel had erected a number of barriers along that small stretch of road.
The security personnel had a herculean task controlling the ecstatic crowd, both within and outside the WAEC premises, who were in a carnival mood, drumming and dancing and cheering their respective candidates on.
Dealers in NDC paraphernalia also had a field day while food vendors cashed in on hungry delegates. An Accra-based trader, Madam Afia Dadziwa, who interacted with the Daily Graphic, claimed sales were quite good although she could not readily disclose the amount of money she had bagged so far.
Unfortunately, as the excitement about the congress continued, three persons collapsed due to asthmatic attacks and the viagal crises (low heart beats) and were later rushed to the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH). Another person sustained a head injury as he hit his head against a chair, but had since been treated and discharged from the hospital.
A Specialist in the Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Unit at the TTH, Dr Thomas Anabah, intimated that cases identified by his team of health personnel on duty at the WAEC Hall included tiredness, indigestion, ulcer, stomach ache and headaches, stress and high blood pressure, among other illnesses.
He, therefore, advised people to take their health seriously and to ensure that they rigidly took drugs prescribed for them wherever they went in order to avoid such incidents.
“Many of the people here are hypertensive and some have chronic ulcers, while others too have been medically advised to avoid shouting on top of their voices,” Dr Anabah pointed out.
Residents, including visitors, expressed joy at the professional manner in which the security personnel handled the security situation, culminating in the successful hosting of the congress. The voting, counting and declaration of the results went on smoothly without any hitch.
The excitement that characterised the congress were conspicuous and memorable. The streets and the entrance to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Hall, the venue for the congress, were filled with party enthusiasts who were draped in NDC colours. The Choggu Roundabout in particular, which links the WAEC Hall building, was awash with NDC colours and the portraits of the 64 candidates vying for various positions in the party.
Vehicles were not left out, as most of them were decorated with portraits of the candidates vying for nine positions in the party. Indeed, the vehicular traffic was heavy and vehicles spent several hours to meander their way through the Choggu Roundabout-Tamale Sports Stadium road that links the WAEC Hall building, as security personnel had erected a number of barriers along that small stretch of road.
The security personnel had a herculean task controlling the ecstatic crowd, both within and outside the WAEC premises, who were in a carnival mood, drumming and dancing and cheering their respective candidates on.
Dealers in NDC paraphernalia also had a field day while food vendors cashed in on hungry delegates. An Accra-based trader, Madam Afia Dadziwa, who interacted with the Daily Graphic, claimed sales were quite good although she could not readily disclose the amount of money she had bagged so far.
Unfortunately, as the excitement about the congress continued, three persons collapsed due to asthmatic attacks and the viagal crises (low heart beats) and were later rushed to the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH). Another person sustained a head injury as he hit his head against a chair, but had since been treated and discharged from the hospital.
A Specialist in the Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Unit at the TTH, Dr Thomas Anabah, intimated that cases identified by his team of health personnel on duty at the WAEC Hall included tiredness, indigestion, ulcer, stomach ache and headaches, stress and high blood pressure, among other illnesses.
He, therefore, advised people to take their health seriously and to ensure that they rigidly took drugs prescribed for them wherever they went in order to avoid such incidents.
“Many of the people here are hypertensive and some have chronic ulcers, while others too have been medically advised to avoid shouting on top of their voices,” Dr Anabah pointed out.
Residents, including visitors, expressed joy at the professional manner in which the security personnel handled the security situation, culminating in the successful hosting of the congress. The voting, counting and declaration of the results went on smoothly without any hitch.
The 8th NDC Congress...ADJEI, NKETIAH RETAINED (LEAD STORY)
Story: Timothy Gobah & Zakaria Alhassan, Tamale
Delegates at the 8th National Delegates Congress of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) held in Tamale last Saturday endorsed amendments to the party’s constitution and voted overwhelmingly to retain Dr Kwabena Adjei and Mr Asiedu Nketiah as the Chairman and the General Secretary, respectively, of the party.
Also chalking victories to join the old executives were a former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, and Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, who took the positions of Vice Chairpersons, while Mr Richard Quashigah became the new Propaganda Secretary.
In the results which were declared by the Electoral Commission, amid jubilation and excitement, Dr Kwabena Adjei polled 1,749 votes, against 90 received by his only contender, Dr Asamoa-Tutu.
Seven ballots were rejected.
Mr Asiedu Nketia, aka General Mosquito, obtained 1,739 ballots to beat his only contestant, Kweku Eshun, who had 116 votes, with three rejected ballots.
Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings won the First Vice-Chairmanship position with 1,433, while Alhaji Huudu Yahaya received 1,247, with Kofi Porturphy getting 1,160, to occupy the Second and Third Vice-Chairman positions, respectively.
Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah had 972 votes, Alhaji Said Sinare received 731, while Mr Danny Annan obtained 679 to make up for the rest of the six vice-chairmanship slots.
The Spokesperson for former President Rawlings, Mr Kofi Adam, became the new Deputy General Secretary of the party when he obtained 1,094 votes to beat four other contenders.
For the position of Propaganda Secretary, Richard Quarshigah polled 1,270 votes to beat Bernard Allotey and Mustapha Kabila, who got 439 and 114, respectively.
The position of Treasurer went to Kamel Noshie, who had 1,501 votes to beat Yusif Adiss.
A new National Executive Committee was also sworn into office. The members are Alhaji Babalamin Abu-Sadat, Victoria Kumah Mintah, John Owusu Agyeman, Richard Lartey and Dr E.K. Hayford.
The congress also amended portions of the party’s constitution. The delegates voted in favour of some amendments, including the creation of a Party Leader position.
The position, voted for massively by the delegates, will have a sitting President of the country who is a member of the NDC as the occupant, with the chairman taking up the position when the party is out of government.
In case the sitting President is not elected the flag bearer of the party, any person elected flag bearer will occupy that position.
It also accepted to expand its constituency delegates to regional conferences from six to eight. Provision was also made for the creation of an office of director of electoral issues and a three-man special complaints committee to deal with complaints of and about party officers.
Consideration and voting on some other proposals, including the amendment of the propaganda secretary’s position in favour of communications secretary or political education officer, were, however, deferred because the issues were either too controversial or the time was not conducive.
Among those who observed the elections, which were supervised by the Electoral Commission, were former President J.J. Rawlings, who sat through for the entire period of the voting.
The President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, and the Vice President, John Mahama, were also present to witness the collation and declaration of results on Sunday afternoon.
Indeed, the eighth delegates congress virtually brought the seat of government to Tamale, the sprawling capital of the Northern Region. The participants included ministers of state, metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives and other government functionaries from all parts of the country.
Some members of the Diplomatic Corps, including delegates from Europe, North America and some African countries, also graced the three-day event which was on the theme, “Fulfilling the Better Ghana Agenda”.
Before the commencement of business on Saturday, solidarity messages were read by representatives of some political parties and the diplomatic community.
After the closing remarks by President Mills, delegates, sympathisers, as well as followers of various contestants, poured onto the streets of Tamale in wild jubilation, amid drumming, singing and dancing. They also sang praises to God for seeing them through a very successful and peaceful congress.
Delegates at the 8th National Delegates Congress of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) held in Tamale last Saturday endorsed amendments to the party’s constitution and voted overwhelmingly to retain Dr Kwabena Adjei and Mr Asiedu Nketiah as the Chairman and the General Secretary, respectively, of the party.
Also chalking victories to join the old executives were a former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, and Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, who took the positions of Vice Chairpersons, while Mr Richard Quashigah became the new Propaganda Secretary.
In the results which were declared by the Electoral Commission, amid jubilation and excitement, Dr Kwabena Adjei polled 1,749 votes, against 90 received by his only contender, Dr Asamoa-Tutu.
Seven ballots were rejected.
Mr Asiedu Nketia, aka General Mosquito, obtained 1,739 ballots to beat his only contestant, Kweku Eshun, who had 116 votes, with three rejected ballots.
Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings won the First Vice-Chairmanship position with 1,433, while Alhaji Huudu Yahaya received 1,247, with Kofi Porturphy getting 1,160, to occupy the Second and Third Vice-Chairman positions, respectively.
Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah had 972 votes, Alhaji Said Sinare received 731, while Mr Danny Annan obtained 679 to make up for the rest of the six vice-chairmanship slots.
The Spokesperson for former President Rawlings, Mr Kofi Adam, became the new Deputy General Secretary of the party when he obtained 1,094 votes to beat four other contenders.
For the position of Propaganda Secretary, Richard Quarshigah polled 1,270 votes to beat Bernard Allotey and Mustapha Kabila, who got 439 and 114, respectively.
The position of Treasurer went to Kamel Noshie, who had 1,501 votes to beat Yusif Adiss.
A new National Executive Committee was also sworn into office. The members are Alhaji Babalamin Abu-Sadat, Victoria Kumah Mintah, John Owusu Agyeman, Richard Lartey and Dr E.K. Hayford.
The congress also amended portions of the party’s constitution. The delegates voted in favour of some amendments, including the creation of a Party Leader position.
The position, voted for massively by the delegates, will have a sitting President of the country who is a member of the NDC as the occupant, with the chairman taking up the position when the party is out of government.
In case the sitting President is not elected the flag bearer of the party, any person elected flag bearer will occupy that position.
It also accepted to expand its constituency delegates to regional conferences from six to eight. Provision was also made for the creation of an office of director of electoral issues and a three-man special complaints committee to deal with complaints of and about party officers.
Consideration and voting on some other proposals, including the amendment of the propaganda secretary’s position in favour of communications secretary or political education officer, were, however, deferred because the issues were either too controversial or the time was not conducive.
Among those who observed the elections, which were supervised by the Electoral Commission, were former President J.J. Rawlings, who sat through for the entire period of the voting.
The President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, and the Vice President, John Mahama, were also present to witness the collation and declaration of results on Sunday afternoon.
Indeed, the eighth delegates congress virtually brought the seat of government to Tamale, the sprawling capital of the Northern Region. The participants included ministers of state, metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives and other government functionaries from all parts of the country.
Some members of the Diplomatic Corps, including delegates from Europe, North America and some African countries, also graced the three-day event which was on the theme, “Fulfilling the Better Ghana Agenda”.
Before the commencement of business on Saturday, solidarity messages were read by representatives of some political parties and the diplomatic community.
After the closing remarks by President Mills, delegates, sympathisers, as well as followers of various contestants, poured onto the streets of Tamale in wild jubilation, amid drumming, singing and dancing. They also sang praises to God for seeing them through a very successful and peaceful congress.
ENCOUNTER WITH A VETERAN JOURNALIST (PAGE 23, JAN 16, 2010)
HE looked unassuming yet humorous, insightful and sharp. Even though I had never met him, I was honoured by his invitation to me and my colleague for a dinner.
He graciously welcomed us into the humble abode of his wife with a broad grin, saying, “Zakaria, na wow! Oga, make you com in.” “Eeei! who taught this white man pidgin,” I mumbled to myself. I was later to know that our host had lived in Nigeria for several years.
Mr Gerd Meuer is a retired German journalist with astonishing stories to tell the world. For almost 50 years, the veteran journalist had journeyed across the globe and reported from the various continents: bringing people’s miseries, challenges and success stories to light through the powerful lenses of Television and the fountain of the pen.
When I asked him about the number of African countries he had covered, he simply said, “Never mind Zakaria, 48 of the 53 countries…...” What always caught my attention as we chatted was his amazing retentive memory. Even in his advanced age, his ability to remember the names of countries, towns, villages, cottages and hamlets he had visited with such abundant ease was marvellous.
For instance, when I told him I was from Ghana, he mentioned the names of places, people and their backgrounds as if he had lived in the country for several years.
He even went further to talk about Tamale, where I come from in Ghana, and told me about familiar places he had been to in the city.
Aside from his African experience, Mr Meuer had also worked in most parts of Europe, the US, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific.
Apart from his native German, Mr Meuer speaks and understands many languages, including Spanish, English, Dutch, French and what have you. The thick tall man is no stranger to Africa. Indeed, he had been a student at the Ibadan University in Nigeria in the 1960s.
He had also been a long associate of the celebrated African Writer and Nobel Prize Laureate in Literature, Professor Wole Soyinka. They are still close pals.
Among the organisations the veteran journalist had traversed were the German Pubic Radio and TV System (ARD), Swiss, Austrian and French Radio. He had also worked with the BBC, the Irish Radio and Radio Pacific in the US.
The veteran journalist had freelanced for several newspapers, weeklies and journals in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, among others.
Mr Meuer is also described as an excellent translator who has translated many literature works into several languages. He also moderated and facilitated workshops in many countries.
He was born in the Rhineland in Germany in 1941. He studied English and French Literature. He also studied Political Science and Sociology at the universities of Bonn, Berlin and Aachen in Germany, Caen in France and Ibadan in Nigeria.
On the state of the media in Africa, Mr Meuer expressed concern over the dwindling fortunes of journalism in some parts of the continent, saying “Some of the articles I read from the papers nowadays lack depth and are not analytical enough; most of the brilliant journalists who used to write for Nigerian newspapers, for instance, have all left; no, it is too bad.”
As we prepared to part company after a sumptuous dinner, I was honoured with a precious book that is autographed by Professor Soyinka and other prominent personalities. The title of the book is “Journeys around and with Kongi-half a century on the road with Wole Soyinka.” The book is written by Gerd Meuer.
He graciously welcomed us into the humble abode of his wife with a broad grin, saying, “Zakaria, na wow! Oga, make you com in.” “Eeei! who taught this white man pidgin,” I mumbled to myself. I was later to know that our host had lived in Nigeria for several years.
Mr Gerd Meuer is a retired German journalist with astonishing stories to tell the world. For almost 50 years, the veteran journalist had journeyed across the globe and reported from the various continents: bringing people’s miseries, challenges and success stories to light through the powerful lenses of Television and the fountain of the pen.
When I asked him about the number of African countries he had covered, he simply said, “Never mind Zakaria, 48 of the 53 countries…...” What always caught my attention as we chatted was his amazing retentive memory. Even in his advanced age, his ability to remember the names of countries, towns, villages, cottages and hamlets he had visited with such abundant ease was marvellous.
For instance, when I told him I was from Ghana, he mentioned the names of places, people and their backgrounds as if he had lived in the country for several years.
He even went further to talk about Tamale, where I come from in Ghana, and told me about familiar places he had been to in the city.
Aside from his African experience, Mr Meuer had also worked in most parts of Europe, the US, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific.
Apart from his native German, Mr Meuer speaks and understands many languages, including Spanish, English, Dutch, French and what have you. The thick tall man is no stranger to Africa. Indeed, he had been a student at the Ibadan University in Nigeria in the 1960s.
He had also been a long associate of the celebrated African Writer and Nobel Prize Laureate in Literature, Professor Wole Soyinka. They are still close pals.
Among the organisations the veteran journalist had traversed were the German Pubic Radio and TV System (ARD), Swiss, Austrian and French Radio. He had also worked with the BBC, the Irish Radio and Radio Pacific in the US.
The veteran journalist had freelanced for several newspapers, weeklies and journals in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, among others.
Mr Meuer is also described as an excellent translator who has translated many literature works into several languages. He also moderated and facilitated workshops in many countries.
He was born in the Rhineland in Germany in 1941. He studied English and French Literature. He also studied Political Science and Sociology at the universities of Bonn, Berlin and Aachen in Germany, Caen in France and Ibadan in Nigeria.
On the state of the media in Africa, Mr Meuer expressed concern over the dwindling fortunes of journalism in some parts of the continent, saying “Some of the articles I read from the papers nowadays lack depth and are not analytical enough; most of the brilliant journalists who used to write for Nigerian newspapers, for instance, have all left; no, it is too bad.”
As we prepared to part company after a sumptuous dinner, I was honoured with a precious book that is autographed by Professor Soyinka and other prominent personalities. The title of the book is “Journeys around and with Kongi-half a century on the road with Wole Soyinka.” The book is written by Gerd Meuer.
WHO IS WHO IN NDC? ...Congress decides today (LEAD STORY, JAN 16, 2010)
A keen contest for the Chairman and General Secretary positions of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) is anticipated at the party’s national delegates congress in Tamale today.
However, the incumbent Chairman and the General Secretary, Dr Kwabena Adjei and Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, respectively, are tipped to retain their positions as over 2,000 delegates go to the polls to elect new national executive officers to steer the affairs of the party for the next four years.
The delegates will decide the fate of 65 candidates vying for 30 national executive positions of the ruling party.
Dr Adjei and Mr Nketiah are seeking second terms in office, having been elected at the NDC national delegates congress in Koforidua in 2005, but they face strong challenge from Dr Austin Asamoa-Tutu and Mr Kweku Eshun.
Apart from their experience as former Members of Parliament and Ministers of State in the Rawlings administration and their achievement of leading the NDC from opposition to government, Dr Adjei and Mr Nketiah have formidable credentials that put them a shade ahead of their challengers.
That notwithstanding, Dr Asamoa-Tutu’s political experience as a founder member of the party and parliamentary candidate for the Social Democratic Front (SDF) in the 1979 election gives him strong grounding to upstage the incumbent chairman.
As the 2008 NDC parliamentary candidate for Okaikoi North, Mr Eshun has also acquired enough political clout to upset the incumbent general secretary at the polls.
Aside from those two portfolios, the contest for the six vice-chairman positions is also expected to be very keen, given the stature of some of the 17 candidates vying for the positions and the interest that their contention has generated in the media over the past few months.
The contest for the national organiser position will, however, be devoid of keen competition, since Mr Yaw Boateng Gyan is running unopposed.
Other positions to be contested for at the congress are deputy general secretary (two), deputy national organiser, national treasurer, deputy national treasurer, national propaganda secretary, deputy national propaganda secretary and national executive committee members (14).
President J. E. A. Mills, Vice-President John Dramani Mahama and former President J. J. Rawlings are among the dignitaries expected to grace the occasion.
The atmosphere in Tamale was charged yesterday as candidates intensified their campaigns to win the support of delegates to the congress.
The entire metropolis, particularly the vicinity of the congress grounds at the WAEC Hall on the GBC Road, was in a carnival mood as various structures were bedecked with posters and paraphernalia of the respective candidates and the party.
There was drumming and dancing as party stalwarts and supporters filed in and out of the venue. Wild jubilation heralded the appearance of most of the candidates at the conference grounds as they arrived in convoys with fanfare.
Mr Mahama and majority of Ministers of State, district chief executives and other party bigwigs are already in the metropolis.
The President, former President Rawlings, as well as some leading members of the party, are expected to arrive at the congress grounds today.
Large canopies have been erected opposite the entrance of the venue to provide shade for party supporters who will be unable to gain access to the congress hall, which is restricted to only accredited persons.
Some of the candidates resorted to the use of radio to reach out to many delegates. One of such vice-chairmanship hopefuls, Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, was on air yesterday morning explaining why he should be given the mandate.
The immediate past Youth Organiser of the NDC, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, also used the opportunity on another radio station to admonish all stakeholders, including residents of Tamale, to ensure a successful hosting of the congress.
He commended the people of the Northern Region for their unflinching support for the party over the years, adding that “this region delivered the highest parliamentary seats for the NDC in the entire country in the last general election”.
This is the first time the party is organising such an important event in the northern part of the country.
However, the incumbent Chairman and the General Secretary, Dr Kwabena Adjei and Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, respectively, are tipped to retain their positions as over 2,000 delegates go to the polls to elect new national executive officers to steer the affairs of the party for the next four years.
The delegates will decide the fate of 65 candidates vying for 30 national executive positions of the ruling party.
Dr Adjei and Mr Nketiah are seeking second terms in office, having been elected at the NDC national delegates congress in Koforidua in 2005, but they face strong challenge from Dr Austin Asamoa-Tutu and Mr Kweku Eshun.
Apart from their experience as former Members of Parliament and Ministers of State in the Rawlings administration and their achievement of leading the NDC from opposition to government, Dr Adjei and Mr Nketiah have formidable credentials that put them a shade ahead of their challengers.
That notwithstanding, Dr Asamoa-Tutu’s political experience as a founder member of the party and parliamentary candidate for the Social Democratic Front (SDF) in the 1979 election gives him strong grounding to upstage the incumbent chairman.
As the 2008 NDC parliamentary candidate for Okaikoi North, Mr Eshun has also acquired enough political clout to upset the incumbent general secretary at the polls.
Aside from those two portfolios, the contest for the six vice-chairman positions is also expected to be very keen, given the stature of some of the 17 candidates vying for the positions and the interest that their contention has generated in the media over the past few months.
The contest for the national organiser position will, however, be devoid of keen competition, since Mr Yaw Boateng Gyan is running unopposed.
Other positions to be contested for at the congress are deputy general secretary (two), deputy national organiser, national treasurer, deputy national treasurer, national propaganda secretary, deputy national propaganda secretary and national executive committee members (14).
President J. E. A. Mills, Vice-President John Dramani Mahama and former President J. J. Rawlings are among the dignitaries expected to grace the occasion.
The atmosphere in Tamale was charged yesterday as candidates intensified their campaigns to win the support of delegates to the congress.
The entire metropolis, particularly the vicinity of the congress grounds at the WAEC Hall on the GBC Road, was in a carnival mood as various structures were bedecked with posters and paraphernalia of the respective candidates and the party.
There was drumming and dancing as party stalwarts and supporters filed in and out of the venue. Wild jubilation heralded the appearance of most of the candidates at the conference grounds as they arrived in convoys with fanfare.
Mr Mahama and majority of Ministers of State, district chief executives and other party bigwigs are already in the metropolis.
The President, former President Rawlings, as well as some leading members of the party, are expected to arrive at the congress grounds today.
Large canopies have been erected opposite the entrance of the venue to provide shade for party supporters who will be unable to gain access to the congress hall, which is restricted to only accredited persons.
Some of the candidates resorted to the use of radio to reach out to many delegates. One of such vice-chairmanship hopefuls, Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, was on air yesterday morning explaining why he should be given the mandate.
The immediate past Youth Organiser of the NDC, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, also used the opportunity on another radio station to admonish all stakeholders, including residents of Tamale, to ensure a successful hosting of the congress.
He commended the people of the Northern Region for their unflinching support for the party over the years, adding that “this region delivered the highest parliamentary seats for the NDC in the entire country in the last general election”.
This is the first time the party is organising such an important event in the northern part of the country.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
RED CROSS SOCIETY SUPPORTS STUDENTS (PAGE 11, JAN 15, 2010)
THE Ghana Red Cross Society has presented medicated eye glasses to 37 students of the Tamale Girls High School who have been identified to have various sight defects, to aid them in their studies.
According to the acting Northern Regional Secretary of the society, Mr Solomon Gariyoni, the beneficiaries were identified after a screening exercise at the Eye Clinic of the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
He said the presentation formed part of the Action Against Childhood Blindness (AACHIB) initiative under the first vision programme of the society, which began in 2005.
The programme targeted children, particularly pupils and students. Apart from provision of spectacles, the beneficiaries underwent eye operations in order to correct various eye defects. It was being implemented in the Northern, Upper East and West regions.
The beneficiary districts in the Northern Region are Nanumba, Bole, West Gonja, the Yendi Municipality and the Tamale metropolis. The programme is being sponsored by the Swiss Red Cross, in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service and the Ghana Red Cross Society.
The secretary announced the formation of school youth link clubs, a health outreach initiative, and urged pupils and students to embrace such clubs in their respective schools when established, to equip themselves with first aid and health education tit-bits.
“You also need to take good care of your eyes as well as protect the spectacles offered you to justify the huge expenditure expended on its acquisition,” he admonished.
An Assistant Headmistress of the Tamale Girls High School, Madam Rubabatu Yakubu, expressed appreciation of the school to their benefactors for their support, which she indicated would help the beneficiaries in their respective studies.
According to the acting Northern Regional Secretary of the society, Mr Solomon Gariyoni, the beneficiaries were identified after a screening exercise at the Eye Clinic of the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
He said the presentation formed part of the Action Against Childhood Blindness (AACHIB) initiative under the first vision programme of the society, which began in 2005.
The programme targeted children, particularly pupils and students. Apart from provision of spectacles, the beneficiaries underwent eye operations in order to correct various eye defects. It was being implemented in the Northern, Upper East and West regions.
The beneficiary districts in the Northern Region are Nanumba, Bole, West Gonja, the Yendi Municipality and the Tamale metropolis. The programme is being sponsored by the Swiss Red Cross, in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service and the Ghana Red Cross Society.
The secretary announced the formation of school youth link clubs, a health outreach initiative, and urged pupils and students to embrace such clubs in their respective schools when established, to equip themselves with first aid and health education tit-bits.
“You also need to take good care of your eyes as well as protect the spectacles offered you to justify the huge expenditure expended on its acquisition,” he admonished.
An Assistant Headmistress of the Tamale Girls High School, Madam Rubabatu Yakubu, expressed appreciation of the school to their benefactors for their support, which she indicated would help the beneficiaries in their respective studies.
TAMALE POLICE READY FOR NDC CONGRESS (PAGE 16, JAN 12, 2010)
AS the day for the national delegates congress of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) draws closer, the Northern Regional Police Command has expressed its readiness to ensure an incident-free event.
According to the Northern Regional Police Commander, Mr Angwubutoge Awuni, “We are firmly on the ground and collaborating with our headquarters in Accra for the necessary logistics for the provision of adequate security before, during and after the congress.”
In an interview with the Daily Graphic on Monday, the commander, who did not give figures, indicated that an adequate number of police personnel would be mobilised to ensure peace and order during the congress that would attract about 3,000 delegates and observers from various parts of the country.
Mr Awuni was optimistic that in spite of the high turnout envisaged, there would not be a breach of the existing peaceful atmosphere in the Tamale metropolis during the entire period of the congress.
“The NDC northern regional delegates congress was held peacefully at the WAEC Hall in November last year and we hope the coming national congress that will also be held at the same venue will equally be harmonious,” he stated.
He, however, called for co-operation and support from delegates and other stakeholders to the congress, “so that together we can have a smooth congress”.
On the congress itself, there are feverish preparations by both the local and national organising committees to organise a successful congress. The venue for the congress, the WAEC Hall at the Education Ridge, has already been secured, while almost all hotels and guest-houses have been booked for the guests.
According to the local committee, there would be a congress village, while some of the delegates will also be camped in dormitories.
The congress will begin on Friday, January 15 and end on January 17, this year.
According to the Northern Regional Police Commander, Mr Angwubutoge Awuni, “We are firmly on the ground and collaborating with our headquarters in Accra for the necessary logistics for the provision of adequate security before, during and after the congress.”
In an interview with the Daily Graphic on Monday, the commander, who did not give figures, indicated that an adequate number of police personnel would be mobilised to ensure peace and order during the congress that would attract about 3,000 delegates and observers from various parts of the country.
Mr Awuni was optimistic that in spite of the high turnout envisaged, there would not be a breach of the existing peaceful atmosphere in the Tamale metropolis during the entire period of the congress.
“The NDC northern regional delegates congress was held peacefully at the WAEC Hall in November last year and we hope the coming national congress that will also be held at the same venue will equally be harmonious,” he stated.
He, however, called for co-operation and support from delegates and other stakeholders to the congress, “so that together we can have a smooth congress”.
On the congress itself, there are feverish preparations by both the local and national organising committees to organise a successful congress. The venue for the congress, the WAEC Hall at the Education Ridge, has already been secured, while almost all hotels and guest-houses have been booked for the guests.
According to the local committee, there would be a congress village, while some of the delegates will also be camped in dormitories.
The congress will begin on Friday, January 15 and end on January 17, this year.
TAMALE PREPARES FOR NDC NATIONAL CONGRESS (PAGE 14, JAN 11, 2010)
FERVENT preparations are ongoing in the Tamale metropolis for the hosting of the National Delegates Congress of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the metropolis.
So far the National Organising Committee of the party has expressed satisfaction with the levels of arrangements to ensure a successful congress that will come off on January 15 to 16 this month at the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Examinations Centre.
According to the National Organiser of the NDC, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, the metropolis has enough facilities to host the over 3,000 expected delegates and commended the Local Organising Committee for its tremendous efforts.
Addressing the press in Tamale, he explained that the choice of Tamale as the venue for this year’s congress was arrived at following the loyalty and support the party had enjoyed from the northern region over the years.
Other members of the committee present were Mr Fritz Bafour, chairman of the publicity planning committee; Professor Kwamena Ado and Nii Adjei Lamptey, members of the grounds and accommodation committees respectively. Also present was Dr Don Arthur from the Office of the President.
Among the accommodation facilities the team visited were the GETFund hostel and the venue for the congress.
On security, the Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabingba, expressed the commitment of the Regional Security Council to ensure an incident-free congress.
He, therefore, appealed to residents of Tamale to consider the congress as a challenge and an opportunity to showcase the metropolis to the world as a hub of commerce and hospitality.
The local economy in the area is expected to get a boost as those in the hospitality industry such as hoteliers, food vendors, taxi drivers and traders will be cashing in on the thousands of visitors who will be trooping to the metropolis for the congress.
Already almost all hotels and guests houses in the city are said to have been fully booked by the NDC. Some of the delegates would, however, be housed in the dormitories of some second cycle institutions while tents are to be erected at some strategic locations for others, according to the Local Organising Committee of the party in Tamale.
So far the National Organising Committee of the party has expressed satisfaction with the levels of arrangements to ensure a successful congress that will come off on January 15 to 16 this month at the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Examinations Centre.
According to the National Organiser of the NDC, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, the metropolis has enough facilities to host the over 3,000 expected delegates and commended the Local Organising Committee for its tremendous efforts.
Addressing the press in Tamale, he explained that the choice of Tamale as the venue for this year’s congress was arrived at following the loyalty and support the party had enjoyed from the northern region over the years.
Other members of the committee present were Mr Fritz Bafour, chairman of the publicity planning committee; Professor Kwamena Ado and Nii Adjei Lamptey, members of the grounds and accommodation committees respectively. Also present was Dr Don Arthur from the Office of the President.
Among the accommodation facilities the team visited were the GETFund hostel and the venue for the congress.
On security, the Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabingba, expressed the commitment of the Regional Security Council to ensure an incident-free congress.
He, therefore, appealed to residents of Tamale to consider the congress as a challenge and an opportunity to showcase the metropolis to the world as a hub of commerce and hospitality.
The local economy in the area is expected to get a boost as those in the hospitality industry such as hoteliers, food vendors, taxi drivers and traders will be cashing in on the thousands of visitors who will be trooping to the metropolis for the congress.
Already almost all hotels and guests houses in the city are said to have been fully booked by the NDC. Some of the delegates would, however, be housed in the dormitories of some second cycle institutions while tents are to be erected at some strategic locations for others, according to the Local Organising Committee of the party in Tamale.
Monday, February 22, 2010
FOUR INJURED IN NDC/NPP CLASH IN TAMALE (PAGE 16, 2010)
FOUR persons sustained head injuries when they were allegedly pelted with stones by some unidentified persons in a misunderstanding between some New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) youth groups at Choggu Hill Top on Monday night.
The victims, Abubakar Abdul-Mumin, Adam Haruna, Abdul-Majeed Dauda and Abdul-Ganiyu Adam have since been treated and discharged from the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
No arrest has been made yet. However calm has since returned to the suburb.
According to the assemblyman for the area, Mr Adam Mohammed Hardi, the incident occurred between the hours of 8 and 9pm last Monday night, during the clearing of drains in the community.
He explained that a contract was awarded by the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly to some NDC youth groups to clear choked drains in the community some weeks ago.
Mr Hardi said work began earnestly a couple of days ago and on Sunday when the workers got to a spot where an NPP shed is located, a misunderstanding ensued between the two groups. As a result one of the victims, Abdul-Mumin was hit on the head with a shovel leading to the suspension of work.
“The other three victims were also hit with stones on their heads at the same spot at night on Monday when work resumed”, he stated.
The assemblyman further indicated that at the time of the incident he was outside the community but was informed through a phone call. “When I rushed home, the situation had normalised and I later had to collect medical forms from the police to send the victims to the hospital where they were treated and discharged.”
When the police was contacted, they confirmed the story. According to the Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Ebenezer Tetteh, the victims have indicated their willingness to identify their alleged assailants who will subsequently be arrested to assist in investigations.
The victims, Abubakar Abdul-Mumin, Adam Haruna, Abdul-Majeed Dauda and Abdul-Ganiyu Adam have since been treated and discharged from the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
No arrest has been made yet. However calm has since returned to the suburb.
According to the assemblyman for the area, Mr Adam Mohammed Hardi, the incident occurred between the hours of 8 and 9pm last Monday night, during the clearing of drains in the community.
He explained that a contract was awarded by the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly to some NDC youth groups to clear choked drains in the community some weeks ago.
Mr Hardi said work began earnestly a couple of days ago and on Sunday when the workers got to a spot where an NPP shed is located, a misunderstanding ensued between the two groups. As a result one of the victims, Abdul-Mumin was hit on the head with a shovel leading to the suspension of work.
“The other three victims were also hit with stones on their heads at the same spot at night on Monday when work resumed”, he stated.
The assemblyman further indicated that at the time of the incident he was outside the community but was informed through a phone call. “When I rushed home, the situation had normalised and I later had to collect medical forms from the police to send the victims to the hospital where they were treated and discharged.”
When the police was contacted, they confirmed the story. According to the Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Ebenezer Tetteh, the victims have indicated their willingness to identify their alleged assailants who will subsequently be arrested to assist in investigations.
TAMALE POLICE COMMANDER WAS SHOT AT NPP CONGRESS (PAGE 14, JAN 6. 2010)
IT has now been established that two persons, including the Tamale Metropolitan Police Commander, Mr Abanga Caesar, actually sustained injuries from a gunshot at the Northern Regional delegates congress of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Tamale last Sunday.
The condition of the other victim, Issahaku Walis, who is a member of the Tamale Polytechnic students wing of the NPP, is said to be serious.
He is currently on admission at the Tamale Teaching Hospital where he is receiving treatment. However Mr Caesar, who was wounded on his right thumb, has since been treated and discharged from the hospital.
Meanwhile the five persons who were arrested in connection with the incident are to be prosecuted. According to the Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Ebenezer Tetteh, the suspects will face the full rigours of the law. Their names have, however, not been given for security reasons.
According to Mr Caesar, the shooting incident occurred at around 11:30 a.m. last Sunday, after the police attempted to prevent some unaccredited persons from following one of the candidates vying for the chairmanship position of the party, into the venue for the congress.
As the alleged intruders were forcing their way through the main entrance, confusion broke out and “suddenly there was a gunshot and subsequent sharp pain in my thumb,” Mr Caesar alleged.
The police had to fire canisters of tear gas to disperse the incensed supporters for calm to return after about 15 minutes of disorder. The gun allegedly used in the shooting has not been retrieved yet.
After calm had been restored, the congress went on successfully with the election of a 53-year-old Tamale based contractor, Alhaji Harunah Sulemana also known as Harumbis, as the new Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Alhaji Harumbis polled 210 out of a total of 450 votes cast, representing 68.9% to beat his closest contender, Mr Daniel Bugri Naabu, an Accra-based contractor who secured 139 votes.
Apart from the incumbent Regional Secretary, Clifford Braimah Mahama, who retained his position by polling 244 votes, fresh persons were elected to manage the affairs of NPP in the region for the next four years.
They included Alhaji Rashid Abdul Rahaman COP, Youth Organiser; Alhaji Hindu Abdullah, Organiser; Hajia Amama Shaibu, Women’s Organiser, and Alhaji Abubakari Adam, Regional Treasurer.
Alhaji Harumbis commended the delegates for the confidence reposed in him and promised to overhaul the party in the region to improve on its chances of winning the 2012 elections.
He, however, appealed to party members, especially the youth, to be law-abiding by cooperating with security operatives in the region to maintain law and order, particularly in Dagbon.
For his part, the General Secretary of the party, Nana Ohene Ntow, urged party members to consider the 2012 elections as “the mother of all elections” in Ghana and show more commitment to propagating the party’s ideals to the electorate.
He impressed on both victors and losers to consider the end result of the delegates congress as a victory for the party and for democracy.
Nana Ntow commended the police for ensuring maximum security before, during and after the congress and said “the NPP will continue to cooperate with security operatives in the country to make Ghana a safe haven for all”.
The condition of the other victim, Issahaku Walis, who is a member of the Tamale Polytechnic students wing of the NPP, is said to be serious.
He is currently on admission at the Tamale Teaching Hospital where he is receiving treatment. However Mr Caesar, who was wounded on his right thumb, has since been treated and discharged from the hospital.
Meanwhile the five persons who were arrested in connection with the incident are to be prosecuted. According to the Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Ebenezer Tetteh, the suspects will face the full rigours of the law. Their names have, however, not been given for security reasons.
According to Mr Caesar, the shooting incident occurred at around 11:30 a.m. last Sunday, after the police attempted to prevent some unaccredited persons from following one of the candidates vying for the chairmanship position of the party, into the venue for the congress.
As the alleged intruders were forcing their way through the main entrance, confusion broke out and “suddenly there was a gunshot and subsequent sharp pain in my thumb,” Mr Caesar alleged.
The police had to fire canisters of tear gas to disperse the incensed supporters for calm to return after about 15 minutes of disorder. The gun allegedly used in the shooting has not been retrieved yet.
After calm had been restored, the congress went on successfully with the election of a 53-year-old Tamale based contractor, Alhaji Harunah Sulemana also known as Harumbis, as the new Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Alhaji Harumbis polled 210 out of a total of 450 votes cast, representing 68.9% to beat his closest contender, Mr Daniel Bugri Naabu, an Accra-based contractor who secured 139 votes.
Apart from the incumbent Regional Secretary, Clifford Braimah Mahama, who retained his position by polling 244 votes, fresh persons were elected to manage the affairs of NPP in the region for the next four years.
They included Alhaji Rashid Abdul Rahaman COP, Youth Organiser; Alhaji Hindu Abdullah, Organiser; Hajia Amama Shaibu, Women’s Organiser, and Alhaji Abubakari Adam, Regional Treasurer.
Alhaji Harumbis commended the delegates for the confidence reposed in him and promised to overhaul the party in the region to improve on its chances of winning the 2012 elections.
He, however, appealed to party members, especially the youth, to be law-abiding by cooperating with security operatives in the region to maintain law and order, particularly in Dagbon.
For his part, the General Secretary of the party, Nana Ohene Ntow, urged party members to consider the 2012 elections as “the mother of all elections” in Ghana and show more commitment to propagating the party’s ideals to the electorate.
He impressed on both victors and losers to consider the end result of the delegates congress as a victory for the party and for democracy.
Nana Ntow commended the police for ensuring maximum security before, during and after the congress and said “the NPP will continue to cooperate with security operatives in the country to make Ghana a safe haven for all”.
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