ZAK'S STORIES

GONJA TRADITIONAL COUNCIL TO CONTEST HIGH COURT RULING (PAGE 46, JAN 27, 2011)

2011-01-26T09:12:00.000-08:00

THE Gonja Traditional Council has served notice of its intention to contest the Tamale High Court ruling on the Buipe Skin at the Court of Appeal.
This is to enable it to seek justice on the matter in which the court ruled in favour of the Buipewura, Abdulai Jinapor, as the rightful occupant of the skin.
The council contended that it was not satisfied with the ruling, since the Yagbonwura, who is the Paramount Chief for the area, had the sole authority of enskinning and removing chiefs who were not loyal to him.
The council has, therefore, vowed to appeal against the ruling at the Appeals Court after their lawyers have studied details of the ruling.
This was contained in a press statement issued in Tamale on Monday and signed by 11 chiefs including the Yagbonwura.
It would be recalled that the Tamale High Court last week declared as null and void the deskinment of Abdulai Jinapor by the Yagbonwura, Tuntumba Borisa Sulemana Jakpa II, for gross insubordination in May last year.
The Buipewura later challenged the decision by the Yagbonwura, the Traditional Council and its registrar in the court.
Justice Kwame Ansu Gyeabour, who presided over the matter, upheld that the Buipewura could not be deskinned by the defendants because they were not the kingmakers for the skin.
The court also upheld the Buipewura’s argument that he was not given a fair hearing before the supposed deskinment and, therefore, awarded costs and general damages to the tune of GH¢6,400 against the defendants.
At the first ordinary meeting of the council at Damongo on May 13, 2010, an attempt was made to mediate in the case between the Buipewura and one of his alleged antagonists, Monowura Akwasi Piesie, who the former claimed to have deskinned for gross disrespect to his skin.
The mediation talks, however, turned acrimonious leading to heated verbal exchanges between the Buipewura and his loyalists on one side and the Yagbonwura and the other chiefs and their supporters on the other.
The Buipewura was alleged to have subsequently pulled out a gun and fired warning shots, a charge the Buipewura has since denied.
Following this development, the council declared its intention to destool the Buipewura for what they considered as insubordination and gross disrespect to the council members.
In a statement signed by the Yagbonwura and 12 other paramount chiefs of the Gonja Traditional Area at Damongo, the chiefs accused the Buipewura, Jinapor II Abdulai Mahama of “gross disrespect for the King of Gonja and the entire members of the Gonja Traditional Council.”

TAMA HOLDS TOWN HALL MEETING (PAGE 29, JAN 24, 2011)

2011-01-24T10:26:00.001-08:00

THE Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TAMA) has held a Town Hall meeting where the mayor, Alhaji Haruna Abdulai Friday, outlined his achievements, spelt out his visions and answered questions bordering on the accelerated development of the metropolis.
The meeting, which was the second of its kind to be held by the assembly, was attended by the general public, members of the assembly, some heads of departments and their officials.
Among the topics discussed were revenue mobilisation, employment generation, water and sanitation and peace and security.
Alhaji Friday indicated that there had been some improvements in the revenue mobilisation drive by the assembly last year.
He said out of the GH¢1500000 cedis targetted for the year, the assembly was able to mobilise.
He further indicated that the total debts inherited before May 2009 was “over GH¢320,000 but we have so far serviced about 90 per cent of the debts.”
The mayor denied a statement that his outfit was not sensitive to the needs of the youth and disclosed that under the National Youth Employment Programme, a total number of 7707 people had been engaged in productive ventures through the eleven modules rolled out by the programme.
The Youth in Agriculture programme had also supported a total of 82 groups with a numerical strength of 1,976 farmers with an interest-free loan to cultivate 3,401 acres of rice, maize and soya beans.
Additionally, some livestock farmers were also given animals to rear and that more farmers would be benefiting from the programme this year.
Alhaji Friday also stated that the assembly had over the last two years extended pipe-borne water and constructed several public toilets to a number of communities and schools in collaboration with its development partners.
Some of the beneficiary communities include Garizegu, Nyanshegu, Taha, Gbalahi and Wovogu.
On the prevailing peace and security in the metropolis, the mayor explained that it was as a result of the effective co-ordination of all security agencies and other stakeholders in the maintenance of law and order.
Task forces had also been established in all the 54 electoral areas in the metropolis with a numerical strength of 1,242 volunteers to give early warning signals to prevent and manage conflicts.
Training and some logistical support had also been offered members of the task force to aid them in their duties. According to the mayor, the task force had so far arrested over 114 suspected criminals during their night patrols and that most of them had since been prosecuted.
He announced that an investment forum is to be held in the metropolis to showcase the potential of the area to attract the needed investments for accelerated growth.
“With the relative peace achieved, coupled with the increased internal revenue mobilisation performance of over 100 per cent, high employment opportunities and food security, there has been an increase in commercial activities leading to improved standard of life,” the mayor stated.
He, however, observed that more efforts would be needed to sustain the gains made over the years.

ONLY 19 WOMEN GOT THE NOD IN NR ...As assembly members (PAGE 13, JAN 24, 2011)

2011-01-24T09:52:00.000-08:00

OUT of the total number of 137 female candidates who contested for the district assembly elections in the Northern Region, only 19 of them were given the mandate to serve in their various assemblies.
The figure reflects a sharp reduction as compared to 38 females who were elected to the assemblies in the last elections in 2006.
There was also a decline in the voter turn-out of 53.1 per cent as against the 56 per cent figure achieved in 2006.
In the Tamale metropolis, for instance, only one woman was voted to the assembly, compared to the 64 elected men. In nine other districts of Bole, East Gonja, Kpandai, Nanumba South, Yendi and Saboba, no female was offered the mandate.
Chereponi, Savelugu/Nanton, East Maprusi and Bunkpurugu also recorded zero per cent for the female candidates.
The West Mamprusi District, however, recorded the highest elected females of five from the 43 electoral areas followed by West Gonja, Nanumba North, Gushiegu, Karaga and Tolon/Kumbungu districts which had two elected members each, respectively.
According to the Northern Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Mr Sylvester Kanyi, all the 20 districts in the region recorded lower turn-out except the Nanumba North, South, Zabzugu/Tatale, Yendi and Saboba where figures were higher than those in 2006.
The figures for Kpandai and Chereponi for 2006 were not readily available.
While some people in the region have attributed the low turn-out to the inconsistencies in the designated dates for the elections by the EC, others blamed the situation on voter apathy and the unattractive nature of the district assembly concept.
They also claimed that the female candidates may have suffered from stereotyping and the lack of support and resources to compete effectively.

MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS SIX LIVES (BACK PAGE, JAN 14, 2011)

2011-01-19T07:52:00.000-08:00

Story: Zakaria Alhassan, Tamale.

SIX persons died on the spot while four others sustained injuries when a vehicle in which they were travelling in, veered off and run into an oncoming Articulator truck at Diare, along the Tamale-Bolgatanga highway.
There was however an altercation between the police and the kinsmen and sympathizers of the deceased when the former arrived at the scene to pick the deceased to the Morgue for autopsy.
The crowd blocked the road and compelled the Police to release the bodies that had already been deposited in the Police vehicle to them for early burial according to Islamic tradition.
The four injured persons including the driver of the KIA were nonetheless sent to the Tamale Teaching Hospital where they are currently receiving treatment.
According to the Police PRO, Ebenezer Tetteh, the incident occurred on Wednesday night at about 10pm. The KIA vehicle with the registration number AS 6798 Z in which all the ten victims were travelling in, was carrying foodstuff and animals from Lingbinsi in the West Mamprusi district to Techiman.
While the articulator truck with the registration number AS 1297 G was on its way from Accra to Bolgatanga.
Mr. Tetteh explained that, one of the front tyres of the KIA vehicle burst after hitting a pot hole. The driver thus lost control and veered off onto the lane of the oncoming articulator truck. It braced the truck in the process and somersaulted.
The PRO explained that the police arrived at the scene at about 11 pm and picked the deceased into their vehicle but were prevented from sending them to the TTH morgue by the agitated crowd who insisted that since the people were dead, there was no need for further delays in burying their kinsmen according to Islamic tradition.
“We had to release the bodies and leave the scene at around 1am to prevent any further tension,” Mr. Tetteh intimated.
He however said they were able to identify one Azumah Bawumia a circuit supervisor with the GES and indicated that, “if the people go ahead to burry the bodies without our consent, we would hold him responsible since he led the protest.”

UNIDENTIFIED GROUP ATTACKS COP (PAGE 46, JAN 20, 2011)

2011-01-19T07:44:00.000-08:00

A POLICE officer, Sergeant Kwame Atinkorang suffered some internal injuries when he was allegedly attacked by an unidentified youth group in Tamale last Saturday after arresting a motorist for committing a traffic offence.
The officer, who was rushed to the Tamale Teaching Hospital for treatment, only gained consciousness yesterday and is currently responding to treatment. No arrest has been made yet.
According to the Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Ebenezer Tetteh, the incident occurred around the central business district.
That was after the victim had released a motorist who committed a traffic offence and asked him to report to the police after his motorist licence had been confiscated.
Some unidentified youth later pounced on Sgt Atinkorang and beat him up mercilessly for what could be described as a reprisal attack for the arrest and detention of the attackers’ colleague.
According to the PRO, earlier, a motorist, who was riding without a crash helmet, had been arrested and detained at the Police charge office.
Later, colleagues of the suspect rushed to the charge office and obstructed the work of the police.
In the process, Mr Tetteh said, they acted violently for which reason three of them were also placed in custody.
Upon hearing about the incident, many of their colleagues also besieged the station demanding the immediate release of the four associates.
He said that created a scene that attracted the attention of the Police high command in the region whose intervention ensured sanity.
The PRO stated that Sgt Atinkorang was later attacked in town when he joined his colleagues to continue with the special exercise to clamp down on motor traffic offences in the metropolis.
At the recent encounter with the media, President Atta Mills expressed grave concern over the growing indiscipline on the roads following which the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, ordered his men to undertake the exercise.

POVERTY REDUCTION PROJECT LAUNCHED ...In Tamale (BACK PAGE, JAN 19, 2011)

2011-01-19T07:25:00.000-08:00

THE Social Opportunities Project (SOP) targeted at improving the socio-economic life of the rural poor in the country has commenced in Tamale.
The US$88.6 million project is to provide rural poor households with access to employment and income-earning opportunities, especially during agricultural off-seasons, while rehabilitating productive and social infrastructure such as dams and feeder roads.
The five-year project is being funded by the World Bank through a loan facility.
In all, 40 districts are to benefit from the project nation-wide. They include 11 districts from the Northern, six from the Upper West and eight from the Upper West regions.
At a capacity-building workshop for 20 beneficiary districts in Tamale last Tuesday, the outgoing Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, explained that the government adopted a National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS) with the aim of protecting the poorest and most vulnerable segment of society.
According to a speech read on his behalf, a number of programmes, such as the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), the Capitation Grant, School Feeding, distribution of free school uniforms and free maternal care for pregnant women, were all part of the NSPS.

FIRE DESTROYS RICE FARMS (PAGE 3, JAN 17, 2011)

2011-01-17T04:16:00.001-08:00

BUSHFIRES continue to wreak havoc on large tracts of rice farms in the Northern Region, where farmers are saddled with the problem of inadequate machinery for harvest.
By last Saturday, the disaster had struck more than eight rice farms, covering hundreds of hectares, including a 77-hectare farm in Yendi owned by Col (retd) Ibrahim Abdulai, a former Northern Regional Minister.
The other calamity occurred at Kpalkori, where the farmers claimed that the unavailability of combine harvesters for early harvest in the region was a contributory factor to the hazard.
The Kpalkori Farm belongs to members of Northern Youth for Peace and Development, a Tamale-based civil society organisation.
According to the project co-ordinator, Mr Yahaya Abdul-Rauf, the youth cultivated 87 hectares of rice, out of which only 10 hectares was spared by the fire.
He was full of sympathy for the farmers he described as unemployed youth mobilised from various political groups to take advantage of the youth-in-agriculture programme rolled out by the government.
Mr Abdul-Rauf explained that after acquiring the land at Kpalkori, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture supported them with fast-yielding rice seeds which they planted in September.
“Even though the rice was ready for harvest in October, we could not readily get a combine harvester, since there were not enough in the region,” he indicated.
He said members of the association had to contribute to buy fuel and spare parts to fix some broken down combine harvesters, “but unfortunately they all broke down again on the farm”.
Mr Abdul-Rauf, therefore, appealed to the government to come to their aid, since they had exhausted all their resources in their farming venture.

UNEASY CALM AT BUIPE (PAGE 3, JAN 15, 2011)

2011-01-17T03:25:00.000-08:00

BUIPE, the Central Gonja District capital in the Northern Region, is seemingly calm after the landmark ruling by the Tamale High Court declaring null and void the deskinment of the Chief for the area, Abdulai Jinapor.
According to the police, the security in the area had been on high alert since the decision by the Paramount Chief of the Gonja Traditional Area, Yagbonwura Tuntumba Sulemana Jakpa II, the traditional council and the registrar of the council in May last year to deskin the Buipewura, Abdulai Jinapor.
“Since the court passed its judgement on the matter on Thursday, we have beefed up security in the area to high alert and monitoring the situation closely,” Mr Ebenezer Tetteh, the Northern Regional Police PRO, told the Daily Graphic in Tamale.
He further said “the police will deal with any person or group that will disturb the fragile peace in the area”.
Justice Kwame Ansu Gyeabour, who presided over the matter, ruled that the Buipewura could not be deskinned by the defendants because they were not the kingmakers for the skin.
The court also upheld the Buipewura’s argument that he was not given a fair hearing before the supposed deskinment and awarded costs and general damages to the tune of GH¢6,400 against the defendants.
At the first ordinary meeting of the council at Damongo on May 13, 2010, an attempt was made to mediate the case between the Buipewura and one of his alleged antagonists, Monowura Akwasi Piesie, whom the former claimed to have deskinned for gross disrespect to his skin.
The mediation talks, however, turned acrimonious, leading to heated verbal exchanges between the Buipewura and his loyalists, on one side, and the Yagbonwura, the other chiefs and their supporters, on the other.
The Buipewura was alleged to have subsequently pulled a gun and fired warning shots, a charge he had since denied.
Following that development, the council decided to deskin the Buipewura for insubordination and gross disrespect to the council members.
In a statement signed by Yagbonwura Sulemana Jakpa and 12 other paramount chiefs of the Gonja Traditional Council at Damongo, the chiefs accused the Buipewura of “gross disrespect for the King of Gonja and the entire members of the Gonja Traditional Council by Buipewura Jinapor Abdulai Mahama II”.
The Buipewura, however, resorted to the court for redress.

ALIU URGES NPP TO MANAGE PARLIAMENTARY PRIMARIES WELL (PAGE 12, JAN 12, 2011)

2011-01-12T07:26:00.000-08:00

FORMER Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has stressed the need for the forthcoming NPP Parliamentary primaries to be handled cautiously in other to come out with winnable candidates while keeping the unity of the party intact.
He indicated that it was equally important to select popular candidates who could attract majority votes in the constituencies irrespective of their educational background.
The former vice president was briefing the media in Tamale after visiting some constituencies including Salaga, Bimbila and Wulensi as part of his second leg campaign tour of the northern regions.
“What matters in elections is about winning; but at the same time we would need to manage the primaries well to ensure the unity of the party after the exercise,” Alhaji Mahama said.
He observed that the divisiveness and rancour prior to the parliamentary primaries in the 2008 elections were partly some of the reasons why the NPP lost many of its seats.
Alhaji Mahama explained that the motive behind his early campaigns in the North ahead of the 2012 elections was to repackage the party and make it more attractive to the electorate.
“Party unity and fraternisation is the key to our victory in 2012 and that is why I have embarked on this early campaign in northern Ghana to interact with the chiefs and people who benefited from the massive development the Kufour-led NPP administration brought to their communities during the last eight years” he stressed.
He, therefore, called on the rank and file of the party to close their ranks and gird their loins for the 2012 general election which he said the NPP was determined to win.
He added that the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) had failed woefully to address the needs of the people.
Alhaji Mahama expressed appreciation to the party leadership and supporters in the Bimbila constituency for their spirit of unity and urged them to retain the seat in 2012.
At Salaga, Wulensi and Adibo where Alhaji Aliu interacted with the chiefs, they all commended him for his visit and hard work and stressed the need for lasting peace in the region to ensure accelerated development.

3 ARRESTED OVER GUSHIEGU CAMPUS (PAGE 3, JAN 4, 2011)

2011-01-04T06:19:00.000-08:00

Story: Zakaria Alhassan & Nurudeen Salifu, Tamale

THREE persons were arrested in Gushiegu yesterday in connection with the disturbances that occurred in the area in the run-up to the 2008 general election.
The three — Haruna Abdul-Rahaman, Abdulai Yakubu and Abdulai Sulemana — were picked up during a dawn swoop conducted by the Yendi Divisional Police.
Three persons, including an elderly chief, died in the violence, while several people sustained various degrees of injury, with massive destruction of properties and vehicles belonging to the Gushiegu Constituency Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Alhaji Jemoni.
The violence at Gushiegu in the run-up to the 2008 elections was a spill-over from an earlier clash between supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the NDC at Kpatinga, near Gushiegu, on August 31, 2008.
The Public Relations Officer of the Northern Regional Police Command, Chief Inspector Ebenezer Tetteh, who briefed the Daily Graphic, said the suspects would be sent from Gushiegu to Accra to assist in police investigations.
According to him, the condition of the suspects was normal, but noted that “they feigned sickness occasionally”.
He indicated that the case was under investigation by the Homicide Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at the headquarters in Accra.
On the situation in Gushiegu, the PRO said, “Everything is calm and there is no cause for alarm. We are, nonetheless, monitoring the situation to respond to any eventuality, appropriately.”
When the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Gushiegu, Mr Alhassan Fuseini, was contacted, he said the District Security Council (DISEC) was in a meeting on the matter.

FORUM ON WATER SITUATION HELD IN TAMALE (PAGE 20, DEC 20, 2010)

2010-12-20T03:30:00.000-08:00

THE Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Alban Bagbin, has observed that the continuous usage of pipe-borne water by vehicle washing bays is posing a threat to the continuous availability of water in urban centres.
He also mentioned pollution, cutting of vegetative cover and dumping of toxic waste in water sources as some of the other activities posing hazard to water bodies in the country.
“These and other similar activities are causing siltation of our river channels, thereby reducing their flood carrying capacities and reducing the quality of water and its availability,” the minister stated.
Mr Bagbin was speaking at a forum on the water situation in the country and the Northern Region in Tamale.
According to him, the annual population growth in the country was putting pressure on the available water.
“This means that today the quantity of water available to us per person has reduced to about a third of what it was in 1960, and will further shrink to a sixth by 2050; in other words, the water available to us today is only 29 per cent of what it was in 1960, and will be only 16 per cent by 2050,” Mr Bagbin stated.
He mentioned the available water systems in the country to include the Black and White Volta, Oti, Tano, Pra, Ochi, Ayensu, Densu and Ankobra.
Mr Bagbin said the average annual volume of water available to Ghana was about 40 billion cubic meters (about 9,000 billion gallons) per year.
On achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the minister said even though the government had set a minimum target of 78 per cent coverage by 2015, “our target is to reach 85 per cent by 2015 and universal access by 2025.”
“As a party and a government, our pledge to the good people of Ghana is to end the perennial water crisis of our communities and cities by significantly expanding and upgrading water infrastructure by the end of our first term in office,” Mr Bagbin emphasised.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabengba, expressed concern over the inadequate water resources in the area, adding that about only 60 per cent of the rural and peri-urban population currently had access to safe water.
“The implications are that the unserved population is at risk of contracting the various forms of water-borne and water-related diseases, and are thus unable to contribute meaningfully to life and the socio-economic development of their communities,” he stated.
He commended the government and other development partners for their various contributions in the provision of water to the people over the years.
Mr Mabengba, however, appealed for more support to address the growing imbalance in the water supply systems in the region, particularly in rural communities.

WORKSHOP ON CORRUPTION HELD IN TAMALE (PAGE 35, DEC 13, 2010)

2010-12-15T05:39:00.000-08:00

THE Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has organised a day’s workshop on the effects of corruption on a nation in Tamale in the Northern Region.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Northern Regional Director of the CHRAJ, Mr Stephen Azantilow, mentioned the Attorney General and the Economic and Organised Crime Offices, the CHRAJ, the Auditor General’s Department and the Parliamentary Select Committee on Finance as institutions for the legal frame work for fighting corruption in the country.
Mr Azantilow spoke on the topic: “Available mechanism for reporting corruption in Ghana.”
According to him, the Economic and Organised Crime Office is a specialised agency mandated to monitor and investigate economic and organised crimes, including money laundering, human trafficking, tax and cyber fraud.
Mr Azantilow, however, acknowledged that: “The existence of avenues for reporting corruption is not by themselves sufficient in the fight against corruption due to a myriad of problems.”
He explained that the institutions mandated to fight corruption such as the CHRAJ and the Economic and Organised Crime Office were under resourced.
Mr Azantilow stated that Parliament’s oversight of the executive was also rendered weak by Article 78 of the Constitution which mandates that majority of ministers are appointed from the legislature.
He further mentioned lack of political will and the effective decentralisation policy in the country as some of the challenges.
“The difficulty of fighting corruption in Ghana, as you would notice is not traceable to lack of mechanisms but the sheer unwillingness on the part of duty bearers to make the system work,” he stated.
Mr Azantilow also mentioned: “The resistance or arrogance of many people who think that the end justifies the means and would therefore do anything to achieve their aims and caprices regardless of the law.”
He expressed concern about the creeping phenomena of the politicisation of crime in the country.
Mr Azantilow observed that in many instances when people had been charged for corruption, politicians took advantage of the situation to put party colourisation to such charges thereby whipping up the sentiments of their respective party followers against the trials.
“Until this culture is done away with, the fight against public corruption, especially at the highest level shall be a mirage,” the director stated.

EXPANSION OF TAMALE HOSPITAL ON COURSE (PAGE 22, 2010)

2010-12-15T04:40:00.000-08:00

WORK on the 43 million Euro expansion and rehabilitation of the Tamale Teaching Hospital is on course.
The project which began in May, this year, is scheduled for completion in four years’ time. At the moment, the contractors, Simed International, are on site busily putting up a new four-storey block which would be handed over by December, 2012.
The entire project involves the construction of a new four-storey block, accident and emergency centre and the refurbishment of existing facilities.
Since its construction in 1974, the hospital has not received any major rehabilitation, leading to the deterioration of facilities and equipment.
When completed, the 400-bed facility will serve as a referral centre for the northern part of the country.
The project is jointly funded by the government and the Fortis Bank NV of The Netherlands.
According to the project director of Simed International, Mr Hans Artz, the project would surely be completed on schedule bearing any unforeseen circumstances.
He, however, expressed concern over the unreliable electricity and water supply to the site, and appealed to the government to help address those challenges in order not to delay the work.
This came to light when the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabengba and his deputy, Mr Nasamu Asabigi paid a visit to the hospital to inspect the progress of work and also find out the challenges faced by the contractors.
The Regional Minister, who was impressed with the level of work so far done, commended the contractors for their performance and promised to liaise with the appropriate ministries to address their difficulties.
“This project is very dear to the government and the people of northern Ghana; indeed it was one of our major campaign promises and we are happy that it is being fulfilled,” he stressed.
Mr Mabengba also inspected the progress of work on a GH¢300,000 lecture block for the School of Medical and Health Sciences of the University for Development Studies and an MRI diagnostic centre at the hospital.
The acting Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr David Kolbilla, said the school needed capital investment instead of budgetary allocations, which he said were woefully inadequate.
He said currently, the hospital had a bed strength of 329 which would be increased to 400 upon completion of the rehabilitation works.
Dr Kolbilla, who is also a senior lecturer at the UDS Medical School and Consultant Gynaecologist at the hospital, however said: “This will still be inadequate because it allows for the training of only 50 doctors; but with a bed strength of between 600-1000, we would be able to train about 150 doctors annually.”
According to him, health delivery at the hospital with the current bed-strength was being compromised.
Dr Kolbilla, however, expressed satisfaction over the growing numbers of doctors accepting postings to the hospital and added that currently, there were about 90 doctors including various specialists.
“This is more refreshing because majority of the doctors now are Ghanaians instead of what we had in the past when most of them were foreigners. There are limited Cuban doctors here as most of them have been sent to the districts where we are still facing inadequate doctors,” Dr Kolbilla stated.
President John Evans Atta Mills cut the sod for the expansion and rehabilitation works to begin at the hospital in April, this year.

WATER, SANITATION PROJECTS FOR 54 DISTRICTS (BACK PAGE, DEC 9, 2010)

2010-12-10T05:11:00.000-08:00

A project to expand water and sanitation services to 600,000 people in 54 districts in six regions has been launched at Nanton-Zuo in Tamale.
The project also entails the construction of institutional latrines in beneficiary communities.
The beneficiary regions are Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Brong Ahafo, Central and Western.
The five-year project is being funded by the International Development Agency (IDA) of the World Bank with a US$75 million facility, with the Government of Ghana providing US$2.34 million.
The Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Alban Bagbin, said the project, which will ensure sustainability of water facilities and services, would further contribute to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target in water supply and sanitation by 2015.
He expressed appreciation for the sanitation component of the project, since it would help in reducing communicable diseases and improve the health condition of the people.
Mr Bagbin expressed the appreciation of the people and the government to the World Bank and its Country Director, Mr Ishac Diwan, for their tremendous assistance.
The Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr Sam Nasamu Asabigi, expressed concern over the low access to ground water and the incidence of high fluoride and its resultant inadequate water supply in some parts of the region and appealed to major stakeholders to help come up with a solution.
The acting Chief Executive Officer of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, Mr Clement Bugase, disclosed that 1,200 boreholes, 40 limited mechanised water systems and 29 full-scale mechanised water supply systems would be constructed.
He said the project would also rehabilitate 13 non-optimal performing small town water supply systems in the Northern Region, while 400 broken boreholes in all beneficiary communities would also be rehabilitated.
A representative of the World Bank, Mr Vanture Bengonechea, expressed the hope that the project would support the government in addressing the water and sanitation needs of the people, particularly in rural communities.

ABUDUS ADVISED TO RETURN TO NEGOTIATION TABLE (PAGE 42, DEC 9, 2010)

2010-12-10T04:58:00.000-08:00

THE Ghana Network for Peace Building (GHANEP), a civil society organisation, has appealed to members of the Abudu gate in the protracted Dagbon chieftaincy disagreement to rescind their decision and return to the negotiation table of Eminent Chiefs led by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
The organisation observed that it was always better to remain and help in addressing the challenges in peace processes than quitting when a contesting party’s concerns were not being addressed.
In a statement signed by Mr Melody Azinim, an officer of GHANEP in Tamale, the organisation also entreated members of the Andani gate not to take any action in the face of the present stand-off that had the potential of heightening the existing misunderstandings and uncertainties on the Dagbon crisis.
It described the decision by the Abudus to withdraw from participating in the media process as “a source of worry to all and has the potential to derail the peace process for Dagbon, especially when adjudication process is also ongoing.”
GHANEP explained that their concern was premised on their monitoring of the dynamics in the Dagbon communities in the midst of the ongoing court trials on issues of criminality and related matters.
“Understandably, mediation efforts take place within an environment of mutual dialogue, respect and understanding, where concerns around the interests and rights of the parties are mutually addressed, paving the way for a smoother forward process,” they indicated.
The statement further contended that such concerns must be addressed in an environment where there was openness and trust between both the parties and the facilitators.
They, however, acknowledged the immense contributions of the Otumfuo committee that had led to the interment of the remains of the late Dagbon King Yakubu Andani and the subsequent installation of the Kampakuya-Na as the regent of Dagbon.
GHANEP commended all the stakeholders involved in helping to find permanent peace to the Dagbon crisis.
“This means that the dignity of the parties involved in resolving the crisis must be maintained. Any action tended or purported to question the neutrality and reputation of the facilitators therefore calls for immediate intervention,” the statement said.
It called on the people of Dagbon to remain calm and steadfast in their desire for peace and not take any action that might further derail the process of finding a lasting solution to the chieftaincy crisis.

ABUDUS ADVISED TO RETURN TO NEGOTIATION TABLE (PAGE 22, DEC 7, 2010)

2010-12-10T03:38:00.000-08:00

UK WILL HELP GHANA ACHIEVE MDG...In health sector (PAGE 22, DEC 4, 2010)

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THE United Kingdom Government’s Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for International Development, Mr Stephen O”Brien, has suggested that more pragmatic measures must be taken to ensure that donor funds trickle down to beneficiary communities.
He observed that when such measures were taken, they would go a long way to create the needed impact for the beneficiaries, particularly those at the rural communities to ensure value for money.
Mr O”Brien further confirmed the UK’s commitment to support the country to achieve its Millennium Development Goal (MDG) in the health sector.
He, however, stressed the need for increased accountability and transparency within the sector.
The Under Secretary made the suggestion during an interaction with some health officials at the Kumbungu Health Centre as part of a day’s visit to the Northern Region.
Among the projects he visited were a malaria eradication campaign programme dubbed: Hang a net,” a UK aid supported health clinic and “School for Life,” an adult literacy programme.
Mr O”Brien later announced a £10 million package for the procurement and distribution of 2.35 million long lasting insecticide treatment bed nets as part of measures to reduce the incidence of malaria in the country by 75 per cent by 2015.
Mr O’Brien and his team, including the acting Head of the DFID in Ghana, Mr Daniel Graymore, later spent the night at Gupanerigu, a deprived farming community in the Tolon/Kumbungu District.
According to Mr Graymore, the decision by the Under Secretary to sleep at the village was to afford him the opportunity to learn at first hand the challenges faced by the people at rural communities to enable him to make inform decisions and suggestions to policy makers on the way forward for such challenged communities.
Mr O’Brien, who was appointed to his current position in May, this year, has demonstrated a committed interest in development work, particularly in malaria control and eradication programmes over the years.
Born in Tanzania, the Under Secretary has been the Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Eddisbury since 1999, and has held a number of front-bench positions, including the Shadow Minister for Health and Social Care. He has also been an Opposition Whip.

WORK ON TAMALE HOSPITAL PROGRESSES (PAGE 3, DEC 4, 2010)

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WORK on the €43 million expansion and rehabilitation of the Tamale Teaching Hospital is on course.
The project that began in May 2010, is scheduled for completion in four years. At the moment, the contractors, Simed International, are on site busily putting up a new four-storey block which would be handed over by December, 2012.
The entire project involves the construction of a new four-storey block, an accident and emergency centre and the refurbishment of existing facilities. Since its construction in 1974, the hospital has not received any major rehabilitation, leading to the deterioration of facilities and equipment.
When completed, the facility will serve as a referral centre for the northern part of the country.
The project is jointly being funded by the Fortis Bank NV of The Netherlands and the Government of Ghana.
According to the project director of Simed International, Hans Artz, the project would surely be completed on schedule baring any unforeseen circumstances.
He, however, expressed concern over the unreliable electricity and water supply to the site and appealed to the government to help address those challenges in order not to delay the work.
This came to light when the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabengba, and his deputy, Nasamu Asabigi, paid a visit to the hospital to inspect the progress of work and also find out the challenges faced by the contractors.
The minister, who was impressed with the level of work so far, commended the contractors and promised to liaise with the appropriate ministries to address their difficulties.
The acting Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr David Kolbilla, said the school needed a capital investment instead of budgetary allocations which he said was woefully inadequate.
He said currently, the hospital had a bed strength of 329, which would be increased to 400 upon completion of the rehabilitation works.
Dr Kolbilla who is also a senior lecturer at the University for Development Studies (UDS) Medical School and Consultant Gynaecologist at the hospital, however, indicated that, “this will still be inadequate because it allows for the training of only 50 doctors, but with a bedstrength of between 600-1000, we would be able train about 150 doctors annually.”
He expressed satisfaction over the growing number of doctors accepting postings to the hospital and disclosed that, at the moment, there were about 90 doctors including various specialists.

LET ALL HANDS BE ON DECK FOR VICTORY — AKUFFO-ADDO (PAGE 12, NOV 27, 2010)

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THE flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, has underscored the need for all hands to be on deck to ensure that the party is united for victory in the 2012 general election.
He indicated that the contest for office in the NPP was over and that the perceived factionalism in the party was, therefore, no longer relevant.
“The requirement now is that we all work together; nobody should put his personal preferences, wishes and desires above this collective goal of winning the 2012 elections,” the flag bearer admonished.
Nana Akufo-Addo was addressing the national delegates of NPP youth in Tamale on Thursday.
The three-day conference is aimed at mapping out strategies to win the 2012 general election, among others.
He observed that the outcome of the elections would depend solely on the efforts of the party’s youth wing, since, by 2012, about 80 per cent of the electorate in the country would be made up of people less than 40.
He, therefore, called for the full involvement of the youth in the party from the constituency level, adding, “If tomorrow Ghana works, you will be the principal beneficiaries of an effective and functioning Ghana.”
The flag bearer mentioned harmony, resource availability and the quality of message as the three thematic areas that needed to be well-packaged to attract and resonate with the people.
He commended the leadership of the party for its tremendous efforts in coming up with relevant reforms and pragmatic programmes in the past months all aimed at making the NPP viable.
Nana Akufo-Addo, however, expressed concern over the misunderstanding that was already emerging from some constituencies over the party’s upcoming parliamentary primaries and advised that the matters be managed well in order not to throw away the gains made so far in the NPP’s ongoing reforms.
He urged delegates to study the profiles of would-be candidates carefully to make informed choices, warning that “if we do not take care, it may be a destructive process”.
The General Secretary of the NPP, Mr Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, observed that “the elections of 2012 will be won or lost through the active involvement of the youth”.
He said it was only the NPP that could restore hope and prosperity to Ghanaians and described the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government as incompetent and “a party that continues to lie and lie and lie to the people; the NDC is a party of chop chop”.
Mr Owusu-Afriyie therefore called on the youth to always demand accountability from the government, assuring them that “whatever it will take to win back power, we will do it. In 2013, we shall be in government”.
The Chairman of the NPP, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, also called for sacrifice from the party’s supporters, noting that they should believe in themselves and not always expect monetary returns for their contributions to the affairs of the party.
He alleged that the strategy of the ruling NDC was the use of intimidation against its political opponents and, therefore, urged the NPP youth to stand up against those tactics.
The chairman entreated the participants to come up with proper strategic plans that would enable the party to win back power for the accelerated development of the country.

I'M NOT INTO DRUGS — AKFO-ADDO (PAGE 12, NOV 26, 2010)

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Nana Akufo-Addo has denied either being cocaine addict or a drug baroon.
He said ‘all such allegations are without basis and lack substance”.
“I want to assure you that I have never sniffed or smoked any stuff in my life. It is all nonsense, it is never true,” Mr. Akufo-Addo emphatically stated.
Mr. Akufo-Addo was speaking in Tamale during a three-day national youth conference of the NPP in the metropolis.
The flag bearer further indicated that the party was currently working on an appropriate response to such vile propaganda which had been in the news for some time now.
Nana Akufo-Addo described his public service record as unblemished and that he gave his best to the nation during the period he served as Minister of State both at the Justice and Attorney-General’s office and Foreign Affairs ministry.
He said he had also sacrificed his life in various ways over the years in ensuring the success of the democratic dispensation the country was now enjoying.
According to him, it was because his political adversaries could not fault him in his public service record that was why they were targeting and peddling lies on his personal integrity.

NDC MUST UNITE FOR PROGRESS — PREZ (PAGE 12, NOV 23, 2010)

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President John Evans Atta Mills has called on members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to use the loss of the Northern Regional Chairman of the party to unite for progress.
He urged the party members to strive to consolidate their hold on power and assured them that, come 2012 the NDC would win again and use the victory as an occasion to honour and remember all fallen heroes of the party who had sacrificed their energies and lives for the growth and success of the NDC.
Speaking at the final funeral rites of the late chairman, Alhaji Sumani Zakaria in Tamale on Sunday, the President called on all to get on board and reminded them that, “if this government does not succeed, there is no way the people of Ghana will have confidence in any NDC government in the future.”
President Mills further admonished the people not to limit their fraternal greetings to such solemn occasions alone but to extend similar goodwill and genuine feelings to each other even in their daily interactions.
Alhaji Sumani, 75, died at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra after a protracted illness and was buried in Tamale a fortnight ago.
He began his working life as a casual labourer and later became a driver, a commercial farmer, a transport owner and a successful contractor and businessman.
President Mills described the late chairman as an astute politician who contributed enormously to the growth of the party and democracy in the country.
The Vice-President, Mr John Mahama, for his part, observed that the personality, character and principles of the late chairman always made him stand out among his peers.
He described Alhaji Sumani’s life as worthy of emulation by all, particularly the youth, and noted that death had robbed the party of such a courageous character.
The General Secretary of the NDC, Mr Johnson Aseidu Nketia, also portrayed the late chairman as a visionary and hardworking leader who strived to improve the fortunes of the party in the region over the years.
The ceremony attracted sympathisers from all walks of life in and outside the region. They included former Vice-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the leadership and representatives from all political parties, chiefs, ministers of state, government and party functionaries and Members of Parliament.
The government donated 25 bags of maize and rice, two bulls, assorted crates of soft drinks and GH¢5,000 to the bereaved family, while the New Patriotic Party (NPP) also presented two bags of maize and rice each and GH¢500.
Other political parties and individuals also made donations to the bereaved family.

UK SUPPORTS MALARIA ERADICATION WITH 10m POUNDS (BACK PAGE, NOV 24, 2010)

2010-11-25T02:38:00.000-08:00

THE United Kingdom (UK) Government has extended a £10-million assistance package towards Ghana’s malarial eradication programme.
The fund is expected to be used for the procurement and distribution of over two million long -lasting insecticide treated bed-nets.
The fund, to be channelled through the UNICEF, is aimed at assisting the country to reach its goal of reducing the burden of malarial prevention and treatment by 75 per cent by 2015.
According to the UK Government’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development, Mr Stephen O’brien, the distribution of the nets will be carried out during the Universal Access to Bed-nets campaigns scheduled for April, next year.
The under-secretary announced this at Gbugli in the Tolon-Kumbungu District of the Northern Region yesterday.
The junior minister, who is also a Member of the British Parliament, explained that “through this funding, an estimated 4.7 million people, of which 940, 000 were expected to be children under five years, would have access to the treated bed-nets.
He indicated that UKaid currently provided £8m annually as sector budget support over a five-year period (2008-2012) in support of the Ministry of Health (MoH) programme of work.
The UKaid further provided about £10m for the procurement of emergency obstetric equipment in support of the country’s free maternal healthcare policy, which was implemented in 2008.
“In 2006 and 2007, DFID provided a total of £8.7m through UNICEF to procure and distribute treated bed-nets to children under two and pregnant women,” the minister indicated.
Mr O’brien observed that malaria had been identified as the leading cause of illness and deaths of children under five years in Ghana.
The disease also accounted for 22 per cent of under-five deaths and nine per cent of maternal deaths in 2007.
The MoH estimates that out of three million cases of suspected malaria reported each year in public health facilities, over 900, 000 affected children under the age of five.
Mr O’brien earlier visited some UK-supported projects in the district, including School for Life and some private initiated programmes, such as the Taimako Plant Centre at Savelugu.
He also paid a courtesy call on the Kumbungu-Naa Yiri Iddrisu Abu, where he expressed the commitment of his government to helping to address some of the challenges in developing countries.

KOMBIAN CAPTURED...From hideout in Togo (LEAD STORY, NOV 22, 2010)

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THE two-time jail breaker, Johnson Kombian, who is alleged to have killed two policemen and wounded another at Nakpanduri last month, has been arrested by Interpol in Togo and handed over to the Ghanaian police.
The 35-year-old man, referred to as the Nakpanduri Terror, was overpowered in Togo by the Togolese security forces last Friday and handed over to the Head of Interpol in Ghana, Chief Superintendent Edward Tabiri and Chief Suprintendent Ayikambe Yakubu, Special Operations Assistant, under heavy security at Aflao yesterday.
Eye witnesses said Kombian appeared to be hurt from an apparent injury to one of his arms after a violent struggle with the Togolese security officers.
Before being declared wanted, Kombian was alleged to have murdered a number of his robbery victims during his brutal operations at Nakpanduri, his latest victims being the two policemen, Constables Prince Agyare and Owusu Frimpong.
The third victim in the gun raid he launched on the police is still receiving treatment for gunshot wounds.
After that assault, Kombian eluded the police by shuttling between Ghana and Togo and Burkina Faso.
He was arrested last Friday in a joint effort by the Ghanaian police and their Togolese counterparts during which vital documents and information were shared on his movement.
One of his alleged victims, Constable Prince Agyare, was buried at his hometown, near Koforidua in the Eastern Region, on Saturday, a day after his alleged killer’s arrest.
Confirming the story to the Daily Graphic in Accra, the Director of Police Public Affairs, Supt. Kwesi Ofori, said immediately after Kombian’s arrest, the Ghanaian police and their Togolese counterparts began the process of extraditing him to Ghana.
He said Kombian’s arrest was possible due to the vital information shared among neighbouring security agencies, including copies of his photograph.
He gave the assurance that the police administration would continue to fight crime until it was reduced to the barest minimum.
He advised other criminals to learn a lesson from the arrest of Kombian and be mindful that no matter their modus operandi they would surely be overcome.
During the hunt for Kombian, the police administration promised to give GH¢3,000 to any member of the public who would volunteer information leading to his arrest.
According to police intelligence report, Kombian shuttled between Nakpanduri in the Northern Region and Burkina Faso, after crossing over to northern Togo when he was being sought after.
In addition to the murder and injury to the policemen, Kombian was wanted to face trial in a number of other cases, including robbery, attempted murder, possession of firearms without lawful authority, escaping from lawful custody and stealing.
Until his escape, he was serving a five-year jail term for a previous escape and awaiting trial for robbery and attempted murder.
Meanwhile, police are giving the captured criminal, Kombian medical care at the Police Hospital.

TAMALE READY FOR NAFAC (PAGE 15, NOV 20, 2010)

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THE stage is set for the hosting of this year’s National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC) in Tamale and the Centre for National Culture (CNC) regional office in the metropolis has been given a facelift.
The main auditorium of the centre that will host exhibitions of various arts from the 10 participatory regions has also been refurbished.
At the time of filing this report, finishing touches were being put to preparations at the Jubilee Park close to the CNC where the grand opening and durbar of chiefs will be held today.
Even though some residents claim there has not been adequate publicity on the event, others have expressed their eagerness to savour the rich traditional and cultural displays that will be showcased during the one-week festival.
Majority of residents Daily Graphic interacted with displayed a lot of enthusiasm over the fact that Tamale has been chosen to host the event again. The first time it was successfully hosted in the metropolis was in 1978.
They assured people who would patronise the NAFAC activities that they would not only enjoy themselves but would also taste the trademark hospitality of residents.
“You know the North is the cradle of culture and tradition and with Tamale hosting such a festival, I cannot just wait to observe how the proceedings would go to let the outside world know the rich cultural diversity we are blessed with in this country,” a tailor, Afah Iddi stated.
Some dealers in smocks have also expressed high expectations of patronage of their wares since NAFAC is a traditional event. “ The wearing of smock has now become very popular even outside the shores of Ghana; our problem is with the publicity because if it was done well, then we would expect to do brisk business particularly with our guests from the south,” a dealer, Abdulai Tanko indicated.
The Police have also expressed their readiness to provide adequate security for all. They have therefore appealed to the people to cooperate with them during the festivities.
According to the deputy Northern regional director of the CNC, Mr Abubakar Iddris Saeed, members of the participatory regions were to arrive in Tamale yesterday, adding that adequate accommodation had been secured for them.
The programme lined up for the week’s event include a durbar of chiefs, opening of regional centres, traditional performances from participating regions, food bazaar, exhibition of national collections, beauty pageant and awards nite.
Mr Saeed, however, raised concerns over the delay in the release of funds for the event which he said had hindered their preparations.
The deputy director has, meanwhile, expressed appreciation to the various paramountcies in the Northern Region for the interest and support extended to the NAFAC committee so far.
“We hope that more support will be offered us by the chiefs and people to ensure a total success of the programme,” he added.

ACCELERATE SADA IMPLEMENTATION (BACK PAGE, NOV 13, 2010)

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Participants in a public forum on the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) in Tamale have appealed to the government to facilitate the speedy implementation of the initiative to help realise its objectives of improving the lot of the people in beneficiary communities.
“We commend the government for ensuring that the initiative has moved from a political slogan into an act of law. We hope the talks would, therefore, now give way to action so that we the beneficiaries will feel the needed impact”, Iddrisu Alhassan, a participant, indicated.
The day’s public sensitisation forum had the theme: “Making SADA work for all.” It was organised by SEND-Ghana, in collaboration with the Northern Development Forum (NDF), all civil society organisations, and funded by Oxfam-GB and Christian Aid-UK.
Other participants who spoke to the Daily Graphic in an interview also entreated all stakeholders to ensure that this new initiative did not fail. They also called for the fair distribution of projects under the SADA to all beneficiary regions and districts.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabengba, assured the people that the government meant business by introducing the initiative and added, “this is the difference between well-intended plans for the people and mere political gimmicks.”
He, therefore, said the initiative was a demonstration of the government’s resolve to bridge the socio-economic gap between the savanna regions of northern Ghana and the rest of the country.
A development consultant and policy adviser to the Vice-President on SADA, Dr Sule Gariba, observed that the slow growth in the northern savanna areas was delaying the nation’s achievement of the MDGs.
He further noted that the prevailing climate change was worsening the plight of the people since it was responsible for the perennial flooding and drought in the north.
The Chairman of the NDF, Dr Hakeem Wemah, said the emerging oil and gas potentials in the country would not make much impact if the skills of the youth were not developed to take advantage of the discovery in that sector .
A representative of an advocacy group, Savanna Women Empowerment Group of Ghana, Mrs Helen Koranteng, underscored the need for women to be actively involved in the decision-making processes of the SADA.
The Country Director of SEND-Ghana, Mr Samuel Zan Akologo, said the organisation, which was established in 1998, now operated in six regions and 42 districts in the country.
According to the director, his outfit was into forging strong partnerships with state and non-state actors that were marked by mutual accountability, transparency and effective communication, to provide a conducive atmosphere for innovative development programmes.

MINISTER LAUNCHES $20M BUSAC FUND (BACK PAGE, NOV 13, 2010)

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THE second phase of the Business Advocacy Challenge Fund (BUSAC II) has been launched in Tamale with the release of a $20 million assistance package to boost the operations of businesses over the next five years.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Hannah Tetteh, who inaugurated the fund, also unveiled a new office for the management of the fund.
The new office is to serve as an information centre and also offer support to business groups located in the northern part of the country.
The fund, among other things, seeks to build the capacities of beneficiaries by identifying, analysing and researching into challenges that constrain their operations, growth and profitability.
The first phase of the initiative, which began in 2004, ended in February 2010, with 362 business associations, media and labour unions in the country benefiting from a $7.9 million grant.
The fund, which has been increased to $20 million under Phase II, will cover a five-year period.
The Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the European Union and the DFID are supporting the programme.
“BUSAC Phase II will continue to be a demand-driven challenge fund that will be directed towards special themes which would otherwise be neglected, to the disadvantage of the majority of the business community,” the minister said.
She, therefore, advised would-be beneficiaries to effectively conduct research into issues affecting their operations to improve the capacities of their respective businesses.
The BUSAC Fund Manager, Dr Dale Rachmeler, indicated the enormous impact the fund had made in the lives and businesses of beneficiaries since its establishment in 2004.
“Ghana has demonstrated, over the past five years, that it has all the ingredients to create and maintain the all- important open environment crucial for growth,” he stated.
The Head of Delegation of the European Union, Ambassador Claude Maerten, observed that the private sector was the engine of growth and it was for that reason that the EU was committed to the success of the programme to create job opportunities and wealth.
The Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr San Nasabu Asabigi, said the Northern Region had great potential in agriculture and other natural resources that could be tapped to improve the well-being of the people.
He expressed the hope that the inauguration of the BUSAC II Fund would serve as a catalyst to accelerate the competitiveness, growth and development of the private sector, particularly in the north.

GRATIS TRAINS MORE TECHNICAL APPRENTICES IN NR (PAGE 35, NOV 17, 2010)

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THE Ghana Regional Appropriate Technology Industrial Service (GRATIS) has surely come a long way since its establishment in 1987 in the Northern Region. The main focus of GRATIS has been in the development, promotion and dissemination of appropriate technologies and skills for the growth of industries, particularly micro and medium-scale enterprises.
According to the Manager of GRATIS-Tamale, Mr Haruna Seini, his outfit had over the years focused their attention mainly on manufacturing and technology-based training to reflect on the growing needs of the industry and human resource in the metropolis and the northern region at large.
He explained that following the peculiar challenges of the people in the area, the GRATIS had often concentrated attention on the manufacture of processing equipment for groundnuts, cassava, shea butter, rice, cereals and grain extractors.
Others are oven and bread making equipment and gas stove. The rest include; bullock ploughs and carts for donkeys .
Mr Seini further mentioned environment, sanitation and educational equipment such as solid waste containers, garbage push trucks, high level water tank stands, maternity beds and infusion stands as some of their handiwork. Others are lecture hall chairs, metal tables and concrete culvert moulds.
He said “All the above mentioned equipment we have manufactured can be found at various parts of the region where the rural people are using them not only to add value to farm produce, but also serve as means of income generation,” he stated.
The manager further said GRATIS was involved in the empowerment of the youth with the requisite technical, vocational and entrepreneurial skills for self-employment.
“The three-year technical apprenticeship training programmes in welding and fabrication are held at the GRATIS centre where training for self-employment is based on both theory and hands-on training on practical jobs. This is coupled with an industrial attachment, entrepreneurial skills training and a competence-based examination,” Mr Seini stated.
Among beneficiaries of the training exercises are university and polytechnic engineering students, who upon completion of their various courses, want to acquire practical knowledge in their respective fields of study.
“In all, we have trained over 400 technical apprentices who are contributing immensely to the economy, most of them are either self-employed or are working in the manufacturing sectors of the economy,” Mr Seini stated.
He said, “In line with GRATIS commitment to disseminate and promote technology, we also train communities in the proper processing of quality shea butter, edible oil, gari and rice, among others”.
According to him, women were also trained in bee-keeping, weaving, batik tie, all of which were aimed at equipping them with income- generating skills.
A beneficiary, Amina Alhassan, who is a mother, had this to say, “My colleagues and I are very grateful to GRATIS for believing in our abilities and proving us with the requisite training in batik tie and dye: It has not only helped me in supporting my two kids in their schooling, but has also afforded me the opportunity to cater for my petty needs”.

NANA KONADU WILL NOT RUN — Rawlings (PAGE 12, NOV 15, 2010)

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Former President, Flt Lt. Rawlings has re-affirmed that he is not interested in ruling the nation again neither is his wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings.
“Rawlings is not interested in the Professor’s seat neither is my wife. I have held that seat for 18 years during which we worked very hard in transforming this country.”
He explained that he was only calling for fairness and justice in the affairs of the nation and that, “we will be living in the world of self denial if we do not face the reality.”
The former President explained that his constant criticisms of the Mill’s administration was not borne out of malice neither was it about washing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party’s dirty linen in public but as truths that needed to be told to guide the ruling government to perfection in fulfilling its better Ghana mantra.
He was speaking at the funeral of the late Northern Regional chairman of the NDC, Alhaji Sumani Zakari in Tamale at the weekend.
He indicated that even though the final funeral rite of the deceased was next week Sunday, he decided to call on the family earlier because he was likely not to be in the country at that time.
He made a cash donation of GH¢1000 and five bags of maize to the family.
The former President had earlier paid courtesy calls on some chiefs and opinion leaders in the Tamale metropolis since his arrival in the area last Friday.
He had also visited the flood victims at Buipe in the Central Gonja district on his way to Tamale to console them and to learn at first hand the level of destruction caused by the floods.
The late chairman died on November 8th at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital at the age of 75 after a protracted illness. He has since been buried in Tamale according to Islamic custom.
Flt Lt. Rawlings described the late chairman as a man of courage who had contributed immensely to the socio-political development of the northern region and the nation and that even though Alhaji Zakaria was not perfect; he did his best for mother Ghana.
The former President advised the family of the deceased to remain steadfast and not to allow themselves to be divided over the properties of their husband and father.
He equally admonished the party executive in the region, particularly the vice chairman of the NDC, Sofo Azorka to endeavour to consult the party elders before arriving at decisions and urged them to ensure unity at all times until a successor was duly elected.
According to Flt Lt. Rawlings, his private advises to the government to institute in depth investigations into alleged corrupt practices by the Kufuor administration, electoral frauds in the 2004 and 2008 general elections and the prosecutions of both private and security personnel among other issues have all not been heeded to for which reasons he sometimes had to go public.
He contended that President Mills’ failure to institute investigations into what he called electoral frauds by the NPP means, “you are telling the world that the NPP is as strong as you are when they are indeed weak.”
Flt Lt. Rawlings described the prevailing economic hardships in the country as legacies of former President Kufuor’s corrupt and misrule regime.
He also chastised a section of the media for what he termed as misinformation and the distortion of vital information and stressed that he had always stood for the truth and fairness which he said were his principles.
Touching on the Ya-Na and Alhaji Issah Mobilla’s murder cases which are all on trial in the law court, Mr Rawlings called for their speedy adjudication and further investigations into those cases to ensure unity since “there can never be unity without justice.”
He described those behind the murder of the Dagbon Overlord as professional killers and alleged that the Wuaku Commission’s sittings and subsequent report were only a cover-up.
“And when I am calling for justice for the Ya-Na it is not because he is an Andani or Abudu because I do not know one from the other since I have worked with both of them,” the former President said and that he would have done same if it was an Abudu chief or the common man on the street.
According to him, if justice was not instituted in those matters, “their capacities to kill and kill again would happen if they get the chance again,” he indicated.

BE PROACTIVE IN REPORTING CHILD ABUSE (PAGE 35, NOV 4, 2010)

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THE Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has exhorted the public to be proactive in reporting the abuse of children to the commission.
It has also warned that parents who encouraged their children to migrate to engage in menial jobs would be dealt with drastically.
According to the commission, it would soon come out with a comprehensive strategy for the protection of the girl-child to education and therefore, urged parents and guardians to place special importance on the schooling of their children and wards.
A Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ, Mr Richard Quayson, who was speaking at a public forum for some Muslim women in the Tamale Metropolis, stressed that the commission attached seriousness to the right to education of the girl-child “and would therefore do everything necessary to ensure that their rights are not violated”.
He mentioned the special attributes women have in their role model roles in society to include their ability to understand the needs of children and their patience and willingness to listen and address the concerns of children.
“The growth of the family rest on women and therefore the day that women would fail in their duty to protect the family would mark the genesis for the decline of the entire society,” he added.
Mr Quayson further stated that women had a special place in society and could exert tremendous influence in the education of children, including the girl-child.
He said the law guarantees the right to property of all persons irrespective of race and gender and described as unlawful where some widows were thrown out of their marital homes upon the death of their husbands.
The Northern Regional Director of the CHRAJ, Mr Stephen Azantilow urged women to assert themselves, and to champion the course of development at their respective communities for the betterment of society.
A similar forum was held for congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in the metropolis.

STEPS TO INCREASE MAIZE, LEGUME PRODUCTION (PAGE 22, OCT 23, 2010)

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AGRICULTURE in Ghana accounts for about 55 per cent of employment and nearly 40 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Soil degradation is, however, considered a major setback to ensuring food security in the country.
About 70 per cent of the soil in northern Ghana and the eastern part of the Brong Ahafo Region around Atebubu is considered as degraded and infertile. This is evidenced in the poor yields of crops particularly cereals.
The most degraded areas are the north-eastern part of the Upper East Region from Navrongo-Bolgatanga to Bawku-Zuarungu and to further east.
Indeed, about 10 per cent of the land mass of sub-Saharan African is considered severely degraded with an additional 10 per cent showing signs of rapid degradation.
It has also been established that 39 per cent of the continent and 65 per cent of agricultural land are affected by desertification and the subsequent lost of land fertility thus affecting the livelihoods of over 60 million people in the continent.
According to a senior soil scientist with the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) at Nyankpala in the Northern Region, Dr Mathias Fosu, the institute had developed many technologies to help farmers improve on soil health.
The technologies include fallow management where some locally adapted leguminous crops such as crotalaria, mucuna and calopogonium have been identified and used as cover crops to increase organic matter and soil nutrients.
Crop rotation systems that increase legumes in the crop system to fix atmospheric nitrogen and improve soil fertility and inter-cropping that allow for targeted fertilisation of cereals within the crop system.
He mentioned other methods as the combination of minimum tillage and the use of plant residues and herbicide to reduce erosion, building of the capacity of farmers in soil and water management and on the selection and appropriate use of mineral and organic fertilisers within an integrated soil management system.
Dr Fosu also explained that his outfit carried out soil tests for farmers and practise it with them on their fields by applying appropriate fertiliser recommendations.
He stated that “good soil quality is the most important link in the agricultural value chain and since most soils, especially in northern Ghana that is considered the bread basket of the country are known to be poor, ensuring good soil quality is key to agricultural production”.
Dr Fosu further claimed that “the work at SARI has been shown to improve yields as crop rotation and inter-cropping has increased cereal yields between 15 and 60 per cent over the monocrop systems”.
A farmer, Mr Afah Tahiru Wumbei of Gbalahigu in the Tolon/Kumbungu District in the Northern Region, said “my colleagues and I have benefited tremendously through the use of these new technologies from SARI as we continue to record increase yields in maize and rice production”.
On the safe usage of fertiliser, Dr Fosu observed that in Ghana and Africa, fertiliser is not the major threat but rather, the practice of cropping without fertiliser referred to as nutrient mining.
The soil scientist, however, stated that farmers were constantly educated on the best practices in fertiliser handling and application.
Dr Fosu acknowledged the importance of partnership to improve on the agricultural sector.
He mentioned funding for technological generation, collaborative research, knowledge sharing, training skills development and exchange of information as some of the areas that could impact positively on the work of SARI.
“The policy changes or shifts needed for SARI to grow include increase in government’s support in the areas of research, capacity building, innovative financing of agriculture and good access to market by farmers,” Dr Fosu said.
Other measures include, increase access and subsidising of fertiliser and credit availability to farmers.
Indeed the problems and solutions in agriculture are not unique to Ghana. The endemic poverty in farming communities in Africa limits the use of improved technologies and inputs in the sector as many governments in Africa often pay lip service to the sector.
The African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) is showing the way in driving change across the agricultural value chain and supporting Africa’s agricultural development through the mobilisation of support from African leaders.
It involves the mapping out of strategies for increase in fertiliser supply, promoting investments and policy support to increase farmers’ incomes and combining public and private sector expertise in the accelerated growth of the sector.
It was, therefore, very refreshing when in April, this year, a $1.54 million project aimed at increasing maize-legume production through up scaling of proven integrated soil fertility for the three northern regions was inaugurated in Tamale.
The three-year project is being funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), an international organisation that seeks to transform small holder agriculture into a highly productive, efficient, sustainable and competitive system while protecting the environment.
The Director-General of the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-Ghana), Dr Abdulai Salifu, sums it up when he said, “Any strategy that seeks to turn around the general soil infertility constraint northern Ghana into a resource must be welcome news for our agricultural policy makers and farmers.”

COWPEA PRODUCERS IN NORTHERN GHANA TO BE TRAINED (PAGE 35, SEPT 27, 2010)

2010-09-27T04:46:00.000-07:00

A training programme is to be organised in selected cowpea-production areas in the northern sector of the country .
The programme will ensure the proper storage of the crop to enhance food security and improve household incomes in the beneficiary communities.
Dubbed, “Purdue improved cowpea storage (PICS)”, the programme is a regional project involving 10 countries in West Africa.
In Ghana, it is to be implemented in the Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Brong Ahafo and Ashanti Regions. The target is to reach out to more than 2,000 communities within a year.
The project is being funded through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The partner implementing agencies in the country include World Vision, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and community-based organisations.
According to Dr Dieudonne Baributsa of the Purdue University in the USA, one of the collaborators, the programme also has the potential to reduce poverty among the people.
Dr Baributsa, who was speaking at the inauguration of the programme in Tamale, therefore, emphasised the need for farmers to ensure that they installed proper storage facilities using bags that had polythene in them.
“Using the Hermetic Triple Plastic Bag will help prevent post-harvest losses and improve household incomes for the poor farmers”, he stated.
The PICS Co-ordinator in Ghana, Dr John Adu-Kumi, explained that the new method would be demonstrated in each community, and radio sensitisation programmes organised.
He said if cowpeas was not stored properly, weevils would infect them and destroy the beans; a situation, he said, could lead to food insecurity and health hazards.
The Savelugu-based Operation Team Leader of World Vision, Mr James Asedem, said the project fell in line with the objectives of his outfit.
He stated that apart from being an important crop in the diet of the people, cowpea was also a key cash crop for many rural communities.
Mr Asedem, however, observed that cowpea farmers had over the years experienced the highest post-harvest losses due to ‘bruchid’ infestation.
He further said due to poverty and lack of proper storage facilities, some of the farmers usually sold their produce soon after harvesting, when prices for the crop were low.

MELCOM DONATES FOOD ITEMS TO TAMALE MUSLIMS (PAGE 22, SEPT 7, 2010)

2010-09-07T03:39:00.000-07:00

THE Tamale branch of Melcom group of companies limited has presented quantities of food items to the Tamale Central Mosque to support the congregation in their ongoing fasting obligation.
The items included sugar, rice, cooking oil, tea and milk.
According to the Tamale Branch Manager of Melcom, Mr Rizwan Ahmad Khan, the donation, which was the first of its kind to the mosque, formed part of Melcom's social responsibility.
He stated that Tamale was predominantly a Muslim community and it was for that reason that it found it necessary to support the Muslim Umma in fulfilling one of their religious obligations.
The manager promised to extend the gesture to other mosques in the metropolis in future.
Mr Khan expressed appreciation to the people of the metropolis for the continuous patronage of their goods which he described as affordable and of quality.
“At the moment, we are refurbishing the shop to make it more comfortable and congenial to shop as this is in line with our vision of always satisfying our customers needs,” he stated.
The Chief Imam of the mosque, Alhaji Abdul-Salam Ahmed, expressed appreciation to the company for the gesture and pledged to ensure the fair distribution of the items.
He advised Muslims to use the holy month of Ramadan to reflect on their past deeds, pray for forgiveness and chart a new course of life devoid of negative tendencies.

COUNCIL DRAWS UP PROGRAMME TO DEVELOP NR (PAGE 22, SEPT 7, 2010)

2010-09-07T03:38:00.000-07:00

THE Northern Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) has rolled out a number of programmes to facilitate the accelerated development of the area which is among the least developed regions in the country.
Among the thematic sectors that are attracting the council’s attention are, infrastructure development, agriculture, education and security.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabengba, outlined the achievements chalked up so far and the vision of the government towards the forward move of the region at a well-attended “Meet the press” series held in Tamale.
The meeting was attended by a Deputy Minister of Information, Mr Agyenim Boateng, a Member of the Council of State, Kpan-Na Mohammed Bawa, District Chief Executives, chiefs and heads of departments, among others.
According to Mr Mabengba, as of December, last year, a total of 81.90 kilometres of roads had been constructed.
He said there were spot improvements and rehabilitation of some roads while a number of town roads were also worked on.
The minister also mentioned the construction of bridges, adding that routine maintenance on 15 roads covering a distance of 377.30 kilometres had been completed at while work on 450 kilometres of roads would commence soon.
He added that contract had been awarded on road surfacing in Chereponi, Tolon and Bole districts under the District Capital Road Improvement Project.
Mr Mabengba said some roads in the Tamale Metropolis were also to be given a facelift.
They include the 1.2-kilometre Nalungfon road which will be rehabilitated and that of the Picorna stretch.
“Again, 1.2 kilometres length of storm drains at Choggu Low Cost area is to be constructed as excavation works on this project has commenced,” he stated.
On the agricultural sector, the Regional Minister said available land for agricultural production in the region was 4.9 million hectares out of which only 800,000 hectares, representing 16 per cent were under production.
“Part of the remainder is used for livestock production while 10 per cent of the Volta Lake system that falls in the region also provides a platform for irrigation agriculture that can be undertaken in the region throughout the year,” he added.
Mr Mabengba mentioned the Youth in Agriculture block farm, fertiliser subsidy, Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Programmes, including the rice sector support and the livestock development projects as some of the initiatives the government was undertaking to ensure food security in the region.
Under the block farm programme, the regional minister stated that it was being implemented in all the 20 districts in the region. Crops under cultivation include maize, rice, soya beans, sorghum and onions.
According to him, “a total of 15,722 farmers had been registered as beneficiaries of the 2010 programme. this means that through agriculture, the government has been able to provide employment for more than 15,000 people.”
Touching on the security situation in the region, Mr Mabengba observed that the area was experiencing some calm now, despite the fact that there were still unresolved matters on chieftaincy and land disputes.
“However, these have largely been contained, thanks to the increased appreciation and understanding of the role of peace in development by all stakeholders,” he stated.
Mr Mabengba, however, mentioned the Dagbon crisis, contenders for the Bimbilla skins, the Buipe skin affair and other minor chieftaincy issues pending at the Regional House of Chiefs, which, he said, were currently under review by the judicial committee of the House.
The Regional Minister said the Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo District had witnessed a number of violent conflicts leading to many internal displaced persons, adding that the area was now calm with security patrols.
On highway robbery, he said the incidence had now reduced following the constant patrol of the roads by a combined team of the military and the police. According to him, the robberies were often committed by Fulani herdsmen and their Ghanaian collaborators.
Mr Mabengba commended the chiefs and people of the area for their patience and co-operation over the years and assured them that the government was on track in achieving its "Better Ghana" agenda.

CSM CLAIMS 22 LIVES IN NORTHERN REGION (BACK PAGE, SEPT 2, 2010)

2010-09-02T09:36:00.000-07:00

CELEBRO Spinal Meningitis (CSM) has claimed 22 lives in the Northern Region, out of the 117 cases reported at various health centres in the early part of this year.
Malaria, however, continues to be the leading cause of illness and death in the region.
In the Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo District, 35 cases of CSM were reported with eight deaths. The East Mamprusi District had 48 cases with seven deaths while the Saboba District had 22 cases with no fatalities.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabengba, disclosed this at the region’s turn at the “Meet the Press” series in Tamale last Monday.
The minister further indicated that there were 44 per cent institutional deaths from malaria while malaria fatality rate increased marginally from 2.94 per cent in 2009 to 2.98 per cent this year.
On the current guinea worm situation in the region, he said only eight cases had so far been reported this year. This is a significant reduction from the same time last year when 231 cases were received.
The region, according to Mr Mabengba, also registered 51 maternal deaths while the HIV prevalence rate increased from 1.1 per cent in 2007 to 2.0 per cent last year. There have also been 71 suspected cases of H1N1 influenza in the area with eight persons testing positive.
Touching on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), he said since its inception, 1,713,414 persons in the region had registered with the scheme, representing 69.4 per cent of the region’s population.
“Let me also mention that fraudulent activities in both the schemes and by the providers that have bedevilled the smooth running of the scheme in the region have reduced drastically,” he noted.
The minister, however, expressed concern that in spite of the several appeals made to health personnel to accept postings to the Northern Region, some of them were still reluctant to work in the area.
He said this had led to the existing challenges faced by the region in its quest to ensure efficient health delivery services to the people.
He observed for instance that the five doctors who were posted to the area this year had all refused to report to post.
At the moment, there are only nine doctors serving in the 20 districts in the region. The number of midwives is 275 with 542 nurses. However, the Tamale Teaching Hospital has 57 doctors, including 23 House Officers.

GOVT SENDS REINFORCEMENT TO KARAGA ...To check violence (PAGE 19, AUGUST 31, 2010)

2010-09-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

Military and police reinforcement has been despatched to Karaga to contain violence which erupted over the nomination of a new District Chief Executive for the Karaga District in the Northern Region.
The reinforcement was necessitated by the fact that police personnel sent to Karaga to maintain law and order were chased away by irate members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who were said to have gone on the rampage because they were not pleased with the nomination of Mr Hussein Issah Sulemana as the new DCE.
About six months ago, the district chief executives for Karaga, Yendi and Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo were relieved of their posts by President John Atta Mills after protest against them by some youth groups in their respective areas.
After the announcement of the nomination of the new DCE on Friday August 27, 2010, a faction of the youth group of the party alleged to be supporters of the former chief executive, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulai Sandow, allegedly clashed with those of the current nominee leading to injuries to people on both sides and destruction of property.
Supporters of Alhaji Sandow accused those of Mr Sulemana of being responsible for the agitation that led to the removal of the former DCE from office.
Addressing the meet-the-press series in Tamale yesterday, the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabengba, said calm had returned to Karaga and declared the resolve of the Regional Security Council to ensure the arrest of the perpetrators of the disturbances.
“Wherever they are, we shall pursue and arrest them,” he said.
He condemned the action of the irate NDC members who went on the rampage in Karaga and said it was high time such miscreants were brought to book and made to answer for their actions.
As of the time of filing this report, the DCE nominee who is also the Karaga Constituency Secretary of the NDC was said to be in Tamale consulting with the party executives.

HARMONY ATTRACTING BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS...Chief Executive of Tamale (PAGE 13, AUGUST 30, 2010)

2010-08-30T09:15:00.000-07:00

THE Metropolitan Chief Executive of Tamale, Alhaji Abdulai Harruna Friday, has said that the prevailing harmony in the city is attracting business establishments and individuals to the metropolis.
He has also expressed satisfaction over the low crime rate in the city over the years and attributed the situation to the vigilance of the people and the alertness and professionalism of the security forces in the metropolis.
Alhaji Friday, therefore, commended the chiefs and people of the metropolis for helping the metropolis to attain such status.
He was speaking at the second general assembly meeting of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TAMA).
He, however, expressed concern over the increasing indiscipline on the part of some motorists whose actions were posing danger on the roads.
He explained that it was to ensure order on the roads that some youth in the metropolis were trained as community police and deployed around some major intersections in the city to direct road users accordingly.
The Chief Executive, however, noted that some motorists had began harassing the community police personnel in order to have their way. “Let me use this opportunity to caution such people to desist from obstructing the work of the community police personnel.”
According to him, “the law will catch up with any person or group who engages in any form of indiscipline that has the potential of disturbing law and order in the metropolis.”
Other areas of concern expressed by Alhaji Friday included the issue of stray animals and sanitation.
He observed that in spite of the numerous appeals to cattle owners to restrain their animals from roaming the streets, they still posed danger to motorists and warned that drastic measures would be enforced to curtail the growing menace.
On the haphazard littering of the city, he entreated people engaged in such practices to be more responsible in the disposal of waste, particularly those who throw materials from moving vehicles. “It is advisable that such people to rather leave the waste materials in the vehicle for it to be properly disposed of at their final destination.”

NR POLICE COMMAN PRAISES GOVT FOR NEW PAY POLICY (PAGE 22, AUGUST 20, 2010)

2010-08-25T09:29:00.000-07:00

Story: Zakaria Alhassan, Tamale.

THE Northern Region Police Command has expressed appreciation to the government and the Police administration for their efforts in the successful implementation of the new pay policy.
According to them, “this has brought a lot of smiles on the faces of police men and women; a new beginning always brings fresh hope and this is a good time for all police officers.”
THE Northern Regional Police Commander, Mr. Angwubutoge Awuni, was addressing police personnel in the region at a welfare meeting in Tamale.
He further indicated that, “the new pay policy has come to change the lives of police officers and their families as it will afford them the opportunity to start investing in their future and that of their children in accordance with service regulations and also towards a better retirement.”
The commander however advised them against acts of recklessness and reminded them that those who would engage in irresponsible lifestyles will not feel the impact of the new pay policy.
Mr. Awuni also stated that, good salaries demanded more efficiency and better services and that some of the negative conduct by some police investigators and those at the barriers and roadside must cease forthwith.
“There is no excuse for any police officer to indulge in some of these shameful acts which drag the image of the Ghana Police Service into disrepute and present officers as objects of scorn and ridicule in the public eye,” he opined.
The commander therefore warned that the Police administration will punish any officer caught in corrupt acts such as demanding monies before services are rendered in the severest terms.
On the passage of the STX Housing agreement, Mr. Awuni expressed appreciation to the legislature for successfully passage into law. They expressed the hope that the project that includes the provision of 30,000 housing units for the security forces would be completed on record time.
He described the current state of their barracks as very deplorable and noted that any efforts by the government to provide them with decent accommodation will not only boost their morale but will also encourage the Police to give off their best to win public confidence.
Other concerns expressed by some of the officers at the meeting were the lack of resources and logistics such as vehicles to embark on operations in the region.
For instance the Tamale Metropolitan Police Commander, Mr. Caesar Abanga revealed that inspite of the vastness and complexities of the metropolis, “we have no any reliable vehicle to embark on operations with since the only vehicle broke down almost about a year now.”
He observed that even though the new salary policy was encouraging, “it must however match with a corresponding logistical support to bring out the best in us.”
End.

Aug 17, page 22.
Govt presents items to Muslims in Tamale.

As an annual ritual during Ramadan, the Northern Regional Coordinating Council on behalf of government donated hundreds of bags of sugar to about 56 Mosques’, chiefs and other social groupings in the Tamale Metropolis.
Among the beneficiary groups were the Tamale Central Mosque, the Ambariya Mosque, the Salawaatiya and AlBayan Mosques’ as well as the Chief of Tamale, the Gukpegu Regent and the Zongo Chief.
The Tamale Central and Ambariya Mosques’ received a quantity of 10 bags of sugar each.
Making the presentation at the Tamale Central Mosque, Alhaji Abudulai Harunah Friday, Mayor of Tamale on behalf of government commended the Muslim community for its role in nation building hence the donation.
He said government was appreciative of the standard of intra-religious tolerance experienced in the region and concluded that situation had contributed to the relative peace residents have enjoyed so far.
Alhaji Friday said government was committed to achieving the Better Ghana Agenda and called on the citizens to co-exist peacefully for accelerated development.
Laying much emphasis on peace, he also appealed to the youth of Dagbon to reconcile and re-channel their resources into productive ventures that will move the Dagbon State forward but in the right direction.
The Chairman of the Central Mosque Committee, Alhaji Abdallah Hindu thanked government for the kind gesture and prayed for peace and tranquility for the realization of the Better Ghana Agenda.
He assured government of the Muslim Ulamah’s unflinching cooperation with other development partners to improve the socio-economic progress of residents of the entire northern region.

TAMA PAYS DEBTS TO CONTRACTORS (PAGE 29, AUGUST 19, 2010)

2010-08-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

THE Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TaMA) has dispensed part of its first quarter allocation of the Common Fund to honour outstanding debts owed contractors and other service providers.
The assembly noted that, even though its share of the fund was far below expectation, “the assembly still managed to service a number of outstanding debts and embarked on other development projects in the metropolis.”
The Mayor of Tamale, Alhaji Abdulai Harruna Friday who disclosed this at the second general assembly meeting for the year in Tamale on Monday, said the assembly received a total amount of GH¢ 218,737.00 for the first quarter.
He explained that, “the guidelines for the utilisation of this year’s funds emphasised on paying outstanding commitments before embarking on new projects.”
Other areas the assembly expended the funds included the maintenance of security and the education sector.
On the mobilisation of local revenues, Alhaji Friday indicated that the assembly was on course to achieve its target for the year. So far, the assembly has mobilised an amount of GH¢319,371.86 representing 68 percent out of the targeted amount of GH¢474,919.67 between January and July this year.
“It is sad to note that not much was generated from the Central Business District where a lot of economic and commercial activities take place. This is a lean season for revenue mobilisation in the north especially in respect of food items; it is therefore hoped that by the end of December, we could make substantial gains in our revenue mobilisation drive,” he stated.
The mayor also added that the Budget and Finance sub-committees of the assembly were collaborating to identify additional potential sources of revenue to enable the assembly generate more funds for projects.

HOW THE REGIONS VOTED IN NPP'S ELECTIONS (PAGE 12, AUGUST 9, 2010)

2010-08-16T01:44:00.000-07:00

ESTATIC supporters of the opposition New Patriotic Party
(NPP) in Tamale were beside themselves with joy at the
weekend when the results of the Presidential primaries of
the party were declared in the metropolis.
At all the three constituencies, Tamale North, Central and
South, Nana Akufo Addo won by large margins of votes over
his other four contestants.
Some of the supporters were spotted in their cars and on
their motorbikes adorned with party colours amidst tooting
of horns, waving of flags and singing praises to Nana Addo.
This was after the 7-hour voting exercise had ended
peacefully in the metropolis by 3 pm. Reports from the other
districts in the northern region also indicated that, party
supporters conducted themselves orderly.
An ardent supporter of the party, Mohammed described the
overwhelming victory of Nana as a “victory for the party
and the nation and for the people who are daily searching
for better life.”
“I will also like to congratulate the other competitors,
particularly Alan Cash for his gracious acceptance of
defeat. I wish to assure him that he would surely get the
nod the next time,“ he intimated.
A member of the student wing of the NPP at the Tamale
Polytechnic, Hamza Issah observed that, “the decision of
the Party to re-nominate Nana Addo as our Presidential
candidate is very reassuring as he had been marketed already
and has the wherewithal to compete the sitting
President.”
Fati Alhassan on her part commended the party faithful in
Tamale and the northern region for the show of maturity,
patience and tolerance during the entire period of campaigns
that culminated in the election on Saturday.

TRAIN MMDAs ON CENSUS — DAWUNI (PAGE 13, 2010)

2010-08-09T10:43:00.000-07:00

THE Assembly Member for the Nakpale Borile Electoral Area at Tatale, Mr Edward Atta Abebe Dawuni, has stressed on the need for the training of presiding members of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies on the intricacies of the impending population and housing census this year.
He noted that such an informed exercise would enable the members to educate their colleagues in the assemblies, who would in turn explain the importance of the census to the electorate, including chiefs at their respective local levels.
“I will therefore entreat the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) to liaise with the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG to chart the way forward in this direction,” Mr Dawuni stated.
He made the call during an interaction with the electorate in his constituency at Tatale in the Zabzugu/Tatale district of the Northern Region.
Mr Dawuni, who is also the Presiding Member of the assembly, pointed out that since some people still held the erroneous customary beliefs about enumeration of people, it would be necessary for assembly members to have some knowledge about the census to enable them educate their people to co-operate with the field workers who would be deployed for the exercise.
Touching on education, he appealed to the people to reduce their expenditure on funerals, weddings and other social events and rather channel their resources into their wards schooling.
Mr Dawuni further observed that “it is only through education that we can lift ourselves out of the prevailing poverty situation and also improve on our well-being and the accelerated development of our various communities.”
He, therefore, urged them to take advantage of the government’s social intervention policies in education through the provision of free school uniforms, books and feeding programme by not only enrolling their children in school, but making sure that they supported them to complete their respective courses.
The assembly member also advised them to register with the National Health Insurance Scheme to enable them benefit from the free medical service in the hospitals and clinics.
Mr Dawuni however noted that development could not thrive in an atmosphere of instability and therefore advised them to continue to maintain the prevailing peace in the area to attract the necessary investments.
The Paramount Chief of Tatale traditional area, Obore Gariba Yankosor, who was part of the meetings, appealed to Ghanaians not to politicise the impending population census exercise and called for maximum co-operation from all stakeholders for its success.

GOVT TO RESOURCE NYEP TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMMES (PAGE 22, AUGUST 7, 2010)

2010-08-08T08:51:00.000-07:00

THE government is prepared to resource the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) to implement its laudable programmes, especially in northern Ghana to help forestall the mass exodus of the youth from the area to southern Ghana in search of menial jobs.
The Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr Sam Nasaamu Asabigi, said this in a speech read on his behalf at the close of a six-month skill and manpower training workshop for graduates of the Ghana Young Artisans Movement and the NYEP in Tamale.
The 85 trainees were trained in various fields, including hair-dressing, dress- making, catering, batik, tie-dye production.
Mr Asabigi described as unfortunate the current situation in northern Ghana where a large number of energetic youth were idling about as a result of unavailability of employment.
He gave the assurance that the government had mapped out a number of programmes, including the revamping of the agricultural sector to absorb the youth.
The National Co-ordinator of the NYEP, Mr Abuga Pele, said the exercise formed part of the “trade and vocation model” of the NYEP that was aimed at exploring the potentials of the youth through self-employment.
He said that would lessen the burden on government’s financial stride to provide lucrative jobs for the youth of Ghana.
Mr Abuga Pele hinted that plans were afoot to replicate the vocation and trade model throughout the country that would also benefit the disabled.
The Executive Director of the Ghana Young Artisans Movement, Mr Abdul Fatawu Ibrahim, commended the government for its unrelenting efforts to develop the youth of Ghana through such interventions.
He also expressed appreciation to donor agencies, including “Tools for self reliance” in the United Kingdom, Simavi in the Netherlands, the Embassies and High Commissions of Britain and Canada in Ghana for their support over the years.
Mr Fatawu revealed that GYAM had since its establishment in 1995 been involved in youth and community development through which water and sanitation facilities had been provided to peri-urban communities in the three regions of the north.
The graduates received certificates and some working tools to help them establish their own businesses.

JAPAN MOTORS TO EXPAND BASE AT TAMALE (PAGE 29, JULY 31, 2010)

2010-08-01T09:49:00.000-07:00

JAPAN Motors and Trading Company, dealers in automobile and accessories is to undertake a massive infrastructure investment in its Tamale branch within the next three years.
Among the strategies line-up to capture the growing market in the metropolis, are the construction of a modern showroom for vehicles and Yamaha Motorbikes to offer customers a serene and comfortable environment to do business.
A three-story office complex, part of which will be rented to institutions that want to set up near the light-industrial area of Tamale, will also be constructed on part of the land. As part of the expansion process, the workshop will be relocated and given a state of the art design.
According to the Branch Manager of the company in Tamale, Mr. Al-Hassan Somoa Mahama, “as Tamale is becoming the commercial hub of the north, the company also intends putting up two large warehouses drawing from our experience of managing warehouses in our Tema Branch.”
In doing this, “we are envisaging that when the In-land-port in Tamale becomes operational, the needs of importers will also be met,” he explained.
The manager observed that most people were still unaware that they could purchase their vehicles at their office in Tamale and had to trek all the way to Accra stressing that, “the vehicles you buy from us here and those from our head office in Accra are all of the same quality and durability.”
Mr Mahama further indicated that his outfit also offers training facilities to students from the technical schools, polytechnics and universities like its sister branches in other parts of the country.
“It is the only automobile garage in all the three northern regions equipped with modern vehicle diagnosis equipment.
Giving a background of the company’s existence in the north, the manager explained that Japan Motors was among other automobile firms that opened its branch in Tamale in 1973 to enjoy the benefits of the agriculture boom in the area.
The rapid decline of the agricultural sector in the 1980s in the area, however, led to the decline in incomes as automobile sales plummeted. Almost all the automobile firms dealing in agricultural equipment and vehicles folded up before the middle of the 1980’s.
He said while others folded up, Japan Motors re-strategised and adapted to the new challenges. “The endurance and patience of Japan Motors later paid off as the sales of the Yamaha Motorbikes soared in the 1990’s. The Nissan range of vehicles, which is the hallmark of the company, also enjoyed much patronage.”
The manager explained that the surge in sales was largely due to the influx of NGOs and Christian missionary activities which required robust means of transport that could traverse the rugged Northern Ghana roads and paths leading to the hinterlands. He added that the introduction of the Local Government Decentralisation system also empowered district assemblies to make purchases of vehicles and motorcycles within their locality, thus broadening the branch’s clientele base.

MEETING ON CHILD TRAFFICKING ENDS IN TAMALE (PAGE 11, JULY 29, 2010)

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A forum on the need to deal with child trafficking and uphold children’s rights, has been held in Tamale to map out strategies to promote the welfare of children.
The discussants touched on current approaches on rights of the child and trafficking and indicated the urgent need for effective collaboration and advocacy among various stakeholders in arresting the growing phenomenon, that sometimes resulted in the migration of children and adolescents from the northern sector of the country to the south, for menial jobs.
The workshop was organised by the Regional Advisory, Information and Network Systems (RAINS), a Tamale-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), in partnership with the Department of Children.
Participants were also drawn from the civil society organisations, the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service (DOVVSU), district assemblies, the Ghana Education Service and the media.
The Vice Chairman of the board of trustees of RAINS, Alhaji Bakari Nyari, indicated the need to shift focus from the welfare approach to handling issues confronting children.
“Since issues affecting children are mainly human rights issues, we are under an obligation to demonstrate responsibly that children are not objects of charity seeking help and compassion from society. Instead they are individuals who are entitled to protection” he said.
Over the years, RAINS under its “Next Generation” Programme (NGP), with funding from Comic Relief has responded to the needs of children in various forms.
According to Alhaji Nyari, RAINS has been supporting local communities to deal with issues confronting children, especially those who suffered abuse and deprivation. “We are particularly focusing on fostered girls to ensure that they have protection, as well as access to resources including education”, he added.
At the moment RAINS is supporting the education of 1,600 girls in basic schools and over 600 young girls with vocational and life skills in the Northern Region.
A number of children are also being assisted through Children Clubs to raise issues of child rights and protection. In addition, families are being provided with loans and micro enterprise support to enable them bring up their children responsibly.
In spite of all these efforts, Alhaji Nyari lamented that there were still widespread ignorance of the law as child rights are often tagged as acts of “insubordination” and alien concepts.
“There are also still some deep seated negative practices often branded as culture. I will be particularly interested in how we negotiate a balance between culture and legislation in relation to child rights,” he further stated.
The participants were also of the view that skills training and provision of material items were not enough to stop human trafficking and “Kayaye” and called for more sensitisation programmes to change attitudes. They also called on local authorities, especially district assemblies, to be at the forefront in the fight against child trafficking, abuse and labour.
The participants further noted the significant influence of chiefs, opinion leaders, assembly persons and youth leaders in the communities and that such influence could be harnessed and utilised in the fight against child labour and trafficking.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Bukari Mabengba, said it was the policy of the government to empower the youth to enable them develop their potentials and reminded the people that, children have the right to live, and be provided with food, clothing, shelter, protection, affection, good health and education.

ROTARY CLUB DONATES TO SHS (PAGE 35, JULY 28, 2010)

2010-07-27T09:37:00.000-07:00

THE Rotary Club of Tamale has presented large quantities of rapid diagnostic units for the detection of malaria parasites to the Northern Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in Tamale.
The 38,400 pieces of the detectors were donated by the Rotary Club of Notfolk-District 7600, Virginia, USA in collaboration with its Tamale partners.
It is to be distributed to Community Health Planning Services (CHPS) and other public and private health institutions in both the Northern and Upper East regions.
The Northern Regional Director of the GHS, Dr Akwasi Twumasi, who received the items, expressed appreciation to their beneficiaries for their support to the health sector over the years.
According to him, the malaria disease had continued to claim the lives of many people in the area and indicated that, in 2008, 502,000 cases of malaria were recorded, while 708,000 cases were registered in 2009.
“We could not however confirm all the cases because of lack of the diagnostic facilities in our
health centres,” he stated.
Dr Twumasi therefore, described the donation as timely and significant.
He entreated other spirited bodies to complement the government’s efforts to improve health delivery services in the area by extending their support to the sector, especially in deprived rural committees in the region.
The director observed that even though the MOH had supplied quantities of treated mosquito bed nets to pregnant and lactating mothers, they were still not enough to contain the malaria menace.
He, therefore, advised the people to keep their environments clean and to do away with stagnant waters.
The President of the Rotary Club of Tamale, Mr
Joseph Mumuni said members were committed to the improvement of quality of life of the deprived in society, adding that for that reason, it would continue to put smiles on the faces of the underprivileged by providing interventions in various sectors.
Apart from their involvement in the health sector, the club had also sunk a number of boreholes and provided other social amenities in the deprived rural communities in the region.

ACQUAINT YOUR MODERN OPERATIONAL TOOLS (PAGE 35, JULY 28, 2010)

2010-07-27T09:36:00.000-07:00

THE acting Director-General of the Ghana Prison Service, Mr Michael Kofi Bansah has implored personnel of the service to acquaint themselves with modern tools of operation so that they are not outwitted by emerging tricks of convicts.
He has, therefore, advised them to take advantage of the various educational opportunities to enrich themselves with the requisite knowledge of combating crimes in the prisons.
“In this information technology age, knowledge is fast spreading and new inventions continue to emerge as the crime wave; you should therefore take advantage to learn and further your education,” Mr Bansah admonished.
He was speaking at the pulling out ceremony of the Deputy Director of Prisons in charge of the Northern Region, Mr Philip Laari at a ceremony at the Tamale Central Prisons Office.
Mr Laari, who has successfully served the service in various capacities and at different stations in the country for more than 30 years, is currently on terminal leave prior to retirement.
He is a member of the International Police Service (IPS), International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) and the American Correctional Association.
Mr Laari is also a recipient of the United Nations Medal as a member of the International Police Service, among others.
According to the acting director–general, Mr Laari had “exhibited the spirit of hard work, dedication and confidence, as well as being disciplined and impressive at whatever assignment that was given him”.
He further stated that the above virtues reflected in the various capacities Mr Laari served in the service in all the regions he had worked, adding that his dedication and devotion to duty were what won him the numerous recognition, including the long service and UN awards.
For his part, Mr Laari called for the change of orientation of prison staff towards therapeutic care to ensure attitudinal changes in inmates.
“Against this background, prison officers are encouraged to act in ways that do not make worse the pains associated with imprisonment; they are obliged to respect the human rights of prisoners,” he stated.
Mr Laari further reminded them that, torture, cruelty, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishments were not allowed in prison.
He expressed appreciation to his colleagues, the chiefs and people in the Northern Region for their co-operation and support and to the directorate of the Prisons Service for reposing confidence in him over the years.

CHAMBAS LAUDS ASSEMBLY CONCEPT (PAGE 14, JULY 22, 2010)

2010-07-22T04:43:00.000-07:00

THE Secretary-General of the African, Caribbean and the Pacific countries, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, has lauded the district assembly concept and observed that if much attention was paid to its objectives, the assemblies could effectively accelerate the pace of development at the local level.
He said the high rate of poverty and deprivations at rural communities, particularly those in the northern parts of the country, could be turned around if there were effective collaboration and concerted efforts by the assemblies and other stakeholders in the initiation and implementation stages of development initiatives.
According to him, the district assembly concept was in tune with the vision of the ACP countries which “principal objectives includes the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and the smooth and the gradual integration of ACP states”.
The Secretary General made these observations at Walewale during the second ordinary meeting of the West Mamprusi District Assembly.
Dr Chambas, who expressed appreciation for the warm welcome accorded him by the Assembly, urged members to ensure unity at all times and to endeavour to live up to their responsibilities of serving their people with honesty and selflessness.
“I entreat you to live together in harmony and carry out the development agenda of the district to improve upon the lives of our people and to offer the young ones hope to aspire to greater heights in future,” he further admonished.
The Secretary General later conferred with the District Chief Executive for the area, Sulley Abudu Zakaria, and his Co-ordinating Director on the way forward for the district.
The District Director of Education, Alhaji Mohammed Haroun, emphasised the significance of education and entreated the people not only to enrol their wards in school, but also ensure that they supported and encouraged them to complete their respective courses and vocations.
The Member of Parliament for the area, Alidu Iddris Zakaria, congratulated Dr Chambas on his ascension to his current position and thanked him for finding time to observe proceedings in the assembly.
For his part, the DCE indicated that the government was on track in fulfilling its election promises in achieving the “Better Ghana” mantra.
He, however, called for patience, co-operation and support from Ghanaians as efforts were being made to realise those objectives.
Dr Chambas, who was the former President of the ECOWAS, was elevated to the Secretary-General position of the ACP last year. The ACP consists of 79-members that is made up of 48 countries from Africa, 16 Caribbean and 15 Pacific states.

EDUCATION INITIATIVE LAUNCHED IN WULENSI (PAGE 11, JULY 12, 2010)

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AN educational initiative aims at promoting the enrolment and retention of children in school, especially in rural communities, has been launched at Wulensi in the Northern Region.
The interactive learning road show programme is the initiative of the Campaign for Female Education (Camfed) Ghana. It formed part of the “1 Goal: Education for All” campaign that aims at getting world leaders to commit themselves to achieving education for all children by 2015.
The programme brought together over 1,500 in-school and out-of-school children from kindergarten to the senior high school level in the Bimbilla North and South Districts of the Northern Region.
The occasion was witnessed by renowned musicians and footballers such as Obuor, Mama Rams, Mohammed Gargo and Shilla llliasu.
It afforded the out-of-school children the opportunity to interact with their friends at the lower primary level. They were taken through computer-based interactive play and learning lessons, among other innovations.
It is expected that at the beginning of this academic year, more children would be enrolled, as Camfed has pledged to motivate more children by providing them with uniforms and other teaching and learning materials to begin schooling this September.
In addition, mobile libraries and books would be presented to selected schools, while 50 girls who commute long distances to school every day would be provided with bicycles in beneficiary districts.
The programme is being funded by Credit Suisse, a charity organisation as part of its vision to educate 45,000 students.
According to the Executive Director of Camfed, Mrs Dolores Dickson, her outfit is into charity work, dedicated to the eradication of poverty in Africa through education and the empowerment of girls.
She said the NGO was a partner of the Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition which was leading the 1 Goal campaign in the country.
The director further explained that the road show initiative was the first of its kind and an innovative activity that combined excitement in learning environment for schoolchildren.
The Northern Regional Director of Education, Mrs Elizabeth De-Souza, said the model would not only engage and motivate pupils and their parents but also build the interest of out- of- school children, particularly girls and their parents to enrol them in school.
“I will like to commend Camfed for this innovation,” she said, and called on parents to encourage their children, especially girls,
to go to school and remain in school till completion to enhance their lives and that of their communities.

SPONTANEOUS JUBILATION ALL OVER (PAGE 16, JUNE 28, 2010)

2010-07-09T09:27:00.000-07:00

THE cerebration in Tamale was spontaneous as the final whistle for the end of proceedings was blown. People poured onto the streets draped in Ghana colours of Red, Gold and Green as they danced and sang praises to the gallant players for their marvellous performance.
Drivers joined in the merriment by putting on their heads lights amidst tooting of horns and waving of miniature Ghana Flags.
For once, the people were united in their celebrations. They hugged, danced and sang together. There were also processions of the youth on some principal streets of the metropolis. The celebrations continued deep into the night.
One of the female fans, Abiba Iddi who was draping with sweat said, “I have no words to describe the performance of the boys today. All what I can say is that, may Allah bless them for their untiring efforts because what they have done has succeeded in uniting us even if for temporal.”
Another fan, Biggy Sulley said, “there is every indication that our team can go far in this tournament if they eschew complacency, concentrate and play their hearts out like they exhibited in the rest of the matches.”

NGO ASSISTS DEPRIVED SCHOOLS (PAGE 11, JULY 9, 2010)

2010-07-09T03:16:00.000-07:00

THE Baptist Child Development organisation, a Christian-based NGO, has assisted eight deprived basic schools and two health posts in the Tolon/Kumbungu District of the Northern Region with rain water harvesting tanks and other water usage facilities valued at GH¢54,000.
The beneficiary schools and clinics are: Wantugu Junior High School, Tolon DA Primary ‘B’ and ‘A’, Sheshegu Primary, and Junior High School and Lingbun Gundaa Methodist Primary, as well as Kasuliyili and Wantugu clinics.
The programme co-ordinator of the organisation, Mr James Amadu Kinyakib, who made the presentation at Sheshegu, a farming community in the Tolon/Kumbungu District of the Northern Region, explained that the poor performances recorded in most deprived basic schools in the district could partly be blamed on water scarcity in the area.
According to him, there are incidences where pupils leave the classroom for home only to search for drinking water after which they often fail to return to the classroom.
Mr Kinyakib, therefore, explained that his organisation’s intervention in the provision of water is to encourage pupils to stay in the class to learn.
He also attributed the poor academic performance to the lack of adequate teaching and learning infrastructure and facilities such as libraries, books, classroom blocks, furniture and trained teachers.
The co-ordinator stressed the importance of water to sustainable livelihood and appealed to other organisations to come to their aid to reach out to more deprived pupils to realise their dreams through education.
The Country Director of CCFC, Mrs Sanatu Nantogma, stressed the importance of child health to their development.

TUTORS BLAMED FOR GHANASCO DEMONSTRATION (PAGE 11, JULY 9, 2010)

2010-07-09T03:13:00.000-07:00

THE Committee set up to investigate the disturbances that led to the closure of the Ghana Senior High School (GHANASCO) in Tamale about a month ago, has blamed the incident partly on the failure by the tutors of the school to promptly address the grievances of the students.
The committee also faulted the tutors for the way they handled the seizure of mobile phones of the students. It noted that the operation was not only unco-ordinated but lacked credibility.
While some of the students were made to smash their seized cell phones, others were kept at the senior housemaster’s office, while some were clandestinely returned to their owners by some of the tutors.
Presenting the report to the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabengba in Tamale, the Chairman of the inability, Mr Charles Nyabu, further mentioned the incapability of the tutors to instil discipline into the students as some of the causes that led to the violence.
The committee, which was inaugurated on Wednesday, June 2 with a two-week mandate to complete its work, had to add another week due to the nature of the task.
Mr Nyabu further noted that even though there were other remote causes, the seizure of students’ mobile phones was the immediate basis for the riot and described the students’ action as most unfortunate.
Mr Mabengba commended the committee for its sacrifice and a good work done and said the report would be submitted to the Minister of Education to study after which the recommendations would be implemented.
Students of GHANASCO rioted on May 30 this year, against the ban of the use of mobile phones on campus by the school authorities. In the process, about three teacher's bungalows were vandalised, while a motorbike belonging to one of the tutors was burnt.The students also smashed the windsreen and dented the Light Armoured vehicle of the Police and further smashed the windscreens of the Tamale Metropolitan Director of Education’s vehicle and a taxi cab belonging to the husband of a female tutor.
The school, which is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary, was subsequently closed down. It has, however, been re-opened after the students had signed a bond to be of good behaviour.

RAINS PRESENTS BOOKS TO NORTHERN SCHOOLS (PAGE 11, JUNE 23, 2010)

2010-06-23T05:44:00.001-07:00

THE Regional Advisory Information and Network Systems (RAINS), a Tamale-based NGO, has presented large quantities of assorted reading materials and textbooks to some selected schools in the Northern Region.
The donation of the books in Tamale formed part of the first consignment from the World Bank Book Project for deprived communities.
Among the 14 beneficiary schools was the Savelugu School for the Deaf. Others included the Tamale Girls, St. Anne’s, Tolon and Damongo Senior High schools.
According to the Programme Manager of RAINS, Mr Alhassan Musah, more schools would benefit from the facility upon the arrival of the second consignment which was expected soon.
He indicated that his outfit had supported the educational sector in the region over the years, particularly in the retention and promotion of female education through the provision of teaching and learning materials and the construction of school infrastructure.
The manager expressed appreciation to the World Bank for its intervention and stated that “we aim to get more schools connected to this programme to help promote and improve literacy in schools in this area”.
The Programmes Co-ordinator of RAINS, Madam Mariama Fuseini, called on other stakeholders in the education sector to step up their efforts at improving effective teaching and learning in schools in the region, since recent indicators showed that performance of the schools in the area was fast declining.
The Vice-Chairman of the board of trustees for RAINS, Mr Bukari Sadiq Nyari, advised authorities of beneficiary schools to always make the books available to the students and not keep them on the shelves.
He also implored the students to uphold discipline at all times by making judicious use of their time and gave an assurance that “RAINS would continue to support the development of education as we seek more support from our funding partners”.
On behalf of the Ghana Education Service (GES), the Headmistress of the Tolon Senior High, Madam Alice Damwura Achana, commended the management of RAINS for their remarkable support to the educational sector over the years and pledged to put the materials to their intended use.

NANA KONADU WANTS NYEP REVIEWED (PAGE 14, JUNE 9, 2010)

2010-06-22T05:58:00.000-07:00

Story; Zakaria Alhassan, Tamale.

A former first Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings has called for urgent steps to review the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).
She noted that although the programme was laudable it fell short of addressing the challenges of the youth in job and wealth creation.
Addressing hundreds of NDC supporters at the Jubilee Park to mark the 31st anniversary celebration of June 4, Nana Konadu who is also a Vice Chairperson of the NDC pointed out that “the NYEP is not working the way it should and we must restructure this aspect of our development agenda for the maximum benefit of the youth”.
According to her, the programme lacked sufficient funding because its funding was not provided largely by central government.
She explained that because it lacked sufficient funding, the programme could not cover a significant number of the teeming unemployed youth in the country.
Nana Konadu equally observed that most of the youth lacked employable skills saying “we must make the youth the center of our development policies”.
She expressed regret that most of the youth in the country were jobless although they had acquired degrees and master degrees from the various universities in the country.
She intimated that the erstwhile Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) and the NDC under former President Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings had the vision to create a middle income group between 1982 and the year 2000.
She noted that such a vision was aimed at addressing most of the challenges the youth go through in acquiring jobs and earning decent incomes to ameliorate their sufferings.
Nana Konadu stressed that it was important for the government to give the youth hope by putting in place short, medium and long term programmes.
“Policy makers must understand that 70 percent of the country’s population below 35 years and the only way to make that segment of our population survive is by putting in place programmes that can brighten their future” she advised.
She further stated that “the youth cannot wait for us to discuss their problems while they suffer; in other words policy makers must look at ways of improving their conditions in the short term while implementing the long term programmes.
The former first Lady however entreated the youth to acquire employable skills in masonry, carpentary, dressmaking, batik, tie and dye making and other vocations.
Touching on the June four celebrations she pointed out that the revolution gave opportunity to people to assert themselves and justified the need for its celebration inspite of criticisms against it.
The Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Mr. Kofi Adam said June four “energized people and instilled in them communal spirit”.
He warned against “nation wreckers and political detractors” of the NDC and entreated the rank and file of the NDC to do an in-house cleaning exercise to ensure that the party endeared itself to the electorate.
A former Health Minister in President Rawlings regime, Mr. Samuel Nuamah-Donkor observed that the improvement in infrastructure and basic social amenities like the roads and electricity in the north as well as the construction of first class hospitals in Sunyani, Ho and Cape Coast were clear manifestation of the benefits of June 4.
“The ideals of June 4 which are probity, honesty and accountability are still relevant today” he stressed.
Other speakers at the programme include the Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr. San Nasamu Asabigi, the National Women’s Organizer of the NDC, Hajia Zenabu Mahama, Mr. Herbert Mensah, and other party gurus.
They all lauded the ideals of the revolution and noted that it formed a solid foundation on which the country’s democracy thrived.

USE DIALOGUE IN RESOLVING DIFFERENCES — BIMI (PAGE 43, JUNE 21, 2010)

2010-06-21T08:50:00.000-07:00

Story: Zakaria Alhassan, Tolon
THE Chairman of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Larry Bimi, has appealed to people in northern Ghana to always use dialogue in resolving their differences when faced with any situation instead of sometimes resorting to violence at the least provocation.
“Whatever the provocation, always try to invoke the spirit of tolerance in you to prevent unnecessary conflicts at your respective communities,” he stressed.
Mr Bimi observed that northern Ghana was among the least developed in the country and that it was only through an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity that the government and investors would be encouraged and attracted to the area to help accelerate its development.
Mr Bimi made the appeal at a day’s workshop on peaceful district assembly elections at Tolon in the Tolon/Kumbungu District in the Northern Region.
The event organised in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was aimed at sensitising the people on the need to ensure violent-free polls during the forthcoming district assembly elections scheduled for later this year.
Participants at the forum included representatives of the various political parties, chiefs and opinion leaders, youth and women’s groups.
Among the topics discussed were electoral processes in Ghana, the district assembly system and an overview of the conflict situation in the district.
The NCCE chairman further admonished Ghanaians to take the elections seriously to deepen the local governance system and also consolidate the nations fledging democracy.
He suggested that the Electoral Commission could engage staff of the NCCE as returning officers during elections since the staff were supposed to be neutral.
That, Mr Bimi stressed, would not only ensure transparency, but would also build confidence in the electorate.
The Tolon/Kumbungu District Director of the Electoral Commission, Mr Iliasu Ewuntomah, entreated political party representatives in the area to always channel their grievances to his outfit for redress instead of sometimes embarking on unorthodox means to address them, which on many occasions, resulted in violence.
He, therefore, urged them to support the commission to ensure a violent-free, fair and transparent elections in the district.

ANTHONIA AYAMGA WINS MILEAD AWARD (PAGE 11, JUNE 17, 2010)

2010-06-17T12:04:00.001-07:00

MISS Anthonia Ayamga has won the MILEAD Fellows Award for an ‘Emerging African Woman Leader for 2010’. She is one of 25 other recipients chosen across Africa.
The fellows are from 20 African countries and the Diaspora with multiple-disciplinary academic, professional and social backgrounds from public, private and non-profit sectors and the media.
The young women who are between the ages of 19-25 were picked from more than 800 applicants after they had gone through a highly competitive selection process and criteria that included outstanding leadership potential and demonstration of commitment to the advancement of women in Africa.
The awardees are to converge on Accra to begin a three-week intensive Leadership Fellow Programme at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, in July.
The programme will enable the fellows to cross-examine concepts of leadership in a broad African context, cultivate the skills and experiences women need to have and excel in leadership positions. It will also enable them gain the requisite knowledge in issues critical to African women and their communities.
The MILEAD Fellows Award is a programme committed to the long-term leadership development and promotion of African’s most promising young women leaders.
After going through a year’s training and mentoring, selected fellows progress through additional phases to equip them to receive and share life-long solidarity and support through the alumni network of the scheme.
The programme is the idea of the Nigeria and U.S.A.- based Moremi Initiative for Women’s Leadership in Africa. The Initiative was founded in 2004 and aims at engaging, inspiring and equipping young women and girls to become the next generation of leaders who can transform and change institutions that legitimise and perpetuate discrimination against women.
Ms Ayamga, 25, is from the Upper East Region and a graduate of the University for Development Studies (UDS). She is currently undertaking her National Service at the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS) in Tamale.
Ms Ayamga, during her childhood, assisted the poor and vulnerable women to realise their full potential and increase their livelihood options. And in her quest to empower women, she worked as a volunteer in many female-centred organisations in the Upper East Region.
According to her, “I am also interested in building a strong foundation for rural and disadvantaged women to claim their rights as I also engage in community development and gender research issues.”

PROF HARUNA, NEW UDS VICE-CHANCELLOR (PAGE 3, JUNE 17, 2010)

2010-06-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

THE University for Development Studies (UDS) now has a substantive Vice-Chancellor. He is Professor Haruna Yakubu, 55.
According to the acting Registrar of the university, Mr S.M. Kuu-ire, Professor Yakubu has already accepted the offer made to him by the Governing Council of the university. He assumed duty on June 1, this year.
Until his appointment, Professor Yakubu was the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast in the Central Region.
He becomes the third vice-chancellor to head the university, which was established in the 1992/93 academic year. Since the last substantive Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Kaburise, went on retirement in 2007, Professor Kaku Sagary Nokoe had been acting as the VC.
The new VC is a Professor of Physics who had both his Master's and PhD degrees at the Moldova State University, Kishinev, Russia, in the early 1990s.
He later lectured in universities in Italy, Russia and Ghana. Professor Yakubu has about 29 publications to his credit.
Among the positions he holds are: Chairman of the Governing Council of the Centre for Renewable Energy Studies (CRES)-Ghana; executive member, Ghana Solar Energy Society, and fellow member of the Council for Advancement and Support for Education-UK.
Other positions include Associate Member, International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Italy, and a Member of the Governing Council of the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSOA).

NDC WONT RISK SUBSSTITUTING PREZ MILLS-MAHAMA TICKET (PAGE 14, JUNE 16, 2010)

2010-06-17T11:15:00.000-07:00

The Minister of Communications, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, has stated that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will not risk the substitution of President John Atta Mills and John Mahama as the party’s presidential candidate and running mate respectively in the 2012 general elections.
According to him, it would not be politically prudent to embark on any experimentation and indicated that, so far the government under President Mills has made some significant gains and that if offered additional opportunities could further turn the fortunes of the country around.
“We, therefore, remain resolute that an Atta Mills and John Mahama ticket will not be substituted,” the minister emphasised.
Mr Iddrisu, who is also the Member of Parliament for Tamale South, stated this at the inauguration of an electrification project at Fooshegu , a farming community in the constituency in the metropolis at the weekend.
He noted that, “the NDC will remain in power for a long haul and, therefore, will surely be offered the opportunity for a second term; this however, will only be realised if we bury our differences and unite for the common goal of achieving our better Ghana agenda”.
The minister described the current happenings in the party as a family misunderstanding on the way forward and assured that as “a family, we would soon come out of this internal differences”.
Mr Iddrisu further stated that as a party in power, they needed to be focused and not be distracted in their development agenda in helping to improve the quality of life of the people and that anything short of that would lead to their political demise.
He urged the people to stand firmly by the government as it had lined up a number of programmes to help improve upon their living conditions.
Mr Iddrisu extended a hand of friendship to members of the opposition, some of whom he observed were being attracted to the NDC, following the government’s achievements so far.
The MP announced that some loan facilities would soon be extended to the people; particularly the women folk and advised all those who would be beneficiaries to put such funds to judicious use.
The minister also called on all eligible voters to take advantage of the ongoing exercise by the Electoral Commission to register in their numbers to enable them exercise their franchise during elections.

ALL SET FOR NR POWER PROJECT (PAGE 3, JUNE 16, 2010)

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A RURAL electrification project for the Northern Regions estimated at $300 million is scheduled to take off this year.
The initiative is to facilitate socio-economic activities at the beneficiary communities.
At the inauguration of an electrification project for Fooshegu, a farming community approximately six miles from Tamale, the Minister for Communications, Mr Harruna Iddrisu, said $130 million of the amount would be spent on the electrification project in the Northern Region; $90 million on a similar project in the Upper East Region, while $80million would be spent in the Upper West Region.
Mr Iddrisu, also a Member of Parliament for Tamale South, therefore, gave an assurance that by the close of the government’s four-year mandate, majority of communities in those areas would have been connected to the national grid.
He explained that funding for the two-year project was secured from the Chinese Government and “not from the United States Eximbank as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) wanted Ghanaians to believe at one of its recent press conferences”.
Mr Iddrisu, therefore, described the assertion by the NPP that the funding for the project was secured under the tenure of President Kufuor’s administration as misleading.
He, therefore, entreated the NPP to stop the unnecessary politicking of government development projects and reminded them that in any case, “under the directive principles of State policy, the government has the responsibility to continue ongoing projects”.
The MP further explained that the realisation of the Fooshegu project was a dream come true as it formed part of his campaign promises to the people during the 2008 electioneering.
It is the latest of such projects to be undertaken by the MP and several communities have already benefited from the project in the constituency. The minister, however, assured all other needy communities who were yet to get their share of the project to remain calm as efforts were being made to address their needs.
He also said the government had reviewed its policy on self-help rural electrification projects where the people were made to acquire the electrical poles and that now, “the cost of those poles will be borne by the government and the District Assemblies”.
The MP expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Energy and all those who supported in the actualisation of the project.

COUNCIL ENSKINS NEW BUIPE-WURA (PAGE 51, JUNE 7, 2010)

2010-06-07T06:59:00.001-07:00

THE Gonja Traditional Council has enskinned a new Buipe-wura, sparking further controversies and tension in the already volatile area that has witnessed some disturbances over the Buipe Skin affair in recent times.
The new Buipe-wura is Tampe-wura Bawa Jewu, with the skin name, Buipe-wura Ewushie Lebu II.
This was contained in a letter signed by the Paramount Chief of the Gonja Traditional Area, Yagbon-wura Tuntunba Borisa Sulemana Jakpa II, and copied to the Central Gonja District Security Committee (DISEC).
According to the letter, the new Buipe-wura was formally enskinned on Saturday, June 5, 2010.
The DISEC has, however, indicated that it will convene an emergency meeting this week to discuss this latest development to fashion out the way forward in the protracted chieftaincy affair.
Following news of the enskinment of the new chief on Saturday, there have been some skirmishes in the town, since the current Buipe-wura, Mahama Abdulai Jinapor, has refused to abdicate the skin, insisting that he is still the rightful claimant to the skin.
Supporters of both sides are said to be arming themselves for a possible showdown, but the heavy military and police presence and patrols in the area seem to have held the factions back.
According to the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Mr Issifu Salisu Be-Awuribe, the situation was currently under control.
He entreated the people to remain calm, as efforts were being made to resolve the impasse.
“I urge that anybody who has any misgiving about the chieftaincy matter should seek the right channels for redress and not take the law into his or her own hands to cause any mischief,” he admonished.
There has between a long-standing disagreement between the Buipe-wura and some members of the Buipe Traditional Council, leading to threats and counter threats from both sides.
The chief had often complained of lack of respect for his authority by some council members.
At the first ordinary meeting of the council at Damongo on May 13, 2010, an attempt was made to mediate in a case between the Buipe-wura and one of his alleged antagonists, Mono-wura Akwasi Piesie, whom the former claimed to have deskinned for gross disrespect to his skin.
The talks, however, turned acrimonious, leading to heated verbal exchanges between the Buipe-Wura and his loyalists, on one side, and the Yagbon-Wura, the other chiefs and their supporters, on the other.
The Buipe-wura was alleged to have subsequently pulled out a gun and fired warning shots.
Following that development, the council declared its intention to deskin the Buipe-wura for what it considered insubordination and gross disrespect to the members.
A five-member committee, under the chairmanship of the Kagbape-wura, was subsequently constituted to manage the affairs of the Buipe Traditional Council until the enskinment of a new chief for the area.

IMBIBE SPIRIT OF JUNE 4TH (PAGE 13, JUNE 5, 2010)

2010-06-06T09:50:00.001-07:00

FORMER President Jerry John Rawlings has observed that the eight-year rule of the New Patriotic Party government has brought about disunity, fear and corruption in the nation.
“They are good at picking slogans such as the Rule of Law but their administration has led us to the mess we have found ourselves in today,” he claimed.
Flt Lt. Rawlings, therefore, urged Ghanaians to imbibe the spirit of June 4th into whatever they did to activate them into action to resurrect the country from the current doldrums.
He was addressing hundreds of NDC party faithful in Tamale to climax the 31st anniversary celebration of June 4th on the theme, “Our Youth Our Future.”
The programme was preceded by a free medical service to some residents of Tamale on Thursday and a float on the major streets of the metropolis yesterday.
Flt Lt. Rawlings noted that the inability of the government to pursue and prosecute perpetrators of heinous crimes in the past was emboldening some people to perpetuate violent crimes in the country today.
He, therefore, urged the government to institute thorough investigations into atrocities committed during the Kufuor administration, “if the government wants to regain integrity and hope”.
The former President also alleged that people who were behind those atrocities were continuing with their misbehaviours and insisted that freedom without justice would be short-lived.
“We will not make progress if our democracy is undermined because we do not cherish freedom and justice,” he indicated, adding that “the beauty of justice is that it cleanses the soul and energises the nation”.
Flt Lt Rawlings further claimed that the government was not performing as expected and that the failure of the NDC party executive to advise the government to be on track was disappointing and unfortunate.
He further described some people’s condemnation of the June 4th event as most unfortunate, stressing that “we are in such a decline that the energy of June 4th is what we should be tapping into instead of condemning it”.
“Freedom and justice is so precious to us that if we as individuals and nation state cannot make the truth the pillar of our existence then we stand condemned in repeating our mistakes,” he added.
He also commended the government for celebrating the centenary of Nkrumah but noted that the nation’s founder would be happier if the government enacted policies and programmes to improve the lives of the people instead of playing into the hands of political opportunists.

TAMALE POLICE FOIL ROBBERY ATTEMPT (PAGE 29, JUNE 7, 2010)

2010-06-06T09:19:00.000-07:00

POLICE personnel in Tamale last Thursday foiled a planned armed robbery expedition in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region where the suspect had targeted banks, filling stations and affluent residents.
However, the suspect’s “recruits” that included some police personnel in Tamale who feigned interest in the operation later led his arrest, thus foiling the operation.
The suspect, Richmond Kankam, alias Kofi Mensah 27, is currently facing trial at the Tamale Circuit Court where he has been remanded in prison custody to reappear on June 2, this month.
Narrating the incident to the media in Tamale, the Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Chief Inspector Ebenezer Tetteh, said the suspect was a former employee of the Prudential Bank at the Odum branch in Kumasi.
He said on May 19, the suspect arrived in Tamale to lodge at a Guest house at Gumani, a suburb. On his way to the guest house, Kankam met one Yaw Agbemavor, a former employee of the guest house who assisted him to check in.
The suspect later informed Agbemavor to assist him recruit some strong and brave men in Tamale to help him (the suspect) carry out an operation.
According to the PRO, Yaw informed his brother who later told his friend, a police corporal. The latter also informed his superior officer who advised him to feign interest in the exercise.
When Corporal Prince Ampima went to Kankam, he asked the former to recruit more men. The policeman then invited another colleague and two other civilians.
They were later taken through some training by the suspect including tactical exercises for the robbery. They were taught terminologies such as “wound” and “vanish” meaning kill and bury to erase trace. The robbery was to have taken place in Kumasi at 2 a.m. on June 21.
On the morning of May 20, the suspect including his “recruits” set off to the STC yard enroute to Kumasi where they were to receive their weapons for the operation.
On their way, however, Corporal Ampima directed the cab driver they chartered to the Sakasaka Police Station where the suspect was arrested and placed in custody.
Upon interrogation, the suspect admitted undertaking the training exercise but insisted that it was only a joke.

SOLDIER, CIVILIAN IN SMGGLING CASE REMANDED (PAGE 3, JUNE 4, 2010)

2010-06-04T08:26:00.001-07:00

THE soldier who was arrested for his alleged involvement in the smuggling of contraband goods into the country has been remanded in police custody, together with his civilian accomplice.
The accused, Warrant Officer Class One Nicholas Adiyiah and Kweku Yeboah, appeared before the Tamale Circuit Court on Wednesday, charged with smuggling and evasion, contrary to Section 215 of PNDC Law 330/93. They are to re-appear on June 9, 2010.
A third suspect, one Sule, is, however, on the run.
The two were arrested on board a military vehicle, with registration number 98 GA 27, which was being driven by the Warrant Officer.
The vehicle, which was heading towards Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, was impounded at Buipe in the Central Gonja District of the Northern Region.
Upon a search, about 180 cartons of cigarettes that included brands such as “Gold Seal” and “Business Royal” were found in it.
The exercise was carried out by a combined team of the Special Operations Unit of the Ministry of Finance and the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS).
The team, led by Mr Nelson Abudu, was tasked to move round the various border points and last Friday it had information that a military vehicle was heading towards the Bole/Cote d’Ivoire border post.
The surveillance team tracked the vehicle to the border post at Bangupe, where the goods were being loaded.
The vehicle was tracked and eventually impounded at Buipe.

SOLDIER, CIVILIAN ARRESTED FOR SMUGGLING (1B, MAY 31, 2010)

2010-06-03T06:05:00.001-07:00

Story: Zakaria Alhassan.

A combined team of the Special Operations Unit of the Ministry of Finance and the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) in Tamale on Saturday intercepted a Military truck loaded with contraband goods that included some assorted cigarette.
The vehicle with the registration number 98 GA 27 that was heading towards the South, was impounded at Buipe at dawn. It contained over 180 cartons of cigarettes that include brands such as “Gold seal” and “Business Royal.” It was impounded at Buipe at Saturday dawn.
The driver of the vehicle, Warrant Officer Nicholas Adiyiah and his civilian accomplice who is a mechanic, Kweku Yeboah from the Military Brigade in Kumasi are assisting in investigations. The third civilian suspect, one Sule is however on the run.
Briefing the press at the CEPS office in Tamale, the Operations Coordinator of the Unit, Mr. Nelson Awudu who led the team explained that the exercise was carried out upon a tip-off that some Military vehicles were being used to transport contraband goods at some boarder towns in the country.
He said following the information, the team was tasked to move round the various boarder points where they had stationed some of their men.
And that last Friday, they received information from their informants that a Military vehicle was heading towards the Bole/Cote D’Ivoire boarder post.
“Our men then laid ambush while our surveillance team tracked the vehicle to the boarder post at Bangupe at the banks of the Black Volta near Balli at the Bole district where the goods were being loaded into it,” he indicated.
Mr. Awudu however explained that because it was a Military vehicle, “we thought the people in it were probably armed, and so we did not get near it at the time.”
He said they however monitored the movement of the vehicle throughout its journey in the bush from Bole through Sawla, Damongo and to Buipe.
According to the coordinator it was when the vehicle got to Buipe that they called the CEPS Officer in-charge of the Northern Sector, Mr. Ernest Frimpong Nuamah for re-enforcement of personnel.
The vehicle was eventually intercepted and brought to the CEPS headquarters in Tamale.
Upon hearing the information, the General Officer commanding the Northern Command, Brigadier General Chris Ocran came to the CEPS office where he was briefed on the incident by both Mr. Awudu and Mr. Nuamah.
Brigadier General Ocran could not immediately tell the Daily Graphic the immediate action to be taken against the suspects but indicated that it will be treated as a criminal offence and that further investigations will be conducted into the case.
Earlier, the driver of the impounded vehicle who said he is due for retirement in some few months told the press that, he signed for the vehicle to pick his personal effects.
WO Adiyiah however claimed he was later asked by his friend to assist him carry the goods from Bole for a fee.

SEVEN-MEMBER COMMITTEE TO PROBE GHANASCO RIOTS (BACK PAGE, JUNE 3, 2010)

2010-06-03T05:07:00.000-07:00

A Seven-member committee has been set up to investigate the circumstances that led to the recent student disturbances at the Ghana Senior High School (GHANASCO) in Tamale.
The committee is chaired by Mr Charles K. Nyabo, a retired educationalist. Its terms of reference include the establishment of the extent of damage, identification of the perpetrators and victims and the making of appropriate recommendations to forestall future occAurrence of such riots.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabengba, who inaugurated the committee yesterday, charged the members to submit their report within two weeks.
In another development, the 16 students of the school who were arrested in connection with their alleged involvement in the riots have been granted bail. They are to report back to the police on June 14, 2010 as further investigations continue into their involvement in the matter.
An unspecified number of students who inhaled tear gas fired by the police to disperse the rampaging youth have also since been treated and discharged from the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
Last Sunday, the students went on the rampage destroying school property and some personal belongings of their tutors after accusing the authorities of arbitrarily seizing their mobile phones.
The irate students also accused the authorities of charging them astronomical fees and denying them quality meals.
The authorities have, however, denied the students’ claims and explained that all decisions taken were arrived at after consultations with the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and members of the board of directors.
The school was closed down last Monday following the disturbances.

SECURITY AGENCIES MUST COLLABORATE (PAGE 13, JUNE 3, 2010)

2010-06-03T04:38:00.000-07:00

The National Security Co-ordinator, Lt Col Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, has underscored the need for effective collaboration among all players in the security set-up to ensure continuous harmony and peaceful co-existence at all times.
“Our aim is to ensure that people are able to go about their businesses without fear and with reasonable assurance of safety and to improve our capabilities for preventive action and early engagement,” he said.
LtCol Gbevlo-Lartey was addressing an orientation workshop organised for members of the various security committees from the Northern, Upper East and West regions in Tamale.
The two-day workshop was aimed at defining the roles of the various security committees to ensure a critical appreciation and clear vision of the government’s ‘Better Ghana’ agenda.
It was the third in a series of such seminars. Similar ones had been organised in some of the regions in the southern parts of the country.
Among the topics treated were the better Ghana agenda at the district level - expectations, the role and focus of security committees and leadership at the district level in the better Ghana agenda, and the effective use of bye-laws for the better Ghana agenda.
The Security Co-ordinator further observed that even though national security matters had often generated controversies, “it is about the responsibility to protect; it is about the survival of the republic”.
The Security Co-ordinator explained that security committees were not political since they were constituted with people from various political persuasions.
He, therefore, implored members of the committees to live up to expectation by discharging their duties with impartiality to ensure sustainable peace in their respective communities.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabengba, expressed appreciation to the national security outfit for organising the workshop, which he said was timely.
“This is in view of the increasing number of flashpoints and the commonality of challenges to the three regions; and at a time when there are land disputes and chieftaincy upheavals,” he stated.
The minister, however, said the youth were those mainly used to perpetrate the conflicts because of the unavailability of jobs to engage their energies.
“The situation is not one of despondency and desperation. It is a pointer to the inadequacy of our efforts and the need for us to adopt holistic and more pragmatic strategies to deal with the evils of poverty and conflicts,” he stated.
The regional minister, however, appealed to the National Security Council to step-up their support for the security committees with the needed resources and vehicles to enable them respond rapidly to conflict situations in their respective regions.

CEPS WARNS DRUG IMPORTERS (PAGE 29, JUNE 2, 2010)

2010-06-01T11:06:00.000-07:00

THE Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) has indicated that the clearance of drugs through any entry point rather than the Kotoka International Airport and the Tema Port are not allowed and that such drugs will be seized.
According to the CEPS, drugs was the most commonly illegally imported goods and that it was only appropriate that prohibitive measures were intensified to safeguard people from patronising uncertified drugs that could jeopardise their health.
A senior CEPS officer at the Tamale Collection point, Mr. Asamoah Ntwum, who stated this also disclosed that the importation of wax prints into the country was limited to the Takoradi Port and that this formed part of measures by the government to protect the local textile industry from collapse.
The officer was speaking at the second importers forum held in Tamale. It was organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade and Industry in collaboration with the Ghana Standards Board and other stakeholders.
Among the topics discussed were the inspection of high risk goods and their challenges, the role of CEPS in the clearance of counterfeit and substandard goods and the destination inspection scheme-a tool for consumer protection.
Mr Ntwum said as a member of the World Trade Organisation, the CEPS was enjoined to enforce compliance with rules, standards, treaties and conventions of world bodies.
He said it was for these reasons that the CEPS had adopted some of these practices to ensure effective monitoring, tracking and facilitation of international trade, including trade in counterfeiting and substandard goods.
“These include the automation of clearance procedures and memoranda of understanding with La Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso to increase cooperation in monitoring transit goods,” the officer further indicated.
Mr Ntwum added that the CEPS also undertook additional roles as a border agency in using its competencies and authority to examine inbound and outbound cargo as well as detention of goods to enforce the law.
He said public expectation of their ability to combat trade in counterfeit and substandard goods was high, but they were unfortunately constrained in terms of logistics, funding and inadequate personnel but gave the assurance that, “in spite of these constraints, the process of re-engineering all aspects of CEPS’ operations is on course.”
The acting Northern Regional officer of the Ghana Standards Board, Mr. Eric Akoto, said that the board was established to ensure compliance of imported goods with established technical standards to prevent the introduction and distribution of sub-standard products into the Ghanaian market.
He also indicated that since August 2003, the board had been mandated by the Ministry of Trade and Industry to take over the inspection of all “High Risk Goods” that have serious health and safety implications on the consuming public.
“This is to ensure that the designated goods are suitable and safe for use before they are allowed for distribution and sale in the country,” Mr Akoto stated.
The officer however observed that, in achieving their mandate, the board would need to work in close collaboration with other regulatory bodies.

CHECK PROLIFERATION OF SMALL/LIGHT WEAPONS — AMEYIBOR (PAGE 22, JUNE 1, 2010)

2010-06-01T10:34:00.000-07:00

THE West Africa Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA-Ghana) has warned that the country is increasingly becoming fertile grounds for the proliferation of small and light weapons, which if not checked, could create insecurity.
According to the National Treasurer of WAANSA, Mr Francis Ameyibor, most of those weapons entered the country through unapproved routes; a situation that was manifesting itself in the pockets of conflicts being witnessed in some parts of the country, particularly in the north.
He stated that guns in the midst of poverty, unemployment, injustice, frustration, fear and jealousy could easily create violent situations.
“The power to instantly transform tension or anxiety into tragedy is a design characteristic of small arms as guns are designed for the purpose of killing,” the treasurer stated.
Mr Ameyibor was speaking at a news conference in Tamale over the weekend as part of activities to commemorate the global action against gun violence.
The occasion, on the theme: “Action against gun violence, time to act,” was also used to launch the campaign for fewer guns and safer communities initiative.
Mr Ameyibor explained that Small Arms and Light Weapons were those that could be carried and used by one or two persons. They include handguns, assault rifles, machine guns, grenade launchers and explosives.
He further observed that the movement of small arms, including second-hand guns, from one user to another across the world had become a serious threat to human security.
“At the moment, it is impossible to monitor or interrupt this deadly flow of weapons because there are legal requirements to maintain records linking guns to their location or to trace guns used in crime,” Mr Ameyibor stated.
He also mentioned lack of international guidelines on the regulation of gun ownership among citizens and a legally-binding treaty to control the activities of arms brokers as some of the difficulties being encountered.
The Northern Regional Administrator of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Mahama Mustapha Braimah, urged people to use the alternative dispute resolution mechanism for the prevention and settlement of disputes instead of resorting to the use of arms at the least provocation.
He called for the registration of all guns in the country to make it possible to trace the source of guns and their owners and urged the security agencies to take steps to arrest illegal possessors of weapons.

GHANASCO, NAVASCO CLOSED DOWN...After student violence (BAACK PAGE, JUNE 1, 2010)

2010-06-01T06:05:00.001-07:00

TWO schools — the Ghana Senior High School (GHANASCO) in Tamale and the Navrongo Senior High School (NAVASCO) in the Upper East Region — have been closed down following students’ violence there.
In Tamale, the action of the authorities followed a rampage by the students on Monday for the alleged seizure of their mobile phones, while a seven-member committee has been set up to investigate the cause of the rioting at NAVASCO.
After the GHANASCO students had embarked on a massive demonstration and destroyed bungalows and other school properties, the decision to close the school down was arrived at after a meeting of the security committees of the Northern Region, the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, the Ghana Education Service and the school authorities.
The rioters also smashed the windscreens and dented the police light-armoured vehicle, as well as the windscreens of the vehicle used by the Tamale Metropolitan Director of Education and a taxicab belonging to the husband of a female tutor.
Other property destroyed included two motorbikes, one of which was completely burnt. The students also carried away some fowls belonging to some tutors and vandalised the bungalows of some of the tutors, destroying personal belongings in the process, including television sets and sound systems.
The students were also alleged to have broken into the office of the senior housemaster and taken away the mobile phones which had been seized from the students.
A police reinforcement had to fire balls of canister to disperse the stone-throwing rioters, resulting in some of the students sustaining injuries.
Even though calm has returned to the school compound, as of the time of filing this report there was still heavy police presence to avert further disturbances.
So far, 16 students have been arrested in connection with the violence and they are in custody, assisting the police in their investigations.
The Headmistress of the school, Madam Mary Asobayire, who returned to Tamale from Accra on Sunday night after the successful launch of the 50th anniversary of GHANASCO, could not immediately be reached for her comment.
Briefing a fact-finding delegation, led by the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, and his deputy, Mrs Lucy Awuni, that toured NAVASCO after the riots, the Assistant Headmaster in charge of Administration, Mr Sixtus Adikwo, said the aggression started at about 10 p.m. on Sunday when he heard students chanting in the direction of the headmaster’s bungalow.
According to him, when he came out and rushed to the school administration block, he found the rioters heading towards the administration block and he tried to stop them.
Mr Adikwo said when he inquired, the students informed him that they were after the life of one teacher who had denied them the opportunity of taking their lunch and supper that day.
He said the rioting students resorted to the throwing of stones and, in the process, broke a number of louvre blades at the administration block.
Some also broke into the office of the senior housemistress, vandalised the office and took away about 40 mobile phones which had been seized from the students by the school authorities. Others bolted with some accounting books meant for sale.
Mr Adikwo also indicated that the rampaging students broke some street light bulbs and even attempted to plunge the entire school into darkness by disconnecting power supply to the school.
He indicated that attempts by the prefects to calm the situation backfired, as the rioting students chased their leaders away and pelted them with stones, adding that the prefects were labelled as traitors.
He said the authorities had no option but to call in the police, after consulting the DCE for the area, who had driven in first to the headmaster’s bungalow, in the course of which one policeman was hit by a stone, injuring him.
Mr Adikwo said following a meeting held separately with the prefects, the staff and the SRC, it was concluded that conditions on the school compound were not safe, hence the proposal for the temporary closure of the school.
According to the District Co-ordinating Director, Mr Edward Abazing, preliminary investigations revealed that there were a number of remote causes to the incident.
One of them, according to him, was the decision by the school authorities to seize students’ mobile phones. He said the students also rejected the payment of postal charges of GH¢1 to enable the school authorities to post terminal reports to their parents.

JAPAN MOTORS TO INVEST MASSIVELY IN TAMALE (PAGE 22, MAY 29, 2010)

2010-05-30T09:53:00.000-07:00

JAPAN Motors and Trading Company, dealers in automobiles and accessories, is to undertake a massive infrastructural investment in its Tamale branch within the next three years.
Among the strategies lined up to capture the growing market in the metropolis is the construction of a modern showroom for vehicles and Yamaha Motorbikes to offer customers a serene and comfortable business environment.
A three-storey office complex, part of which will be rented to institutions that wish to set up offices near the light-industrial area of Tamale, will also be constructed on part of the land. As part of the expansion process, the workshop will be relocated and given a state-of-the-art design.
According to the Tamale Branch Manager of the company, Mr Al-Hassan Somoa Mahama, Tamale was becoming the commercial hub of northern Ghana so the company intended putting up two large warehouses, drawing from its experience of managing warehouses at the Tema branch.
Mr Mahama observed that most people were still unaware that they could purchase their vehicles at the office in Tamale instead of trekking all the way to Accra, stressing that “the vehicles you buy from us here and those from our head office in Accra are of the same quality and durability.”
He further stated that his outfit also offered training facilities to students from the technical schools, polytechnics and universities, like its sister branches in other parts of the country.
“It is the only automobile garage in all the three northern regions equipped with modern vehicle diagnosis equipment; no wonder it is the preferred choice of automobile engineering teachers and students who want to be abreast of the latest technology in vehicle diagnosis,” he stated.
Giving a background of the company’s existence in northern Ghana, Mr Mahama said Japan Motors opened its branch in Tamale in 1973 to enjoy the benefits of the agricultural boom in the area.
After observing that the transport needs of northern Ghana could best be served with the supply of motorcycles, the company added the sale and service of Yamaha Motorbikes to its range of products.
The rapid decline of the agricultural sector in the 1980s in the area, however, led to the decline in its incomes as automobile sales plummeted. Almost all the automobile firms dealing in agricultural equipment and vehicles folded up before the mid 1980s.

NO GUNSHOTS IN BUIPE (SPREAD, MAY 28, 2010)

2010-05-28T09:46:00.000-07:00

THE Northern Regional Police Command has denied reports that tension in Buipe had led to gunshots in the area.
According to the Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Inspector Ebenezer Tetteh, the situation at Buipe at the moment was calm.
There had been a long-standing disagreement between the Buipewura and some members of the traditional council, leading to threats and counter-threats from both sides. The chief had often complained of lack of respect for his authority by some council members.
At the first ordinary meeting of the council at Damongo on May 13, 2010, an attempt was made to mediate a case between the Buipewura and one of his alleged antagonists, Monowura Akwasi Piesie, who the former claimed to have deskinned for gross disrespect to his skin.
The mediation talks, however, turned acrimonious leading to heated verbal exchanges between the Buipeura and his loyalists on one side and the Yagbonwura and the other chiefs and their supporters on the other.
The Buipewura was alleged to have subsequently pulled out a gun and fired warning shots, a charge the Buipewura has since denied.
Following this development, the council declared its intention to destool the Buipewura for what they considered as insubordination and gross disrespect to the council members.
In a statement signed by the Yagbonwura, Tuntunba Boorish Sulemana Jakpa II, and 12 other paramount chiefs of the Gonja Traditional Council at Damongo, the chiefs accused the Buipewura of “gross disrespect for the King of Gonja and the entire members of the Gonja Traditional Council by Buipewura Jinapor II Abdulai Mahama”.

25 DOCTORS FOR NORTHERN REGION (BACK PAGE, MAY 26, 2010)

2010-05-26T06:46:00.000-07:00

For once in many years, 25 medical doctors have accepted to do their housemanship in the Northern Region.
The Northern Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Akwasi Twumasi, who announced this, commended the doctors for their patriotism and indicated that the directorate had attractive incentive packages for medical personnel who would accept postings to the area, particularly the rural communities.
“This region has so many opportunities for research and growth. There are also a few long-serving doctors in the region who are ready to assist you to develop your skills and knowledge and also help you with their expert advice and experience to enable you to develop professionally,” he stated.
Dr Twumasi, who was speaking at a reception in honour of the new doctors in Tamale, also described the people in the area as hospitable.
Many doctors have refused to accept postings to the Northern Region for various reasons, including lack of incentives, accommodation, infrastructure and requisite equipment to work with, especially in the rural communities.
Last year for instance, only one out of eight doctors who were posted to serve in the region reported at post, while only three out of 13 pharmacists reported for duty.
As of February 17, 2010, none of the 15 doctors who were posted to the region had confirmed acceptance of the postings.
Dr Twumasi described the new development as refreshing and expressed the hope that more medical professionals would also accept postings to the region to facilitate effective healthcare delivery in the area.
He announced that by June, this year, the construction of five modern polyclinics would have been completed at Janga in the West Mamprusi District, Kpandi in the East Gonja District, Karaga in the Karaga District, Tatale in the Zabzugu/Tatale District and Chereponi in the Chereponi District.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Bukari Mabengba, entreated workers posted or transferred to the region not to hesitate to go there “since they will get the full support of the co-ordinating council to make their stay enjoyable”.
He said contrary to speculation that the region was volatile, the area was rather one of the most conducive regions with a lot of opportunities.
The Regional Health Promoter, Alhaji A. B. Yakubu, blamed a section of the media for portraying the region as volatile, thus scaring away potential investors and health personnel.
He, therefore, appealed to the media to highlight the positive developments springing up in various parts of the region instead of always trying to make a mountain out of a molehill.

SALAGA COURT REMANDS FULANI HERDSMEN (BACK PAGE, MAY 21, 2010)

2010-05-21T07:42:00.000-07:00

THE Salaga Magistrate’s Court has remanded two Fulani herdsmen into prison custody for their alleged involvement in the murder of butchers at Kabache, near Salaga, last week.
The suspects, Mahamadu Hassan, 44, and Ali Sandow, 33, who were served with the provisional charge of murder, are to reappear before the court on June 1, 2010.
Other suspects are, however, on the run.
On Tuesday, May 11, the deceased, Alhassan Gado, 27, and Sulemana Muntaka, 21, were allegedly murdered by some Fulani herdsmen when they went to Kabache to buy some cows.
Their bodies were later found in the bush by a search party after they failed to return home the next day. Upon careful examination of the bodies, it was found that they had been shot with locally manufactured guns.
Three cartridges were found at the crime scene.
Butchers in Salaga later threatened to avenge the death of their colleagues, if immediate measures were not taken to arrest and punish the suspects behind the murder.

MAYOR TASKS FINANCE COMMITTEE (PAGE 18, May 14, 2010)

2010-05-18T11:59:00.000-07:00

Zakaria Alhassan, Tamale.
>
> THE Mayor of Tamale, Alhaji Abdulai Harruna Friday has
> tasked the Finance and Administration sub-committee of the
> assembly to come out with more innovative ways of mobilizing
> revenue for the assembly.
> “The sub-committee may also have to revisit some of the
> mechanisms used in collecting revenue in order to step-up
> our performance to attract more funds to meet our
> development targets,” he indicated.
> The mayor who was speaking at the first ordinary meeting of
> the assembly this year in Tamale bemoaned the abysmal
> performance of the revenue department of the assembly in the
> first quarter of this year.
> From January to March, the assembly generated only
> GH¢148,000 representing about 19 percent of the targeted
> revenue of GH¢814148.00 for the year.
> “From the picture, it is clear that we need to do more to
> be able to achieve our annual revenue target for which
> reason I will urge our revenue officers to take it upon
> themselves as personal challenge to themselves and as a
> group,” Alhaji Friday stated.
> He further stated that, as part of measure to ensure
> efficiency in the revenue mobilization, the assembly will be
> embarking on periodic checks on revenue collectors at
> posts.
> The mayor announced that the assembly had received an
> amount of GH¢345,000 as its fourth quarter allocation of
> the Common Fund and that, “the amount is being used to
> service existing debts and other approved development
> projects of the assembly.”
> On the prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the metropolis,
> Alhaji Friday commended security personnel including the
> “Bilchinsi” peace council and taskforces at the various
> communities for their dedication and selflessness.
> He promised the assembly will provide them with the
> necessary logistics to facilitate their work.
> The mayor called for the cooperation of residents to the
> work of the taskforce and indicated that, “the maintenance
> of peace and security should be seen as the collective
> responsibility of every one of us in this metropolis

CALM RETURNS TO BUIPE (BACK PAGE, MAY 18, 2010)

2010-05-18T11:56:00.000-07:00

Zakaria Alhassan, Tamale.

CALM has returned to Buipe in the Central Gonja district of
the northern region after a couple of weeks standoff between
the Buipewura, Abdulai Jinapor and the Gonja traditional
council at Damongo.
Following the misunderstanding, the council subsequently
declared its intention to destool the Buipewura for what
they considered as insubordination and gross disrespect to
the council. The decision was reached after an emergency
meeting last Thursday.
However at the time of filing this report, the Buipewura
was still at his palace insisting that he was still the
rightful chief for Buipe and will therefore not abdicate the
skin.
According to the Northern Regional Police Public Relations
Officer, Chief Inspector, Ebenezer Tetteh, the situation at
Buipe was peaceful with people going about their
businesses.
In a statement signed by the Yagbon-wura Tuntunba Boorish
Sulemana Jakpa II and twelve other paramount chiefs of the
Gonja traditional council at Damongo, the chiefs accused the
Buipewura of “gross disrespect for the King of Gonja and
the entire members of the Gonja Traditional Council by
Buipewura Jinapor II Abdulai Mahama.”
According to the statement, on the 3rd day sitting of the
1st Ordinary Meeting of the Gonjaland Traditional Council on
May 13th May, 2010 at Damongo one of the items on the agenda
was the mediation of a case between the Buipewura and
Monowura Akwasi Piesie in which Buipewura arbitrarily
deskinned Monowura for gross disrespect to him.
The Gonja King, together with the other chiefs, appealed to
the Buipewura to rescind his decision to deskin the
Mono-Wura.
But the Buipe-Wura did not heed the advice as he argued
that the Mono-Wura had refused to pay homage to him as
tradition demanded.
The mediation talks turned acrimonious leading into hot
verbal exchanges between the Buipe-Wura and his loyalists on
one hand, and the Yagbon-Wura and the other chiefs and their
supporters on the other.
The Buipewura subsequently cast insinuations at the other
chiefs and allegedly pulled out and fired warning shots.

BUTCHERS KILLED (BACK PAGE, FRIDAY, MAY 14, 2010)

2010-05-18T04:52:00.000-07:00

Two butchers who went to purchase some cows at a village near Salaga in the Northern Region have allegedly been murdered by some Fulani herdsmen in the area.
The bodies of the butchers, Alhassan Gado, 27, and Sulemana Muntaka, 21, have been deposited at the Salaga Hospital awaiting autopsy as the police continue investigations to apprehend the perpetrators of the heinous crime.
At the moment the security situation in the Salaga area remains calm.
Meanwhile, butchers at Salaga have threatened to avenge the death of their colleagues if immediate measures are not taken to arrest and punish the Fulanis alleged to have committed the murder.
Narrating the incident to the media in Tamale yesterday, the Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Inspector Ebenezer Tetteh, said his outfit was informed about the murder by the Assembly member for the Dagomba Electoral Area in Salaga, Mr Fuseini Issifu.
According to him, the incident occurred last Tuesday when the bodies were found in the bush by a search party after the deceased had failed to return home on the previous day from Kabache in the Salaga District, where they had gone to buy some cows.
The officer indicated that upon careful examination of their bodies, it was found out that they had been shot with locally manufactured guns. Three cartridges were also found at the crime scene.
Mr Tetteh has meanwhile cautioned the butchers against taking the law into their own hands.
“I can assure them that we are investigating the matter to bring the perpetrators to book. Therefore, anybody who violates the law will be prosecuted,” he stressed.

ARREST PERPETRATORS OF CONFLICTS — BIMOBA STUDENTS (PAGE 4, MAY 13, 2010)

2010-05-12T08:21:00.000-07:00

THE Tamale Polytechnic branch of the Bimoba Students Union have appealed to the security agencies to step up their activities in the Bunkpuru/Yunyoo District to apprehend and bring to book perpetrators of the protracted conflicts in the area.
They also called on the regional and district security committees to always be proactive in stemming the conflicts instead of allowing the situation to get out of control before sending in re-enforcement.
The students pledged to team up with their colleagues in other institutions to embark on a peace mission in the area to prevail on their people to lay down their arms and use dialogue to resolve their differences.
The President of the union, Mr Dimang Nelson Yennuban, made the appeal at a news conference in Tamale over the weekend. It attracted both students and some citizens from the area, including the Bimoba chief in Tamale, Jacob Jamon Dam.
Mr Yennuban described the continuous influx of arms into the area as regrettable and advised the people to rather expend their energies on the eradication of poverty, disease and ignorance that had been their bane over the years.
Following the rampant conflicts in the area that is considered to be one of the most deprived districts in the country, there has been an influx of arms, fuelling the already volatile situation in the district.
The Police, however, in recent times, have intercepted some of the arms concealed in vehicles bound for the area upon tip-offs. The latest of such cache of ammunitions was seized on May 8, this year at the Fufulso Junction in the Central Gonja District in the Northern Region.
Upon a thorough search of the vehicle at the Regional Police Headquarters in Tamale, 250 pieces of cartridges were found in the vehicle that was heading towards the flash point.
Three persons suspected to be the owners of the cartridges are assisting the police in investigations. They are Jacob Kolan, 39, Goori Duut, 30, Seidu Larri, 25, and the driver of the vehicle, Ibrahim Abdala, 35.
The president stated that the continuous conflict in the district had claimed the lives of many, destroyed property worth thousands of Ghana cedis and rendered about 150, 000 people homeless.
Mr Yennuban, therefore, appealed to the “chiefs and opinion leaders in the area to immediately meet and deliberate to find lasting peace to the problem”.
“As already observed, unemployment and poverty are the major problems in the area; we, therefore, appeal to the government to facilitate the creation of more jobs for the youth in the district,” the president appealed.

SIC DONATES GH¢10,000 TO UDS (PAGE 11, MAY 12, 2010)

2010-05-12T07:55:00.000-07:00

THE Northern Regional branch of the State Insurance Company Limited (SIC) has presented a cheque for GH¢10,000 to the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale.
According to the branch manager of the company, Mr Emmanuel Simpiney-Mensah, the presentation formed part of the company’s social responsibility programme to support educational institutions to promote academic excellence.
“We have also developed tailor made modern package policies for the universities, polytechnics, metropolitan, municipal, district assemblies and commercial houses; we are rendering free risk management services to any establishment or industry that requires this service,” the manager stated.
Mr Simpiney-Mensah announced this at a dinner night to express their appreciation to its numerous clients.The company also used the occasion to reward retired staff and clients for their tremendous contribution to the growth of the company.
He said since its establishment in 1962, the company has grown into a very viable entity, making it the most capitalised insurance company on the stock market with 60 per cent shares loaded on the exchange.
“Our vision is to maintain dominance in the insurance industry and position ourselves as the most profitable, innovative and customer friendly insurance company,” he indicated.
According to Mr Simpiney-Mensah, the company was on track in realising its vision as it continues to introduce innovative products to suit their customers, adding that “We have established prompt claim settlement and payment mechanisms. having shifted our gear from satisfaction to making our clients take delight in our services and we reward complaints and feedback”.
He said the management of the company in the region had decided to make the occasion an annual affair to fete clients and reward hard working staff members as they charted the way forward.
A former Northern Regional liaison officer of the National Insurance Commission (NIC), Alhaji Issahaku Yakubu, commended management and staff of the SIC for their efforts in helping to turn the fortunes of the company around.
He, however, urged them not to come out with more innovations that would attract new clients in the competitive business climate.

COP SHOOTS WIFE (PAGE 3, MAY 8, 2010)

2010-05-11T02:11:00.000-07:00

Story: Zakaria Alhassan, Tamale.

RESIDENTS of a Police barracks in Tamale are beside themselves with bewilderment following the bizarre action by a Police officer who shot his wife in the neck for alleged infidelity.
The wife, Dorcas Nde whose condition is said to be critical is currently receiving treatment at the intensive care unit of the Tamale Teaching hospital.
The husband, Lance Corporal Mathew Appiah Nde 32 who is in the grips of the police is assisting in investigations.
Even though the Police could not readily tell whether the shot was deliberate or accidental, neighbours of the Ndes told the “Daily Graphic” that the suspect had over the months been quarrelling with the victim over her alleged unfaithfulness which she has always denied.
The two children of the couple who are minors and at the moment being taken care of by a neighbour looked distraught during the visit to the barracks.
Narrating the incident to the media, the Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Inspector Ebenezer Tetteh said at dawn today (Friday), the suspect booked for a riffle to attend a bank guard duty at Aboabo, a Tamale surburb.
According to the PRO, Nde later came back to the barracks at about 8:30am from his duty post to allegedly take his breakfast.
“Not quite long after entering his room, there was sound of a gunshot that attracted the neighbours to the Ndes where the victim was found in a critical condition and was rushed to the Tamale Teaching Hospital for treatment,” he explained.
The victim was ostensibly shot through the gate of their room as she was outside washing her cloths.
The suspect, who looked remorseful after the act, later surrendered himself to the Police.

NGO ORGANISES CARER FAIR FOR 300 LADIES (PAGE 35, MAY 4, 2010)

2010-05-05T09:13:00.000-07:00

Story: Zakaria Alhassan, Tamale.

THE unavailability of job opportunities continues to be the bane of the youth in the northern part of the country. This has compelled most of them, particularly the out of school girls to migrate down south to engage in menial jobs.
Those who cannot continue with their education for various reasons also idol at home leading to teenage pregnancies and the engagement in other unproductive ventures.
It was to find a way forward for such unfortunate group of people that the Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED), an NGO, organized a two-day career entrepreneurship fair for over 300 young ladies including third year students from senior high schools from 14 districts of the northern region and funded by Blatter and Frick, social investors.
It was envisaged at offering them guidance on their life careers and how to achieve them. The fair was on the theme "Possibilities and opportunities."
Areas covered included career development-formal sector, financing your career, entrepreneurial prospects and opportunities and social entrepreneurship prospects.
There were also motivational talk on life choices and career management. Interactive and inspiration presentations were made by renowned successful career persons such as Mrs. PaullyApea-Kubi of Ebenut Ghana limited, an export company and Mr. Emmanuel Dei-Tumi of the Future Leaders Group.
Others were a lecturer at the University for Development Studies, Mrs. Rukaya Husein and Mrs. Clara Beeri Kasser-Tee of Benchi-Enchill, Letsa and Ankoma, a law firm and
In her presentation, Mrs Kassar-Tee said it was not
easy for her to overcome the numerous challenges to attain her status due to the background she came from, but that through hard work and determination, she was
able to achieve her dream of becoming a lawyer. She was adjudged the best law student for 2009.
She reminded the participants that the world was knowledge-based and that nothing stopped the youth from achieving their dreams.
According to the executive director of CAMFED-Ghana, Mrs Delores Dickson, “the fair has broadened their knowledge and motivated them to set long term goals for themselves and also empowered them to make the right choices.”
The director further explained that, CAMFED believes educating girls and providing economic opportunities to young women is a sure way of lifting poverty out of families in Africa.”
The fair attracted many people from the business, education, entrepreneurial and communication industries, who acknowledged that it would offer them guidance about their choices and how to overcome challenges to achieve their goals in life.

MEDIA DEVELOPMENT FORUM HELD IN TAMALE (PAGE 34,MAY 1, 2010)

2010-05-05T09:10:00.000-07:00

Story: Zakaria Alhassan, Tamale.

THE Executive Director of Media Foundation for West Africa Professor Kwame Karikari has advised radio stations in the regions not to replicate wholesale programmes from sister stations in Accra but that they must design their own agenda to address their peculiar needs.
“You should come out with your own programmes and initiatives that will help enrich the people and also accelerate the development of your respective communities because if you continue copying from elsewhere, you will soon become irrelevant to your own people,” he admonished.
Professor Karikari also expressed concern over the politicisation of issues in the country and cautioned that if it was not stopped, it will affect the growth of the nation since credible people would not feel comfortable in their actions and utterances because of the fear of being tagged of belonging to party A or B.
“You are labelled either belonging to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) or the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) depending on what you say at any particularly given time,” he noted.
Professor Karikari gave the advice at a media development forum in Tamale at the weekend which was attended by managers of radio stations from the Upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions.
It was themed: "The responsibility of the broadcaster in promoting free speech in a democracy." The forum which was under the auspices of the foundation's Ghana Media Standards Improvement Project (GMSIP) was funded by the Royal Danish Embassy in Accra.
Professor Karikari further cautioned media practitioners against allowing themselves to be used by politicians and indicated that such journalists are often dumped after they have been used to achieve the selfish interests of their pay masters.
“The interest of politicians are not always in the best interest of the public,” he reminded them and noted that even though such erring journalists are normally parted on the back by their masters, they are often scorned by the general public who see them as pawns.
He therefore urged media practitioners to be assertive in the discharge of their duties at all times and not allow themselves to be relegated to the background through their actions or inactions because “how you sell yourself is how you will be bought.”
Professor Karikari also underscored the need for the media to reposition itself and focus on issues of national unity and development. He said the media had the power to either construct or destroy but indicated that such powers should be used responsibly for national good.
He reminded them of the need to be truthful, accurate, fair and decent and to ensure social harmony and peace at all times in their reportage stressing, “we have a responsibility to be positive and offensive for progressive.”
A veteran journalist and media consultant, Mr. Edward Ameyibor charged media practitioners in the north to be objective in their reportage and also endeavour to portray the positive attributes of the area instead of always dwelling on the negatives that are often blown out of proportion.
“There are more violent crimes in other parts of the country, but while theirs are well managed, those in the north are sometimes exaggerated and blown out of proportions,” he observed.
Mr. Ameyibor called on the media to expose people behind the fanning and sponsoring of conflicts in the north to help stem the tide for development to thrive in the area that he noted has the potential for growth.
A registrar at the University for Development Studies (UDS), Dr. A.B.T. Zakaria indicated that the media, particularly radio, is a serious business that needed to be operated and managed by fair minded professionals to achieve the desired results.

VEEP LAUNCHES EDUCATION INITIATIVE (PAGE 51, MAY 4, 2010)

2010-05-04T05:22:00.000-07:00

THE Vice-President, Mr John Mahama, at the weekend inaugurated an education initiative aimed at ensuring quality basic education delivery for disadvantaged children, particularly girls in northern Ghana.
The 10-year project, dubbed: “Tackling Education Inclusively” (TENI), will improve pupils’ retention, performance and transition from the primary to the junior high school (JHS) level.
The project, which was launched at Walewale, will cover the northern sector with focus in three deprived districts of West Mamprusi in the Northern, Talensi-Nabdam in the Upper East and Jirapa in the Upper West regions.
It is being implemented by the Voluntary Services Overseas Ghana (VSOG), an international development organisation, in collaboration with some local partners with support from the Comic Relief UK, a charity organisation.
The Vice-President urged the people to give priority attention to the education of their children instead of channelling their resources into unproductive ventures, since the value of education could not be quantified.
He noted that the lackadaisical attitude of most parents and guardians towards education in the north had resulted in the migration of the youth to the southern parts of the country to engage in labour-intensive jobs such as “kayaye” and stressed that it was preferable to live in “poverty in dignity to wealth in humiliation”.
According to the Vice-Persident, the government had established various social interventions in the education sector such as the provision of free school uniforms and books ; increased the Capitation Grant and incentives for rural teachers.
“Parents and guardians have, therefore, no reason not to enrol their children and wards in school,” Mr Mahama indicated, and further entreated chiefs and opinion leaders to take keen interest in school administration in their respective communities.
The Country Director of the VSOG, Mr Amidu Ibrahim Tanko, explained that the first phase of the project would cover the period between 2009 and 2013.
He mentioned the activities to include strengthening of community groups to identify and modify socio-cultural practices that affect girls’ education and the empowerment of mothers’ economic status by linking them with existing livelihood interventions.
The director said it would also improve teacher availability through placement of 500 national volunteer teachers & advocacy for effective teacher support and management.
It will further identify female role models and mentor girls at risk of dropping out of school and establish and strengthen girls’ clubs and peer groups, among other interventions.
Mr Tanko also indicated that change could only be achieved when it came from within an individual, community, family, organisation or district.
“TENI, therefore, engages multiple stakeholders and builds on best practices to tackle underlying causes that prevent children completing and performing in school, including socio-cultural beliefs, poverty barriers, the school environment and quality of teaching and learning,” he stated.
Speaking on the theme: “Working together to achieve systematic change in education in northern Ghana,” the West Mamprusi District Chief Executive, Sulley Abudu Zakaria, said as part of its quest to improve academic excellence in the district, the assembly had released some funds to the district directorate of education to organise a best teacher awards ceremony to reward hard work.

BARCLAYS OPENS NEW BRANCH IN GUMANI (PAGE 38, MAY 1, 2010)

2010-05-02T11:33:00.000-07:00

THE growing business opportunities in the Tamale metropolis continue to attract the attention of more banks with the existing ones opening additional branches.
The latest to increase its presence in the metropolis is Barclays Bank. Their newly constructed Gumani branch was opened to the general public last weekend. This brings to two, their branches in Tamale and the 92nd nationwide.
According to the Managing Director of the bank, Mr Benjamin Dabrah, the decision to establish an additional branch in the metropolis formed part of their long-term strategy.
It also followed the impressive performance of the main branch and the growing number of customers who are attracted to the innovative products of the bank in the area.
He also explained that it was part of the bank’s objective to expand its footprint and to consolidate its position in becoming the number one bank in the country by providing strategies and products that would respond to the needs of Ghanaians.
He said developments in the country's banking sector in the first quarter of the year indicated a continued strong asset growth on account of significant increases in deposits and shareholder funds and advised the people to avail themselves of the opportunities and gains made so far.
Mr Dabrah further indicated that the bank was also into community development and had funded a number of projects as part of its social responsibilities.
He mentioned the Nadowli Women's Advocacy Group in Upper West Region, Afram Plains Development Organisation, Challenging Heights, School for Life and the Guinea Worm Eradication Programme in the Northern Region as some of the beneficiaries of their support.
The Director of the bank’s Consumer Banking, Nana Benneh, also explained that the decision for the expansion was to bring world class banking to the doorsteps of the people and therefore, urged them to “continue to do business with us because in Barclays, you have indeed found your financial partner”.
The Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr Nasamu Asabigi acknowledged the significant contributions made by the private sector to the growth of the economy and entreated the bank to extend its support to farmers and peace initiative programmes in the area.
“I also wish to appeal to the management of the bank to consider making it easier for more people to be able to access loans to expand their small-scale businesses, particularly the women in view of the fact that such support has become a major source of livelihood for our people,”he indicated.
On behalf of the chiefs and people, the minister commended the bank for its long presence in the metropolis and also establishing an additional branch to respond to the demands of the people.

SOIL INFERTILITY, MAJOR CONSTRAINT TO AGRIC PRODUCTION (PAGE 36, APRIL 26, 2010)

2010-04-26T05:41:00.000-07:00

SOIL infertility remains the major constraint to sustainable agricultural production in northern Ghana.
Soil organic matter influences the physical and chemical properties of soil, as well as the availability of nutrients for microbial and successful plant growth.
However, the levels of soil organic matter in northern Ghana are disproportionately low. While the soil organic matter content of agricultural top soil is usually in the range of 0.1 to six per cent, the organic matter content in the north averages less than one per cent.
This prevailing situation has largely been attributed to human-induced degradation activities such as extensive soil cultivation, soil erosion, over-grazing, land clearing and desertification.
The Director-General of the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-Ghana), Dr Abdulai Salifu, who disclosed this in Tamale, therefore, stated that “any strategy that seeks to turn around the general soil infertility constraint in the north into a resource must be welcome news for our agricultural policy makers and farmers”.
He was speaking at the inauguration of a $1.54 million project aimed at increasing maize-legume production through up scaling of proven integrated soil fertility management technologies and the strengthening of farmer organisations.
The three-year project is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), an international organisation.
It is being implemented in collaboration with the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) of the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-Ghana).
Dr Salifu expressed confidence in the successful implantation of the project, stressing that “it has been our business in the CSIR to deliver even against the backdrop of abysmal low research funding due to lack of commitment”.
He stated that northern Ghana could reclaim its position as the bread basket of the country if only there was a political will for decisive action by providing the necessary resources needed.
“Indeed currently, nearly 80 per cent of the national grain production and approximately 60 per cent of the national legumes and some sizeable amount of root crops are grown in the north,” the director-general stated.
Dr Salifu further said the rainy season in normal times allowed for a growing period of 150-160 days in the Upper East Region and 180-200 days in the Upper West and Northern regions.
He, however, expressed concern about low funding for science and technology and that the government’s investment in that sector was well below the one per cent GDP threshold recommended in the Lagos Plan of Action.
Dr Salifu reminded the people that a country’s level of technology largely determined its competitiveness in the globalised world.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Mr Joseph Boamah, observed that the average fertiliser application by Ghanaian farmers, eight kilogrammes per hectare of land, was very low as compared to the recommended African Union proposed average of 50 kilogrammes per hectare of land to improve productivity and production in the African sub-region.
He said it was for that reason that the government introduced the fertiliser subsidy programme in 2008 for sustainable national food security.
According to the director, a total of 43,176.75 metric tonnes constituting 863,535 bags of compound and nitrogen fertilisers were subsidised to the tune of GH¢20 million between July and December, 2008.
Mr Boamah added that last year, the coupon system was used again in subsidising 72,748.75 metric tonnes, thus 454,975 bags of fertiliser at a cost of GH¢32,250,680 to the government.
On the problems associated with the distribution system, he said “we are putting the necessary institutions and processes in place to ensure successful implementation of the programme”.

MABENGBA CAUTIONS NDC YOUTH (PAGE 13, APRIL 26, 2010)

2010-04-26T04:59:00.000-07:00

THE Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabengba, has cautioned the youth in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the region against allowing other political parties to set the agenda for them.
He entreated them to be patient with the government while it initiated laudable programmes for their benefit.
“Although I must acknowledge that it takes time for such programmes to be implemented, the government is determined to meet its set targets and, therefore, the youth should avoid buying into propaganda,” he said.
Mr Mabengba was responding to a question from the Northern Regional Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Zakaria Alhassan, on the security situation in Yendi, following recent agitation among a youth group in the area against the style of administration of the Yendi Municipal Chief Executive (MCE).
This was during an interaction the regional minister had with staff of the Tamale Office of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL).
The visit was to help build bridges and a fruitful working relationship between the Northern Regional Co-ordinating Council and the media.
Mr Mabengba explained that he had personally met with the youth groups in Yendi and spoken to them, and that had considerably reduced tension in the area.
He also confirmed that the Yendi MCE was now at post and that the area was calm.
He commended the Daily Graphic for maintaining high journalistic standards, avoiding sensationalism and ensuring balanced reportage.
“As for Daily Graphic, we do not have problems with the paper and we thank the company for promoting peace in the region through its reportage,” he stated.
“The GCGL is a giant media house and we respect the company for the leading role it has been playing in the media industry,” he said.
Mr Mabengba was accompanied by his deputy, Mr Sam Nasamu Asabigi; the Regional NDC Secretary, Alhaji Imoro Alhassan Umar; the Northern Regional Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Alhaji Abdulai Mahama Silimboma, and the Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr Joseph Dasana.

TWO DIE IN CONFLICT (PAGE 19, APRIL 24, 2010)

2010-04-25T11:58:00.000-07:00

TWO persons have died and unspecified number of people sustained injuries in a renewed conflict between the people of Bankuni and Kambaktiak in the Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo District of the Northern Region.
One of the deceased had his genitals and arm chopped off and a number of houses had also been burnt.
The Police personnel who had been stationed in the area to keep peace had to take cover at a nearby town, Mamba to escape the attack of the feuding factions. Some residents have also fled the two towns for safety.
The remains of the deceased, Kantan Dinioh, 32 and Kunsankui Dubik, 70 have been deposited at the morgue of the Nalerigu Baptist Hospital.
No arrest has been made yet. However there has been a police and military re-enforcement in the area to help restore calm as investigations into the latest violence are underway.
According to the Northern Region Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Inspector Ebenezer Tetteh, there has been an existing misunderstandings between the two clans over some time now and that such conflicts have often led to the lost of lives and destruction of properties in the area.
He indicated that in one of the conflicts, a court bonded them to be of good behaviour.
The main issues at stake are over land and chieftaincy matters.
The District Security Committee (DISEC) and other stakeholders have also intensified efforts to resolve the recurrent dispute between the clans in the conflict. The people of Bankuni belong to the Nadoom clan while those of Kambatiak are from the Nakuk clan.

MCA DISBURSES $2.7m TO FBOS (BACK PAGE, APRIL 23, 2010)

2010-04-23T07:36:00.000-07:00

THE Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Ghana programme has so far disbursed $2.7 million to support 80 farmer-based organisations (FBOs) and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in five districts of the Northern Region to boost agriculture.
The beneficiary FBOs and SMEs are in the Tamale metropolis, the Savelugu-Nanton, Karaga, West Mamprusi and Tolon-Kumbungu districts.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), Mr Martin Esson-Benjamin, made this known during an interaction with media practitioners in Tamale aimed at highlighting the challenges and achievements of the Northern Intervention Zone MCA programme.
Mr Esson-Benjamin observed that low levels of technology and technical assistance, inadequate farmer training skills development, low investments in production and processing, under-developed marketing systems and unco-ordinated development supportive programmes accounted for more than the 90 per cent poverty levels recorded in some rural agricultural districts in the north.
He explained that the strategic goal of the MCA Ghana programme was to create an enabling environment for sustainable business in agriculture.
The CEO stated that 23 out of the 30 beneficiary districts nation-wide were selected based on their agricultural growth potential, scope for rural poverty reduction and private sector participation in the growth process.
“The MCA programme is meant to assist small rural farmers to participate in local and international markets through investments that, among other things, will enable communities to become better organised through the training and commercial development of FBOs,” he noted.
According to Mr Esson-Benjamin, 15,488 farmers had been trained under the MCA programme, while $3.6 million worth of starter packs had been donated to members of the Kpangmanga Youth Association, an FBO based at Kanvilli, a suburb of Tamale.
He further disclosed that 1,161 irrigation schemes had been rehabilitated at Ligba, Bontanga, Golinga, Nasia, Wala, Janga, Arigu, Karaminga and Gunayili.

TAMALE RESIDENTS COMMEND PREZ FOR VISIT (SPREAD, APRIL 22, 2010)

2010-04-22T03:58:00.001-07:00

RESIDENTS of Tamale have commended President John Evans Atta Mills for his three-day working visit to the Northern Region and for living up to his campaign pledge of refurbishing and expanding facilities at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH).
According to the chiefs and people of the area, the deplorable state of the hospital, which served as the only referral centre in the three northern regions, had been a source of worry to them over the years.
They, therefore, described the decision by the government to address the age-long problems of the health facility within the first one-and-a-half years since assuming office as very refreshing, since successive governments had paid lip-service to its rehabilitation since the facility was constructed in 1974.
The Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya-Na Abdulai Andani, who graced the sod-cutting ceremony with his sub-chiefs and elders on Tuesday, compared the poor state of the hospital to a death trap and indicated that “we in this part of the country will ever be grateful for this landmark”.
The President, who arrived in Tamale last Monday to a tumultuous welcome, earlier inaugurated a GH¢7-million central administration block for the University for Development Studies (UDS) at its Tamale campus, where he expressed the government’s determination to ensure the provision of quality education in the country.
He also called for the judicious use of resources by beneficiaries of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) “to ensure value for money”.
President Mills also interacted with metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives in the Northern Region behind closed doors. According to the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Mr Koku Anyidoho, the chief executives were charged to live above reproach and also embark on innovative local revenue mobilisation to generate additional funds to ensure the accelerated development of their respective areas.
The President, who earlier addressed the youth upon his arrival, assured them of the government’s commitment to expanding the economy to create more job opportunities to engage them, stressing that “we will never turn our backs on you”.
Professor Mills, who was visibly excited over the warm reception accorded him at all the places he visited, thanked the chiefs and people for their unflinching support and assured them that “the government will continue to deliver for keeping faith in us”.
He, however, entreated Ghanaians to exercise restraint, as efforts were being made by the government to attend to their needs “because the only reason why we are in government is to raise your living standards”.
The President was accompanied on his visit by some Ministers of State, Members of Parliament and NDC party functionaries.

PREZ WARNS MMDCEs (SPREAD, APRIL 21, 2010)

2010-04-22T03:20:00.001-07:00

THE President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, has sounded a strong warning to metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) that they will be made to face the consequences if they misuse state resources for their personal benefit.
At a meeting with MMDCEs in the Northern Region in Tamale on Monday night, President Mills said, “Nobody will be spared if there is misuse of resources because they belong to the people and must be used for the benefit of the people.”
The President, who is on a three-day tour of the region, convened the meeting to map out strategies for the accelerated development of the region.
President Mills said to ensure that MMDCEs delivered on their mandate, their performance would now be appraised periodically to assess their strengths and weaknesses, as well as the challenges facing them.
The meeting, attended by all the 20 MMDCEs in the region, was held behind closed doors and it was believed to have centred on job creation and the judicious use of national resources in the various districts.
Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Mr Koku Anyidoho, said the President reminded the MMDCEs that his administration had declared this year an ‘Action Year’ and the need to work towards the realisation of the ‘better Ghana’ agenda.
He said the normal feature of the President was to hold discussions with the chief executives of any region he visited to remind them of the government’s agenda for development.
He said the MMDCEs were reminded that they would be appraised on their performance to see where they had excelled and areas where they faced challenges in order to carve the way forward in achieving the goals contained in the government’s agenda.
He further explained that at the recent Cabinet retreat in Accra, the President stressed that the priority of his government was to ensure the expansion of the economy to create more jobs for Ghanaians.
Mr Anyidoho said the President, therefore, urged the MMDCEs to work assiduously to realise those objectives and challenged them to come up with innovative ways of generating revenue in their respective areas to complement the government’s efforts.

GOVT TO EMBARK ON RURAL POWER PROJECT IN 3 REGIONS (PAGE 43, APRIL 21, 2010)

2010-04-22T03:08:00.000-07:00

PRESIDENT John Evans Atta Mills yesterday announced plans by the government to embark on a rural electrification project in the three Northern regions to facilitate economic growth there.
In that regard, he said the government would make available $300 million this year for the realisation of the project, following approval by Parliament.
The President also indicated that the government was sourcing additional funds to commence work on roads in the eastern corridor of the Northern Region, stretching from Yendi through the Volta Region to the Greater Accra Region.
It is expected that when the project is completed, it will not only cut short the many hours of travel from the north to the south of the country but also reduce the drudgery commuters encounter daily as they make the journey.
The President announced this when he cut the sod for the commencement of work on the rehabilitation, expansion and upgrading of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) in Tamale.
He said the northern part of the country lagged behind in many facets of development and that it was now time for the government to focus attention on the accelerated development of the area to improve on the quality of life of the people.
“The only reason we are in power is to raise the living standards of our people by leading them out of poverty and over the last 15 months we have demonstrated our commitment to this principle with the introduction of several initiatives and projects in various parts of the country,” President Mills stated.
He particularly expressed the appreciation of the government to the people of the north “for keeping faith with us. There is no way we will turn our backs on you”.
“The bond that unites us is getting stronger and stronger and together we will form a formidable team and, God willing, this country will move forward in the right direction,” President Mills added.

GOVT ON COURSE TO DELIVER ON PROMISES (1B, APRIL 21, 2010)

2010-04-21T05:11:00.000-07:00

Story: Zakaria Alhassan, Tamale

President John Evans Atta Mills has indicated that the government is on course in fulfilling its campaign promises.
He, therefore, entreated the people to have faith in it as it delivered on its promises one after another.
“As a government, we are working feverishly to achieve these objectives; let no one doubt our ability to meet these promises,” he emphasised.
The President was speaking during the sod-cutting ceremony for work to commence on the 43.1 million Euro rehabilitation, expansion and upgrading project of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH).
When completed, the 400-bed facility will serve as a referral centre for the northern part of the country.
The project is jointly being funded by the Fortis Bank NV of The Netherlands and the Government of Ghana.
The ceremony was witnessed by a large crowd of people from all walks of life, including Ministers of State, Members of Parliament and members of the Council of State.
The Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya-Na Abdulai Andani, and some of his sub-chiefs also graced the occasion.
The four-year project involves the construction of a new four-storey block and an accident and emergency centre and the refurbishment of existing facilities.
Since its construction in 1974, the hospital has not received any major rehabilitation, leading to the deterioration of facilities and equipment.
According to the President, “the start of this project is and will remain a testimony to the promise we made to Ghanaians on assumption of duty barely 15 months ago. It is also a testimony to our commitment to transform the Savannah zone of this country into a vibrant and well-functioning part of this country and to ensure that it contributes effectively to the better Ghana agenda”.
He said the project was also a well-orchestrated plan by the government to boost medical education in the northern part of the country, as it would serve as a breeding ground for the Medical School of the University for Development Studies in Tamale.
“Our resolve, as a government, towards the realisation of the vision of ensuring access to basic health care for all is not negotiable. And we will only claim that we have achieved our goal when every community in all parts of this country can access basic healthcare services without difficulty,” President Mills said.
He, however, observed that the continuing challenges of mal-distribution of health staff, misuse of resources and the total neglect of ethics and the code of conduct by some medical professionals in dealing with patients were among issues that needed to be dealt with.
The President further noted that the provision of quality health care could not be attained in the country without the requisite infrastructure, for which reason the government had devoted resources to strengthening the institutional capacity of various agencies under the Ministry of Health.
The Chief Executive Officer of the TTH, Dr Ken Sagoe, said the successful completion of the project would offer the staff the opportunity to achieve the mandate of the hospital as a teaching hospital and also realise their vision of offering quality tertiary health care, medical education and research to the people.
He expressed appreciation to the government for the project and commended the staff of the hospital for working through trying moments over the years in the face of the daily challenges.
For his part, the Minister of Health, Dr Benjamin Kunbour, said an additional GH¢14.6 million would be needed to provide staff bungalows for the hospital and gave the assurance that the government was prepared to realise that objective.
He indicated that a monitoring team had been established at the MoH to give an update on the progress of work on a regular basis.
“It is our hope that the people of Tamale will co-operate with the project team to ensure its successful completion,” he added.

WE'LL ADDRESS NEEDS OF YOUTH (PAGE 3, APRIL 20, 2010)

2010-04-20T09:03:00.000-07:00

THE President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, has expressed the resolve of the government to address the problems and needs of the youth of the country.
He, therefore, admonished them to exercise maximum restraint as efforts were made to engage them.
He said the government was not oblivious to the needs of the youth, nor was it neglecting them, emphasising that “we acknowledge your immense contribution to the party and the government over the years”.
The President was speaking on his arrival at the Presidential Lodge in Tamale where he addressed an enthusiastic crowd of the youth yesterday.
A large number of people, including NDC faithful, had earlier thronged the Tamale Airport to welcome Prof. Mills. It took the President over an hour to arrive at the lodge because of the teeming crowd, some of whom had lined up the roads to catch a glimpse of him.
The President is on a three-day official visit to the Northern Region. He inaugurated an administration block complex for the University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale Campus, yesterday and is expected to address metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives on a wide range of issues today.
The President will also cut the sod today for the commencement of work on the refurbishment of the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
President Mills expressed appreciation to the chiefs and people of Tamale for the warm reception accorded him and his team into the metropolis and assured them that the government would not disappoint them but surely live up to the expectation of ensuring a better Ghana for all.

QUALITY EDUCATION OUR AIM, SAYS PREZ (1B, APRIL 20, 2010)

2010-04-20T08:54:00.000-07:00

THE President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, yesterday began a three-day visit to the Northern Region with the assurance that the government would provide the needed resources for quality education for all.
Declaring that education was the bedrock for development, President Mills said it was in view of the commitment of the government to education that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) was redirecting funds into the provision and improvement of infrastructure at the basic, secondary, teacher training and vocational school levels.
As part of the visit, the President inaugurated the GH¢7 million central administration block of the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale.
He is scheduled to hold a meeting with metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) in the three northern regions in Tamale to discuss development issues, among others.
Inaugurating the project, President Mills said even though the UDS was on course in achieving its mandate of meeting the needs and aspirations of the people of northern Ghana and the country as a whole, it still needed the support of the government and other stakeholders to ensure academic excellence.
“The UDS has a special place in our hearts and we shall ensure that the government provides the necessary support for the university to enable it to rub shoulders with other established universities in the country,” he stated.
He expressed concern over the quality of work executed by the contractors on the administration block project and stated that “we will ensure that we get value for money; we cannot accept any sub-standard performance”.
On the accelerated development of northern Ghana, President Mills indicated that “we as a government have vowed to turn the Savannah Zone into a viable productive area”.
He said it was for that reason that the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) was established.
The Administrator of the GETFund, Mr Sam Garbah, said that in pursuance of the government’s commitment to improve infrastructure and ensure academic excellence in educational institutions, the fund had this year released GH¢2.3 million to the UDS administration and an additional GH¢1.5 million to its School of Medical Sciences.
“We are working towards getting extra funding to support the other under-developed faculties of the university,” he said.
He, however, entreated the administrators of the university to ensure the judicious use of all funds extended to the institution.
The acting Vice-Chancellor of the UDS, Professor Kaku Sagary Nokoe, commended the President for accepting the invitation to inaugurate the block.
He said the President’s visit was the first by a sitting President in the last nine years.
He said currently the university had faculties in Tamale, Nyankpala, Wa and Navrongo and that another campus at Kintampo would soon be established.
“From its humble beginnings with 39 students in one faculty in 1993 to 15,013 in eight faculties, the UDS has the largest Faculty of Agriculture in Ghana, and with 1,200 students in the Faculty of Mathematics, it has the highest number of students pursuing Mathematics in any university in Ghana,” he indicated.
Prof Nokoe expressed the university’s preparedness to partner the government to ensure the successful implementation of the SADA.
The Chairman of the UDS Council, Dr Abdulai Salifu, said the university was blessed with a dedicated and hardworking staff.

TAMALE CHIEF COMMENDS DEVT ORGANISATIONS (PAGE 33, APRIL 19, 2010)

2010-04-18T12:07:00.000-07:00

THE chief of Tamale, Dapkema Alhassan Dawun, has commended development organisations, especially ActionAid Ghana for their immeasurable contributions to the socio-economic development of northern Ghana over the years.
He mentioned that education had enjoyed tremendous support from the organisation through the construction of school infrastructure, provision of teaching and learning materials, especially in deprived rural communities.
Dapkema Dawuni made the commendation after receiving cash donation from the Country Director of ActionAid Ghana, Madam Adwoa Kwarteng-Kluvitse in support of the Dakpema Education Endowment Fund, which he established a couple of years ago.
The chief pledged his commitment to the promotion of quality education in the metropolis.
He entreated other development oriented organisations and stakeholders to emulate the exemplary role of ActionAid by initiating programmes that would enhance quality education and also encourage the enrolment of more children into the school system.
Dapkema Dawuni further observed that when the youth were educated and offered employable skills, it would go a long way to reduce the incidence of crime and the occasional disturbances witnessed in the area.
Madam Kwateng-Kluvitse said prioritising education, particularly that of the girl child, was the surest way of accelerating development in any community.
She also expressed her outfit’s preparedness to support women to attain leadership positions for which reason the organisation would encourage potential female candidates in the forthcoming district assembly elections.
The country director, who was accompanied by Mr Yakubu Saani, the northern sector director for the organisation, also paid a courtesy call on the regent of Gukpegu, Alhaji Abdulai Ziblim, where the latter entreated non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other stakeholders to intensify their efforts in helping to find lasting solution to the head porter “Kayaye” menace by migrant young girls from northern Ghana to the southern part of the country.
Madam Kwateng-Kluvitse and her team had earlier visited some operational areas of the NGO at Chereponi, Gnani and Gushiegu.

TAMA TO CONCENTRATE ON DEV PROJECT (PAGE 21, APRIL 19, 2010)

2010-04-18T12:01:00.001-07:00

THE Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TAMA) is embarking on various development projects this year to give a face lift to the metropolis to befit its status as an emerging cosmopolitan settlement.
A total of 60 kilometres of roads will be graded whilst another five kilometres will be gravelled. They include Nyanshegu, Dungu, Kakpagyili, Kobilimahagu and Jisonayili roads.
The Metropolitan Roads Unit has also been tasked to identify all roads that need speed humps, culverts and other facilities for immediate attention.
The assembly has also repaired its grader to facilitate maintenance of existing roads.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive of Tamale, Alhaji Abdulai Harruna Friday, who disclosed this in Tamale, further indicated that the assembly intended to construct an 800-metre length of outfall drain at the Choggu Low Cost suburb.
He was speaking at the first ordinary meeting of the assembly this year. The mayor acknowledged that even though the assembly was facing tremendous challenges in its strides, “over the last one year, we were able to complete a number of projects with some still on-going”.
On the construction of an assembly hall complex, he revealed that the contractor had been paid GH¢172,330 from the assembly’s Common Fund and that work had since resumed.
The MCE added that work on the construction of an Out-Patient Department (OPD) at the Tamale West Hospital was also on course whilst abandoned works at the Nyohini and Fooshegu clinics would all be completed soon.
He also indicated the assembly’s preparedness to rehabilitate security lights at the Aboabo market and other suburbs to ensure security at those places at night.
“Other projects which have recently been undertaken include the construction and rehabilitation of 10 school blocks, the Ambariyya Islamic Institute fence wall, toilet at Fuo, rehabilitation of some street lights and the bungalow for the metropolitan co-ordinating director,” the MCE stated.
According to him, he has visited almost all the communities in the metropolis since assuming office and that the concerns of the chiefs and people had mainly centred on the provision of safe water, electricity, school infrastructure, places of convenience and roads.
“I assure the people that we have taken note of their concerns and requests and with your support and co-operation, we shall take steps to address them one after the other as and when funds are available,” the mayor pledged.

BOOST FOR MAIZE, LEGUME FARMERS (BACK PAGE, APRIL 16, 2010)

2010-04-16T10:37:00.000-07:00

Story: Zakaria Alhassan, Tamale.

A Soil health project that is targeted at boosting maize and legume production in the three northern regions was on Tuesday inaugurated in Tamale.
The 1.54 million US Dollars project is aimed at increasing maize-legume production through up scaling of proven integrated soil fertility management technologies and the strengthening of farmer organisations.
It will also update and refine fertilizer recommendations for maize and grain legumes and monitor and assess impacts of the integrated soil fertility management technologies on productivity of small-scale agriculture and livelihoods of rural communities.
The three-year project is being funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), an
International organisation. It is being implemented in collaboration with the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) of the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-Ghana).
Farmers from eleven districts in the Northern, five in the Upper West and four in the Upper East regions are to benefit from the project.
In a speech read on his behalf, the northern regional minister, Mr. Moses Mabengba noted that even though the north accounts for 42 percent of the country’s cereal production, it was still plagued with high levels of food insecurity and poverty.
“The main reason is that most of our people are small-scale resource poor farmers who rely mainly on rain fed agriculture to improve their livelihoods under low farm input conditions,” he indicated.
The minister therefore lauded the efforts of all the stakeholders involved in the realisation of the project but urged them to also help in addressing the issues of credit to farmers and access to market.
He said efforts were being made by the government to rehabilitate some broken down dams while constructing new ones at deprived areas. “The government has also pledged to continue with its policy on fertiliser subsidy that is in excess of 14 Million US Dollars for 2010” Mr. Mabengba added.
The project manager, Dr. Mathias Fosu said the programme will promote the use of organic and inorganic fertilizers in addition to other locally adapted soil fertility measures.
“We will reach about 120,000 farmers in about 225 villages with information on integrated soil fertility management through demonstrations, radio and T.V. documentaries and the production of extension leafless,” he stated.
The manager further expressed hope that, at the end of the project,” Northern Ghana which currently produces only 51 percent of its maize requirement will become net exporter of maize.”
In a speech read on his behalf, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Mr. Joseph Boamah observed that plant nutrients were being removed and lost than were being applied and that it was for this reasons that the government introduced the fertilizer subsidy programme in 2008.
The Director-General of the CSIR-Ghana, Dr. Abdulai Salifu commended scientists of the Institute for their immense efforts at attracting funding to solve the problems of farmers in northern Ghana and the nation at large.
He explained that, SARI was one of the 13 research institutes of the CSIR-Ghana and that his outfit remained the largest scientific research organisation in the country.
Dr. Salifu further indicated that, their research institutes are stationed in most parts of the country each of which has a mandate to cover specialised areas of importance for growth and development of the nation.

POLICE REFUTE ALLEGATIONS ON ARREST OF BOLIN LANA (PAGE 3, APRIL 15, 2010)

2010-04-15T05:32:00.000-07:00

The Northern Regional Police Command has denied allegations that it carried out an operation in Yendi last Tuesday to effect the arrest of the Bolin Lana, Muhammadu Abdulai.
Refuting the allegations in an interview in Tamale yesterday, the Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Inspector Ebenezer Tetteh, said “the police did not go there to make any arrest; our operations were exclusively for Gushiegu”.
In a dawn swoop in Yendi last Saturday, 41 people were arrested for their alleged involvement in the murder of the Dagbon Overlord, Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, and a number of his elders which occurred on March 27, 2002.
Nine people who were later implicated in the case are currently facing trial at an Accra District Magistrate Court. They include the caretaker of the Bolin Lana, Mba Dugu Iddrisu Iddi.
Meanwhile, at the time of filing this report, Yendi was reported calm and people were going about their various businesses peacefully.

TWO REMANDED OVER ARMS (PAGE 3, APRIL 15, 2010)

2010-04-15T05:31:00.000-07:00

THE Tamale High Court has remanded in prison custody the two suspects who were in possession of locally manufactured guns during a dawn swoop in Yendi last Saturday.
The two, Mohammed Baba and Abdulai Osman, who were charged for illegal possession of firearms, are to re-appear before the court on April 26, 2010. The guns were tendered in court as exhibits.
The suspects were among 41 others picked up by security operatives in connection with the murder of the Dagbon Overlord, Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, on March 27, 2002.
The guns were found on them when they were screened at Bimbilla in the Nanumba North District of the Northern Region after they had been arrested in Yendi.
The case involving six other suspects who were also rounded up during a rampage at the Yendi Market last Sunday could not be heard in court because they were deemed as minors.
The case has, therefore, been referred to the Attorney-General’s Office for advice.
In a related development, the Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Inspector Ebenezer Tetteh, has indicated that the Yendi municipality is now calm after earlier skirmishes by some irate youth groups following the arrest of the suspects.
He advised the residents to remain calm as the security went about its duties and warned that anybody who took the law into his or her own hands would be drastically dealt with by the law.
He said the presence of security personnel in the municipality was not to intimidate anybody but ensure law and order. He, therefore, advised all law-abiding residents to go about their duties and activities peacefully without fear.

23 PICKED AT GUSHIEGU (PAGE 3, APRIL 15, 2010)

2010-04-15T05:29:00.000-07:00

TWENTY three people have been picked up at Gushiegu in the Northern Region for their alleged involvement in the political violence that occurred in the area and Kpatinga in 2008 which led to the death of three persons, including an elderly sub-chief.
The names of the suspects were not given for security reasons.
According to the Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Inspector Ebenezer Tetteh, all the suspects are now in police custody and are being prepared for prosecution.
He said the suspects included six others who had earlier been tried in connection with the case at the Tamale Magistrate’s Court but had later been granted bail by the Tamale High Court.
The docket on the case was subsequently referred to the Attorney-General’s (A-G) Office for advice.
Mr Tetteh explained that the arrest of the 23 suspects was, therefore, upon the advice of the AG’s office.
Following the murder of the three persons and the destruction of property during the violence, a curfew was imposed on the area in 2008.
The curfew is yet to be completely lifted, as the Ministry of the Interior continues to renew it almost every week to forestall any possible reprisal attacks.

NSTITUTE MEASURES TO CONTAIN MORAL DECADENCE (PAGE 16, APRIL 13, 2010)

2010-04-13T10:18:00.000-07:00

THE Member of Parliament for Salaga, Ibrahim Dey, has expressed concern over the high levels of moral decadence among the youth in the constituency and called for pragmatic measures to curb the growing phenomenon.
He, therefore, appealed to the chiefs, religious leaders and other stakeholders to join hands in mapping out measures to contain the situation which, he observed, had led to indiscipline and poor performance of pupils and students in schools.
Mr. Dey raised these concerns in Salaga after presenting some school items to the district education directorate to help improve teaching and learning in the area.
The items, which were purchased from his share of the MP’s common fund, included 20 computers and accessories, exercise books, mathematical sets and 15 sets of jerseys.
He also funded a 200 kilometre stretch street light project and made available 2,000 cutlasses and wellington boots to support agricultural activities in the district.
Mr. Dey noted that most of the students patronised entertainment joints such as discos and video centres instead of spending time on their books, leading to poor performance in their final exams and related social vices.
According to him, such abysmal performances over the years had now positioned the district among the lower ranks in the Basic Education Certificate Examination results table.
The MP further unveiled his plans to provide more infrastructure and motivation packages to teachers and urged parents to invest in their children’s education (particularly the girl-child).
This, the Salaga MP noted, would make the East Gonja District produce more scholars to contribute to the socio-economic development of the area.
Ms. Christine B. Tampie, the District Director of Education, commended the MP for his kind gesture and promised that the donation would be put to good use to achieve its intended purpose.

7 REFUSED BAIL (PAGE 3, APRIL 13, 2010)

2010-04-13T10:04:00.000-07:00

THE seven accused persons charged with conspiracy to murder and murdering the Chief of Garizhegu, Andani Yakubu, have been refused bail by the Tamale District Court.
They are Haruna Tia, Abukari Tia, Yakubu Tia, Musa Tia, Joseph Tia, Abudu Tia and Kojo Hamza, alias Gushie-Na.
Forty-one others charged for carrying offensive weapons were also refused bail by the court, presided over by Mr Gabriel Mate-Teye.
Their pleas were not taken by the court and they were remanded in prison custody to reappear on April 23, 2010.
The court said investigations into the case were still ongoing and, therefore, it would be premature to grant bail to the accused persons.
Mr Mate-Teye further indicated that “his court jurisdiction is limited and, therefore, cannot grant bail in the matter relating to murder and carrying of weapons and consequently bail for the persons is declined”.
He, therefore, advised counsel for the accused persons to rather apply to the Tamale High Court for the issue of bail to be considered.
In his earlier submission, the prosecutor, Inspector Johnson Kyeremeh, had said there had been a new development following the arrest of an additional suspect who had been on the run.
The facts of the case are that the deceased, Andani Yakubu, was enskinned the Garizhegu Chief on March 14, 2010.
That, however, did not go down well with a section of the people in the village who protested over the issue.
As a result, the late chief had been leaving outside the village since his instalment.
The deceased decided to visit his friend at a nearby village, Nangbagu, on his motorbike.
However, on his return, he was allegedly stopped at Garizhegu and subsequently attacked by the suspects, leading to his death.
His motorbike was burnt and placed on his body.
A number of offensive weapons were also retrieved, including 18 locally manufactured guns, four machetes and a knife.

The bizarre Ya-Na murder case...41 PICKED UP IN SWOOP (LEAD STORY, APRIL 12, 2010)

2010-04-13T05:26:00.001-07:00

Story: Zakaria Alhassan, Yendi

IN a fresh attempt by the government and the security and law enforcement agencies to find the killers of the late Dagbon King, Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, and a number of his elders, 41 people were picked up in a dawn swoop in Yendi last Saturday for questioning.
After initial screening in Bimbilla, 33 were given self-recognisance bail, while six, including some of the leaders of the Abudu Royal Family in the Dagbon chieftaincy divide, were sent to Accra to assist in further investigation into the bizarre murder which occurred on March 27, 2002.
The incident sent shock waves throughout the country.
Two others who were in possession of locally manufactured guns were sent back to Yendi to be put before court for possession of weapons in a prohibited area.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Northern Regional Police Command, Chief Inspector Ebenezer Tetteh, who briefed journalists on the arrest in Tamale last Saturday, declined to disclose the names of the six suspects for security reasons.
The arrest of the suspects generated uneasy calm in Yendi on Saturday, leading to the burning of car tyres by some angry youth as a sign of protest.
However, the timely intervention by the security agents prevented the situation from degenerating into chaos.
At the moment, there is uneasy calm in Yendi, even though people are going about their normal business. Military and police personnel have, however, increased their presence and also intensified their patrols in Yendi, which is the traditional seat of the Dagbon Traditional Area.
Since the murder of the Dagbon Overlord in 2002, there has been relentless pressure on the government to find the perpetrators.
In the run-up to the 2008 general election, the NDC, then in opposition, promised to arrest and prosecute the alleged killers of the Ya-Na.
Since the party assumed office in January, 2009, the leadership of the Andani Royal Family has sent several reminders to the government and President John Evans Atta Mills to fulfil their campaign promise.
In the latest of such calls, the children of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani issued a two-month ultimatum to the government to find the killers of their father or face persistent protest.
Meanwhile, four persons were arrested in Yendi yesterday for their alleged involvement in causing public nuisance which nearly resulted in a riot in the municipality.
They were also alleged to have schemed in setting fire to the store of the Yendi Municipal Chief Executive.
The suspects — Aremeyaw Abubakari, Labran Fofo, Abubakari Alhassan and Abubakari Seidu — are being prepared for court for causing public nuisance.
One other suspect, known as Zoomnurse, is said to be on the run.
According to the Police PRO, the suspects were part of a group, numbering more than 400, who engaged in the burning of lorry tyres and the throwing of stones after the police had prevented them from holding a press conference at the Yendi Social Centre because of their failure to inform the police of their intended gathering.