The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly has confirmed Alhaji Abdulai Harruna Friday as the Mayor of the metropolis in a peaceful and cordial election that was witnessed by a large number of residents, including some traditional rulers.
Out of the 72 members present, 69 members, representing 96 per cent voted in favour of Alhaji Friday. The rest of the ballots were spoilt.
The Northern Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Mr Sylvester Kanyi, led a team of officers to supervise the voting on Wednesday, while a Circuit Court Judge, Gabriel Mate-Tay, administered the Oaths of Office.
In his acceptance speech, the mayor expressed appreciation to the chiefs and people for their unflinching support and pledged to use his rich experience to bear on the fortunes of the assembly.
“Let me assure you that I will use consultations and fairness as a hallmark of my administration style and will consult honourable members in all issues that demand consultations and collective decision-making and taking,” he stated.
On business, the mayor said he appreciated ingenuity of the people and promised to pay much attention to that sector to ensure its growth.
Alhaji Friday also expressed his commitment to run an administration of consensus building and, therefore, said he would liaise with all stakeholders to help sustain the prevailing peace in the metropolis.
The Presiding Member of the assembly, Mr Hanan Gundaa-doo, commended members for the confidence reposed in Alhaji Friday and urged them to support and cooperate with him in his work.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Stephen Sumani Nayina, noted that by the confirmation of chief executive, the assembly was now duly constituted.
He further observed that the task ahead of them was enormous and, therefore, urged members to give good account of themselves by cooperating with the mayor to facilitate the accelerated development of the metropolis.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
HIGH TURNOUT AT TAMALE EASTER PICNIC (PAGE 29)
THIS year’s Easter picnic at the Kamina Barracks in Tamale recorded one of the highest turnouts in the metropolis.
The usual serene atmosphere at the entrance of the barracks attracted various youth groups and people from all walks of life who converged to socialise, feast, dance and sing after the previous Sunday’s church activities.
Various organised ethnic groups pitched camps at different locations at the barracks where they exhibited their dexterity in their traditional drumming and dancing.
Indeed, the Borborbor group from the E.P Church in Tamale attracted one of the largest crowds as members wriggled their waists and waved their handkerchiefs in the air to the sounds of throbbing drums and trumpets.
The occasion is usually used by the youth, particularly ladies, to make fashion statements. And this year’s picnic was not different.
The event was adorned with feminine beauty and charm. Indeed, almost every lady looked beautiful. Some were in skimpy dresses that made necks to twirl and eyes spin.
Jeans and Khaki trousers and shorts seemed to be the formal dress code for majority of the gentlemen and ladies on the day.
Some elderly ladies were also spotted in their best intricately and fittingly sewn Kaba cloths with immaculately intertwined headgears and beautifully designed footwear to match.
They appeared in different sizes, shapes and colour - slim, fat, tall, short and medium.
Nature also fell in love with the revellers last Monday as an earlier downpour turned the usual hot temperatures in the area to that of a chilly and refreshing atmosphere.
A student, Ms Gloria Kpedor, described the annual picnic event as “refreshing and memorable day because we come to socialise, drink, eat and dance after the previous day’s church activities.”
A teacher, Mr Julius Dery, said he met his current wife, Comfort, at the 2006 picnic event at the barracks during his rounds at the various group spots.
The day is not only meant for Christians as a lot of Muslim youth were encountered sharing the joy of the day with their Christian brethren.
“I have always been here every year to feast my eyes on the beautiful ladies and also make friends and be merry,” Ibrahim Seidu, a resident, indicated.
A Pastor, Alex Gyimah, explained that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ focused on forgiveness, reconciliation and repentance, and therefore, appealed to the people of the north to use the significance of Easter to forgive each other and unite for the accelerated development of the area.
“We must do well not to harbour ill-feelings against each other, we must eschew all forms of animosity to attract the full blessings of God in our endeavours,” he intimated.
The VRA Club House and other open spots at some institutions also attracted large patronage of revellers who expressed their joy over the successful celebrations.
The usual serene atmosphere at the entrance of the barracks attracted various youth groups and people from all walks of life who converged to socialise, feast, dance and sing after the previous Sunday’s church activities.
Various organised ethnic groups pitched camps at different locations at the barracks where they exhibited their dexterity in their traditional drumming and dancing.
Indeed, the Borborbor group from the E.P Church in Tamale attracted one of the largest crowds as members wriggled their waists and waved their handkerchiefs in the air to the sounds of throbbing drums and trumpets.
The occasion is usually used by the youth, particularly ladies, to make fashion statements. And this year’s picnic was not different.
The event was adorned with feminine beauty and charm. Indeed, almost every lady looked beautiful. Some were in skimpy dresses that made necks to twirl and eyes spin.
Jeans and Khaki trousers and shorts seemed to be the formal dress code for majority of the gentlemen and ladies on the day.
Some elderly ladies were also spotted in their best intricately and fittingly sewn Kaba cloths with immaculately intertwined headgears and beautifully designed footwear to match.
They appeared in different sizes, shapes and colour - slim, fat, tall, short and medium.
Nature also fell in love with the revellers last Monday as an earlier downpour turned the usual hot temperatures in the area to that of a chilly and refreshing atmosphere.
A student, Ms Gloria Kpedor, described the annual picnic event as “refreshing and memorable day because we come to socialise, drink, eat and dance after the previous day’s church activities.”
A teacher, Mr Julius Dery, said he met his current wife, Comfort, at the 2006 picnic event at the barracks during his rounds at the various group spots.
The day is not only meant for Christians as a lot of Muslim youth were encountered sharing the joy of the day with their Christian brethren.
“I have always been here every year to feast my eyes on the beautiful ladies and also make friends and be merry,” Ibrahim Seidu, a resident, indicated.
A Pastor, Alex Gyimah, explained that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ focused on forgiveness, reconciliation and repentance, and therefore, appealed to the people of the north to use the significance of Easter to forgive each other and unite for the accelerated development of the area.
“We must do well not to harbour ill-feelings against each other, we must eschew all forms of animosity to attract the full blessings of God in our endeavours,” he intimated.
The VRA Club House and other open spots at some institutions also attracted large patronage of revellers who expressed their joy over the successful celebrations.
Monday, April 20, 2009
NGO EQUIPS KAYAYEI WITH EMPLOYABLE SKILLS (PAGE 29)
AS part of efforts to empower women in the Tamale metropolis with the acquisition of employable skills, a local non-governmental organisation (NGO), Partnership Action for Development (PAD), has offered training to some women groups in the making of batik, tie-dye.
The beneficiaries were mainly former head porters (Kayayei) who had returned home after a long sourjoun down south where they engaged in menial jobs for survival.
Known as the Zisung women’s group, the beneficiaries are being trained in two batches of 15 each.
The training programme is being funded by the African Women Development Fund.
The chief executive officer of PAD, Mr Issah Iddrisu, explained that the exercise was aimed at equipping the participants with employable skills in order that they were not encouraged to go back to their former vocation.
He said since the establishment of the organisation, it had supported some women’s groups in micro financing and also initiated some health, agriculture and environmental programmes in its operational areas of Yendi, Gushegu, Karaga and peri-urban Tamale.
Mr Iddrisu, however observed that it was not enough to provide skills to unemployed people, and therefore, appealed to financial institutions to compliment the efforts of the NGO by supporting the beneficiaries with some credit facilities to enable them to establish their own businesses.
He also entreated development partners and parliamentarians from the north to do more in attracting investors to the area to accelerate the development of the people.
The beneficiaries were mainly former head porters (Kayayei) who had returned home after a long sourjoun down south where they engaged in menial jobs for survival.
Known as the Zisung women’s group, the beneficiaries are being trained in two batches of 15 each.
The training programme is being funded by the African Women Development Fund.
The chief executive officer of PAD, Mr Issah Iddrisu, explained that the exercise was aimed at equipping the participants with employable skills in order that they were not encouraged to go back to their former vocation.
He said since the establishment of the organisation, it had supported some women’s groups in micro financing and also initiated some health, agriculture and environmental programmes in its operational areas of Yendi, Gushegu, Karaga and peri-urban Tamale.
Mr Iddrisu, however observed that it was not enough to provide skills to unemployed people, and therefore, appealed to financial institutions to compliment the efforts of the NGO by supporting the beneficiaries with some credit facilities to enable them to establish their own businesses.
He also entreated development partners and parliamentarians from the north to do more in attracting investors to the area to accelerate the development of the people.
Friday, April 17, 2009
TAMALE WELCOMES PRESIDENT'S NOMINEE (PAGE 29)
MOST residents of Tamale have welcomed the choice of Alhaji Abdulai Haruna Friday as the President’s nominee for the position of the Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive.
According to most of the residents, Alhaji Friday is not only matured and experienced as a former district chief executive but also had the temperament to address people’s concerns.
“Tamale has become cosmopolitan and we need such matured and experienced people to manage the affairs of the metropolis and for that matter I think President Mills made the right choice,” Mr Iddi Mumuni, a student opined.
A trader, Hajia Fati Yakubu, however expressed a different view. “For me, the position should have gone to a fresh and younger person with good initiatives that can unite and accelerate the development of this growing city.”
Party executives in the Chereponi Constituency have also described the nomination of Alhaji Mohammed Seidu Issah Abah as appropriate in view of his commitment to the party over the years.
In a statement signed by the constituency secretary of the party, Moses Iddrisu Kofi-Ka, it indicated that “in view of his rich experience in governance, coupled with his excellent human relations, Alhaji Abah would be able to chart the development path of our young district forward in the right direction.”
There have however been protestations in some districts in the Northern Region since the announcement of the nomination of district chief executives for those areas.
Notable among the nominees whose selection has generated some controversies are those of Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo, Karaga, Bole and the Gushiegu districts.
At Bunkpurugu, the supporters on Tuesday morning embarked on a demonstration on the major streets of the town to express their grievances.
They accused the nominee, Abdulai, of not playing any active role in the activities of the party, especially during the last general elections.
They threatened to continue with the demonstrations and also destroy the NDC party office if their concerns were not addressed and the nomination of Mr Siibli as the DCE withdrawn.
At Karaga, some members of the party also described the nomination of one Mr Mohammed Amin as unfortunate.
According to them, the nominee was from Tamale and was, therefore, not known to a majority of people in the area.
Supporters of the NDC at Bole also accused the nominee, Mr Seidu Abudu, of being temperamental, not a team player and, therefore, would not be able to manage the affairs of the district well.
Some of the supporters have threatened to lobby their assembly members to vote against the President’s nominees if their concerns were not addressed.
According to most of the residents, Alhaji Friday is not only matured and experienced as a former district chief executive but also had the temperament to address people’s concerns.
“Tamale has become cosmopolitan and we need such matured and experienced people to manage the affairs of the metropolis and for that matter I think President Mills made the right choice,” Mr Iddi Mumuni, a student opined.
A trader, Hajia Fati Yakubu, however expressed a different view. “For me, the position should have gone to a fresh and younger person with good initiatives that can unite and accelerate the development of this growing city.”
Party executives in the Chereponi Constituency have also described the nomination of Alhaji Mohammed Seidu Issah Abah as appropriate in view of his commitment to the party over the years.
In a statement signed by the constituency secretary of the party, Moses Iddrisu Kofi-Ka, it indicated that “in view of his rich experience in governance, coupled with his excellent human relations, Alhaji Abah would be able to chart the development path of our young district forward in the right direction.”
There have however been protestations in some districts in the Northern Region since the announcement of the nomination of district chief executives for those areas.
Notable among the nominees whose selection has generated some controversies are those of Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo, Karaga, Bole and the Gushiegu districts.
At Bunkpurugu, the supporters on Tuesday morning embarked on a demonstration on the major streets of the town to express their grievances.
They accused the nominee, Abdulai, of not playing any active role in the activities of the party, especially during the last general elections.
They threatened to continue with the demonstrations and also destroy the NDC party office if their concerns were not addressed and the nomination of Mr Siibli as the DCE withdrawn.
At Karaga, some members of the party also described the nomination of one Mr Mohammed Amin as unfortunate.
According to them, the nominee was from Tamale and was, therefore, not known to a majority of people in the area.
Supporters of the NDC at Bole also accused the nominee, Mr Seidu Abudu, of being temperamental, not a team player and, therefore, would not be able to manage the affairs of the district well.
Some of the supporters have threatened to lobby their assembly members to vote against the President’s nominees if their concerns were not addressed.
Monday, April 13, 2009
SIX FOUNDATION GATE CHAPEL MEMBERS DIE IN CAR CRASH (PAGE 23)
SIX members of the Fountain Gate Chapel, including two daughters of the Head Pastor of the church, Rev. Eastwood Anaba, died in a road crash at Kukuobila near Walewale in the West Mamprusi District of the Northern Region last Thursday.
The elder of the two children of the head pastor who died in the accident, Amanda Anaba, is a 20-year old Pharmacy student at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi while her younger sister, Audrey, is a 15-year-old student of the Tema Senior High School.
They are two of Reverend Anaba’s four children. The other two are males.
The other deceased included a Pastor of a branch of the Church in the Brong Ahafo Region and another female member of the church from Accra.
The deceased were picked from the Tamale Airport for the national headquarters of the church at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region for an Easter Convention.
According to the Tamale Police, on reaching a spot around Kukuobila, a rear tyre of the vehicle burst resulting in the vehicle somersaulting a number of times before finally hitting a tree.
News of the death of the members of the church was met with grief and sorrow by the entire congregation who had converged at Bolgatanga for the annual International Extra Oil Conference, reports Benjamin Xorman Glover.
When the Daily Graphic arrived at the conference venue, at about 6 p.m., some grieving members had gathered in small groups discussing the accident.
Later, Pastor Anaba urged the congregation to remain steadfast in the Lord.
Exhuding great courage and confidence, Pastor Anaba for nearly 30 minutes, exhorted the congregation to remain prayerful and explained that he saw the tragedy as a challenge and a test of his faith.
He explained that the tragedy that had befallen the church would not shift its focus from doing God’s work, adding that “the devil has committed a terrible mistake”.
Pastor Anaba, who has stepped down as the Chairman of the International Presbytery of the Church after 20 years in that capacity declared that the convention would continue according to plan and “nothing is going to disrupt our programme”
“After all, when it happens to others, who I call my children because they are God’s Children, I preach, so why should I refuse to preach when it happens along my blood line?” he asked.
True to his words, the conference, on the theme "Two are better than one" proceeded and saw the induction of Pastor Clement Anchebah on Saturday as the new Chairman of the International Presbytery of the Fountain Gate Chapel.
Rev. Ancheba takes over the administrative functions of the church from the founder, Pastor Eastwood Anaba.
The elder of the two children of the head pastor who died in the accident, Amanda Anaba, is a 20-year old Pharmacy student at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi while her younger sister, Audrey, is a 15-year-old student of the Tema Senior High School.
They are two of Reverend Anaba’s four children. The other two are males.
The other deceased included a Pastor of a branch of the Church in the Brong Ahafo Region and another female member of the church from Accra.
The deceased were picked from the Tamale Airport for the national headquarters of the church at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region for an Easter Convention.
According to the Tamale Police, on reaching a spot around Kukuobila, a rear tyre of the vehicle burst resulting in the vehicle somersaulting a number of times before finally hitting a tree.
News of the death of the members of the church was met with grief and sorrow by the entire congregation who had converged at Bolgatanga for the annual International Extra Oil Conference, reports Benjamin Xorman Glover.
When the Daily Graphic arrived at the conference venue, at about 6 p.m., some grieving members had gathered in small groups discussing the accident.
Later, Pastor Anaba urged the congregation to remain steadfast in the Lord.
Exhuding great courage and confidence, Pastor Anaba for nearly 30 minutes, exhorted the congregation to remain prayerful and explained that he saw the tragedy as a challenge and a test of his faith.
He explained that the tragedy that had befallen the church would not shift its focus from doing God’s work, adding that “the devil has committed a terrible mistake”.
Pastor Anaba, who has stepped down as the Chairman of the International Presbytery of the Church after 20 years in that capacity declared that the convention would continue according to plan and “nothing is going to disrupt our programme”
“After all, when it happens to others, who I call my children because they are God’s Children, I preach, so why should I refuse to preach when it happens along my blood line?” he asked.
True to his words, the conference, on the theme "Two are better than one" proceeded and saw the induction of Pastor Clement Anchebah on Saturday as the new Chairman of the International Presbytery of the Fountain Gate Chapel.
Rev. Ancheba takes over the administrative functions of the church from the founder, Pastor Eastwood Anaba.
TAMALE TEACHING HOSPITAL TO GET NEUTOSURGICAL CENTRE (PAGE 29)
THE Tamale Teaching Hospital is to establish a neurosurgical unit to help in the treatment of diseases associated with the nerves.
A German trained Ghanaian Neurosurgeon, Dr Abass Adam, will head the specialised unit. Already, a 20-footer container of neurosurgical equipment and supplies, the shipment of which Dr Adam facilitated has arrived in the country.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the hospital, Dr Ken Sagoe, who announced this in Tamale at the weekend indicated that the neurosurgeon was scheduled to report at the hospital to take up his assignment in June this year.
The CEO was speaking during the presentation of medical equipment and items to the hospital by the Rotary Club of Tamale.
The GH¢ 1million worth of items were donated by Sister Rotarians in Canada, USA and the UK.
Currently, there are only 36 medical doctors working at the hospital instead of the required number of 120.
As a result, Dr Sagoe said the hospital was constrained in providing certain services during the night, since there was not enough staff to offer such services.
“Also, we are unable to undertake some basic surgeries since we lack those specialists,” he stated.
The CEO expressed optimism that the number of medical doctors would increase to 60 by the close of the year.
On the long awaited renovation of the hospital, which structures have deteriorated over the years, the deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabengba, indicated that major rehabilitation work on the facility would commence soon.
He entreated the health personnel posted to the region to endeavour to accept such postings to ensure efficient health care in the region.
The minister also appealed to all feuding factions in the area to allow sanity to prevail to ensure lasting peace in the region to attract the needed professionals.
For his part, the Northern Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Akwasi Twumasi, said in connection with the intentions of the government, the consultants of the rehabilitation project had been given up to April 14, 2009 to submit the necessary documents on the present status of the hospital.
The hospital is the third teaching hospital in the country after the Korle Bu and Komfo Anokye hospitals.
It was established in 1974 to serve as a referral centre for the Northern, Upper East and West regions.
A German trained Ghanaian Neurosurgeon, Dr Abass Adam, will head the specialised unit. Already, a 20-footer container of neurosurgical equipment and supplies, the shipment of which Dr Adam facilitated has arrived in the country.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the hospital, Dr Ken Sagoe, who announced this in Tamale at the weekend indicated that the neurosurgeon was scheduled to report at the hospital to take up his assignment in June this year.
The CEO was speaking during the presentation of medical equipment and items to the hospital by the Rotary Club of Tamale.
The GH¢ 1million worth of items were donated by Sister Rotarians in Canada, USA and the UK.
Currently, there are only 36 medical doctors working at the hospital instead of the required number of 120.
As a result, Dr Sagoe said the hospital was constrained in providing certain services during the night, since there was not enough staff to offer such services.
“Also, we are unable to undertake some basic surgeries since we lack those specialists,” he stated.
The CEO expressed optimism that the number of medical doctors would increase to 60 by the close of the year.
On the long awaited renovation of the hospital, which structures have deteriorated over the years, the deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabengba, indicated that major rehabilitation work on the facility would commence soon.
He entreated the health personnel posted to the region to endeavour to accept such postings to ensure efficient health care in the region.
The minister also appealed to all feuding factions in the area to allow sanity to prevail to ensure lasting peace in the region to attract the needed professionals.
For his part, the Northern Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Akwasi Twumasi, said in connection with the intentions of the government, the consultants of the rehabilitation project had been given up to April 14, 2009 to submit the necessary documents on the present status of the hospital.
The hospital is the third teaching hospital in the country after the Korle Bu and Komfo Anokye hospitals.
It was established in 1974 to serve as a referral centre for the Northern, Upper East and West regions.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
PAY MORE ATTENTION TO ORGANIC TOMATOES (PAGE 40)
THE organic mangoes out-growers association in the Savelugu/Nanton district in the Northern Region has appealed to the government to pay more attention to the sector.
According to the association, when offered the needed support, the sector could provide jobs for a majority of the unemployed youth in the region and also earn some foreign exchange for the country, since there was both local and foreign demand for the product.
Following the collapse of rice farming in northern Ghana, most people have been encouraged to go into organic mango plantation. They are, however, faced with the difficulties of lack of credit facilities and inputs and competitive price for the product.
The administrator of the association in the district, Mr Issahaku Iddrisu, who made the appeal at Savelugu, said but for the contribution of the private sector to the out-growers, most people would not have been able to engage in the plantations.
Meanwhile, Mr Iddrisu has welcomed the appointment of the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Sumani S. Nayina.
He described the regional minister as an executive member of the association who had demonstrated his commitment to it over the years.
“We are not surprised over your appointment as minister for this region because of the commitment and diligence you, as an executive, have exhibited towards the growth of the sector,” Mr Iddrisu stated.
The administrator, therefore, appealed to the people in the area to give the regional minister the necessary support to enable him to put his experience and expertise to bear on the accelerated development of the region that is among the least developed in the country.
According to the association, when offered the needed support, the sector could provide jobs for a majority of the unemployed youth in the region and also earn some foreign exchange for the country, since there was both local and foreign demand for the product.
Following the collapse of rice farming in northern Ghana, most people have been encouraged to go into organic mango plantation. They are, however, faced with the difficulties of lack of credit facilities and inputs and competitive price for the product.
The administrator of the association in the district, Mr Issahaku Iddrisu, who made the appeal at Savelugu, said but for the contribution of the private sector to the out-growers, most people would not have been able to engage in the plantations.
Meanwhile, Mr Iddrisu has welcomed the appointment of the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Sumani S. Nayina.
He described the regional minister as an executive member of the association who had demonstrated his commitment to it over the years.
“We are not surprised over your appointment as minister for this region because of the commitment and diligence you, as an executive, have exhibited towards the growth of the sector,” Mr Iddrisu stated.
The administrator, therefore, appealed to the people in the area to give the regional minister the necessary support to enable him to put his experience and expertise to bear on the accelerated development of the region that is among the least developed in the country.
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