Story: Zakaria Alhassan, Tamale
THE Tamale Central Market is the nerve centre of commercial activities in the metropolis.
As the name depicts, it is located in the central business district where people from all walks of life converge to transact business.
There are two major markets in Tamale: the Central and Aboabo markets. There are also satellite markets dotted in some of the suburbs such as Lamashegu.
The markets, which provide livelihood for most residents and the metropolitan assembly, are in a very deplorable state, which does not befit the status of this fast-growing city.
Apart from the haphazard way the stores and stalls are sited, the markets are congested. Shoppers, therefore, find it difficult to move about easily.
There are also no drains; neither are the narrow walkways sealed. During the rainy season, the markets become so muddy that they become no-go areas for shoppers.
Those who venture into them eventually get their clothes soiled.
The markets also lack proper urinals and toilets. There is only an old fashioned public toilet located inside the old market and this is simply an eyesore.
Apart from being not adequate to serve the growing number of traders and shoppers, its location in the midst of stores and stalls is a threat to the health of the people. One only prays that an epidemic does not break out any time soon.
In the event of an emergency such as sickness or fire outbreak, it would be a disaster because no ambulance or fire engine can gain access to the appropriate place.
Indeed, it is the hope of many residents that the metropolitan assembly would supervise the rebuilding of the central market, which was burnt during the revolutionary era in 1979, to ensure that it conforms to modern standards of construction.
Unfortunately, that is not the case, resulting in the messy state of the two markets.
During the Acheampong regime of the ’70s, an attempt was made to build a market complex at Aboabo but the project could not be completed before he was overthrown.
However, the foundation that was laid for the storey building is still intact and the TAMA could continue with the project.
The metropolitan officials say they are exploring ways of attracting private developers to partner it to build the markets to appreciable standards and also improve the facilities there.
They further said that more satellite markets would be created in some of the suburbs to ‘decongest’ the existing markets.
It is hoped that the assembly would live up to its commitment by ensuring that the markets are given the necessary facelift to befit the status of the metropolis.
Friday, February 29, 2008
POLICE TO REWARD INFORMANTS (PAGE 29)
STORY: Zakaria Alhassan, Tamale
THE Northern Regional Police Command has offered an amount of GH¢ 2,000 to anyone who will volunteer information leading to the arrest of those behind the killing of Corporal Frank Mensah Kpeglo in Tamale.
A Tamale-based philanthropist, who wants to remain anonymous, has also offered an additional amount of GH¢2,000 for any information on the murderers.
The police officer, who was on duty at the residence of the Deputy Northern Regional Police Commander, near the West End Hospital, on the night of February 14, 2008, was found dead the following morning with his A.K. 47 assault rifle nowhere to be found
The motive for the killing of the police officer is not known, neither has any arrest been made yet in connection with the murder.
This was contained in a statement issued to the press in Tamale on Wednesday and signed by the Northern Regional Police Commander, who is also in charge of Special Duties in the northern sector, Commissioner of Police Ephraim Okoe Brakatu.
‘‘The police suspect foul play and as such have ordered full-scale investigations into the matter,’’ the statement said.
It added that as a ‘‘result of the efforts of the police to clamp down on criminal activities and pursue the perpetrators of crime to face the full rigours of the law, we have offered an amount of GH¢2,000 to whoever volunteers information leading to the arrest of the suspects.’’
The statement entreated any member of the public with any credible information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects to kindly contact the Police Command either in person or on phone.
‘‘Informants are assured of their anonymity and protection,’’ the statement said.
In a related development, the Concerned Citizens Association of Tamale (CCAT) has also condemned the killing of the police officer, which it described as unprecedented in the metropolis.
‘‘This is not only cruel but also an irresponsible act that threatens the relations that should exist between the security forces and the civilian population in this area,’’ the association stated.
The president of the association, Mr Alhassan Basharu Daballi, further called on those unscrupulous elements, who are engaged in acts of insecurity in the metropolis to desist from such conduct since it threatened the prevailing peace and stability in the area.
He also appealed to the leadership of both the Andani and Abudu royal families to exercise caution in the handling of the protracted Dagbon chieftaincy dispute.
For instance, Mr Daballi cited the announcements on radio stations by both gates calling on their followers to meet every now and then and said, ‘‘this development raises people’s apprehension about the acts of violence being threatened’’.
‘‘We wish further to call on all well-meaning citizens of this area to assist the security forces by volunteering information that will lead to the arrest of these self-seeking individuals who are bent on profiting from the insecurity in Dagbon,’’ he stated.
The president of the association also urged residents to heed the appeal by the police command and volunteer information on the killing of the police officer, ‘‘for we as civilians believe that demonstrating this civic responsibility will encourage the security forces to carry out their mandate of protecting us the very citizens of this place’’.
THE Northern Regional Police Command has offered an amount of GH¢ 2,000 to anyone who will volunteer information leading to the arrest of those behind the killing of Corporal Frank Mensah Kpeglo in Tamale.
A Tamale-based philanthropist, who wants to remain anonymous, has also offered an additional amount of GH¢2,000 for any information on the murderers.
The police officer, who was on duty at the residence of the Deputy Northern Regional Police Commander, near the West End Hospital, on the night of February 14, 2008, was found dead the following morning with his A.K. 47 assault rifle nowhere to be found
The motive for the killing of the police officer is not known, neither has any arrest been made yet in connection with the murder.
This was contained in a statement issued to the press in Tamale on Wednesday and signed by the Northern Regional Police Commander, who is also in charge of Special Duties in the northern sector, Commissioner of Police Ephraim Okoe Brakatu.
‘‘The police suspect foul play and as such have ordered full-scale investigations into the matter,’’ the statement said.
It added that as a ‘‘result of the efforts of the police to clamp down on criminal activities and pursue the perpetrators of crime to face the full rigours of the law, we have offered an amount of GH¢2,000 to whoever volunteers information leading to the arrest of the suspects.’’
The statement entreated any member of the public with any credible information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects to kindly contact the Police Command either in person or on phone.
‘‘Informants are assured of their anonymity and protection,’’ the statement said.
In a related development, the Concerned Citizens Association of Tamale (CCAT) has also condemned the killing of the police officer, which it described as unprecedented in the metropolis.
‘‘This is not only cruel but also an irresponsible act that threatens the relations that should exist between the security forces and the civilian population in this area,’’ the association stated.
The president of the association, Mr Alhassan Basharu Daballi, further called on those unscrupulous elements, who are engaged in acts of insecurity in the metropolis to desist from such conduct since it threatened the prevailing peace and stability in the area.
He also appealed to the leadership of both the Andani and Abudu royal families to exercise caution in the handling of the protracted Dagbon chieftaincy dispute.
For instance, Mr Daballi cited the announcements on radio stations by both gates calling on their followers to meet every now and then and said, ‘‘this development raises people’s apprehension about the acts of violence being threatened’’.
‘‘We wish further to call on all well-meaning citizens of this area to assist the security forces by volunteering information that will lead to the arrest of these self-seeking individuals who are bent on profiting from the insecurity in Dagbon,’’ he stated.
The president of the association also urged residents to heed the appeal by the police command and volunteer information on the killing of the police officer, ‘‘for we as civilians believe that demonstrating this civic responsibility will encourage the security forces to carry out their mandate of protecting us the very citizens of this place’’.
WORKERS URGED TO UNDERGO REGULAR CHECK-UPS (PAGE 20)
Story: Zakaria Alhassan, Savelugu
THE Savelugu/Nanton District Director of Health Services, Dr Kofi Issah, has urged employers to ensure regular check-up on the health conditions of their employees to guarantee a strong workforce for increased productivity.
‘‘It is important that the health of employees are taken seriously because it is better to prevent their health from deteriorating than attending their funerals,’’ he stressed.
The director also advised Ghanaians to live healthy lifestyles by not only consuming balance diets, but also embarking on regular exercises, since ‘‘a healthy mind is found in a healthy body’.’
Dr Issah was speaking at the annual district health performance review at Savelugu.
He expressed concern about the frequent holding of workshops and seminars in various parts of the country for health practitioners.
Dr Issah said even though such training programmes were necessary to improve participants’ knowledge, their regularity and unco-ordinated nature were affecting effective health delivery at most hospitals and clinics, especially in the rural communities where there were few health personnel.
‘‘At a particular time and for almost two weeks, I did not step foot at the hospital because I had to attend a number of workshops at very short intervals,’’ Dr Issah stated.
He, therefore, called for effective collaboration and streamlining of workshops among organisers and other stakeholders to ensure uninterrupted work schedules of the participants.
On the guinea worm situation in the district, which is the highest in the country, Dr Issah said his outfit had chalked up some successes in its reduction over the past year.
He said the 666 guinea worm cases the district recorded in January, 2007 had reduced drastically to only 27 cases by January, this year.
Dr Issah attributed the downward trend of the disease in the area to the various sensitisation programmes carried out over the years.
He, however, expressed concern about a possible relapse because ‘‘at the moment the dams at Savelugu are dried up and there is also no proper source of supply water”.
Dr Issah commended the Savelugu District Assembly for supporting the expansion of the hospital.
He, however, appealed to the District Chief Executive (DCE) and the Ministry of Health to help decongest the out-patient department of the hospital and also post more staff to the facility.
The DCE, Alhaji Abubakari Atori, was appreciative of the efforts of the doctors and staff of the hospital for putting in their best in spite of the prevailing challenges.
BRITISH NGO ASSISTS DISASTER VICTIMS IN NR (PAGE 20)
Story: Zakaria Alhassan, Tamale
THE rainstorm disaster that hit the entire northern sector of the country in the last quarter of last year, has left many of the people devastated, with some of them still reeling from the calamity.
Victims at most of the affected communities are still finding it difficult to gather the pieces together to rebuild their homes and rehabilitate their food crops that were destroyed in the process.
In that regard, HOPE for Children, a British non-governmental organisation (NGO), in collaboration with its local partners, Regional Advisory, Information and Network Systems (RAINS), has donated some relief items to the victims at Nabogu in the Savelugu/Nanton District of the Northern Region.
The NGO had earlier made cash donation to women basket weavers at another farming community, Nyariga, to enable the victims to restart their business.
The items included a quantity of cement and bundles of roofing sheets for the rehabilitation of their respective homes.
The Country Representative of Hope for Children, Madam Azara Mahama, said the donation formed part of the objectives of her organisation in giving hope to the vulnerable in society including the handicapped, the orphaned, poor and exploited children .
She observed that even though the floods occurred some months ago, their effects still lingered on the people.
Madam Mahama, therefore, expressed the hope that ‘‘the support would help you to rebuild your homes and also improve on your well-being”.
A beneficiary of the relief items, Afah Iddrisu Fuseini, was grateful to their benefactors for their concern and support which would help ameliorate the difficulties they were currently going through.
THE rainstorm disaster that hit the entire northern sector of the country in the last quarter of last year, has left many of the people devastated, with some of them still reeling from the calamity.
Victims at most of the affected communities are still finding it difficult to gather the pieces together to rebuild their homes and rehabilitate their food crops that were destroyed in the process.
In that regard, HOPE for Children, a British non-governmental organisation (NGO), in collaboration with its local partners, Regional Advisory, Information and Network Systems (RAINS), has donated some relief items to the victims at Nabogu in the Savelugu/Nanton District of the Northern Region.
The NGO had earlier made cash donation to women basket weavers at another farming community, Nyariga, to enable the victims to restart their business.
The items included a quantity of cement and bundles of roofing sheets for the rehabilitation of their respective homes.
The Country Representative of Hope for Children, Madam Azara Mahama, said the donation formed part of the objectives of her organisation in giving hope to the vulnerable in society including the handicapped, the orphaned, poor and exploited children .
She observed that even though the floods occurred some months ago, their effects still lingered on the people.
Madam Mahama, therefore, expressed the hope that ‘‘the support would help you to rebuild your homes and also improve on your well-being”.
A beneficiary of the relief items, Afah Iddrisu Fuseini, was grateful to their benefactors for their concern and support which would help ameliorate the difficulties they were currently going through.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
KONONGO ODUMASE SHS WINS DEBATE (PAGE 11)
Story: Zakaria Alhassan, Tamale
KONONGO Odumase Senior High School in the Ashanti Region emerged winners in the 51st Independence Day Anniversary Debate competition held in Tamale for the northern sector of the country with 96.5 points.
They were followed closely by St Francis Xavier Senior High School from the Upper West Region with 96.0 points, while Sunyani, Gowrie, also from the Upper West, and Nalerigu Senior High schools placed third, fourth and fifth with 95.0, 82.5 and 70.5 points respectively.
The schools were drawn from the Ashanti, Upper West, Brong Ahafo, Northern and Upper East regions. The topic for the day’s debate was ‘‘The Institution of Chieftaincy is Inimical to our National Progress.’’
The highly competitive debate was witnessed by the Northern Regional Director of Education, Mr John K. Hobenu, and some headmasters, tutors and students from the competing schools.
According to the organiser of the programme, Madam Alice A. Belbaar, the winners from the northern sector would meet their counterparts in the southern sector for the grand finale in March, this year, as part of the independence anniversary.
Madam Belbaar, who is also the Northern Regional Cultural Co-ordinator, described the competition as very educative and one that would help broaden the knowledge and vocabulary of the students, and also enable them to socialise with their colleagues.
Mr Hobenu, for his part, expressed concern over the declining performance of pupils and students in both the BECE and the WASSCE in the northern sector over the years.
‘‘It is quite worrying and frantic efforts are needed to salvage the unfortunate situation English tutors will attest to the fact that the problem is worse with some key subject areas, paramount among which is the English Language,’’ he added.
The director said it was for this reason that such debates should be encouraged to positively influence students to refine their language skills.
‘‘More important, debates help to broaden our knowledge, increase our vocabulary, eloquence and fluency; it arouses our interest in research and increase our quest for more knowledge,’ he stated.
In addition, he said competitors were exposed to the rudiments of competitive skills to enable them build confidence in themselves, which he noted, was a good foundation for academic excellence in their educational pursuits.
‘‘Let us, therefore, with unity of purpose, strive harder than before to achieve this objective,’’ Mr Hobenu implored.
KONONGO Odumase Senior High School in the Ashanti Region emerged winners in the 51st Independence Day Anniversary Debate competition held in Tamale for the northern sector of the country with 96.5 points.
They were followed closely by St Francis Xavier Senior High School from the Upper West Region with 96.0 points, while Sunyani, Gowrie, also from the Upper West, and Nalerigu Senior High schools placed third, fourth and fifth with 95.0, 82.5 and 70.5 points respectively.
The schools were drawn from the Ashanti, Upper West, Brong Ahafo, Northern and Upper East regions. The topic for the day’s debate was ‘‘The Institution of Chieftaincy is Inimical to our National Progress.’’
The highly competitive debate was witnessed by the Northern Regional Director of Education, Mr John K. Hobenu, and some headmasters, tutors and students from the competing schools.
According to the organiser of the programme, Madam Alice A. Belbaar, the winners from the northern sector would meet their counterparts in the southern sector for the grand finale in March, this year, as part of the independence anniversary.
Madam Belbaar, who is also the Northern Regional Cultural Co-ordinator, described the competition as very educative and one that would help broaden the knowledge and vocabulary of the students, and also enable them to socialise with their colleagues.
Mr Hobenu, for his part, expressed concern over the declining performance of pupils and students in both the BECE and the WASSCE in the northern sector over the years.
‘‘It is quite worrying and frantic efforts are needed to salvage the unfortunate situation English tutors will attest to the fact that the problem is worse with some key subject areas, paramount among which is the English Language,’’ he added.
The director said it was for this reason that such debates should be encouraged to positively influence students to refine their language skills.
‘‘More important, debates help to broaden our knowledge, increase our vocabulary, eloquence and fluency; it arouses our interest in research and increase our quest for more knowledge,’ he stated.
In addition, he said competitors were exposed to the rudiments of competitive skills to enable them build confidence in themselves, which he noted, was a good foundation for academic excellence in their educational pursuits.
‘‘Let us, therefore, with unity of purpose, strive harder than before to achieve this objective,’’ Mr Hobenu implored.
SAVELEGU RESIDENTS CRY FOR POTABLE WATER (BACK PAAGE)
Story: Zakaria Alhassan, Savelugu
RESIDENTS of Savelugu in the Savelugu/Nanton District of the Northern Region at the weekend embarked on a massive demonstration to press home their demand for potable water.
The peaceful demonstration was dominated by women and children, who often bear the daily burden of searching for water for domestic use in the district, which is reputed to having the highest cases of guinea worm disease in the country.
The aggrieved residents marched through the principal streets of Savelugu with some carrying placards with the inscriptions “we have suffered for long, we need potable water now,” “what crime have we committed to deserve this neglect?” “our children and women have suffered enough pain; we need relief now”.
People in the area have suffered perennial water shortages over the years, compelling them to resort to the use of unhygienic water to survive, for which reason the guinea worm disease still thrives in the district despite various interventions.
A 28-year-old housewife, Azara Mahama, said “sometimes I spend the whole day with my children searching for potable water because we are tired of drinking the unwholesome water from the dams from which my entire family have suffered from guinea worm infestation”.
A 14-year-old boy who is out of school, Fatawu Issah, explained that he decided to join the demonstrators because “we heard that the assembly was charging water tanker drivers who sell to us at exorbitant prices”.
However, the District Chief Executive, Alhaji Abubarkari Atori, explained that his outfit in collaboration with UNICEF had provided a purifying machine at a dam at Libga in Savelugu.
Treated water from the dam is stored in an overhead reservoir from where water tankers draw water from for onward sale to the public in addition to some mechanised boreholes.
According to the chief executive, the tanker drivers only paid GH¢2 for a full tank which some of the drivers had protested against. And it was believed some of the aggrieved drivers had incited the people to demonstrate.
Alhaji Atori said in the interim, the assembly had recruited guards to protect the existing dams in the district and also provided water filters to almost every household to prevent them from contracting the guinea worm disease.
RESIDENTS of Savelugu in the Savelugu/Nanton District of the Northern Region at the weekend embarked on a massive demonstration to press home their demand for potable water.
The peaceful demonstration was dominated by women and children, who often bear the daily burden of searching for water for domestic use in the district, which is reputed to having the highest cases of guinea worm disease in the country.
The aggrieved residents marched through the principal streets of Savelugu with some carrying placards with the inscriptions “we have suffered for long, we need potable water now,” “what crime have we committed to deserve this neglect?” “our children and women have suffered enough pain; we need relief now”.
People in the area have suffered perennial water shortages over the years, compelling them to resort to the use of unhygienic water to survive, for which reason the guinea worm disease still thrives in the district despite various interventions.
A 28-year-old housewife, Azara Mahama, said “sometimes I spend the whole day with my children searching for potable water because we are tired of drinking the unwholesome water from the dams from which my entire family have suffered from guinea worm infestation”.
A 14-year-old boy who is out of school, Fatawu Issah, explained that he decided to join the demonstrators because “we heard that the assembly was charging water tanker drivers who sell to us at exorbitant prices”.
However, the District Chief Executive, Alhaji Abubarkari Atori, explained that his outfit in collaboration with UNICEF had provided a purifying machine at a dam at Libga in Savelugu.
Treated water from the dam is stored in an overhead reservoir from where water tankers draw water from for onward sale to the public in addition to some mechanised boreholes.
According to the chief executive, the tanker drivers only paid GH¢2 for a full tank which some of the drivers had protested against. And it was believed some of the aggrieved drivers had incited the people to demonstrate.
Alhaji Atori said in the interim, the assembly had recruited guards to protect the existing dams in the district and also provided water filters to almost every household to prevent them from contracting the guinea worm disease.
Monday, February 25, 2008
SECURITY AVERTS CLASH (PAGE 3)
Story: Zakaria Alhassan,
THE swift intervention of the Bimbilla North District Security Committee has averted a possible clash between Konkombas and
Nanumbas over a protracted land dispute.
The long-standing feud between the two ethnic groups over the right custodian of Nakpaa, a farming town in the Nanumba North District, was renewed last Tuesday when a group of Konkombas was reported to be planning an attack on some Nanumbas in the area.
However, the DISEC intervened swiftly to arrest the four persons who were mentioned in connection with the planned attack. They have since been released to assist in investigations. Their names were not disclosed for security reasons.
At the moment, the DISEC is holding a series of reconciliatory talks between the leadership of the two groups, which the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Mr Salifu Seidu, described as fruitful. He added that the situation in the town was also calm.
The misunderstanding follows claims by the Konkombas that they will no longer play subservient roles to the Nanumbas who are said to be custodians of the land.
The Konkombas insist that they are also natives of the land on which they had stayed for generations and so they would no longer purchase any piece of land from the Nanumbas.
In a move to resolve the disagreements, the DCE, who is also the chairman of DISEC, disclosed that there was a recommendation from the meeting to the effect that none of the two groups should engage in the selling of any land in the town, unless on the express recommendation of the substantive Nakpaa-Na (chief of Nakpaa), who is a Nanumba and presently based in Bimbilla.
He further warned that any individual or group that would disturb the existing peace in the district would be made to face the full rigours of the law.
The two ethnic groups clashed over the issue about 14 years ago and that resulted in some fatalities. Since then there have been deep-seated suspicions and disagreements over the rightful custodians of the land.
THE swift intervention of the Bimbilla North District Security Committee has averted a possible clash between Konkombas and
Nanumbas over a protracted land dispute.
The long-standing feud between the two ethnic groups over the right custodian of Nakpaa, a farming town in the Nanumba North District, was renewed last Tuesday when a group of Konkombas was reported to be planning an attack on some Nanumbas in the area.
However, the DISEC intervened swiftly to arrest the four persons who were mentioned in connection with the planned attack. They have since been released to assist in investigations. Their names were not disclosed for security reasons.
At the moment, the DISEC is holding a series of reconciliatory talks between the leadership of the two groups, which the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Mr Salifu Seidu, described as fruitful. He added that the situation in the town was also calm.
The misunderstanding follows claims by the Konkombas that they will no longer play subservient roles to the Nanumbas who are said to be custodians of the land.
The Konkombas insist that they are also natives of the land on which they had stayed for generations and so they would no longer purchase any piece of land from the Nanumbas.
In a move to resolve the disagreements, the DCE, who is also the chairman of DISEC, disclosed that there was a recommendation from the meeting to the effect that none of the two groups should engage in the selling of any land in the town, unless on the express recommendation of the substantive Nakpaa-Na (chief of Nakpaa), who is a Nanumba and presently based in Bimbilla.
He further warned that any individual or group that would disturb the existing peace in the district would be made to face the full rigours of the law.
The two ethnic groups clashed over the issue about 14 years ago and that resulted in some fatalities. Since then there have been deep-seated suspicions and disagreements over the rightful custodians of the land.
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