THE Chairman of the Kumasi Metropolitan branch of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Mr Victor deGraft-Etsison has expressed concern about the level of poverty among teachers as a result of the poor salary and remuneration they have received over the years.
He has therefore, on behalf of the Kumasi branch of GNAT, charged the national executives of the association to make adequate inputs into the single spine salary structure before its implementation to eliminate any form of discrimination against teachers as had been experienced in other salary structures.
“Membership wishes to indicate to leadership that, teachers will only accept a salary scheme or reward system which is devoid of discrimination against teachers as experienced before. We demand that the new salary arrangement ensures absolute fairness and will not jeopardise the social aspirations and interest of teachers,” they stressed.
Mr deGraft-Etsison was speaking during the maiden familiarisation visit of GNAT national executives to Kumasi.
He noted that failure of the national association to make adequate inputs towards the welfare of teachers’ and salvage their image could be used by other splinter groups to persuade most of their members to quit from the association.
“ The roadmap to its implementation must be strictly adhered to. This time, the road must be a tarred one and must lead straight into our pockets,” they demanded.
Two teachers drawn from each basic school in the Kumasi Metropolis assembled at the GNAT Hall in Kumasi on Monday to have fruitful interaction with the national executives where issues that bordered on smooth implementation of the single spine salary structure, SSNIT and Cap 30 pension schemes, as well as problems of promotion and teachers welfare among others, were addressed.
Mr deGraft –Etsison pointed out that since the “Ex-gratia of teachers largely depended on their In-gratia, teachers expected a better salary arrangement with good allowances to determine what they will take home when they retired”.
He commended the former President of GNAT, Mr T. A. Bediako and his committee for coming out with the three-tier pension scheme and urged the national executives “to take up the responsibility of ensuring its implementation by the road map set”.
“ Leadership must also be curious to know how SSNIT will handle the monthly payments for retirees, as well as the arrangements that had been put in place for those outside the three-tier pension scheme net”, he noted.
On the promotion of teachers, the Chairman hinted that “many qualified teachers are left out for various reasons including mere oversight, forgetting that age is fast catching up with such members”.
He hinted that , out of the two per cent basic salary of certificate ‘A’ teachers deducted as dues by the GNAT, “only 0.05 per cent of the amount is used to cater for death and retirement benefits, resulting in the payment of GH¢200 for a retired teacher or a teacher who dies”.
He said it was time the benefits were reviewed upwards for beneficiaries and their dependants to enable them enjoy better life, stressing that non-payment of arrears, failure to place teachers on their appropriate ranks and levels, as well as cut in education budget which consequently affected their meagre allowances, still lingered and required the immediate intervention of the leadership.
In his address the President of the GNAT, Mr Joseph Kwaku Adjei noted that the salary of teachers should not be viewed as an expenditure by policy makers, but should be regarded as an investment due to its long term positive effect on sustainable national development.
“Quality education rakes in the needed development for the nation. Let us therefore concede that we impoverish teachers at the peril of the nation’s development” he advised.
He pointed out that the National Executives of GNAT were aware of the invaluable contributions of teachers towards sustainable national development and the impediments they encountered in the course of their duty .
He noted that since a fall in quality education will make more children drop out of school, there was the need for teachers to be remunerated well to motivate them to offer their best to improve the standard of education in the country.
On the single spine pay policy, Mr Adjei said since the January 2009 deadline could not be met the government should compensate them by paying a comfortable increase during this year’s salary negotiations.
He noted that teachers had become desperate as a result of the recent hike in fuel prices and therefore appealed to the government to “immediately respond to organised labour’s proposal for urgent salary negotiations”.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
YOUTH OF ADANRANJA VOW TO ABSTAIN FROM VIOLENCE (NSEMPA, PAGE 15)
By George Ernest Asare, Adankranja
THE youth of Adankranja Traditional Area in the Bekwai Constituency in the Ashanti Region have resolved to disassociate themselves from any action likely to inflame passions and cause violence in the traditional area.
They pointed out that violence in any form did not only destroy life and property, but also undermined sustainable socio-economic development, making it impossible for the youth who indulged in them to nurture their potential more fruitfully to support accelerated national development.
The youth made the resolution at a durbar organised at Adankranja last Tuesday to sensitise the public to the effects of violence and the measures that should be taken to prevent them.
Theme
The durbar, on the theme “Youth For Peace”, was organised by Youth Network for Human Rights and Democracy (YNHRD), a non-governmental organisation that seeks to promote peace and unity among the youth and sensitise them to develop their potentials to support meaningful development.
The German Development Services (DED) sponsored the programme.
Through various poetry recitals and drama enacted by pupils from basic and second-cycle institutions, as well as speeches by youth leaders in the Adankranja Traditional Area, the youth succeeded in stirring up emotions among politicians, chiefs, opinion leaders and security agents who had gathered at the durbar grounds.
Through the poems, drama and speeches, the youth identified chieftaincy and land disputes, as well as political intolerance and ethnic tensions, as some of the factors that trigger violence, leading to the destruction of life and property, thereby undermining quality societal development.
Lessons
It was also noticed through their sketches that violence in any form does not produce any victors, because those who claim to be victorious waste a lot of time in flexing their muscles. It also leads to the loss of property and dear ones and creates tension, thereby preventing entrepreneurs from investing in their communities, and perpetuates poverty.
Among the dignitaries who graced the occasion were the Paramount Chief of Adankranja Traditional Area, Nana Oppong Frenyam II, and his sub-chiefs, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bekwai, Mr Joe Osei Owusu; the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Bekwai, Mr Noah Asante Manu; the acting Ashanti South Divisional Police Commander, Superintendent Felix Kwasi Cosmos, as well as some youth from Adankranja, Daa, Apaaso, Amoamo and Ahwiaa, which constitute the Adankranja Traditional Area.
Patriotism
In his address, Mr Francis Kyere, a youth leader, commended the youth in the traditional area for their sense of patriotism, stressing that their decision to disassociate themselves from any form of violence was a step in the right direction, because it would offer them the opportunity to develop their potentials in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity.
He pointed out that in an attempt to promote their selfish interests, politicians, chiefs and opinion leaders mislead the youth to cause trouble.
Mr Kyere said the time had come for the youth in the country to develop their potential and the acquire requisite skills that would enable them to take their destinies into their own hands, instead of allowing themselves to be used as tools to perpetuate violence in their respective communities.
He commended the organisers for sensitising the youth to eschew violence and urged them to extend the programme to volatile areas to ensure sustainable peace in the country.
Collaboration
In his address, Superintendent Felix Kwasi Cosmos assured the people that the police would always collaborate with the public to promote peace.
He pointed out that peace in itself was very valuable and, therefore, there was the need for the youth not only to collaborate with the police to maintain peace, but report anybody who attempted to cause confusion in their communities.
Mr Kwasi Cosmos said since the youth were endowed with strength and vigour, they were always the target of interested groups who were eager to promote their selfish interests. He therefore advised them to use their strength to develop their talents to enable them support accelerated socio-economic development in their communities.
He also advised them to refrain from indulging in land and chieftaincy disputes. He said it was equally important for them to refrain from abusing the rights of individuals and tolerate the views of their political opponents to enable them co-exist peacefully with their neighbours.
The MP for Bekwai, Mr Joe Osei Owusu, for his part, advised them to focus on their academic programmes to enable them to acquire employable skills.
THE youth of Adankranja Traditional Area in the Bekwai Constituency in the Ashanti Region have resolved to disassociate themselves from any action likely to inflame passions and cause violence in the traditional area.
They pointed out that violence in any form did not only destroy life and property, but also undermined sustainable socio-economic development, making it impossible for the youth who indulged in them to nurture their potential more fruitfully to support accelerated national development.
The youth made the resolution at a durbar organised at Adankranja last Tuesday to sensitise the public to the effects of violence and the measures that should be taken to prevent them.
Theme
The durbar, on the theme “Youth For Peace”, was organised by Youth Network for Human Rights and Democracy (YNHRD), a non-governmental organisation that seeks to promote peace and unity among the youth and sensitise them to develop their potentials to support meaningful development.
The German Development Services (DED) sponsored the programme.
Through various poetry recitals and drama enacted by pupils from basic and second-cycle institutions, as well as speeches by youth leaders in the Adankranja Traditional Area, the youth succeeded in stirring up emotions among politicians, chiefs, opinion leaders and security agents who had gathered at the durbar grounds.
Through the poems, drama and speeches, the youth identified chieftaincy and land disputes, as well as political intolerance and ethnic tensions, as some of the factors that trigger violence, leading to the destruction of life and property, thereby undermining quality societal development.
Lessons
It was also noticed through their sketches that violence in any form does not produce any victors, because those who claim to be victorious waste a lot of time in flexing their muscles. It also leads to the loss of property and dear ones and creates tension, thereby preventing entrepreneurs from investing in their communities, and perpetuates poverty.
Among the dignitaries who graced the occasion were the Paramount Chief of Adankranja Traditional Area, Nana Oppong Frenyam II, and his sub-chiefs, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bekwai, Mr Joe Osei Owusu; the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Bekwai, Mr Noah Asante Manu; the acting Ashanti South Divisional Police Commander, Superintendent Felix Kwasi Cosmos, as well as some youth from Adankranja, Daa, Apaaso, Amoamo and Ahwiaa, which constitute the Adankranja Traditional Area.
Patriotism
In his address, Mr Francis Kyere, a youth leader, commended the youth in the traditional area for their sense of patriotism, stressing that their decision to disassociate themselves from any form of violence was a step in the right direction, because it would offer them the opportunity to develop their potentials in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity.
He pointed out that in an attempt to promote their selfish interests, politicians, chiefs and opinion leaders mislead the youth to cause trouble.
Mr Kyere said the time had come for the youth in the country to develop their potential and the acquire requisite skills that would enable them to take their destinies into their own hands, instead of allowing themselves to be used as tools to perpetuate violence in their respective communities.
He commended the organisers for sensitising the youth to eschew violence and urged them to extend the programme to volatile areas to ensure sustainable peace in the country.
Collaboration
In his address, Superintendent Felix Kwasi Cosmos assured the people that the police would always collaborate with the public to promote peace.
He pointed out that peace in itself was very valuable and, therefore, there was the need for the youth not only to collaborate with the police to maintain peace, but report anybody who attempted to cause confusion in their communities.
Mr Kwasi Cosmos said since the youth were endowed with strength and vigour, they were always the target of interested groups who were eager to promote their selfish interests. He therefore advised them to use their strength to develop their talents to enable them support accelerated socio-economic development in their communities.
He also advised them to refrain from indulging in land and chieftaincy disputes. He said it was equally important for them to refrain from abusing the rights of individuals and tolerate the views of their political opponents to enable them co-exist peacefully with their neighbours.
The MP for Bekwai, Mr Joe Osei Owusu, for his part, advised them to focus on their academic programmes to enable them to acquire employable skills.
Monday, June 8, 2009
MAMPONG POLICE ARREST SIX SUSPECTED ROBBERS (PAGE 40)
THE Asante Mampong Divisional Police Command has arrested six suspected armed robbers who were terrorising the residents at Yeji, Ejura Atebubu and Techiman.
The suspects whose ages ranged between 25 and 31 were arrested in their hideouts at dawn on May 30, this year following a tip-off.
They are Muhammed Yusif, Razak Akilu, Walidu Beliamidu, Abdul Kadri Adam, Mounzel Alhassan and Alim Yao.
Items retrieved from the suspects included a locally manufactured pistol, two unregistered motorbikes, two life ammunitions and a voodoo made up of a bull horn with feathers, empty shells, a whisk and calabash with 13 cowries.
Also found in the voodoo were two talismans, a waistband, a jaw of an unidentified animal with Arabic inscriptions, two pairs of scissors, a black mask, four containers of empty perfumes as well as a tasbii packed in a red bag.
The items together with the suspects are in police custody pending further investigations into the matter.
The Mampong Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Edward Oduro Kwarteng who briefed the Daily Graphic on the arrest said police would arraign the suspects as soon as investigations were completed.
He said following a series of complaints about the activities of the suspects in areas like Atebubu, Yeji, Techiman and Ejura among other
communities, the police decided to monitor their movements and swooped on them in their hideout at Yeji where the six were arrested.
Chief Superintendent Oduro Kwarteng gave the assurance that the police would intensify investigations on the suspects to ensure their speedy trial.
In another development, the Mampong Divisional Police Command has retrieved an Urvan mini bus which was snatched from its owner at gunpoint.
The vehicle with registration number AS 6143 C was snatched from the owner on May 9, this year at Apatrapa near Kumasi and was later abandoned at Abonkosu, near Mampong where police found it.
The vehicle has since been handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department in Kumasi to be given to its owner.
In a related development, the command has smashed a goat stealing syndicate and impounded a Hyundai Pony saloon car used for the operation.
Two goats that had been slaughtered were retrieved from the vehicle.
Two suspects who have been identified as Yaw Afriyie and Kwaku Grusah were arrested and are currently in police custody helping in investigations.
One of their accomplices whose name was given only as Gabriel is, however, on the run and the police have mounted a search for him.
The suspects whose ages ranged between 25 and 31 were arrested in their hideouts at dawn on May 30, this year following a tip-off.
They are Muhammed Yusif, Razak Akilu, Walidu Beliamidu, Abdul Kadri Adam, Mounzel Alhassan and Alim Yao.
Items retrieved from the suspects included a locally manufactured pistol, two unregistered motorbikes, two life ammunitions and a voodoo made up of a bull horn with feathers, empty shells, a whisk and calabash with 13 cowries.
Also found in the voodoo were two talismans, a waistband, a jaw of an unidentified animal with Arabic inscriptions, two pairs of scissors, a black mask, four containers of empty perfumes as well as a tasbii packed in a red bag.
The items together with the suspects are in police custody pending further investigations into the matter.
The Mampong Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Edward Oduro Kwarteng who briefed the Daily Graphic on the arrest said police would arraign the suspects as soon as investigations were completed.
He said following a series of complaints about the activities of the suspects in areas like Atebubu, Yeji, Techiman and Ejura among other
communities, the police decided to monitor their movements and swooped on them in their hideout at Yeji where the six were arrested.
Chief Superintendent Oduro Kwarteng gave the assurance that the police would intensify investigations on the suspects to ensure their speedy trial.
In another development, the Mampong Divisional Police Command has retrieved an Urvan mini bus which was snatched from its owner at gunpoint.
The vehicle with registration number AS 6143 C was snatched from the owner on May 9, this year at Apatrapa near Kumasi and was later abandoned at Abonkosu, near Mampong where police found it.
The vehicle has since been handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department in Kumasi to be given to its owner.
In a related development, the command has smashed a goat stealing syndicate and impounded a Hyundai Pony saloon car used for the operation.
Two goats that had been slaughtered were retrieved from the vehicle.
Two suspects who have been identified as Yaw Afriyie and Kwaku Grusah were arrested and are currently in police custody helping in investigations.
One of their accomplices whose name was given only as Gabriel is, however, on the run and the police have mounted a search for him.
KUMASI FIRE DESTROYED GH¢954,312 WORTH OF PROPERTY (PAGE 47)
Property estimated at GH¢954,312.00 were burnt to ashes within the Kumasi metropolis and its environs between January and April this year as against GH¢3,125,784.48 recorded during the same period in 2008.
Records available at the Kumasi office of the National Fire Service indicates that a total of 190 individual cases of fire outbreaks were recorded within the Kumasi metropolis and its environs during the period as against 198 recorded last year.
The estimated cost of property burnt to ashes this year and the total number of fire outbreaks recorded excluded the recent fire outbreak that engulfed a section of the Kumasi Central Market last week.
Personnel of the Fire Service are still investigating the estimated cost of property burnt to ashes at the Kumasi Central Market, which burnt about 400 structures.
The Deputy Chief Fire Officer in charge of the region, Mr Obeng Dankwa Dwamena, who briefed the Daily Graphic on the incidents of fire outbreaks in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs, pointed out that three people lost their lives during the fire outbreaks this year.
Mr Dwamena explained that in January this year, a total of 70 cases of fire outbreaks were recorded in Kumasi as against 73 cases recorded last year, stressing that while property estimated at GH¢145,480 were burnt to ashes in January this year, those that were totally destroyed through fire outbreaks during the same period last year were estimated at GH¢2,599,934.48
He said a total of 43 cases of fire outbreak were also recorded in Kumasi in February this year as against 51 cases last year, explaining that, while an estimated property lost through fire outbreaks in February this year was GH¢252,221.00, that of February last year was GH¢122,560.00.
He said while 48 cases of fire outbreaks and an estimated property lost of GH¢237,110 were recorded in March this year, 37 cases of fire outbreaks were recorded in March last year.
The Ashanti Regional Fire Officer also stated that property lost in March last year through fire outbreaks also dropped to GH¢55,620.00.
Comparing the recorded number of fire outbreaks for April 2008 and this year, Mr Dankwa Dwamena said the recorded figure increased from 29 cases and an estimated property lost of GH¢319,501.00 in April last year to a total figure of 37 cases of fire outbreaks and an estimated property lost of GH¢347,670.00 in April this year.
Expressing concern about the quantum of fire outbreaks in the metropolis and its environs, he said it was time the public collaborated effectively with personnel of the Fire Service in providing early information and accurate direction of areas on fire to reduce the destruction of lives and property lost through fire outbreaks.
He pointed out that many of the fire outbreaks in the Kumasi metropolis were domestic related, explaining that while 81 domestic fire outbreaks were recorded between January and April last year, 76 domestic fire outbreaks were recorded during the same period this
year.
He pointed out that commercial fire outbreaks, where trading and other business transactions took place, came next after domestic fire, explaining that 34 commercial fire outbreaks were recorded between January and April this year as against 40 recorded during the same period last year.
He said while 15 vehicles were also burnt to ashes last year during the period under review, 26 vehicles suffered similar fate this year.
He mentioned industrial fire outbreaks, institutional and bush fires, among others, as other problems that had been recurring over the years.
Mr Dankwa Dwamena said as part of the measures to reduce the upsurge of fire outbreaks, he had initiated educational campaigns in basic schools where pupils were not only educated on the dangers of fire outbreaks but were also educated on what to do in case there was a fire outbreak.
Records available at the Kumasi office of the National Fire Service indicates that a total of 190 individual cases of fire outbreaks were recorded within the Kumasi metropolis and its environs during the period as against 198 recorded last year.
The estimated cost of property burnt to ashes this year and the total number of fire outbreaks recorded excluded the recent fire outbreak that engulfed a section of the Kumasi Central Market last week.
Personnel of the Fire Service are still investigating the estimated cost of property burnt to ashes at the Kumasi Central Market, which burnt about 400 structures.
The Deputy Chief Fire Officer in charge of the region, Mr Obeng Dankwa Dwamena, who briefed the Daily Graphic on the incidents of fire outbreaks in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs, pointed out that three people lost their lives during the fire outbreaks this year.
Mr Dwamena explained that in January this year, a total of 70 cases of fire outbreaks were recorded in Kumasi as against 73 cases recorded last year, stressing that while property estimated at GH¢145,480 were burnt to ashes in January this year, those that were totally destroyed through fire outbreaks during the same period last year were estimated at GH¢2,599,934.48
He said a total of 43 cases of fire outbreak were also recorded in Kumasi in February this year as against 51 cases last year, explaining that, while an estimated property lost through fire outbreaks in February this year was GH¢252,221.00, that of February last year was GH¢122,560.00.
He said while 48 cases of fire outbreaks and an estimated property lost of GH¢237,110 were recorded in March this year, 37 cases of fire outbreaks were recorded in March last year.
The Ashanti Regional Fire Officer also stated that property lost in March last year through fire outbreaks also dropped to GH¢55,620.00.
Comparing the recorded number of fire outbreaks for April 2008 and this year, Mr Dankwa Dwamena said the recorded figure increased from 29 cases and an estimated property lost of GH¢319,501.00 in April last year to a total figure of 37 cases of fire outbreaks and an estimated property lost of GH¢347,670.00 in April this year.
Expressing concern about the quantum of fire outbreaks in the metropolis and its environs, he said it was time the public collaborated effectively with personnel of the Fire Service in providing early information and accurate direction of areas on fire to reduce the destruction of lives and property lost through fire outbreaks.
He pointed out that many of the fire outbreaks in the Kumasi metropolis were domestic related, explaining that while 81 domestic fire outbreaks were recorded between January and April last year, 76 domestic fire outbreaks were recorded during the same period this
year.
He pointed out that commercial fire outbreaks, where trading and other business transactions took place, came next after domestic fire, explaining that 34 commercial fire outbreaks were recorded between January and April this year as against 40 recorded during the same period last year.
He said while 15 vehicles were also burnt to ashes last year during the period under review, 26 vehicles suffered similar fate this year.
He mentioned industrial fire outbreaks, institutional and bush fires, among others, as other problems that had been recurring over the years.
Mr Dankwa Dwamena said as part of the measures to reduce the upsurge of fire outbreaks, he had initiated educational campaigns in basic schools where pupils were not only educated on the dangers of fire outbreaks but were also educated on what to do in case there was a fire outbreak.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
KONONGO IS FAST EXPANDING (PAGE 36)
KONONGO, capital of the Asante Akyem North Municipality, is one community in the Ashanti Region which is fast expanding in terms of size and population growth.
The community, like Kumasi, is not only strategically located in the region, but it is also endowed with natural resources, and therefore attracts people from diverse backgrounds, many of whom have made it their permanent residential area.
Apart from the gold deposits which attract a section of the youth from the surrounding communities to Konongo daily, commercial activities, as well as small and medium-scale industries always entice people from different parts of the country to the community.
The emergence of radio stations in the country has also added value to the expansion of Konongo as Kings and Virgin, the two prominent radio stations deeply rooted in the community, do not only educate, entertain and inform the residents on issues that promote their interests, but also market their products extensively, making it possible for them to get value for their items.
Located on the Kumasi-Accra highway, Konongo, which has merged with Odumase and is regarded as a twin community, has fairly its share of social amenities in the areas of education, health, water, as well as entertainment.
In terms of education, the Konongo-Odumase Senior High School (KOSS) which was established in 1953 with Mr Spio Garbrah as its first headmaster, is one institution that has succeeded in developing the potential of the youth.
The school has not only produced some renowned and shrewd politicians in the country, but has also unearthed many economists, educationists, agriculturists, engineers and medical officers who are making meaningful contributions towards sustainable socio-economic development in the country in diverse ways.
The rapid population growth of Konongo in particular and Odumase in general has, however, made it impossible for KOSS to absorb all final -year students from the various public and private junior high schools (JHSs) in the community.
The result is that many JHS graduates who are unable to gain admission to KOSS, yearly find themselves in the street hawking and dog chain selling business while others relocate to Kumasi or Accra to do menial jobs at great risk.
With regard to health, the Konongo Hospital, which has only one medical officer with a few nurses, is struggling to cope with the healthcare needs of the hundreds of patients who flock to the facility daily to access quality healthcare services.
The hospital, which was built more than 50 years ago as a clinic with a capacity to take only 24 male and female patients, has never seen any expansion.
Because of the peculiar problems at the Konongo Hospital in terms of inadequate facilities and infrastructure, children on admission mix with adults in the same ward.
With inadequate medical staff and facilities to enhance quality delivery of health care services, many emergencies are therefore referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching and Agogo Presbyterian Hospitals.
However, because of the distance and sometimes transportation problems, patients, especially accident victims and women in labour, lose their lives before they reach the referral facilities.
Water, an essential basic necessity, has always been in short supply in the Konongo Municipality.
Students and residents always compete for water daily as the dam built to supply water for the increasing population cannot meet the demand.
The perennial water problem in the community affects academic performance at KOSS.
The mechanised borehole constructed to provide water for the school’s community is unable to produce enough for the ever growing student population. The situation compels the students to spend their precious time searching for water every day.
In terms of security, Konongo has been elevated to a divisional status, meaning the scope of police operations has been expanded. The division stretches from Dadiese in the Asante Akyem South District to Ejisu-Juaben, as far as Bomfa and Akyiase.
Inadequate accommodation for the police, however, makes it difficult for the police personnel to accept postings to most parts of the division, thus undermining effective and efficient policing.
Commenting on the infrastructure challenges in the Konongo Municipality, the chief of the community, Nana Batafo Akyampong Nti, told the Daily Graphic that education was the priority of the Konongo Traditional Council.
In this direction, the council has provided a 30-acre land for the development of infrastructure at the Wesley Methodist Day Senior High School, which was inaugurated about three years ago.
This is to complement the efforts of KOSS in developing the potential of the youth.
Nana Nti said the “school needs infrastructure such as a well-stocked library, a science laboratory, adequate classrooms and a hall to enhance quality teaching and learning”.
He explained that since the KOSS was the only second-cycle educational institution with adequate infrastructure within the Konongo Municipality, there was pressure on the school for new intake at the beginning of every academic year. This has made it necessary to develop the Wesley Methodist Day School. To reduce the pressure on health, Nana Nti said “since the Konongo Traditional Council (KTC) is also conscious of the health care needs of residents, we have liaised with the government to develop health facilities to merit the municipal status”.
“Quality healthcare service delivery is one of our biggest headaches so the KTC has released a 40-acre land for the construction of a new hospital at Konongo.”
The government has already awarded the project on contract but work is yet to begin.
Nana Nti, therefore, appealed to the government to expedite action on the project for residents in the Konongo Municipality to enjoy quality health care service delivery”.
He gave the assurance that the community would offer communal labour on the project as soon as it took off to ensure its early completion.
Nana Nti said the dam that supplied water to the municipality was too small and therefore was unable to produce sufficient water to meet the needs of residents. He, therefore, appealed to the government to build a bigger dam to address the perennial water shortage in the municipality, since the current one was too small.
The Konongo chief commended police personnel in the municipality for their commitment to provide security for the residents in spite of the limited facilities at their disposal.
“In 1994, the KTC released a 20-acre land to the police for the construction of a police barracks to ease their accommodation problems but the land is still lying fallow while some of the personnel posted here sleep at the charge office,” he noted with concern.
“With Konongo now elevated to a municipality status, we need more policemen to provide security for law-abiding residents to concentrate on their economic ventures peacefully. My humble appeal to the Interior Minister is to construct police barracks at Konongo to entice more personnel to accept posting here,” Nana Nti stressed.
He said it was also important for the sector ministry to increase the fleet of vehicles and other logistics of the police within the Konongo Municipality to enhance efficient and effective policing as the current vehicles and logistics for the divisional police command were woefully inadequate for the police to effectively fight crime.
Nana Batafo Akyampong Nti said lack of sports infrastructure was another problem the municipality faced.
He said Konongo had produced former national soccer stars like Kalala, Essuman and Adarkwa, “so developing the Konongo Sports Stadium would enable the youth to develop their potential and contribute to sports development in the country”.
The community, like Kumasi, is not only strategically located in the region, but it is also endowed with natural resources, and therefore attracts people from diverse backgrounds, many of whom have made it their permanent residential area.
Apart from the gold deposits which attract a section of the youth from the surrounding communities to Konongo daily, commercial activities, as well as small and medium-scale industries always entice people from different parts of the country to the community.
The emergence of radio stations in the country has also added value to the expansion of Konongo as Kings and Virgin, the two prominent radio stations deeply rooted in the community, do not only educate, entertain and inform the residents on issues that promote their interests, but also market their products extensively, making it possible for them to get value for their items.
Located on the Kumasi-Accra highway, Konongo, which has merged with Odumase and is regarded as a twin community, has fairly its share of social amenities in the areas of education, health, water, as well as entertainment.
In terms of education, the Konongo-Odumase Senior High School (KOSS) which was established in 1953 with Mr Spio Garbrah as its first headmaster, is one institution that has succeeded in developing the potential of the youth.
The school has not only produced some renowned and shrewd politicians in the country, but has also unearthed many economists, educationists, agriculturists, engineers and medical officers who are making meaningful contributions towards sustainable socio-economic development in the country in diverse ways.
The rapid population growth of Konongo in particular and Odumase in general has, however, made it impossible for KOSS to absorb all final -year students from the various public and private junior high schools (JHSs) in the community.
The result is that many JHS graduates who are unable to gain admission to KOSS, yearly find themselves in the street hawking and dog chain selling business while others relocate to Kumasi or Accra to do menial jobs at great risk.
With regard to health, the Konongo Hospital, which has only one medical officer with a few nurses, is struggling to cope with the healthcare needs of the hundreds of patients who flock to the facility daily to access quality healthcare services.
The hospital, which was built more than 50 years ago as a clinic with a capacity to take only 24 male and female patients, has never seen any expansion.
Because of the peculiar problems at the Konongo Hospital in terms of inadequate facilities and infrastructure, children on admission mix with adults in the same ward.
With inadequate medical staff and facilities to enhance quality delivery of health care services, many emergencies are therefore referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching and Agogo Presbyterian Hospitals.
However, because of the distance and sometimes transportation problems, patients, especially accident victims and women in labour, lose their lives before they reach the referral facilities.
Water, an essential basic necessity, has always been in short supply in the Konongo Municipality.
Students and residents always compete for water daily as the dam built to supply water for the increasing population cannot meet the demand.
The perennial water problem in the community affects academic performance at KOSS.
The mechanised borehole constructed to provide water for the school’s community is unable to produce enough for the ever growing student population. The situation compels the students to spend their precious time searching for water every day.
In terms of security, Konongo has been elevated to a divisional status, meaning the scope of police operations has been expanded. The division stretches from Dadiese in the Asante Akyem South District to Ejisu-Juaben, as far as Bomfa and Akyiase.
Inadequate accommodation for the police, however, makes it difficult for the police personnel to accept postings to most parts of the division, thus undermining effective and efficient policing.
Commenting on the infrastructure challenges in the Konongo Municipality, the chief of the community, Nana Batafo Akyampong Nti, told the Daily Graphic that education was the priority of the Konongo Traditional Council.
In this direction, the council has provided a 30-acre land for the development of infrastructure at the Wesley Methodist Day Senior High School, which was inaugurated about three years ago.
This is to complement the efforts of KOSS in developing the potential of the youth.
Nana Nti said the “school needs infrastructure such as a well-stocked library, a science laboratory, adequate classrooms and a hall to enhance quality teaching and learning”.
He explained that since the KOSS was the only second-cycle educational institution with adequate infrastructure within the Konongo Municipality, there was pressure on the school for new intake at the beginning of every academic year. This has made it necessary to develop the Wesley Methodist Day School. To reduce the pressure on health, Nana Nti said “since the Konongo Traditional Council (KTC) is also conscious of the health care needs of residents, we have liaised with the government to develop health facilities to merit the municipal status”.
“Quality healthcare service delivery is one of our biggest headaches so the KTC has released a 40-acre land for the construction of a new hospital at Konongo.”
The government has already awarded the project on contract but work is yet to begin.
Nana Nti, therefore, appealed to the government to expedite action on the project for residents in the Konongo Municipality to enjoy quality health care service delivery”.
He gave the assurance that the community would offer communal labour on the project as soon as it took off to ensure its early completion.
Nana Nti said the dam that supplied water to the municipality was too small and therefore was unable to produce sufficient water to meet the needs of residents. He, therefore, appealed to the government to build a bigger dam to address the perennial water shortage in the municipality, since the current one was too small.
The Konongo chief commended police personnel in the municipality for their commitment to provide security for the residents in spite of the limited facilities at their disposal.
“In 1994, the KTC released a 20-acre land to the police for the construction of a police barracks to ease their accommodation problems but the land is still lying fallow while some of the personnel posted here sleep at the charge office,” he noted with concern.
“With Konongo now elevated to a municipality status, we need more policemen to provide security for law-abiding residents to concentrate on their economic ventures peacefully. My humble appeal to the Interior Minister is to construct police barracks at Konongo to entice more personnel to accept posting here,” Nana Nti stressed.
He said it was also important for the sector ministry to increase the fleet of vehicles and other logistics of the police within the Konongo Municipality to enhance efficient and effective policing as the current vehicles and logistics for the divisional police command were woefully inadequate for the police to effectively fight crime.
Nana Batafo Akyampong Nti said lack of sports infrastructure was another problem the municipality faced.
He said Konongo had produced former national soccer stars like Kalala, Essuman and Adarkwa, “so developing the Konongo Sports Stadium would enable the youth to develop their potential and contribute to sports development in the country”.
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