From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
Sixty-eight drivers have been fined a total of GH¢15,840.00 for flouting various road traffic regulations in the Kumasi Metropolis over the past three weeks.
The Ashanti Regional Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abraham Bansah, who briefed The Mirror about the arrest and prosecution, said the drivers who were arraigned before the courts, pleaded guilty to the offences and were fined between GH¢200 and GH¢ 300.
Explaining the circumstances that led to the arrest and prosecution of the drivers , Mr Bansah said while some of them drove recklessly, putting the lives of other road users in danger, others had worn-out tyres and faulty brakes .
He said some of the convicted drivers were also arrested because of offences such as speeding in residential areas and on, highways, insecure loading, loading above stipulated heights and axle weight, as well as stopping to pick passengers at zebra crossings and using expired driving licences and insurance.
Explaining further, he said “speeding , especially in the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs has led to the knocking down of many pedestrians of late. Many of the victims suffered serious injuries so we are bent on checking drivers who flout road traffic regulations”.
Expressing concern about the negative attitude of some drivers, Mr Bansah said it was time drivers learnt to observe road traffic regulations to reduce the accidents in the Ashanti Region in particular and country in general.
He said the Police MTTU would continue to be vigilant on the road to check recalcitrant drivers as a way of reducing accidents during the Easter holidays.
He said it was, therefore, important for passengers to collaborate with the MTTU in their quest to ensure an accident-free Easter on the highways.
“ Passengers should not only note the attitude of drivers but should also report them to the nearest police for them to take action,” he advised.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
NAMONG SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL RECEIVES SUPPORT (MIRROR, PAGE 25, APRIL 1, 2010)
From George Ernest Asare, Namong
The Management of UNI-JAY Fashion Designing Company has donated 200 bags of cement towards the construction of a 12-unit one-storey classroom block at the Namong Senior High School.
The donation, valued at GH¢2,500, was in response to a distress call by the school authorities for support to enable the school develop the needed infrastructure to enhance effective and efficient academic work in the school.
The project would enable the school to offer accommodation to fresh students during the 2010/2011 academic year.
Mr Elias Owusu-Ansah, Accountant of UNI-JAY, who donated the items on behalf of the company, said the gesture formed part of the company’s corporate responsibilities to improve teaching and learning in the school.
He said apart from the Namong SHS, the company had also supported other schools such as Prempeh College by refurbishing their science laboratory.
He said they had also donated choir robes to Opoku Ware SHS to encourage the students in their quest to develop their talents in music.
Mr Owusu-Ansah assured that the company would continue to establish cordial relationships with academic institutions in the country to enable them realise their objectives of raising academic standards in the country.
Mr Richmond Edward Carl Amoah, Headmaster of Namong SHS, who received the items, commended UNI-JAY Fashion Designs for the quick response.
He explained that the one-storey 12-unit classroom block initiated by the school authorities was estimated at GH¢100,000.00
He said the school had constructed a five-unit classroom block at an estimated cost of GH¢50,000.00 to reduce congestion among students and also enable them cope with the challenges of the final year students, who would write their examination next year.
Mr Amoah said Mr Ben Abdallah, Offinso South Member of Parliament, has supported the school’s development initiative with 50 bags of cement and 10 packets of roofing sheets
“Similarly, the school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is spending over GH¢30,000 towards the construction of a one-storey girls dormitory block in preparation of the admission of girls for the next academic year,” he noted.
The Management of UNI-JAY Fashion Designing Company has donated 200 bags of cement towards the construction of a 12-unit one-storey classroom block at the Namong Senior High School.
The donation, valued at GH¢2,500, was in response to a distress call by the school authorities for support to enable the school develop the needed infrastructure to enhance effective and efficient academic work in the school.
The project would enable the school to offer accommodation to fresh students during the 2010/2011 academic year.
Mr Elias Owusu-Ansah, Accountant of UNI-JAY, who donated the items on behalf of the company, said the gesture formed part of the company’s corporate responsibilities to improve teaching and learning in the school.
He said apart from the Namong SHS, the company had also supported other schools such as Prempeh College by refurbishing their science laboratory.
He said they had also donated choir robes to Opoku Ware SHS to encourage the students in their quest to develop their talents in music.
Mr Owusu-Ansah assured that the company would continue to establish cordial relationships with academic institutions in the country to enable them realise their objectives of raising academic standards in the country.
Mr Richmond Edward Carl Amoah, Headmaster of Namong SHS, who received the items, commended UNI-JAY Fashion Designs for the quick response.
He explained that the one-storey 12-unit classroom block initiated by the school authorities was estimated at GH¢100,000.00
He said the school had constructed a five-unit classroom block at an estimated cost of GH¢50,000.00 to reduce congestion among students and also enable them cope with the challenges of the final year students, who would write their examination next year.
Mr Amoah said Mr Ben Abdallah, Offinso South Member of Parliament, has supported the school’s development initiative with 50 bags of cement and 10 packets of roofing sheets
“Similarly, the school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is spending over GH¢30,000 towards the construction of a one-storey girls dormitory block in preparation of the admission of girls for the next academic year,” he noted.
Friday, March 26, 2010
DRIVER ROBBED AT GUNPOINT (PAGE 23, MIRROR, MARCH 27, 2010)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
The timely intervention by some sympathisers at Anyinam, a Kumasi suburb, prevented two young men from enjoying a booty of GH¢80.00 they had allegedly taken from a Kumasi based taxi driver at knife point.
The two, Michael Bonsu, who claimed to be a mechanic and Robert Morgan, unemployed, are currently in prison custody, following their arrest by the sympathisers .
They pleaded not guilty to the charge of robbery when they appeared before a Kumasi Circuit Court on March 17, 2010 and they were remanded into prison custody.
Briefing the court, a State Attorney, Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo- Boison, said the complainant, is a driver who resides at Aputuogya in the Bomsomtwe district of Ashanti Region.
He said around 3 a.m on March 4, 2010, the suspects hired the complainant’s taxi from Santasi, a Kumasi suburb with the intention of going to Anyinam and whilst on the way pulled a knife, attacked the driver and succeeded in robbing him of an amount of GH¢80.00 being his sales at the time.
He said moments after they had taken to their heels after the attack, the complainant raised an alarm which attracted a number of sympathisers who chased and arrested the suspects.
The timely intervention by some sympathisers at Anyinam, a Kumasi suburb, prevented two young men from enjoying a booty of GH¢80.00 they had allegedly taken from a Kumasi based taxi driver at knife point.
The two, Michael Bonsu, who claimed to be a mechanic and Robert Morgan, unemployed, are currently in prison custody, following their arrest by the sympathisers .
They pleaded not guilty to the charge of robbery when they appeared before a Kumasi Circuit Court on March 17, 2010 and they were remanded into prison custody.
Briefing the court, a State Attorney, Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo- Boison, said the complainant, is a driver who resides at Aputuogya in the Bomsomtwe district of Ashanti Region.
He said around 3 a.m on March 4, 2010, the suspects hired the complainant’s taxi from Santasi, a Kumasi suburb with the intention of going to Anyinam and whilst on the way pulled a knife, attacked the driver and succeeded in robbing him of an amount of GH¢80.00 being his sales at the time.
He said moments after they had taken to their heels after the attack, the complainant raised an alarm which attracted a number of sympathisers who chased and arrested the suspects.
STUDENT ATTACKS TENANTS AT TANOSO (page 23, MIRROR, MARCH 27, 2010)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
A 19-year-old Junior High School (JHS) student, who attacked some tenants at Tanoso, a Kumasi suburb, in broad day light after robbing them of some household items and cash, has been remanded into police custody to help with investigations.
Stephen Kusi Boateng was arrested by the Police Bufallo Unit in Kumasi when they responded to a distress call by the tenants on March 19, 2010.
According to the Police, the suspect started firing at some of the tenants after ransacking one of the rooms and an alarm raised by the tenants attracted a response by sympathisers who called in the police to effect his arrest.
The Police are however hunting for his accomplice, whose name was given only as Akwasi, believed to have supplied the suspect with a pistol and bullets.
Boateng’s plea was not taken when he appeared before the KMA Circuit court, presided over by Justice Agyei Frimpong, and was remanded to re-appear on April 13, 2010.
The docket has however, been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for advice.
Briefing The Mirror, Chief Inspector Muhammed Tanko, Ashanti Regional Police Public Relations Officer, said the suspect is a student of the Anglican JHS at Tanoso, while the complainants reside at Takyiman, in Kumasi.
He said about 12 p.m. on March 19, 2010, the suspect wielding a locally manufactured pistol and three rounds of bullets entered the apartment of one of the complainants, who is a priest and took some household items,which included a DVD player, rice cooker, an amplifier, shaving machine and GH¢50.00 cash.
He said just before the suspect left the room, the priest saw him and raised an alarm.
This, he said, infuriated the suspect who started firing at the complainant but missed his target narrowly.
He said a co-tenant, who is a farmer also joined the priest in raising the alarm which attracted some sympathisers who called in the police.
The PRO said, a search on the suspect after his arrest found the pistol, three used ammunitions and cash of GH¢50.00.
Chief Inspector Tanko said during investigations the suspect mentioned one Akwasi as the person who supplied him with the pistol and bullets.
The police have therefore started a search for the accomplice to assist in their investigations.
A 19-year-old Junior High School (JHS) student, who attacked some tenants at Tanoso, a Kumasi suburb, in broad day light after robbing them of some household items and cash, has been remanded into police custody to help with investigations.
Stephen Kusi Boateng was arrested by the Police Bufallo Unit in Kumasi when they responded to a distress call by the tenants on March 19, 2010.
According to the Police, the suspect started firing at some of the tenants after ransacking one of the rooms and an alarm raised by the tenants attracted a response by sympathisers who called in the police to effect his arrest.
The Police are however hunting for his accomplice, whose name was given only as Akwasi, believed to have supplied the suspect with a pistol and bullets.
Boateng’s plea was not taken when he appeared before the KMA Circuit court, presided over by Justice Agyei Frimpong, and was remanded to re-appear on April 13, 2010.
The docket has however, been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for advice.
Briefing The Mirror, Chief Inspector Muhammed Tanko, Ashanti Regional Police Public Relations Officer, said the suspect is a student of the Anglican JHS at Tanoso, while the complainants reside at Takyiman, in Kumasi.
He said about 12 p.m. on March 19, 2010, the suspect wielding a locally manufactured pistol and three rounds of bullets entered the apartment of one of the complainants, who is a priest and took some household items,which included a DVD player, rice cooker, an amplifier, shaving machine and GH¢50.00 cash.
He said just before the suspect left the room, the priest saw him and raised an alarm.
This, he said, infuriated the suspect who started firing at the complainant but missed his target narrowly.
He said a co-tenant, who is a farmer also joined the priest in raising the alarm which attracted some sympathisers who called in the police.
The PRO said, a search on the suspect after his arrest found the pistol, three used ammunitions and cash of GH¢50.00.
Chief Inspector Tanko said during investigations the suspect mentioned one Akwasi as the person who supplied him with the pistol and bullets.
The police have therefore started a search for the accomplice to assist in their investigations.
SMILE TRAIN SUPPORTS CLEFT UNIT (PAGE 29, MIRROE, MARCH 27, 2010)
Story & Picture: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
A US based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Smile Train, has donated a cheque for $35,000.00 to the Cleft Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, (KATH) for the purchase of a bus to facilitate the hospital’s outreach programmes.
The NGO gave another cheque for $8,000 to the Cleft team to enable them extend their outreach programmes to the northern parts of Ghana.
This, according to Mr Remi Adeseun, the West Africa Regional Director of Smile Train, would enable children in the Northern Sector of Ghana with cleft problems to benefit from the services of the Cleft team to reduce the trauma they went through.
Mr Adeseum commended the Cleft Team for providing services that were bringing broad smiles to parents whose children suffered from such deformities.
Professor Peter Donkor, head of the Cleft Unit of the KATH, who received the cheques on behalf of the team, commended the NGO for the gesture and promised to use the money for the desired purpose.
Mrs Patience Yeboah Ampong, Director of Nursing of the KATH, assured that the management would continue to support the team to sustain their operations and to offer the needed services to children with cleft problems.
A US based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Smile Train, has donated a cheque for $35,000.00 to the Cleft Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, (KATH) for the purchase of a bus to facilitate the hospital’s outreach programmes.
The NGO gave another cheque for $8,000 to the Cleft team to enable them extend their outreach programmes to the northern parts of Ghana.
This, according to Mr Remi Adeseun, the West Africa Regional Director of Smile Train, would enable children in the Northern Sector of Ghana with cleft problems to benefit from the services of the Cleft team to reduce the trauma they went through.
Mr Adeseum commended the Cleft Team for providing services that were bringing broad smiles to parents whose children suffered from such deformities.
Professor Peter Donkor, head of the Cleft Unit of the KATH, who received the cheques on behalf of the team, commended the NGO for the gesture and promised to use the money for the desired purpose.
Mrs Patience Yeboah Ampong, Director of Nursing of the KATH, assured that the management would continue to support the team to sustain their operations and to offer the needed services to children with cleft problems.
EXPAND SCHOOL FACILITIES IN ASHANTI — ONYINAH (PAGE 29, MIRROR, MARCH 27, 2010)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
After assessing the education sector in the Ashanti Region since 2004, the Regional Directorate of Education has noted that the existing infrastructure do not match the phenomenal increase in enrolment in both first and second cycle institutions.
This, according to the directorate was creating acute congestion in the classrooms and undermining effective and efficient teaching and learning.
They have therefore appealed for the expansion of infrastructure at all levels to reduce congestion and enhance teaching and learning.
Mr J. K. Onyinah, Regional Director of Education, who made the appeal on behalf of the directorate, explained that at the Senior High School (SHS) level “enrolment has risen from a little over 70,000 to 117,000 in three years, and with the fact that no student would graduate from the SHS this year, space for admission has become very acute.”
Mr Onyinah made the appeal during the Ashanti Regional sector’s annual review programme in Kumasi.
The programme was meant to assess the overall performance of the education sector, consolidate the achievements made in the previous years and critically assess the challenges to enable them strategise and improve standards at all levels . About 200 participants attended the three-day workshop
Mr Onyinah noted that notwithstanding the serious challenges facing the sector, teachers were committed to their responsibilities and this wass impacting well on the academic performance of their students.
After assessing the education sector in the Ashanti Region since 2004, the Regional Directorate of Education has noted that the existing infrastructure do not match the phenomenal increase in enrolment in both first and second cycle institutions.
This, according to the directorate was creating acute congestion in the classrooms and undermining effective and efficient teaching and learning.
They have therefore appealed for the expansion of infrastructure at all levels to reduce congestion and enhance teaching and learning.
Mr J. K. Onyinah, Regional Director of Education, who made the appeal on behalf of the directorate, explained that at the Senior High School (SHS) level “enrolment has risen from a little over 70,000 to 117,000 in three years, and with the fact that no student would graduate from the SHS this year, space for admission has become very acute.”
Mr Onyinah made the appeal during the Ashanti Regional sector’s annual review programme in Kumasi.
The programme was meant to assess the overall performance of the education sector, consolidate the achievements made in the previous years and critically assess the challenges to enable them strategise and improve standards at all levels . About 200 participants attended the three-day workshop
Mr Onyinah noted that notwithstanding the serious challenges facing the sector, teachers were committed to their responsibilities and this wass impacting well on the academic performance of their students.
TWINS AT 100...Still kicking (MIRROR, 1B, MARCH 26, 2010, PAGE 3)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
After blissful years in their youthful days when they eagerly supported each other to fulfil their emotional, psychological and spiritual needs, age is now tearing a set of female twins apart.
Obaapanin Adwoa Ataa Senior and her twin sister, Obaapanin Adwoa Ataa Junior, who are a little over 100 years old, and reside at Nzema, a Kumasi suburb, used to stay in the same compound where they were born, making it possible for them to share their concerns and support each other, including warding off their common enemies.
However, in their prime age, they have been separated and seldom see each other because they live in separate houses — about 500 meters away from each other — in the same community .
“We seldom see each other of late. This is because I cannot walk as briskly as I used to do and have to be supported by my grandchildren anytime I want to go out. This prevents me from seeing my sister regularly,” Obaapanin Adwoa Ataa Junior poured her heart to The Mirror in an interview at her residence at Nzema.
Between the two of them, they have 14 children, over 60 grandchildren and great grandchildren including a set of female twins.
“My great grandchild, Akosua Nyarko, is said to have given birth to a set of female twins. I was so elated when the news reached me because they were also born on Monday, just as we were, and I am praying that God blesses them with good health and wealth so that they can enjoy life to the full,” said elated Obaapanin Ataa Junior.
Around the surrounding communities at Nzema, the old ladies are said to be the oldest surviving twins.
Their eldest children are over 70 years.
According to Obaapanin Ataa Senior, she gave birth to two females who died in their infancy before giving birth to her son, Warrant Officer Elvis Akwaboah, who was with the Fourth Battalion in Kumasi.
“When I gave birth, my sister visited me regularly at Wawaase where by husband, Opanin Kwabena Akwaboa, and I resided. This was before she also married and later gave birth to her children,” she revealed.
Unlike her sister, all the six children of Obaapanin Ataa Junior are alive. The eldest is a farmer who is over 73 years.
Interestingly, the twins who were born to Obaapanin Yaa Frema, a native of Nzema, and Opanin Kwame Mensah, said they grew up at the time Prempeh I was brought to Kumasi from the Seychelles Islands where he was deported, prior to the Yaa Asantewaa war.
The senior of the twins said, “At that time, there was a rumour that by tradition, twins were supposed to be the wives of an Asantehene, but the fear was that, as soon as we marry him, we would never return to our family home again.
“This made us develop the fear of being taken away and, therefore, decided to hide in the bush to prevent us from marrying Nana Prempeh after his return to Kumasi.
“This also delayed our marriage because my husband, who had shown keen interest and affection for me, said he was also afraid to marry someone who was supposed to marry the Asantehene.”
Opanin Kwabena Akwaboa also fathered one of the highlife kings in Ghana, Kwabena Akwaboa of blessed memory.
The twins, who are staunch Methodists and were farmers in their youthful age, also said “we used to quarrel a lot when we were young, but after marriage, we became the closest of friends. Our children are also very close, and so are our grandchildren and great grandchildren”.
On whether they belonged to the twins association in Ghana, they said “we are not aware of such an association, but now that you are telling us, we will see what we will do. It is good for such an association be exist and we wish them well in all their endeavours”.
On how they had been able to outlive many of their neighbours, Obaapanin Ataa Senior explained, “We were active farmers and worked very hard to earn our living. My husband and I have a big cocoa farm around Bibiani and my sister was also a farmer.
Going to farm every day to work improved our health, so it is unfortunate that we can no longer go to farm as we used to do”.
She said as farmers they also enjoyed the fruits of their labour by eating fresh vegetables, fruits and food instead of buying food from vendors, some of which are contaminated.
“Beside the farming, we lived healthy lifestyles by refraining from immoral activities and did not drink any alcohol as some women are doing these days, so with this, God blessed us with good health,” she further explained.
Commenting on the healthy relationship between the sisters, WOI Elvis Akwaboah (retd), who is 71 years and the eldest of Obaapanin Ataa Senior’s surviving children, confirmed to The Mirror about the close knit relationship among the siblings.
“They have enjoyed life to the fullest and it is their healthy relationship that has drawn our cousins, nephews and nieces, as well as our grandchildren, closely together, making us the envy of other families,” he noted.
“Our siblings visit one another’s houses not only to engage in healthy conversation, but also initiate innovative ideas that would improve the lives of our generation”.
For his part, Mr Kwadwo Manu, who is 70 years and the second child of Obaapanin Ataa Junior was full of praise for The Mirror “for the publicity being offered my ageing parents”.
Stressing, he said, “When I heard that you were coming here, I put aside all my engagements so that I can support you to get all the necessary facts and figures to enhance your reportage.
“I hope you will extend this gesture to other twins who may need similar exposure because it is very rare in our part of the world to see twins enjoying life to the fullest as is happening to my twin mothers.”
After blissful years in their youthful days when they eagerly supported each other to fulfil their emotional, psychological and spiritual needs, age is now tearing a set of female twins apart.
Obaapanin Adwoa Ataa Senior and her twin sister, Obaapanin Adwoa Ataa Junior, who are a little over 100 years old, and reside at Nzema, a Kumasi suburb, used to stay in the same compound where they were born, making it possible for them to share their concerns and support each other, including warding off their common enemies.
However, in their prime age, they have been separated and seldom see each other because they live in separate houses — about 500 meters away from each other — in the same community .
“We seldom see each other of late. This is because I cannot walk as briskly as I used to do and have to be supported by my grandchildren anytime I want to go out. This prevents me from seeing my sister regularly,” Obaapanin Adwoa Ataa Junior poured her heart to The Mirror in an interview at her residence at Nzema.
Between the two of them, they have 14 children, over 60 grandchildren and great grandchildren including a set of female twins.
“My great grandchild, Akosua Nyarko, is said to have given birth to a set of female twins. I was so elated when the news reached me because they were also born on Monday, just as we were, and I am praying that God blesses them with good health and wealth so that they can enjoy life to the full,” said elated Obaapanin Ataa Junior.
Around the surrounding communities at Nzema, the old ladies are said to be the oldest surviving twins.
Their eldest children are over 70 years.
According to Obaapanin Ataa Senior, she gave birth to two females who died in their infancy before giving birth to her son, Warrant Officer Elvis Akwaboah, who was with the Fourth Battalion in Kumasi.
“When I gave birth, my sister visited me regularly at Wawaase where by husband, Opanin Kwabena Akwaboa, and I resided. This was before she also married and later gave birth to her children,” she revealed.
Unlike her sister, all the six children of Obaapanin Ataa Junior are alive. The eldest is a farmer who is over 73 years.
Interestingly, the twins who were born to Obaapanin Yaa Frema, a native of Nzema, and Opanin Kwame Mensah, said they grew up at the time Prempeh I was brought to Kumasi from the Seychelles Islands where he was deported, prior to the Yaa Asantewaa war.
The senior of the twins said, “At that time, there was a rumour that by tradition, twins were supposed to be the wives of an Asantehene, but the fear was that, as soon as we marry him, we would never return to our family home again.
“This made us develop the fear of being taken away and, therefore, decided to hide in the bush to prevent us from marrying Nana Prempeh after his return to Kumasi.
“This also delayed our marriage because my husband, who had shown keen interest and affection for me, said he was also afraid to marry someone who was supposed to marry the Asantehene.”
Opanin Kwabena Akwaboa also fathered one of the highlife kings in Ghana, Kwabena Akwaboa of blessed memory.
The twins, who are staunch Methodists and were farmers in their youthful age, also said “we used to quarrel a lot when we were young, but after marriage, we became the closest of friends. Our children are also very close, and so are our grandchildren and great grandchildren”.
On whether they belonged to the twins association in Ghana, they said “we are not aware of such an association, but now that you are telling us, we will see what we will do. It is good for such an association be exist and we wish them well in all their endeavours”.
On how they had been able to outlive many of their neighbours, Obaapanin Ataa Senior explained, “We were active farmers and worked very hard to earn our living. My husband and I have a big cocoa farm around Bibiani and my sister was also a farmer.
Going to farm every day to work improved our health, so it is unfortunate that we can no longer go to farm as we used to do”.
She said as farmers they also enjoyed the fruits of their labour by eating fresh vegetables, fruits and food instead of buying food from vendors, some of which are contaminated.
“Beside the farming, we lived healthy lifestyles by refraining from immoral activities and did not drink any alcohol as some women are doing these days, so with this, God blessed us with good health,” she further explained.
Commenting on the healthy relationship between the sisters, WOI Elvis Akwaboah (retd), who is 71 years and the eldest of Obaapanin Ataa Senior’s surviving children, confirmed to The Mirror about the close knit relationship among the siblings.
“They have enjoyed life to the fullest and it is their healthy relationship that has drawn our cousins, nephews and nieces, as well as our grandchildren, closely together, making us the envy of other families,” he noted.
“Our siblings visit one another’s houses not only to engage in healthy conversation, but also initiate innovative ideas that would improve the lives of our generation”.
For his part, Mr Kwadwo Manu, who is 70 years and the second child of Obaapanin Ataa Junior was full of praise for The Mirror “for the publicity being offered my ageing parents”.
Stressing, he said, “When I heard that you were coming here, I put aside all my engagements so that I can support you to get all the necessary facts and figures to enhance your reportage.
“I hope you will extend this gesture to other twins who may need similar exposure because it is very rare in our part of the world to see twins enjoying life to the fullest as is happening to my twin mothers.”
KUMASI SUBURBS TO GET POTABLE WATER (PAGE 29, MARCH 26, 2010)
THE Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, in collaboration with the USAID and the Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP), has launched the first phase of a project intended to provide potable water to selected suburbs in the Kumasi metropolis.
The Project, dubbed ‘Oforikrom Water and Sanitation Project’ (OWAS), is also expected to improve sanitation in the selected suburbs in order to reduce the spread of communicable diseases among the residents.
Under the project, 44 standpipes and water storage tanks would be constructed at Kotei, Gyenyase, Oforikrom, Akorem and Adukrom which are the beneficiary suburbs in the Kumasi metropolis to facilitate adequate supply of potable water.
While eight standpipes with one mechanised borehole and a 50-cubic meter water storage tank would be constructed at Kotei which has an estimated population of 7,252, four standpipes with a mechanised borehole and 50-cubic metre water storage tank would be constructed at Gyenyase, which has an estimated population of nearly 19000.
At Oforikrom, which has an estimated population of over 46,000, as many as 20 standpipes and a water storage facility would be constructed, and at Akorem, six standpipes and a water storage facility would benefit an estimated population of 19,111 residents, Adukrom, with an estimated population of 17,568 residents, would receive six standpipes and water storage facility.
As a way of enhancing sanitation in the selected suburbs, three aqua privy toilet facilities would be constructed for residents at Kotei and four of such facilities would be constructed at Gyenyase.
Residents at Oforikrom would have 18 of the aqua privy toilet facilities, and at Akorem, seven of the aqua privy toilet facilities would be constructed to enhance sanitation.
Adukrom will also have nine aqua privy toilet facilities under the project supposed to address the unsanitary conditions in the area.
In an address read on his behalf during the launch of the project, the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr A.S.K. Bagbin, expressed the government’s determination to support the urban poor who had been neglected over the years.
“You will all agree with me that over the years, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions in this country have either been rural or urban bias, leaving a gap for those who dwell in peri-urban and urban poor settlements.” He explained .
Mr Bagbin noted that the project was therefore an “intervention not only as delivering WASH services to the urban poor and peri-urban communities, but also highlights the general problems of such low-income communities which have not been attended to all this while”.
He pointed out that it was the reforms introduced by the Nationsl Democratic Congress government in the 1990s which are yielding “tremendous progress in the sector,” stressing, “Ghana is on track to meet WASH targets set for the MDG’s by 2015”.
He, therefore, charged the WSUP “to develop more of such innovative projects based on their wide experience and expertise to alleviate the suffering of the urban poor dwellers not only in Kumasi, but also in cities such as Tamale, Takoradi and Accra”.
He said with such innovations, the overall health status of the beneficiaries would be improved “and the result will be improved productivity, which we promised Ghanaians in 2008”.
In his welcoming address, the Mayor of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Mr Samuel Sarpong, commended USAID, Care International and other donors, whose efforts in terms of funds and expertise, made it possible for the project to kick-start smoothly.
He pointed out that the health of residents is the primary concern of the KMA, stressing “it is for this reason that provision of water and sanitation services has been placed on the priority list of the government”.
Mr Sarpong therefore urged the chiefs and people of the beneficiary communities to “give their maximum support towards the successful implementation of the project”.
The Project, dubbed ‘Oforikrom Water and Sanitation Project’ (OWAS), is also expected to improve sanitation in the selected suburbs in order to reduce the spread of communicable diseases among the residents.
Under the project, 44 standpipes and water storage tanks would be constructed at Kotei, Gyenyase, Oforikrom, Akorem and Adukrom which are the beneficiary suburbs in the Kumasi metropolis to facilitate adequate supply of potable water.
While eight standpipes with one mechanised borehole and a 50-cubic meter water storage tank would be constructed at Kotei which has an estimated population of 7,252, four standpipes with a mechanised borehole and 50-cubic metre water storage tank would be constructed at Gyenyase, which has an estimated population of nearly 19000.
At Oforikrom, which has an estimated population of over 46,000, as many as 20 standpipes and a water storage facility would be constructed, and at Akorem, six standpipes and a water storage facility would benefit an estimated population of 19,111 residents, Adukrom, with an estimated population of 17,568 residents, would receive six standpipes and water storage facility.
As a way of enhancing sanitation in the selected suburbs, three aqua privy toilet facilities would be constructed for residents at Kotei and four of such facilities would be constructed at Gyenyase.
Residents at Oforikrom would have 18 of the aqua privy toilet facilities, and at Akorem, seven of the aqua privy toilet facilities would be constructed to enhance sanitation.
Adukrom will also have nine aqua privy toilet facilities under the project supposed to address the unsanitary conditions in the area.
In an address read on his behalf during the launch of the project, the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr A.S.K. Bagbin, expressed the government’s determination to support the urban poor who had been neglected over the years.
“You will all agree with me that over the years, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions in this country have either been rural or urban bias, leaving a gap for those who dwell in peri-urban and urban poor settlements.” He explained .
Mr Bagbin noted that the project was therefore an “intervention not only as delivering WASH services to the urban poor and peri-urban communities, but also highlights the general problems of such low-income communities which have not been attended to all this while”.
He pointed out that it was the reforms introduced by the Nationsl Democratic Congress government in the 1990s which are yielding “tremendous progress in the sector,” stressing, “Ghana is on track to meet WASH targets set for the MDG’s by 2015”.
He, therefore, charged the WSUP “to develop more of such innovative projects based on their wide experience and expertise to alleviate the suffering of the urban poor dwellers not only in Kumasi, but also in cities such as Tamale, Takoradi and Accra”.
He said with such innovations, the overall health status of the beneficiaries would be improved “and the result will be improved productivity, which we promised Ghanaians in 2008”.
In his welcoming address, the Mayor of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Mr Samuel Sarpong, commended USAID, Care International and other donors, whose efforts in terms of funds and expertise, made it possible for the project to kick-start smoothly.
He pointed out that the health of residents is the primary concern of the KMA, stressing “it is for this reason that provision of water and sanitation services has been placed on the priority list of the government”.
Mr Sarpong therefore urged the chiefs and people of the beneficiary communities to “give their maximum support towards the successful implementation of the project”.
Monday, March 22, 2010
NIA BEGINS REGISTRATION IN ASHANTI (PAGE 3, MARCH 22, 2010)
By George Ernest Asare & Joseph Kyei-Boateng, Kumasi
THE National Identification registration is set to begin on Thursday, March 22, in the Ashanti Region, Head of the Public Affairs of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Mrs. Bertha Dzeble has disclosed.
She said the region would be grouped into four zones and that twenty-four districts in the region would be covered for a period of ten days days.
Mrs. Dzeble disclosed this to the Daily Graphic after a press conference held in Kumasi.
She said the NIA would be operating at community levels within the four zones and would begin at the Obuasi Municipality, Adansi North, Adansi South, Amansie Central, Amansie West, Amansie East, Bosomtwe Kwanwoma and the Asante Akim South Districts.
According to her, the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality, Asante Akim North Municipality, Sekyere East, Sekyere West, Kwabre, Afigya Sekyere and Ejira-Sekyeredumasi Districts were to be covered for the second phase.
The Kumasi Metropolis would comprise the third phase.
For the fourth and last phase, the Offinso Municipality, Atwima Nwabiagya, Atwima Mponua, Ahafo Ano North and the Ahafo Ano South Districts would be covered.
Mrs. Dzeble indicated that the first phase would last up to April 1, 2010.
The second phase would begin from April 10 to April 21, followed by April 30 to May 12 and May 21 up to June 2 for the third and fourth phases respectively.
She explained that Ghanaians of six years and above would be eligible to be registered under the exercise.
According to her, foreign nationals legally resident in the region with official permit from the Ghana Immigration Service and permanent foreign nationals resident in Ghana would be accepted for registration.
Some of the basic requirements for the registration would be an individual’s full name, date and place of birth, occupation, height, residential address, postal address, parental information and marital status.
She said a National Health Insurance Identity (ID) Card, Voter’s ID, Driver’s License and birth certificate, would be accepted to confirm nationality before normal registration begins.
The Head of the Public Affairs said the registration was free and that rumours of making payments before registration were false and would be treated with scorn and contempt.
She further warned that any citizen who would be found culpable of collecting monies from clients would be made to face the full rigours of the law.
The Executive Secretary of the NIA, Dr. William Ahazdi, said the NIA was set up under the Office of the President with the mandate to issue national ID cards and manage the National Identification System (NIS) in 2006 when the National Identification Act, 707 was passed by Parliament.
This he said gave the NIA the necessary legal premises on which to operate.
He added that the National Identity Registration Act 2008 (Act 750) was also passed to give authorisation for the collection of personal data and to ensure the protection of privacy and personal information of people.
To him, the general public not taking advantage of the identification exercise would render the NIA redundant.
He expressed the hope that the NIA was creating an Identification system, which was secure and safe.
The Executive Secretary explained that the national identification ID card was a good identification basis for government.
He added that it was useful for assessing social and economic services.
"After registration in the Central, Western, Volta, Eastern and Greater Accra Regions, much co-operation would be needed from those in the Ashanti Region and particularly, urban dwellers of Kumasi metropolis, where there is a larger amount of heterogeneous population" he stressed.
Dr. Ahazdi reiterated that security measures would be beefed-up in the region for the exercise.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the NIA has warned the general public against double registration in the mass registration exercise.
He also warned against extortion saying both were offences to the exercise.
Dr. Ahazdi gave the warning in an interview in Kumasi.
He said Clause 43 of the National Identity Registration Act, 2008 (Act 750) stipulated that any of the offences were liable “on summary conviction to a fine of not more than two hundred and fifty penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not more than two years or both”.
Other registration offences he added, were provision of false information or making of false statements, forgery of an identity document, wrong influences of the decision of registration officers and tampering with register used for the registration at the various centres.
He debunked rumours that one had to pay money before taken through the registration exercise.
He said the exercise would aid the efficient and effective operation of public and private sector institutions, adding that this would make their services more secure, reliable and readily accessible.
He explained that the National ID and the database of the NIA were not a replacement of existing ones operated by public institutions.
Rather, they would aid in verification and authentication of the identities of persons enrolled by the institutions.
He appealed to the media to disseminate information on the exercise to the public so as to ease the work of the NIA and to ensure the smooth-run of the registration.
THE National Identification registration is set to begin on Thursday, March 22, in the Ashanti Region, Head of the Public Affairs of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Mrs. Bertha Dzeble has disclosed.
She said the region would be grouped into four zones and that twenty-four districts in the region would be covered for a period of ten days days.
Mrs. Dzeble disclosed this to the Daily Graphic after a press conference held in Kumasi.
She said the NIA would be operating at community levels within the four zones and would begin at the Obuasi Municipality, Adansi North, Adansi South, Amansie Central, Amansie West, Amansie East, Bosomtwe Kwanwoma and the Asante Akim South Districts.
According to her, the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality, Asante Akim North Municipality, Sekyere East, Sekyere West, Kwabre, Afigya Sekyere and Ejira-Sekyeredumasi Districts were to be covered for the second phase.
The Kumasi Metropolis would comprise the third phase.
For the fourth and last phase, the Offinso Municipality, Atwima Nwabiagya, Atwima Mponua, Ahafo Ano North and the Ahafo Ano South Districts would be covered.
Mrs. Dzeble indicated that the first phase would last up to April 1, 2010.
The second phase would begin from April 10 to April 21, followed by April 30 to May 12 and May 21 up to June 2 for the third and fourth phases respectively.
She explained that Ghanaians of six years and above would be eligible to be registered under the exercise.
According to her, foreign nationals legally resident in the region with official permit from the Ghana Immigration Service and permanent foreign nationals resident in Ghana would be accepted for registration.
Some of the basic requirements for the registration would be an individual’s full name, date and place of birth, occupation, height, residential address, postal address, parental information and marital status.
She said a National Health Insurance Identity (ID) Card, Voter’s ID, Driver’s License and birth certificate, would be accepted to confirm nationality before normal registration begins.
The Head of the Public Affairs said the registration was free and that rumours of making payments before registration were false and would be treated with scorn and contempt.
She further warned that any citizen who would be found culpable of collecting monies from clients would be made to face the full rigours of the law.
The Executive Secretary of the NIA, Dr. William Ahazdi, said the NIA was set up under the Office of the President with the mandate to issue national ID cards and manage the National Identification System (NIS) in 2006 when the National Identification Act, 707 was passed by Parliament.
This he said gave the NIA the necessary legal premises on which to operate.
He added that the National Identity Registration Act 2008 (Act 750) was also passed to give authorisation for the collection of personal data and to ensure the protection of privacy and personal information of people.
To him, the general public not taking advantage of the identification exercise would render the NIA redundant.
He expressed the hope that the NIA was creating an Identification system, which was secure and safe.
The Executive Secretary explained that the national identification ID card was a good identification basis for government.
He added that it was useful for assessing social and economic services.
"After registration in the Central, Western, Volta, Eastern and Greater Accra Regions, much co-operation would be needed from those in the Ashanti Region and particularly, urban dwellers of Kumasi metropolis, where there is a larger amount of heterogeneous population" he stressed.
Dr. Ahazdi reiterated that security measures would be beefed-up in the region for the exercise.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the NIA has warned the general public against double registration in the mass registration exercise.
He also warned against extortion saying both were offences to the exercise.
Dr. Ahazdi gave the warning in an interview in Kumasi.
He said Clause 43 of the National Identity Registration Act, 2008 (Act 750) stipulated that any of the offences were liable “on summary conviction to a fine of not more than two hundred and fifty penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not more than two years or both”.
Other registration offences he added, were provision of false information or making of false statements, forgery of an identity document, wrong influences of the decision of registration officers and tampering with register used for the registration at the various centres.
He debunked rumours that one had to pay money before taken through the registration exercise.
He said the exercise would aid the efficient and effective operation of public and private sector institutions, adding that this would make their services more secure, reliable and readily accessible.
He explained that the National ID and the database of the NIA were not a replacement of existing ones operated by public institutions.
Rather, they would aid in verification and authentication of the identities of persons enrolled by the institutions.
He appealed to the media to disseminate information on the exercise to the public so as to ease the work of the NIA and to ensure the smooth-run of the registration.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
KMA TO LAUNCH WAR ON NOISE POLLUTION (PAGE 18, MARCH 20, 2010)
The penchant for a section of residents in the Kumasi metropolis to harass neighbours with persistent noise making at residential areas and the Central Business District of Kumasi for commercial purposes, has now incurred the wrath of residents and city authorities.
Residents have expressed concern about the alarming rate at which traditional drug peddlers and other business entities in Kumasi mount loud speakers on vehicles at odd hours to disturb the peace with impunity.
In a series of complaints to the Daily Graphic, about the incessant noise in Kumasi, a section of residents expressed concern about “the drumming, singing, shouting, screaming and yelling by a group of worshippers, drug peddlers, film producers and gospel musicians, among others at odd hours “
Lamenting about the operations of the noise makers, the residents called on the city authorities “to institute measures to bring such law breakers to book”.
According to the residents, some religious fanatics have not only turned residential areas in the metropolis into places of worship, “but also shout at the top of their voices, aided by powerful loudspeakers”.
This , they noted, had made it impossible for law-abiding residents to have the peace of mind to plan and execute programmes that would enhance the success of their businesses.
A resident at Bomso, Dr K.E. Appiah of Bomso Clinic in Kumasi, who had been hit by the persistent noise in his residence told the Daily Graphic in his letter that his next door neighbour who has converted his house into what he described as “a centre of worship” had been creating all forms of noise “to prevent my family from enjoying any meaningful life”.
Stressing, he said “of late, a nearby respectable institution which has reached a university college status, has joined this cacophony of noise pollution” and therefore questioned where Ghana was heading to.
In a press release on noise and its socio-economic effects on residents, dated February 22, 2010 the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) which has become adamant to the incessant noise in the metropolis over the years, seems to have been suddenly woken from its slumber, and now appreciates the high level of noise in its catchment area and its effect on residents.
“Noise pollution has become one of the biggest challenges facing residents in the Kumasi Metropolis” the statement signed by Mr Clement Kegeri, the Public Relations Officer of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly said.
Stressing, the statement said “ in order to combat the menace, the Assembly , in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would soon undertake a city wide operation code-named, “operation less noise” to rid the city of excessive noise.
Explaining the rationale behind their action, the KMA noted, “The operation has become necessary in view of the need to protect human health and the environment from facing further negative effect exerted on it by excessive noise”.
The statement added that “information available at the Assembly indicates that 52 per cent of complaints lodged at the KMA in the year 2009, were noise related, whilst in the previous year (2008) 40 per cent of 78 complaints received by EPA were about noise pollution”.
The KMA identified mobile preachers, churches, drinking spots, those who hold funerals at open spaces and night clubs, as the worst offenders of noise pollution in the Kumasi Metropolis.
It is also not uncommon to see a section of the youth blasting horns and other musical instruments during weekends in the name of celebrating the life of departed lovers.
During such periods, the mourners disregard all forms of road traffic regulations by not only cramming themselves into small vehicles, - some of them in the booths - but also speed along residential areas, thus putting the lives of other road users at great risk.
Many accidents in the Kumasi metropolis that claimed precious lives, especially at weekends, could be traced to this callous attitude that has been allowed to go on with impunity for years.
How many times have we not seen some musicians hawking their products along the principal streets in the metropolis ?
Such musicians hawk their products in vehicles that move at a snail’s pace with the full blast of loud speakers to disturb public peace.
The operations of film producers who use loud speakers to market their products are equally disturbing .
For the untouchables who regularly block the Bantama, Dechemso and Krofrom High Streets among others in the name of street jams, the little said about them the better.
During such jams, motorists are forced to divert their routes at great expense before they can continue their journey, and commuters affected by such diversions, bemoan the immoral activities that go on during such street jams.
As far back as 2002, the Daily Graphic drew the attention of the city authorities to the uncontrolled noise in the metropolis and its effect on law-abiding citizens.
At that time, the Mayor of Kumasi gave an assurance that the assembly would collaborate with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to initiate policies and programmes that would reduce noise in Kumasi to a minimal level.
The assurance at that time as usual was that “those who harass residents through noise would not only be arrested, but would also be prosecuted to deter others”
However, the assurance became a mere political talk.
This was because since then, no action has been taken to prevent people from harassing neighbours through noise in Kumasi.
This has given noise makers a field day to invade any place in Kumasi with impunity at any time they pollute the atmosphere, thereby harassing law-abiding residents.
The concerns raised by a section of residents about noise pollution and its effect in Kumasi and the venom KMA is spewing in their attempt to control the situation, should not be taken for granted.
At the moment, city authorities are proving that they can bark very hard and are determined to deal with the situation decisively without fear or favour.
The assurance by the KMA is highly commendable, even though they are yet to begin the exercise.
It is equally important to learn that the KMA is collaborating with the EPA to initiate moves to create a serene atmosphere in Kumasi to enable law-abiding residents to have the enabling environment to focus on their business ventures.
This is because, like the KMA, the EPA seems to have buried its head in the sand, pretending that so far as noise pollution is concerned, nothing is happening in Kumasi.
Over the years, officials of the EPA, who have the mandate to arrest and prosecute residents who flout regulations on noise, only sit in their offices instead of monitoring the operations of the law breakers and bringing them to book.
It is also very unfortunate that instead of taking action, the EPA is rather complaining about noise making in Kumasi just as ordinary residents are doing.
It would be interesting to see how the KMA will collaborate with the EPA to address the problems of noise making in Kumasi.
As part of its bye-laws, jointly signed by the then Metropolitan Coordinating Director and Presiding Member in 1995, on the abatement of noise, the KMA noted” On any premises used for the sale of musical records or other recorded music, there shall be provided for listening, a separate and proofed room, equipped with such instrument and gadgets as to eliminate any loud noise or nuisance to the public”.
The KMA bye-laws on noise pollution also pointed out that “No person shall play or cause to be played records music in public for the purpose of advertisement in such a manner as to cause disturbance or nuisance to the public”.
It further noted that “where recorded music is provided in a nightclub, restaurant, drinking bar, hotel or other place of refreshment, or entertainment, the music shall be so provided as to be heard only within the confines of the place”.
On religious programmes, the Assembly directed, “ where music is played in a religious institution, the music shall be so provided as to be heard only within the confines of their institution”.
Stressing, it said “a person conducting a religious service where music is to be played before 6 a.m. or after 12 p.m. shall seek permission from KMA in writing, except public and statutory holidays”.
Another interesting aspect of the bye-laws on noise making stipulated, that “no person shall within one hundred meters of any shop, dwelling house, office or other premises, sound or play upon any musical or noisy instrument, or sing, or shout, or blow the horn of any motor vehicle unnecessarily in any street to the annoyance or disturbance of any inmates or occupants thereof”.
These are brilliant regulations instituted with the view of promoting peaceful co-existence and serene atmosphere in the Kumasi metropolis, but they have only become decorative materials on the shelves of the KMA.
However, a critical scrutiny of the KMA bye-laws on noise making shows that the Assembly has never taken its own initiative serious, hence the action by residents to flout them with impunity.
A critical observation has proved that since the KMA came out with the press statement over three weeks ago, not a single soul in Kumasi has been arrested and prosecuted, in spite of the escalating noise at residential and commercial centres on daily basis.
In their letter to warn noise makers issued on February 22, 2010, the KMA stated emphatically that it would start operations soon, but the Assembly did not state how soon it would embark on the operation to address the problems of noise in its catchment area.
This is because more than three weeks after notice was issued, people continue to invade the streets and residential areas, creating all forms of noise to make money at the expense of the health of law-abiding citizens.
Residents are waiting patiently for the KMA to start its “Operation less noise exercise’’ in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs as stated in their press statement to curb the pollution of noise which it has identified as “seriously affecting the heath of residents”.
The hope is that, this time round, the Kumasi Mayor will put action into words by initiating policies and programmes that would halt the pollution of the atmosphere through noise.
This will not only create a serene atmosphere to make residents enjoy life more meaningfully and focus on their core businesses , but would also make the mayor leave a legacy as a politician whose initiatives restored law and order in the Garden City.
Residents have expressed concern about the alarming rate at which traditional drug peddlers and other business entities in Kumasi mount loud speakers on vehicles at odd hours to disturb the peace with impunity.
In a series of complaints to the Daily Graphic, about the incessant noise in Kumasi, a section of residents expressed concern about “the drumming, singing, shouting, screaming and yelling by a group of worshippers, drug peddlers, film producers and gospel musicians, among others at odd hours “
Lamenting about the operations of the noise makers, the residents called on the city authorities “to institute measures to bring such law breakers to book”.
According to the residents, some religious fanatics have not only turned residential areas in the metropolis into places of worship, “but also shout at the top of their voices, aided by powerful loudspeakers”.
This , they noted, had made it impossible for law-abiding residents to have the peace of mind to plan and execute programmes that would enhance the success of their businesses.
A resident at Bomso, Dr K.E. Appiah of Bomso Clinic in Kumasi, who had been hit by the persistent noise in his residence told the Daily Graphic in his letter that his next door neighbour who has converted his house into what he described as “a centre of worship” had been creating all forms of noise “to prevent my family from enjoying any meaningful life”.
Stressing, he said “of late, a nearby respectable institution which has reached a university college status, has joined this cacophony of noise pollution” and therefore questioned where Ghana was heading to.
In a press release on noise and its socio-economic effects on residents, dated February 22, 2010 the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) which has become adamant to the incessant noise in the metropolis over the years, seems to have been suddenly woken from its slumber, and now appreciates the high level of noise in its catchment area and its effect on residents.
“Noise pollution has become one of the biggest challenges facing residents in the Kumasi Metropolis” the statement signed by Mr Clement Kegeri, the Public Relations Officer of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly said.
Stressing, the statement said “ in order to combat the menace, the Assembly , in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would soon undertake a city wide operation code-named, “operation less noise” to rid the city of excessive noise.
Explaining the rationale behind their action, the KMA noted, “The operation has become necessary in view of the need to protect human health and the environment from facing further negative effect exerted on it by excessive noise”.
The statement added that “information available at the Assembly indicates that 52 per cent of complaints lodged at the KMA in the year 2009, were noise related, whilst in the previous year (2008) 40 per cent of 78 complaints received by EPA were about noise pollution”.
The KMA identified mobile preachers, churches, drinking spots, those who hold funerals at open spaces and night clubs, as the worst offenders of noise pollution in the Kumasi Metropolis.
It is also not uncommon to see a section of the youth blasting horns and other musical instruments during weekends in the name of celebrating the life of departed lovers.
During such periods, the mourners disregard all forms of road traffic regulations by not only cramming themselves into small vehicles, - some of them in the booths - but also speed along residential areas, thus putting the lives of other road users at great risk.
Many accidents in the Kumasi metropolis that claimed precious lives, especially at weekends, could be traced to this callous attitude that has been allowed to go on with impunity for years.
How many times have we not seen some musicians hawking their products along the principal streets in the metropolis ?
Such musicians hawk their products in vehicles that move at a snail’s pace with the full blast of loud speakers to disturb public peace.
The operations of film producers who use loud speakers to market their products are equally disturbing .
For the untouchables who regularly block the Bantama, Dechemso and Krofrom High Streets among others in the name of street jams, the little said about them the better.
During such jams, motorists are forced to divert their routes at great expense before they can continue their journey, and commuters affected by such diversions, bemoan the immoral activities that go on during such street jams.
As far back as 2002, the Daily Graphic drew the attention of the city authorities to the uncontrolled noise in the metropolis and its effect on law-abiding citizens.
At that time, the Mayor of Kumasi gave an assurance that the assembly would collaborate with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to initiate policies and programmes that would reduce noise in Kumasi to a minimal level.
The assurance at that time as usual was that “those who harass residents through noise would not only be arrested, but would also be prosecuted to deter others”
However, the assurance became a mere political talk.
This was because since then, no action has been taken to prevent people from harassing neighbours through noise in Kumasi.
This has given noise makers a field day to invade any place in Kumasi with impunity at any time they pollute the atmosphere, thereby harassing law-abiding residents.
The concerns raised by a section of residents about noise pollution and its effect in Kumasi and the venom KMA is spewing in their attempt to control the situation, should not be taken for granted.
At the moment, city authorities are proving that they can bark very hard and are determined to deal with the situation decisively without fear or favour.
The assurance by the KMA is highly commendable, even though they are yet to begin the exercise.
It is equally important to learn that the KMA is collaborating with the EPA to initiate moves to create a serene atmosphere in Kumasi to enable law-abiding residents to have the enabling environment to focus on their business ventures.
This is because, like the KMA, the EPA seems to have buried its head in the sand, pretending that so far as noise pollution is concerned, nothing is happening in Kumasi.
Over the years, officials of the EPA, who have the mandate to arrest and prosecute residents who flout regulations on noise, only sit in their offices instead of monitoring the operations of the law breakers and bringing them to book.
It is also very unfortunate that instead of taking action, the EPA is rather complaining about noise making in Kumasi just as ordinary residents are doing.
It would be interesting to see how the KMA will collaborate with the EPA to address the problems of noise making in Kumasi.
As part of its bye-laws, jointly signed by the then Metropolitan Coordinating Director and Presiding Member in 1995, on the abatement of noise, the KMA noted” On any premises used for the sale of musical records or other recorded music, there shall be provided for listening, a separate and proofed room, equipped with such instrument and gadgets as to eliminate any loud noise or nuisance to the public”.
The KMA bye-laws on noise pollution also pointed out that “No person shall play or cause to be played records music in public for the purpose of advertisement in such a manner as to cause disturbance or nuisance to the public”.
It further noted that “where recorded music is provided in a nightclub, restaurant, drinking bar, hotel or other place of refreshment, or entertainment, the music shall be so provided as to be heard only within the confines of the place”.
On religious programmes, the Assembly directed, “ where music is played in a religious institution, the music shall be so provided as to be heard only within the confines of their institution”.
Stressing, it said “a person conducting a religious service where music is to be played before 6 a.m. or after 12 p.m. shall seek permission from KMA in writing, except public and statutory holidays”.
Another interesting aspect of the bye-laws on noise making stipulated, that “no person shall within one hundred meters of any shop, dwelling house, office or other premises, sound or play upon any musical or noisy instrument, or sing, or shout, or blow the horn of any motor vehicle unnecessarily in any street to the annoyance or disturbance of any inmates or occupants thereof”.
These are brilliant regulations instituted with the view of promoting peaceful co-existence and serene atmosphere in the Kumasi metropolis, but they have only become decorative materials on the shelves of the KMA.
However, a critical scrutiny of the KMA bye-laws on noise making shows that the Assembly has never taken its own initiative serious, hence the action by residents to flout them with impunity.
A critical observation has proved that since the KMA came out with the press statement over three weeks ago, not a single soul in Kumasi has been arrested and prosecuted, in spite of the escalating noise at residential and commercial centres on daily basis.
In their letter to warn noise makers issued on February 22, 2010, the KMA stated emphatically that it would start operations soon, but the Assembly did not state how soon it would embark on the operation to address the problems of noise in its catchment area.
This is because more than three weeks after notice was issued, people continue to invade the streets and residential areas, creating all forms of noise to make money at the expense of the health of law-abiding citizens.
Residents are waiting patiently for the KMA to start its “Operation less noise exercise’’ in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs as stated in their press statement to curb the pollution of noise which it has identified as “seriously affecting the heath of residents”.
The hope is that, this time round, the Kumasi Mayor will put action into words by initiating policies and programmes that would halt the pollution of the atmosphere through noise.
This will not only create a serene atmosphere to make residents enjoy life more meaningfully and focus on their core businesses , but would also make the mayor leave a legacy as a politician whose initiatives restored law and order in the Garden City.
KSTS STUDENT ELECTROCUTED (PAGE 19, MARCH 20, 2010)
TRAGEDY struck the Kumasi Secondary Technical School (KSTS) when a second- year student, Michael Sarkodie, was found electrocuted on a fence wall in the school yesterday morning.
Sarkodie, 18, was apparently trapped by a live barbed wire last Thursday night but the body was discovered yesterday morning.
Grieving mates of the deceased could not believe their eyes as they watched the lifeless body of Michael hung on the fence. The incident disrupted classes yesterday morning.
The Police later went to the school to remove the body and sent it to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital morgue for autopsy.
According to the police, they would conduct further investigations into the incident.
Some of the students who spoke to the Daily Graphic said Michael, who was a boarding student, was absent at the students’ assembly in the morning.
With no word about his whereabouts, his fellows wondered about what might have happened to him.
As the search for him continued someone came around with the shocking news of the death of Michael on the fence.
The headmaster of the school, Mr Emmanuel Mensah, told the Daily Graphic that the barbed wires were placed on the wall to prevent students from escaping to town.
The wire, he noted, was not electrified in and, therefore, suspected that they might have gotten into contact with a live electrical item following a downpour on Thursday night.
Sarkodie, 18, was apparently trapped by a live barbed wire last Thursday night but the body was discovered yesterday morning.
Grieving mates of the deceased could not believe their eyes as they watched the lifeless body of Michael hung on the fence. The incident disrupted classes yesterday morning.
The Police later went to the school to remove the body and sent it to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital morgue for autopsy.
According to the police, they would conduct further investigations into the incident.
Some of the students who spoke to the Daily Graphic said Michael, who was a boarding student, was absent at the students’ assembly in the morning.
With no word about his whereabouts, his fellows wondered about what might have happened to him.
As the search for him continued someone came around with the shocking news of the death of Michael on the fence.
The headmaster of the school, Mr Emmanuel Mensah, told the Daily Graphic that the barbed wires were placed on the wall to prevent students from escaping to town.
The wire, he noted, was not electrified in and, therefore, suspected that they might have gotten into contact with a live electrical item following a downpour on Thursday night.
Friday, March 19, 2010
MAN, 24, JAILED 80 YEARS (MIRROR, PAGE 23, MARCH 20, 2010)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
A 24-year-old man, Prince Adu Boakye, has been sentenced to serve 80 years’ jail term with hard labour over a robbery case that led to the death of his friend.
Moments after the Kumasi Circuit Court, presided over by Justice Amo Yartey, had convicted him last Monday, Boakye, who appeared miserable and downhearted, pleaded with the judge to reduce the sentence.
“I have regretted playing a part that led to the death of my friend. Even though I took part in the booty I did not pull the trigger that took the life of my friend, so you should temper justice with mercy and reduce the sentence for me,” he pleaded.
Responding, Justice Amo Yartey said he took into consideration the fact that the convict pleaded guilty in the robbery case, leading to a speedy trial.
He said he also took into consideration the fact that the convict remained remorseful throughout the trial, adding, “But for the fact that you pleaded guilty to the charge and looked repentant throughout the trial, I would have convicted you to serve over 100 years’ jail term to serve as a deterrent to others,“ Justice Yartey explained.
Prosecuting, a State Attorney, Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo-Boison, said the convict was a trader at the Central Market, while the victim of the robbery case, Atta Obiri Yaw, now deceased, was a black market money dealer also at the Central market.
He said on August 3, 2009, a complainant in the case, Eric Apraku Gyamfi, who deals in mobile phones, gave a cheque for GH¢150,000 to Atta to cash at the bank in exchange of the equivalent in dollars.
According to the State Attorney, Atta was able to give $35,000.00 to Apraku after the transactions, leaving a balance of $65,000 but Apraku travelled to Dubai and instructed Atta to give the balance to his father.
The prosecutor said Atta contacted Boakye, who was his friend, to assist him to change GH¢96,200 into dollars and Boakye readily accepted to assist.
He said Boakye then directed Atta to meet him at the Bibiani Logging and Lumber Company (BLLC) at Kaase, a Kumasi suburb, to enable him (the convict) to secure the needed dollars from a friend called George Wireko Brobbey.
He said Atta, accompanied by another friend, Kwasi Adjei, went to the BLLC with the GH¢96,200, where he waited for Boakye at the reception. Boakye later got there in the company of a friend, Arnold Osei Darbo, in a VW Golf saloon car with registration number AS5188 A.
The prosecutor said when they arrived, Boakye allegedly asked Atta to wait for him as he entered Wireko Brobbey’s office.
Mr Otoo-Boison said Boakye returned with a cheque and asked Atta to accompany him to the bank to withdraw the money because he had secured the dollar cheque from Wireko Brobbey.
He said at the bank Boakye allegedly told Atta that the bank manager had asked for sometime to enable him to arrange for the money from another branch of the bank.
Consequently, Boakye drove to a hotel for them to wait for the bank manager’s call and at about 3:30 p.m, Boakye picked another friend and together with Atta left to go to the bank but whilst on the way Boakye stopped with the excuse that he was picking a parcel in the car boot for a friend.
According to Mr Otoo-Boison, Boakye had by then loaded a pump action gun in the boot, so when he went there, he picked the loaded gun, aimed and fired at Atta, killing him instantly in the car.
The prosecutor said the body was dumped at Apre, near St, Hubert Catholic Seminary whilst the culprits bolted with the GH¢96,200.
He said on August 4, 2009, the convict was arrested and during investigations, he led the police to the hotel where he had abandoned the VW Golf saloon car.
Mr Otoo-Boison said when the police inspected the car, they found the pair of shoes belonging to the deceased and also found seven live cartridges and the pump action gun.
He said the convict admitted the offence during investigations and later pleaded guilty to the offence.
A 24-year-old man, Prince Adu Boakye, has been sentenced to serve 80 years’ jail term with hard labour over a robbery case that led to the death of his friend.
Moments after the Kumasi Circuit Court, presided over by Justice Amo Yartey, had convicted him last Monday, Boakye, who appeared miserable and downhearted, pleaded with the judge to reduce the sentence.
“I have regretted playing a part that led to the death of my friend. Even though I took part in the booty I did not pull the trigger that took the life of my friend, so you should temper justice with mercy and reduce the sentence for me,” he pleaded.
Responding, Justice Amo Yartey said he took into consideration the fact that the convict pleaded guilty in the robbery case, leading to a speedy trial.
He said he also took into consideration the fact that the convict remained remorseful throughout the trial, adding, “But for the fact that you pleaded guilty to the charge and looked repentant throughout the trial, I would have convicted you to serve over 100 years’ jail term to serve as a deterrent to others,“ Justice Yartey explained.
Prosecuting, a State Attorney, Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo-Boison, said the convict was a trader at the Central Market, while the victim of the robbery case, Atta Obiri Yaw, now deceased, was a black market money dealer also at the Central market.
He said on August 3, 2009, a complainant in the case, Eric Apraku Gyamfi, who deals in mobile phones, gave a cheque for GH¢150,000 to Atta to cash at the bank in exchange of the equivalent in dollars.
According to the State Attorney, Atta was able to give $35,000.00 to Apraku after the transactions, leaving a balance of $65,000 but Apraku travelled to Dubai and instructed Atta to give the balance to his father.
The prosecutor said Atta contacted Boakye, who was his friend, to assist him to change GH¢96,200 into dollars and Boakye readily accepted to assist.
He said Boakye then directed Atta to meet him at the Bibiani Logging and Lumber Company (BLLC) at Kaase, a Kumasi suburb, to enable him (the convict) to secure the needed dollars from a friend called George Wireko Brobbey.
He said Atta, accompanied by another friend, Kwasi Adjei, went to the BLLC with the GH¢96,200, where he waited for Boakye at the reception. Boakye later got there in the company of a friend, Arnold Osei Darbo, in a VW Golf saloon car with registration number AS5188 A.
The prosecutor said when they arrived, Boakye allegedly asked Atta to wait for him as he entered Wireko Brobbey’s office.
Mr Otoo-Boison said Boakye returned with a cheque and asked Atta to accompany him to the bank to withdraw the money because he had secured the dollar cheque from Wireko Brobbey.
He said at the bank Boakye allegedly told Atta that the bank manager had asked for sometime to enable him to arrange for the money from another branch of the bank.
Consequently, Boakye drove to a hotel for them to wait for the bank manager’s call and at about 3:30 p.m, Boakye picked another friend and together with Atta left to go to the bank but whilst on the way Boakye stopped with the excuse that he was picking a parcel in the car boot for a friend.
According to Mr Otoo-Boison, Boakye had by then loaded a pump action gun in the boot, so when he went there, he picked the loaded gun, aimed and fired at Atta, killing him instantly in the car.
The prosecutor said the body was dumped at Apre, near St, Hubert Catholic Seminary whilst the culprits bolted with the GH¢96,200.
He said on August 4, 2009, the convict was arrested and during investigations, he led the police to the hotel where he had abandoned the VW Golf saloon car.
Mr Otoo-Boison said when the police inspected the car, they found the pair of shoes belonging to the deceased and also found seven live cartridges and the pump action gun.
He said the convict admitted the offence during investigations and later pleaded guilty to the offence.
FIRE OFFICERS TRAIN IN RESCUE OPERATION (MIRROR, PAGE 25, MARCH 20, 2010)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
THE Ashanti Regional Fire Service has organised a programme to retrain its personnel on the techniques of rescuing accident victims.
The exercise was also meant to select a team to represent the region in a competition on accident rescue operation in Accra.
Six fire stations participated in the exercise, which was won by the Ejusu–Konongo Fire Station. The other teams were the Regional Headquarters Fire Station, the Metro, Komfo Anokye, Mamponteng and Nkawie Fire stations.
The Ashanti Regional Instruction Officer, Mr James Baba Asalibanyina, who briefed The Mirror on the exercise, explained that given the rate of accidents on the highways and the number of casualties, the need to retrain “our officers to enable them to respond quickly to emergencies is paramount”.
He said the numerous death and permanent injuries sustained through road accidents could be traced to sympathisers who rushed to accident scenes with the aim of rescuing accident victims.
“Many of the sympathisers have no training and experience on accident rescue mission and so in their rush to save accident victims, they handle them anyhow, thus compounding the plight and injury of the victims, causing some of them to lose their lives, while others sustain permanent disabilities,” he explained.
Mr Philip Aheng-Mensah, the Ashanti Regional Fire Officer, said about 21 per cent of deaths and permanent disabilities associated with accidents could be traced to the way sympathisers handled accident victims.
THE Ashanti Regional Fire Service has organised a programme to retrain its personnel on the techniques of rescuing accident victims.
The exercise was also meant to select a team to represent the region in a competition on accident rescue operation in Accra.
Six fire stations participated in the exercise, which was won by the Ejusu–Konongo Fire Station. The other teams were the Regional Headquarters Fire Station, the Metro, Komfo Anokye, Mamponteng and Nkawie Fire stations.
The Ashanti Regional Instruction Officer, Mr James Baba Asalibanyina, who briefed The Mirror on the exercise, explained that given the rate of accidents on the highways and the number of casualties, the need to retrain “our officers to enable them to respond quickly to emergencies is paramount”.
He said the numerous death and permanent injuries sustained through road accidents could be traced to sympathisers who rushed to accident scenes with the aim of rescuing accident victims.
“Many of the sympathisers have no training and experience on accident rescue mission and so in their rush to save accident victims, they handle them anyhow, thus compounding the plight and injury of the victims, causing some of them to lose their lives, while others sustain permanent disabilities,” he explained.
Mr Philip Aheng-Mensah, the Ashanti Regional Fire Officer, said about 21 per cent of deaths and permanent disabilities associated with accidents could be traced to the way sympathisers handled accident victims.
DEITIES STRIKE MAN, 20? (MIRROR, PAGE 25, MARCH 20, 2010)
From George Ernest Asare, Achiase.
What started as a mere voluntary service to let the truth prevail in a controversy between two charismatic church leaders in Kumasi is now turning bloody.
A 20-year-old man who allegedly invoked the spirit of six river deities in Ashanti to strike dead anyone who lied that some concoctions had been buried on the premises of a church, has been struck by the same deities he invoked.
A few weeks after Charles Agyepong, the only son of his parents, allegedly invoked the spirit of the deities, including the famous Antoa, he has been bleeding from his male organ, which is also swelling and increasing in size daily.
Prior to that, he was bed-ridden, as both legs and hands increased in size, making it impossible for him to walk steadily.
He had to be supported by family members and a walking stick anytime he wanted to respond to the call of nature or attend to any emergency programme.
According to Agyepong, who claimed to be a victim of circumstances, “I have also become sexually incapacitated, as I have not been sexually active for some time, compelling my wife to leave our matrimonial home.”
At the moment, his family is trying to reverse the curse.
Agyepong’s problems started after hearing on radio that two of his friends, alleged to have buried some concoctions on the premises of the Ebenezer Miracle Worship Centre at Ahenema Kokoben, were denying that they knew each other.
Moments afterwards, Agyepong boarded a vehicle from Achiase in the Ejisu Juaben District of the Ashanti Region to the Suame Police Station, where the case was being investigated, and without any provocation, invoked the spirit of the Antoa deity and five others, to strike dead anyone who attempted to lie.
Explaining his action, he said: “Upon hearing that Frank Annor and Charles Abankwa — two of my friends — were embroiled in a controversy over the alleged burying of some concoctions on a church premises, I went to the Suame Police Station and invoked the spirits of the deities to ensure that the truth prevailed.
“I also invoked the spirit of the river deities to strike dead anyone who offered bribe or received monetary gains to influence the outcome of the controversy in the case to ensure that the truth prevailed, but moments afterwards, some radio presenters called and persuaded me to say that I had never met Annor and Abankwa in my life.
“This was after they had assured me that one of the church leaders involved in the controversy had promised to deposit GH¢3,000 in my bank accounts, provided I lied that everything I said on the Annor and Abankwa issue involving the burying of concoctions on the Ahenema Kokoben church premises was concocted.“
Explaining how he was embroiled in the issue during an interview with The Mirror he said “it was some radio presenters who persuaded me to lie that all what I said about my friends were concocted. They gave an assurance to deposit GH¢3000 into a bank account for me but only gave me GH¢30.00 for my transport.
“Now my health is failing very fast and since I don’t want to die at such a tender age, I want the radio presenters to come public and boldly tell everyone about the role they played in bringing this predicament upon me, failing of which I will invoke the spirit of the river deities to strike them dead. If I am going to die, I will not go alone.”
His sister, who identified herself as Yaa Fosua, said “four of her seven siblings are dead, leaving her and two others, including Agyepong.
“Our father is dead and my mother is dumb. Charles is my only brother, so I am prepared to support him not only to reverse the curse to enable him to recover and enjoy life, but also invoke the spirit of the deities to strike those who persuaded my brother to lie without fulfilling the promise they made,” she assured.
What started as a mere voluntary service to let the truth prevail in a controversy between two charismatic church leaders in Kumasi is now turning bloody.
A 20-year-old man who allegedly invoked the spirit of six river deities in Ashanti to strike dead anyone who lied that some concoctions had been buried on the premises of a church, has been struck by the same deities he invoked.
A few weeks after Charles Agyepong, the only son of his parents, allegedly invoked the spirit of the deities, including the famous Antoa, he has been bleeding from his male organ, which is also swelling and increasing in size daily.
Prior to that, he was bed-ridden, as both legs and hands increased in size, making it impossible for him to walk steadily.
He had to be supported by family members and a walking stick anytime he wanted to respond to the call of nature or attend to any emergency programme.
According to Agyepong, who claimed to be a victim of circumstances, “I have also become sexually incapacitated, as I have not been sexually active for some time, compelling my wife to leave our matrimonial home.”
At the moment, his family is trying to reverse the curse.
Agyepong’s problems started after hearing on radio that two of his friends, alleged to have buried some concoctions on the premises of the Ebenezer Miracle Worship Centre at Ahenema Kokoben, were denying that they knew each other.
Moments afterwards, Agyepong boarded a vehicle from Achiase in the Ejisu Juaben District of the Ashanti Region to the Suame Police Station, where the case was being investigated, and without any provocation, invoked the spirit of the Antoa deity and five others, to strike dead anyone who attempted to lie.
Explaining his action, he said: “Upon hearing that Frank Annor and Charles Abankwa — two of my friends — were embroiled in a controversy over the alleged burying of some concoctions on a church premises, I went to the Suame Police Station and invoked the spirits of the deities to ensure that the truth prevailed.
“I also invoked the spirit of the river deities to strike dead anyone who offered bribe or received monetary gains to influence the outcome of the controversy in the case to ensure that the truth prevailed, but moments afterwards, some radio presenters called and persuaded me to say that I had never met Annor and Abankwa in my life.
“This was after they had assured me that one of the church leaders involved in the controversy had promised to deposit GH¢3,000 in my bank accounts, provided I lied that everything I said on the Annor and Abankwa issue involving the burying of concoctions on the Ahenema Kokoben church premises was concocted.“
Explaining how he was embroiled in the issue during an interview with The Mirror he said “it was some radio presenters who persuaded me to lie that all what I said about my friends were concocted. They gave an assurance to deposit GH¢3000 into a bank account for me but only gave me GH¢30.00 for my transport.
“Now my health is failing very fast and since I don’t want to die at such a tender age, I want the radio presenters to come public and boldly tell everyone about the role they played in bringing this predicament upon me, failing of which I will invoke the spirit of the river deities to strike them dead. If I am going to die, I will not go alone.”
His sister, who identified herself as Yaa Fosua, said “four of her seven siblings are dead, leaving her and two others, including Agyepong.
“Our father is dead and my mother is dumb. Charles is my only brother, so I am prepared to support him not only to reverse the curse to enable him to recover and enjoy life, but also invoke the spirit of the deities to strike those who persuaded my brother to lie without fulfilling the promise they made,” she assured.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
ASANTE-AKYEM APOSTOLIC CHURCH SUPPORTS AGOGO HOSPITAL (PAGE 44, MARCH 18, 2010)
Authorities at Agogo Presbyterian Hospital in the Asante Akim District of Ashanti have appealed to the public, especially the youth, to cultivate the habit of donating blood regularly to the hospital to enhance the emergency treatment of cases.
According to the authorities, inadequate blood donation to the hospital sometimes undermined quality healthcare delivery and, therefore, pleaded with the youth to develop the spirit to donate blood to save patients who needed emergency treatment.
The nurse/administrator of the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital, Mrs Mary Tenkorang, made the appeal when about 150 members of the Asante Akim North and South Area of the Apostolic Church-Ghana, donated blood to the hospital last Sunday.
Apart from donating blood, the members also donated quantities of curtains, estimated at GH¢2,500, to the hospital for the decoration of the Labour and Children’s wards.
The donation formed part of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the church.
Mrs Tenkorang commended members of the church for their sense of initiative and pleaded with other churches to emulate their example.
Briefing newsmen on the gesture by the church, the Area Superintendent, Pastor Kwabina Tagba, said it was motivated by the problems of inadequate blood facing the hospital authorities.
He pointed out that while the blood donation would go a long way to save lives, the curtains would beautify both the Labour and Children’s wards to speed up the recovery of patients.
Pastor Tagba, who was the first to donate blood, after going through screening, said the gesture would be sustained.
According to the authorities, inadequate blood donation to the hospital sometimes undermined quality healthcare delivery and, therefore, pleaded with the youth to develop the spirit to donate blood to save patients who needed emergency treatment.
The nurse/administrator of the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital, Mrs Mary Tenkorang, made the appeal when about 150 members of the Asante Akim North and South Area of the Apostolic Church-Ghana, donated blood to the hospital last Sunday.
Apart from donating blood, the members also donated quantities of curtains, estimated at GH¢2,500, to the hospital for the decoration of the Labour and Children’s wards.
The donation formed part of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the church.
Mrs Tenkorang commended members of the church for their sense of initiative and pleaded with other churches to emulate their example.
Briefing newsmen on the gesture by the church, the Area Superintendent, Pastor Kwabina Tagba, said it was motivated by the problems of inadequate blood facing the hospital authorities.
He pointed out that while the blood donation would go a long way to save lives, the curtains would beautify both the Labour and Children’s wards to speed up the recovery of patients.
Pastor Tagba, who was the first to donate blood, after going through screening, said the gesture would be sustained.
RURAL BANK DONATES TO SHS (PAGE 21, MARCH 17, 2010)
THE Management of Komfo Anokye Rural Bank at Wiamoase has donated 100 bags of cement to the Komfo Anokye Senior High School (SHS) at Wiamoase in the Ashanti Region to facilitate the construction of male and female dormitories in the school.
The construction of the dormitories is to enable the school to accommodate the students who would be admitted next academic year.
Briefing the media on the donation, the Secretary to the Board of Directors of the bank, Mr Ebenezer Nartey, said the gesture was a response to an appeal by the parent-teacher association (PTA) of the school for assistance in the construction of the dormitories.
He stated that the bank had already constructed a bridge for the school to facilitate the transportation of goods and services.
Mr Nartey added that the bank had initiated a scholarship scheme for needy, brilliant students in the communities in its catchment area.
He gave the assurance that the bank would not relent in its efforts to support individuals, institutions and organisations that initiated projects that would impact positively on the lives of the people in the community.
The Headmaster of Wiamoase SHS, Mr Kofi Anokye Manu, who received the items on behalf of the school, was grateful to the management of Komfo Anokye Rural Bank for its humanitarian gesture.
He said the cement would complement the initiative of the PTA which is determined to provide the needed infrastructure to enhance teaching and learning in the school.
Mr Manu said the PTA had started constructing a wall to prevent intruders who entered the dormitories to steal students’ belongings when classes were in session, from doing so.
He added that the one mile square wall, which had almost been completed, would also prevent students from using unapproved routes to enter or leave the school.
Mr Manu said the PTA had made a passionate appeal to other corporate bodies to support it with cement to facilitate the completion of the wall and other structures initiated to facilitate academic work.
He said with the support of the PTA and other corporate bodies, his administration would be able to focus on its core business of producing students capable of developing their potential in a more effective and efficient way.
The construction of the dormitories is to enable the school to accommodate the students who would be admitted next academic year.
Briefing the media on the donation, the Secretary to the Board of Directors of the bank, Mr Ebenezer Nartey, said the gesture was a response to an appeal by the parent-teacher association (PTA) of the school for assistance in the construction of the dormitories.
He stated that the bank had already constructed a bridge for the school to facilitate the transportation of goods and services.
Mr Nartey added that the bank had initiated a scholarship scheme for needy, brilliant students in the communities in its catchment area.
He gave the assurance that the bank would not relent in its efforts to support individuals, institutions and organisations that initiated projects that would impact positively on the lives of the people in the community.
The Headmaster of Wiamoase SHS, Mr Kofi Anokye Manu, who received the items on behalf of the school, was grateful to the management of Komfo Anokye Rural Bank for its humanitarian gesture.
He said the cement would complement the initiative of the PTA which is determined to provide the needed infrastructure to enhance teaching and learning in the school.
Mr Manu said the PTA had started constructing a wall to prevent intruders who entered the dormitories to steal students’ belongings when classes were in session, from doing so.
He added that the one mile square wall, which had almost been completed, would also prevent students from using unapproved routes to enter or leave the school.
Mr Manu said the PTA had made a passionate appeal to other corporate bodies to support it with cement to facilitate the completion of the wall and other structures initiated to facilitate academic work.
He said with the support of the PTA and other corporate bodies, his administration would be able to focus on its core business of producing students capable of developing their potential in a more effective and efficient way.
RURAL BANK DONATES TO SHS (PAGE 21, MARCH 17, 2010)
THE Management of Komfo Anokye Rural Bank at Wiamoase has donated 100 bags of cement to the Komfo Anokye Senior High School (SHS) at Wiamoase in the Ashanti Region to facilitate the construction of male and female dormitories in the school.
The construction of the dormitories is to enable the school to accommodate the students who would be admitted next academic year.
Briefing the media on the donation, the Secretary to the Board of Directors of the bank, Mr Ebenezer Nartey, said the gesture was a response to an appeal by the parent-teacher association (PTA) of the school for assistance in the construction of the dormitories.
He stated that the bank had already constructed a bridge for the school to facilitate the transportation of goods and services.
Mr Nartey added that the bank had initiated a scholarship scheme for needy, brilliant students in the communities in its catchment area.
He gave the assurance that the bank would not relent in its efforts to support individuals, institutions and organisations that initiated projects that would impact positively on the lives of the people in the community.
The Headmaster of Wiamoase SHS, Mr Kofi Anokye Manu, who received the items on behalf of the school, was grateful to the management of Komfo Anokye Rural Bank for its humanitarian gesture.
He said the cement would complement the initiative of the PTA which is determined to provide the needed infrastructure to enhance teaching and learning in the school.
Mr Manu said the PTA had started constructing a wall to prevent intruders who entered the dormitories to steal students’ belongings when classes were in session, from doing so.
He added that the one mile square wall, which had almost been completed, would also prevent students from using unapproved routes to enter or leave the school.
Mr Manu said the PTA had made a passionate appeal to other corporate bodies to support it with cement to facilitate the completion of the wall and other structures initiated to facilitate academic work.
He said with the support of the PTA and other corporate bodies, his administration would be able to focus on its core business of producing students capable of developing their potential in a more effective and efficient way.
The construction of the dormitories is to enable the school to accommodate the students who would be admitted next academic year.
Briefing the media on the donation, the Secretary to the Board of Directors of the bank, Mr Ebenezer Nartey, said the gesture was a response to an appeal by the parent-teacher association (PTA) of the school for assistance in the construction of the dormitories.
He stated that the bank had already constructed a bridge for the school to facilitate the transportation of goods and services.
Mr Nartey added that the bank had initiated a scholarship scheme for needy, brilliant students in the communities in its catchment area.
He gave the assurance that the bank would not relent in its efforts to support individuals, institutions and organisations that initiated projects that would impact positively on the lives of the people in the community.
The Headmaster of Wiamoase SHS, Mr Kofi Anokye Manu, who received the items on behalf of the school, was grateful to the management of Komfo Anokye Rural Bank for its humanitarian gesture.
He said the cement would complement the initiative of the PTA which is determined to provide the needed infrastructure to enhance teaching and learning in the school.
Mr Manu said the PTA had started constructing a wall to prevent intruders who entered the dormitories to steal students’ belongings when classes were in session, from doing so.
He added that the one mile square wall, which had almost been completed, would also prevent students from using unapproved routes to enter or leave the school.
Mr Manu said the PTA had made a passionate appeal to other corporate bodies to support it with cement to facilitate the completion of the wall and other structures initiated to facilitate academic work.
He said with the support of the PTA and other corporate bodies, his administration would be able to focus on its core business of producing students capable of developing their potential in a more effective and efficient way.
CSIR INTRODUCES NEW RICE, MAIZE, CASSAVA VARIETIES (BACK PAGE, MARCH 17, 2010)
The Council for Scientific ad Industrial Research (CSIR), in collaboration with the Crop Research Institute (CRI) and the National Varietal Release Committee, has introduced high-yielding and drought-resistant varieties of rice, maize and cassava in an effort to enhance the country’s food security.
The ceremony to introduce the varieties, which was attended by a number of agriculture researchers, was also used to encourage farmers to adopt the new varieties.
That, according to the researches, would enable farmers to plant their crops, obtain high yields and generate adequate incomes to raise their standard of living.
The high-yielding rice varieties are christened Amankwatia, Bodia, Wakatsuiki and Sakai, while those of maize are Aburohemaa, Abontem, Enii-pii and Amankwa. The cassava varieties are Otuhia, Sika Bankye, Bankye Broni and Ampong.
According to the Director-General of the CSIR, Dr Abdulai B. Salifu, the new cassava varieties were not only tolerant to the African Mosaic disease but also drought-resistant and could yield as high as 35 tonnes per hectare.
He said the crop, which could be used as food and for industrial purposes, had the highest starch yield ever recorded in Ghana.
On the rice, he said they were not only quality in terms of taste but also resistant to major diseases in Ghana such as blast, leaf spot and mottle virus and could also yield as high as 5.6 tonnes per hectare.
He said the maize varieties, which are also drought resistant and mature early, were suitable for the forest and coastal zones, as well as that of Guinea and Sudan Savannah zones .
In an address, the Minister of Environment and Science, Ms Sherry Ayittey, said food security was a major challenge that every nation strove to attain.
She commended CSIR and CRI for developing the varieties, which had already been accepted by farmers because of their quality in terms of yield, taste “and attributes to withstand some of the effects of climate change”.
The ceremony to introduce the varieties, which was attended by a number of agriculture researchers, was also used to encourage farmers to adopt the new varieties.
That, according to the researches, would enable farmers to plant their crops, obtain high yields and generate adequate incomes to raise their standard of living.
The high-yielding rice varieties are christened Amankwatia, Bodia, Wakatsuiki and Sakai, while those of maize are Aburohemaa, Abontem, Enii-pii and Amankwa. The cassava varieties are Otuhia, Sika Bankye, Bankye Broni and Ampong.
According to the Director-General of the CSIR, Dr Abdulai B. Salifu, the new cassava varieties were not only tolerant to the African Mosaic disease but also drought-resistant and could yield as high as 35 tonnes per hectare.
He said the crop, which could be used as food and for industrial purposes, had the highest starch yield ever recorded in Ghana.
On the rice, he said they were not only quality in terms of taste but also resistant to major diseases in Ghana such as blast, leaf spot and mottle virus and could also yield as high as 5.6 tonnes per hectare.
He said the maize varieties, which are also drought resistant and mature early, were suitable for the forest and coastal zones, as well as that of Guinea and Sudan Savannah zones .
In an address, the Minister of Environment and Science, Ms Sherry Ayittey, said food security was a major challenge that every nation strove to attain.
She commended CSIR and CRI for developing the varieties, which had already been accepted by farmers because of their quality in terms of yield, taste “and attributes to withstand some of the effects of climate change”.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
INDUSTRIES MUST FUND RESEARCH WORK AT KNUST (PAGE 29, MARCH 16, 2010)
Authorities of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have expressed concern about the failure of industries in the country to actively fund research work in the university.
The Vice Chancellor of the KNUST, Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, said among the core business of the university was effective research and findings that would enable industries to source for the requisite materials to sustain their operations
He said it was therefore important for “industry to partner departments and individual researchers and innovators for the development of research outputs”..
He pointed out that industries had however neglected the university in their research and findings over the years, making it difficult for the university to acquire the needed funds to initiate programmes that would impact positively on industrial development in the country.
Prof. Adarkwa made the remarks during the trade and technology fair (TRATECH) organised by students of the university .
The fair created a platform for the students to exhibit products of their handiwork as a way of marketing themselves to the public.
Expressing concern about the failure of industries to actively support the university with funding to enable them to carry out their mandate, Prof. Adarkwa noted “The university as an intellectually stimulating environment provides a fertile ground for research and innovation activities because we are blessed with the state of the art laboratories, workshops and studious “
The Vice Chancellor said in the world of today, characterised by constant innovations, product improvement and competition, amongst others , national development should necessarily hinge on creativity and innovations”
Prof. Adarkwa noted that, “ over the years, one of our problems has been the link between industry and research outcomes, letting our research see the light of day, commercialising our research and innovations into products and machines to solve the everyday problem of the Ghanaian has not been easy”
He said “ This problem culminated in the introduction of entrepreneurship as a compulsory subject for every student of the university, so that research outcomes and innovations can be commercialised”.
Prof. Adarkwa tasked the University Relations Office and the Web team “ to highlight all exhibitions on our website for the outside world to have a feel of our research and innovation activities”.
In his welcoming address, the President of the Student Representative Council (SRC), Mr S.K. Oppong, said notwithstanding the numerous challenges affecting the students, they were determined to initiate programmes that would support the country’s development agenda.
He said given the needed support, the students would be able to “translate all the discoveries in research and training attained into the development of industries of this nation”.
The Vice Chancellor of the KNUST, Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, said among the core business of the university was effective research and findings that would enable industries to source for the requisite materials to sustain their operations
He said it was therefore important for “industry to partner departments and individual researchers and innovators for the development of research outputs”..
He pointed out that industries had however neglected the university in their research and findings over the years, making it difficult for the university to acquire the needed funds to initiate programmes that would impact positively on industrial development in the country.
Prof. Adarkwa made the remarks during the trade and technology fair (TRATECH) organised by students of the university .
The fair created a platform for the students to exhibit products of their handiwork as a way of marketing themselves to the public.
Expressing concern about the failure of industries to actively support the university with funding to enable them to carry out their mandate, Prof. Adarkwa noted “The university as an intellectually stimulating environment provides a fertile ground for research and innovation activities because we are blessed with the state of the art laboratories, workshops and studious “
The Vice Chancellor said in the world of today, characterised by constant innovations, product improvement and competition, amongst others , national development should necessarily hinge on creativity and innovations”
Prof. Adarkwa noted that, “ over the years, one of our problems has been the link between industry and research outcomes, letting our research see the light of day, commercialising our research and innovations into products and machines to solve the everyday problem of the Ghanaian has not been easy”
He said “ This problem culminated in the introduction of entrepreneurship as a compulsory subject for every student of the university, so that research outcomes and innovations can be commercialised”.
Prof. Adarkwa tasked the University Relations Office and the Web team “ to highlight all exhibitions on our website for the outside world to have a feel of our research and innovation activities”.
In his welcoming address, the President of the Student Representative Council (SRC), Mr S.K. Oppong, said notwithstanding the numerous challenges affecting the students, they were determined to initiate programmes that would support the country’s development agenda.
He said given the needed support, the students would be able to “translate all the discoveries in research and training attained into the development of industries of this nation”.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
KNUST CALLS FOR PARTNERSHIP WITH INDUSTRY (PAGE 18, MARCH 13, 2010)
Authorities of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have called for partnership between the university and industry to fund research that would enhance the country’s industrialisation drive.
According to the Vice Chancellor of the KNUST, Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, among the core business of the university was engaging in effective research and findings that would enable industries to source the requisite materials to sustain their operations.
He said it was, therefore, important for “industry to partner departments and individual researchers and innovators for the development of research outputs”.
He pointed out that industry had, however, neglected the university in their research and findings over the years, making it difficult for the university to acquire the needed funds to initiate programmes that would impact positively on industrial development in the country.
Prof. Adarkwa made the remarks during the trade and technology fair (TRATECH) organised by students of the university.
The fair created a platform for the students to exhibit their handiwork as a way of exposing their potential to the public.
Expressing concern about the failure of industry to actively support the university with funding to enable them to carry out their mandate, Prof. Adarkwa noted, “The university as an intellectually stimulating environment provides a fertile ground for research and innovation activities because we are blessed with state-of-the-art laboratories, workshops and studios”.
On the fair, the vice chancellor said today’s world, characterised by constant innovations, product improvement, competition and national development, hinged on creativity and innovations.
Professor Adarkwa added, “over the years, one of our problems has been the link between industry and research outcomes. Letting our research see the light of day and commercialising our research and innovations into products and machines to solve the everyday problem of the Ghanaian has not been easy”
He further stressed, “This problem culminated in the introduction of Entrepreneurship as a compulsory subject for every student of the university, so that research outcomes and innovations can be commercialised”.
Professor Adarkwa tasked the University Relations Office and the Web team “ to highlight all exhibitions on our website for the outside world to have a feel of our research and innovation activities”.
In his welcoming address, the President of the Students Representative Council (SRC), Mr S.K. Oppong, said notwithstanding the numerous challenges affecting them, they were determined to initiate programmes that would support the country’s development agenda.
He said given the needed support, they would be able to “translate all the discoveries in research and training into the development of industries of this nation”.
According to the Vice Chancellor of the KNUST, Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, among the core business of the university was engaging in effective research and findings that would enable industries to source the requisite materials to sustain their operations.
He said it was, therefore, important for “industry to partner departments and individual researchers and innovators for the development of research outputs”.
He pointed out that industry had, however, neglected the university in their research and findings over the years, making it difficult for the university to acquire the needed funds to initiate programmes that would impact positively on industrial development in the country.
Prof. Adarkwa made the remarks during the trade and technology fair (TRATECH) organised by students of the university.
The fair created a platform for the students to exhibit their handiwork as a way of exposing their potential to the public.
Expressing concern about the failure of industry to actively support the university with funding to enable them to carry out their mandate, Prof. Adarkwa noted, “The university as an intellectually stimulating environment provides a fertile ground for research and innovation activities because we are blessed with state-of-the-art laboratories, workshops and studios”.
On the fair, the vice chancellor said today’s world, characterised by constant innovations, product improvement, competition and national development, hinged on creativity and innovations.
Professor Adarkwa added, “over the years, one of our problems has been the link between industry and research outcomes. Letting our research see the light of day and commercialising our research and innovations into products and machines to solve the everyday problem of the Ghanaian has not been easy”
He further stressed, “This problem culminated in the introduction of Entrepreneurship as a compulsory subject for every student of the university, so that research outcomes and innovations can be commercialised”.
Professor Adarkwa tasked the University Relations Office and the Web team “ to highlight all exhibitions on our website for the outside world to have a feel of our research and innovation activities”.
In his welcoming address, the President of the Students Representative Council (SRC), Mr S.K. Oppong, said notwithstanding the numerous challenges affecting them, they were determined to initiate programmes that would support the country’s development agenda.
He said given the needed support, they would be able to “translate all the discoveries in research and training into the development of industries of this nation”.
Friday, March 12, 2010
MUST WE PAY INCREASED TARIFFS FOR PUBLIC UTILITIES?...Views from Kumasi (MIRROR, MARCH 6, 2010, PAGE 27)
Personally, I am against any form of increase in utility tariffs. This is because for many years now, Ghanaians have been constantly slapped with increases in utility tariffs without any corresponding improvement in services.
Many of the fire outbreaks across the country could be traced to the rampant power outages. The Electricity Company of Ghana for instance must be seen to be offering quality service to Ghanaians. When that is done, nobody would complain when tariffs are increased.
As of now, we seem to be paying more in terms of tariffs without a corresponding improvement in the quality of service delivery. Without improvement in service delivery consumers would not be motivated enough to pay more in terms of tariffs.
The level of wastage, in the case of water delivery, is enormous and I think that it is time all loop-holes were plugged, if the quality of service delivery is to be enhanced.
Management should put in place measures to address the inefficiencies in the system. When this is done, wastage would be reduced and the needed revenue generated to help improve on the quality of service delivery.
It is amazing to see water flowing from burst pipes for weeks on end without any intervention from either the management or staff of the water company who behave rather as if nothing is wrong.
The cost of such waste in the long run is passed on to consumers. And this has become a ritual. The utility providers should take a critical look at some of these errors and correct them, instead of always finding a means of increasing the burden of the consumer by way of increased tariffs.
The same applies in the case of provision of electricity , where illegal connection abounds.
It is important that the utility companies build the capacities of their personnel to enable them to become proficient in their jobs. When this is done, mediocrity in the system would be reduced, and this would motivate consumers to pay more when the need arises.
I do not think there is the need for any increase in utility tariffs now.
Over the years, in spite of customers commitment to honour our obligations, they have only received poor service delivery in return. Because of the inability of the Ghana Water Company to supply potable water to residents in many localities, people have resorted to the digging of bore holes in their homes.
Those who rely solely on Ghana Water Company always get disappointed as water does not flow through the taps for months, thus compelling them to buy water from other sources.
The utility service providers have taken advantage of being sole suppliers of their products to provide services which are best described as deplorable, and yet they want to regularly adjust their tariffs upwards.
Since the service provided is not up to standard, the authorities must ignore any call for tariff increases since this will not go down well with consumers.
Ghanaians are eagerly waiting for the utility service providers to improve on their services. And as soon as there are signs that conditions are better, everyone would embrace an increase in tariff. Until then, no way.
Concern has also been raised about the negative attitude of staff who work with the utility companies. The apathy they show towards work contribute to the provision of poor service. It is time they changed for the better to enable them to become committed to produce quality service.
Over the years, the public utility providers have not been able to offer quality service in spite of the monthly bills that customers pay.
Be it water or electricity, the services delivered by the providers have been very poor, yet consumers are saddled with bills which they are expected to honour.
In fact, the situation as it concerns electricity is deplorable. I don’t know if the country is reverting to the era of load shedding as was experienced a few years ago . The intermittent power outages, especially in Kumasi, are becoming a regular feature now.
Gadgets are being destroyed in rapid fashion, while houses are getting burnt every now and then, all as a result of unannounced power outages.
This is seriously affecting consumers, as gadgets have to be replaced at great cost. In addition, families whose houses get burnt as a result of electric fault become disillusioned and traumatised, making it difficult for them to enjoy a meaningful life.
In the case of water, the least said about it the better. At Gyenyasi Extension where I live, water has not flowed in some taps for years, yet bills are sent to be paid for each month.
How do consumers pay increased tariffs considering the delivery of such poor services.
I am of the opinion that the utility service providers should deliver quality service, and based on that, consumers would be prepared to pay economic rates to keep the providers afloat.
If service providers are able to retrieve debts owed to them by the government over the years and reduce inefficiencies in their systems, it will go a long way to enhance quality service delivery and reduce the perennial increases in tariffs.
I think it is time Ghanaians paid economic rates for utility tariffs to enable the service providers to have the requisite resources to maintain their facilities.
By using the term economic rate, I am saying consumers would have to pay tariffs that would make it possible for the service providers to recover their cost to enable them to continue delivering quality service to consumers.
The service providers do not have to run at a loss because if that happens, their systems would collapse and we would all be denied the needed power and water to run our businesses.
If we are not able to maintain such valuable assets as a country, we would be the eventual losers as we would lose these valuable facilities.
The utility service providers must be made to be accountable for their actions.
I wonder why they still have inefficiencies in their systems and cannot also retrieve their debts, especially those owed by institutions .
If they really want to recover cost, then they have to run their service on purely business lines.
I believe that the time has come for the authorities to fire managers who appear to be inefficient and employ those with the requisite expertise and know-how to run the services in a way that would meet the needs of consumers.
Based on the socio-economic situation in the country, I am of the opinion that any increase in tariff should not overburden the ordinary Ghanaian because if it is too high, it would create disequillibrum in the economy and workers would be badly affected.
If government finds it necessary to increase tariffs, it should do so from time to time. Because the economy is dynamic things cannot be made to remain stagnant all the time. As such, depending on the economic situation at a particular time, tariffs should be adjusted in consonance with the prevailing times.
However, under the present socio-economic situation, where almost everybody is complaining bitterly about hardship and its rippling effects, the need to adjust tariffs upwards should not be rushed.
The market prices of foodstuffs, clothing and transport fares, among others, are rising at an astronomical speed, and so to adjust tariffs at present would not be in the interest of the public.
There should be a way therefore, for the government to absorb the proposed tariffs on electricity and water to reduce hardship on the ordinary Ghanaian.
If on the other hand it becomes necessary for tariffs to be adjusted at all cost so as to facilitate efficiency and quality in terms of service delivery, then it should not be at the expense of the ordinary Ghanaian .
Workers salary should also be adjusted upwards to reduce the burden on them.
Already Ghanaians are reeling under astronomical increases in road and bridge tolls as vehicle owners have passed on the increases to passengers by way of increased transport fares.
I accept the proposed increase in utility tariffs but it should be measured in such a way that the level of increase would be manageable and not handled the way increases in road and bridge tolls were done.
To increase utility tariffs should not be necessary now due to the numerous lapses in the system.
At present consumers are not assured of quality service, as such any increases in tariffs would bring about untold hardships on the average Ghanaian and workers who are already overburdened with numerous tax increases.
High rents, dwindling income, increase in poverty, high transport fares and high cost of feeding, among others, have already burdened the ordinary worker, such that any more upward adjustment in tariffs would not be in the interest of the worker.
If the utility services were meeting the needs of customers, we would have considered some upward adjustment in tariff, but this has not been the case. In fact, there is also so much wastage in the system.
Illegal connections, perceived corruption among their staff members, over invoicing, negative attitude of staff towards customers and failure to respond to emergencies, are some of the lapses which need to be rectified.
I am of the view that the proposed increase in tariff is based on market oriented policies put in place by the government and instigated especially by International Monetary Fund and World Bank conditionalities.
Revelations to the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament indicate that the government owes a lot to public institutions, including the utility companies, and it is these debts that are being passed on to customers, hence the proposed tariff increase. But this will not augur well for customers.
There is a wrong notion that when taxes are increased, government’s debt would go away. This is unfortunate and must not be entertained because the ordinary Ghanaian is already suffering.
Many of the fire outbreaks across the country could be traced to the rampant power outages. The Electricity Company of Ghana for instance must be seen to be offering quality service to Ghanaians. When that is done, nobody would complain when tariffs are increased.
As of now, we seem to be paying more in terms of tariffs without a corresponding improvement in the quality of service delivery. Without improvement in service delivery consumers would not be motivated enough to pay more in terms of tariffs.
The level of wastage, in the case of water delivery, is enormous and I think that it is time all loop-holes were plugged, if the quality of service delivery is to be enhanced.
Management should put in place measures to address the inefficiencies in the system. When this is done, wastage would be reduced and the needed revenue generated to help improve on the quality of service delivery.
It is amazing to see water flowing from burst pipes for weeks on end without any intervention from either the management or staff of the water company who behave rather as if nothing is wrong.
The cost of such waste in the long run is passed on to consumers. And this has become a ritual. The utility providers should take a critical look at some of these errors and correct them, instead of always finding a means of increasing the burden of the consumer by way of increased tariffs.
The same applies in the case of provision of electricity , where illegal connection abounds.
It is important that the utility companies build the capacities of their personnel to enable them to become proficient in their jobs. When this is done, mediocrity in the system would be reduced, and this would motivate consumers to pay more when the need arises.
I do not think there is the need for any increase in utility tariffs now.
Over the years, in spite of customers commitment to honour our obligations, they have only received poor service delivery in return. Because of the inability of the Ghana Water Company to supply potable water to residents in many localities, people have resorted to the digging of bore holes in their homes.
Those who rely solely on Ghana Water Company always get disappointed as water does not flow through the taps for months, thus compelling them to buy water from other sources.
The utility service providers have taken advantage of being sole suppliers of their products to provide services which are best described as deplorable, and yet they want to regularly adjust their tariffs upwards.
Since the service provided is not up to standard, the authorities must ignore any call for tariff increases since this will not go down well with consumers.
Ghanaians are eagerly waiting for the utility service providers to improve on their services. And as soon as there are signs that conditions are better, everyone would embrace an increase in tariff. Until then, no way.
Concern has also been raised about the negative attitude of staff who work with the utility companies. The apathy they show towards work contribute to the provision of poor service. It is time they changed for the better to enable them to become committed to produce quality service.
Over the years, the public utility providers have not been able to offer quality service in spite of the monthly bills that customers pay.
Be it water or electricity, the services delivered by the providers have been very poor, yet consumers are saddled with bills which they are expected to honour.
In fact, the situation as it concerns electricity is deplorable. I don’t know if the country is reverting to the era of load shedding as was experienced a few years ago . The intermittent power outages, especially in Kumasi, are becoming a regular feature now.
Gadgets are being destroyed in rapid fashion, while houses are getting burnt every now and then, all as a result of unannounced power outages.
This is seriously affecting consumers, as gadgets have to be replaced at great cost. In addition, families whose houses get burnt as a result of electric fault become disillusioned and traumatised, making it difficult for them to enjoy a meaningful life.
In the case of water, the least said about it the better. At Gyenyasi Extension where I live, water has not flowed in some taps for years, yet bills are sent to be paid for each month.
How do consumers pay increased tariffs considering the delivery of such poor services.
I am of the opinion that the utility service providers should deliver quality service, and based on that, consumers would be prepared to pay economic rates to keep the providers afloat.
If service providers are able to retrieve debts owed to them by the government over the years and reduce inefficiencies in their systems, it will go a long way to enhance quality service delivery and reduce the perennial increases in tariffs.
I think it is time Ghanaians paid economic rates for utility tariffs to enable the service providers to have the requisite resources to maintain their facilities.
By using the term economic rate, I am saying consumers would have to pay tariffs that would make it possible for the service providers to recover their cost to enable them to continue delivering quality service to consumers.
The service providers do not have to run at a loss because if that happens, their systems would collapse and we would all be denied the needed power and water to run our businesses.
If we are not able to maintain such valuable assets as a country, we would be the eventual losers as we would lose these valuable facilities.
The utility service providers must be made to be accountable for their actions.
I wonder why they still have inefficiencies in their systems and cannot also retrieve their debts, especially those owed by institutions .
If they really want to recover cost, then they have to run their service on purely business lines.
I believe that the time has come for the authorities to fire managers who appear to be inefficient and employ those with the requisite expertise and know-how to run the services in a way that would meet the needs of consumers.
Based on the socio-economic situation in the country, I am of the opinion that any increase in tariff should not overburden the ordinary Ghanaian because if it is too high, it would create disequillibrum in the economy and workers would be badly affected.
If government finds it necessary to increase tariffs, it should do so from time to time. Because the economy is dynamic things cannot be made to remain stagnant all the time. As such, depending on the economic situation at a particular time, tariffs should be adjusted in consonance with the prevailing times.
However, under the present socio-economic situation, where almost everybody is complaining bitterly about hardship and its rippling effects, the need to adjust tariffs upwards should not be rushed.
The market prices of foodstuffs, clothing and transport fares, among others, are rising at an astronomical speed, and so to adjust tariffs at present would not be in the interest of the public.
There should be a way therefore, for the government to absorb the proposed tariffs on electricity and water to reduce hardship on the ordinary Ghanaian.
If on the other hand it becomes necessary for tariffs to be adjusted at all cost so as to facilitate efficiency and quality in terms of service delivery, then it should not be at the expense of the ordinary Ghanaian .
Workers salary should also be adjusted upwards to reduce the burden on them.
Already Ghanaians are reeling under astronomical increases in road and bridge tolls as vehicle owners have passed on the increases to passengers by way of increased transport fares.
I accept the proposed increase in utility tariffs but it should be measured in such a way that the level of increase would be manageable and not handled the way increases in road and bridge tolls were done.
To increase utility tariffs should not be necessary now due to the numerous lapses in the system.
At present consumers are not assured of quality service, as such any increases in tariffs would bring about untold hardships on the average Ghanaian and workers who are already overburdened with numerous tax increases.
High rents, dwindling income, increase in poverty, high transport fares and high cost of feeding, among others, have already burdened the ordinary worker, such that any more upward adjustment in tariffs would not be in the interest of the worker.
If the utility services were meeting the needs of customers, we would have considered some upward adjustment in tariff, but this has not been the case. In fact, there is also so much wastage in the system.
Illegal connections, perceived corruption among their staff members, over invoicing, negative attitude of staff towards customers and failure to respond to emergencies, are some of the lapses which need to be rectified.
I am of the view that the proposed increase in tariff is based on market oriented policies put in place by the government and instigated especially by International Monetary Fund and World Bank conditionalities.
Revelations to the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament indicate that the government owes a lot to public institutions, including the utility companies, and it is these debts that are being passed on to customers, hence the proposed tariff increase. But this will not augur well for customers.
There is a wrong notion that when taxes are increased, government’s debt would go away. This is unfortunate and must not be entertained because the ordinary Ghanaian is already suffering.
FIRE OFFICER CALLS FOR SAFETY MEASURES (MIRROR, PAGE 34, MARCH 13, 2010)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
The Ashanti Regional Fire Officer, ACFO P.A. Mensah, has called on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) operators and proprietors of hotels in the region to be guided by safety measures to guard against fire outbreaks in their business environments.
He pointed out that the use of safety measures would also reduce the impact of any possible fire outbreak to sustain their businesses.
Mr Mensah, who gave the advice when he interacted with dealers of LPG operators and a section of hotel managers in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs, recommended the use of automatic sprinkler system at gas storage tanks as one of the safety measures that should be considered by gas operators in particular and hotels in general.
The meeting followed the recent increase in fire outbreaks in parts of the country, which destroyed lives and property.
Mr Mensah said his outfit would soon embark on the inspection of gas storage tanks to check for safety measures to protect lives and property in case of any outbreak of fire.
On the issue of acquiring fire certificates for their premises, as required by LI 1724 regulations 2003, Mr Mensah said it was important for them to obtain such certificates, and, therefore, urged them to impress upon their members to acquire them.
He said it was equally important for them to be circumspect in the transferring of gas from one cylinder into another because “the practice has the potential of leading to fire outbreaks”.
In his interaction with executive members of hoteliers association in the region, Mr Mensah said “plans are far advanced to prosecute defaulting companies and individuals who have failed to acquire fire certificates“.
Mr Mensah warned that defaulters would be severely dealt with within the confines of the laws when arrested.
The Regional Chairman of the gas dealers association, Mallam Bukari Amad, commended the ASFO for the initiative and gave the assurance that he would impress upon the members to provide adequate safety measures to reduce the menace of fire outbreak.
The Ashanti Regional Fire Officer, ACFO P.A. Mensah, has called on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) operators and proprietors of hotels in the region to be guided by safety measures to guard against fire outbreaks in their business environments.
He pointed out that the use of safety measures would also reduce the impact of any possible fire outbreak to sustain their businesses.
Mr Mensah, who gave the advice when he interacted with dealers of LPG operators and a section of hotel managers in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs, recommended the use of automatic sprinkler system at gas storage tanks as one of the safety measures that should be considered by gas operators in particular and hotels in general.
The meeting followed the recent increase in fire outbreaks in parts of the country, which destroyed lives and property.
Mr Mensah said his outfit would soon embark on the inspection of gas storage tanks to check for safety measures to protect lives and property in case of any outbreak of fire.
On the issue of acquiring fire certificates for their premises, as required by LI 1724 regulations 2003, Mr Mensah said it was important for them to obtain such certificates, and, therefore, urged them to impress upon their members to acquire them.
He said it was equally important for them to be circumspect in the transferring of gas from one cylinder into another because “the practice has the potential of leading to fire outbreaks”.
In his interaction with executive members of hoteliers association in the region, Mr Mensah said “plans are far advanced to prosecute defaulting companies and individuals who have failed to acquire fire certificates“.
Mr Mensah warned that defaulters would be severely dealt with within the confines of the laws when arrested.
The Regional Chairman of the gas dealers association, Mallam Bukari Amad, commended the ASFO for the initiative and gave the assurance that he would impress upon the members to provide adequate safety measures to reduce the menace of fire outbreak.
26 BENEFIT FROM FIDA PROGRAMME (MIRROR, PAGE 34, MARCH 13, 2010)
From George Ernest Asare,Mamponteng
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Ghana), in collaboration with Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) has held a capacity building programme on fundamental human rights issues and access to justice and principles of good governance for 26 youth in the Kwabre District of Ashanti.
The programme, dubbed ‘FIDA Ghana Improving women’s access to justice’, was also meant to empower the participants with the requisite knowledge and information on their rights, as well as the legal tools to enable them defend and claim their rights at all times.
It was also meant to increase women and young people’s awareness on their sexual and reproductive health rights and the effects of the HIV AIDS menace, as well as creating a mechanism that would enable the beneficiaries to realise their constitutionally guaranteed rights for the broader goals of poverty reduction and development.
This, according to the project managers, would enable the beneficiaries to collaborate effectively with members of their respective communities and educate them on issues relating to human rights and access to justice.
At a durbar organised at Mamponteng for the passing out of the 26 youth including 10 females, the Project Co-ordinator, Mr Bawa Faisal, pointed out that access to justice was one of the fundamental principles upon which good governance rested.
The durbar involved the discussion on major human and right abuses within the district, International and national laws that affected the rights of women and children such as The Domestic Violence Law, Convention on the Rights of the Child, Principles of human rights and relevant sections of the 1992 Constitution.
It also involved issues on marriages and divorce laws in Ghana, as well as the PNDC Law 111 on inheritance issues, rape and defilement, challenges of women who are infected or affected by HIVAIDS and sexual reproductive rights of women and its impact on society.
Mr Faisal said, “about two-thirds of the Ghanaian population have little or no access to courts as a result of the inability of government to provide adequate number of courts nationwide”.
He said inadequate courts forces women in rural communities “to use the customary legal system that in most cases is patently patriarchal and often not in their favour”.
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Ghana), in collaboration with Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) has held a capacity building programme on fundamental human rights issues and access to justice and principles of good governance for 26 youth in the Kwabre District of Ashanti.
The programme, dubbed ‘FIDA Ghana Improving women’s access to justice’, was also meant to empower the participants with the requisite knowledge and information on their rights, as well as the legal tools to enable them defend and claim their rights at all times.
It was also meant to increase women and young people’s awareness on their sexual and reproductive health rights and the effects of the HIV AIDS menace, as well as creating a mechanism that would enable the beneficiaries to realise their constitutionally guaranteed rights for the broader goals of poverty reduction and development.
This, according to the project managers, would enable the beneficiaries to collaborate effectively with members of their respective communities and educate them on issues relating to human rights and access to justice.
At a durbar organised at Mamponteng for the passing out of the 26 youth including 10 females, the Project Co-ordinator, Mr Bawa Faisal, pointed out that access to justice was one of the fundamental principles upon which good governance rested.
The durbar involved the discussion on major human and right abuses within the district, International and national laws that affected the rights of women and children such as The Domestic Violence Law, Convention on the Rights of the Child, Principles of human rights and relevant sections of the 1992 Constitution.
It also involved issues on marriages and divorce laws in Ghana, as well as the PNDC Law 111 on inheritance issues, rape and defilement, challenges of women who are infected or affected by HIVAIDS and sexual reproductive rights of women and its impact on society.
Mr Faisal said, “about two-thirds of the Ghanaian population have little or no access to courts as a result of the inability of government to provide adequate number of courts nationwide”.
He said inadequate courts forces women in rural communities “to use the customary legal system that in most cases is patently patriarchal and often not in their favour”.
MATERNAL MORTALITY REDUCES IN ASHANTI (MIRROR, PAGE 35, MARCH 13, 2010)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
Maternal mortality in the Ashanti Region was significantly reduced from 222 in 2008 to 177 last year.
Out of the number, 23 died as a result of complications that set in after they attempted aborting their pregnancies
Twenty of the victims were teenagers whose organs had not matured enough to enable them to have safe delivery.
Describing last year’s maternal mortality reduction in the region as very important so far as quality health delivery was concerned, the Kumasi Metropolitan Director of Health Services, Dr Akwasi Yeboa Awudzi, said over the last four years, maternal mortality had always increased.
“ In 2006, as many as 175 women died in the region during delivery and in 2007, the number of pregnant women who lost their lives as a result of complications in delivery was 179. In 2008, the number shot up to 222, and it was only last year that we managed to reverse the trend, making it possible for us to achieve that significant reduction to 177 cases of maternal mortality,” he explained.
Addressing participants who attended a safe motherhood seminar in Kumasi, Dr Yeboa Awudzi pointed out that in the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs alone , as many as 152 women lost their lives in 2008 as a result of some complications that set in during delivery, adding that 120 women lost their lives in the metropolis.
He explained that the reduction in maternal mortality in the region in 2009 was the result of the contingency measures put in place by the health professionals in collaboration with other stakeholders.
“All hands were on deck and with the active support from all the major hospitals and clinics in the metropolis, we managed to devise means of treating emergency cases, hence the significant reduction in maternal mortality,” he noted.
Dr Yeboa Awudzi said over the years, “it was the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) which was undertaking caesarean sections, so many cases were referred there, making it impossible for them to treat all the emergencies. Now many of the other hospitals such as Suntreso, Kumasi South, Tafo and the Manhyia hospitals are all undertaking caesarean section. This has considerably reduced the workload on KATH, hence the significant reduction in maternal mortality”.
“ KATH has only two theatres, so when they receive more than necessary emergencies, they are unable to attend to all at the same time, and this affects the chances and survival of those who may not receive emergency treatment on time, but now the situation is different,” he explained.
He said apart from this, a number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have also supported the health sector by educating women on the need to undertake regular antenatal care to reduce complications during delivery.
Dr Yeboa Awudzi said to further reduce maternal mortality, there is the need for many of the peripheral hospitals to have adequate number of gynaecologists.
On the increased number of abortions in the region, he advised women to patronise family planning services to avoid unwanted pregnancies and the complications that set in.
Mrs Agartha Amoateng-Boahen, President of SAMORGHEP, an NGO, expressed concern about the alarming rate of maternal mortality in the country and called for the collaboration of all stakeholders in promoting safe motherhood “ instead of promoting the nakedness of our women, especially by our youth on television and other platforms”.
“ In Ghana we seem to be very concerned when we hear of motor accidents but for a very long time, we have neglected this worse silent killer which deprives us of our wives, mothers, sisters and dear ones,” she stressed.
Maternal mortality in the Ashanti Region was significantly reduced from 222 in 2008 to 177 last year.
Out of the number, 23 died as a result of complications that set in after they attempted aborting their pregnancies
Twenty of the victims were teenagers whose organs had not matured enough to enable them to have safe delivery.
Describing last year’s maternal mortality reduction in the region as very important so far as quality health delivery was concerned, the Kumasi Metropolitan Director of Health Services, Dr Akwasi Yeboa Awudzi, said over the last four years, maternal mortality had always increased.
“ In 2006, as many as 175 women died in the region during delivery and in 2007, the number of pregnant women who lost their lives as a result of complications in delivery was 179. In 2008, the number shot up to 222, and it was only last year that we managed to reverse the trend, making it possible for us to achieve that significant reduction to 177 cases of maternal mortality,” he explained.
Addressing participants who attended a safe motherhood seminar in Kumasi, Dr Yeboa Awudzi pointed out that in the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs alone , as many as 152 women lost their lives in 2008 as a result of some complications that set in during delivery, adding that 120 women lost their lives in the metropolis.
He explained that the reduction in maternal mortality in the region in 2009 was the result of the contingency measures put in place by the health professionals in collaboration with other stakeholders.
“All hands were on deck and with the active support from all the major hospitals and clinics in the metropolis, we managed to devise means of treating emergency cases, hence the significant reduction in maternal mortality,” he noted.
Dr Yeboa Awudzi said over the years, “it was the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) which was undertaking caesarean sections, so many cases were referred there, making it impossible for them to treat all the emergencies. Now many of the other hospitals such as Suntreso, Kumasi South, Tafo and the Manhyia hospitals are all undertaking caesarean section. This has considerably reduced the workload on KATH, hence the significant reduction in maternal mortality”.
“ KATH has only two theatres, so when they receive more than necessary emergencies, they are unable to attend to all at the same time, and this affects the chances and survival of those who may not receive emergency treatment on time, but now the situation is different,” he explained.
He said apart from this, a number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have also supported the health sector by educating women on the need to undertake regular antenatal care to reduce complications during delivery.
Dr Yeboa Awudzi said to further reduce maternal mortality, there is the need for many of the peripheral hospitals to have adequate number of gynaecologists.
On the increased number of abortions in the region, he advised women to patronise family planning services to avoid unwanted pregnancies and the complications that set in.
Mrs Agartha Amoateng-Boahen, President of SAMORGHEP, an NGO, expressed concern about the alarming rate of maternal mortality in the country and called for the collaboration of all stakeholders in promoting safe motherhood “ instead of promoting the nakedness of our women, especially by our youth on television and other platforms”.
“ In Ghana we seem to be very concerned when we hear of motor accidents but for a very long time, we have neglected this worse silent killer which deprives us of our wives, mothers, sisters and dear ones,” she stressed.
APOSTOLIC CHURCH MEMBERS GIVE BLOOD TO HOSPITAL (MIRROR, PAGE 35, MARCH 13, 2010)
From George Ernest Asare, Agogo
THE authorities of the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital in the Asante Akim District in the Ashanti Region have appealed to the public, especially the youth, to cultivate the habit of donating blood regularly to the hospital to enhance emergency treatment of cases.
According to the hospital authorities, inadequate blood donation sometimes undermined quality health care delivery, and therefore pleaded with the youth to develop the spirit for blood donations to save patients who needed emergency treatment.
Mrs Mary Tenkorang, Nurse Administrator of the Hospital, made the appeal on behalf of the hospital, when about 150 members of the Asante Akim North and South Area of the Apostolic Church-Ghana donated blood to the hospital last Sunday.
The members also donated quantities of curtains estimated at GH¢2,500.00 for the labour and children’s wards of the hospital.
The donation formed part of the 75th anniversary celebrations of the establishment of the church.
Mrs Tenkorang commended the church for the initiative and pleaded with other churches to emulate its shining example.
She pointed out that the regular donation of blood would not only enhance the treatment of expectant mothers, but would also enhance the treatment of emergency cases, especially accident victims rushed to the hospital regularly.
Briefing newsmen, Pastor Kwabena Tagba, the Area Superintendent of the Church, said the church was motivated by the problems of inadequate blood facing hospital authorities, adding that the gesture would be sustained .
“ We are going to form a blood donation club in the church to motivate members to cultivate the habit of making regular blood donation to the hospital. This may encourage other churches to make similar donation to build the stock of the blood bank,” he assured.
THE authorities of the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital in the Asante Akim District in the Ashanti Region have appealed to the public, especially the youth, to cultivate the habit of donating blood regularly to the hospital to enhance emergency treatment of cases.
According to the hospital authorities, inadequate blood donation sometimes undermined quality health care delivery, and therefore pleaded with the youth to develop the spirit for blood donations to save patients who needed emergency treatment.
Mrs Mary Tenkorang, Nurse Administrator of the Hospital, made the appeal on behalf of the hospital, when about 150 members of the Asante Akim North and South Area of the Apostolic Church-Ghana donated blood to the hospital last Sunday.
The members also donated quantities of curtains estimated at GH¢2,500.00 for the labour and children’s wards of the hospital.
The donation formed part of the 75th anniversary celebrations of the establishment of the church.
Mrs Tenkorang commended the church for the initiative and pleaded with other churches to emulate its shining example.
She pointed out that the regular donation of blood would not only enhance the treatment of expectant mothers, but would also enhance the treatment of emergency cases, especially accident victims rushed to the hospital regularly.
Briefing newsmen, Pastor Kwabena Tagba, the Area Superintendent of the Church, said the church was motivated by the problems of inadequate blood facing hospital authorities, adding that the gesture would be sustained .
“ We are going to form a blood donation club in the church to motivate members to cultivate the habit of making regular blood donation to the hospital. This may encourage other churches to make similar donation to build the stock of the blood bank,” he assured.
KOMFO ANONYE RURAL BANK SUPPORTS SCHOOL (MIRROR, PAGE 35, MARCH 13, 2010)
From George Ernest Asare, Wiamoase.
THE Management of the Komfo Anokye Rural Bank has donated 100 bags of cement to the Komfo Anokye Senior High School at Wiamoase in the Ashanti Region to facilitate the construction of dormitories in the school.
This, according to the school administration, was to enable the school to accommodate students who would be admitted to the school this academic year.
Briefing the media about the donation, the Secretary to the Board of Directors of the Bank, Mr Ebenezer Nartey, said the donation was in response to an appeal made by the Parent-Teacher-Association (PTA) of the school.
He said the bank had already constructed a bridge for the school and also initiated a scholarship scheme for needy, brilliant students in communities in its catchment area.
He gave the assurance that the bank would not relent in its efforts to support institutions, organisations, and individuals who initiated projects that would impact positively on the lives of people in the community.
The Headmaster of Wiamoase Senior High, Mr Kofi Anokye Manu, who received the items, commended the bank for its humanitarian gesture.
He said the cement would complement the initiative of the PTA, whic is determined to develop the needed infrastructure to enhance teaching and learning in the school.
Mr Manu pointed out that already, the PTA had started the construction of a fence wall to check intruders, who enter the dormitories to steal from students when classes are in session.
THE Management of the Komfo Anokye Rural Bank has donated 100 bags of cement to the Komfo Anokye Senior High School at Wiamoase in the Ashanti Region to facilitate the construction of dormitories in the school.
This, according to the school administration, was to enable the school to accommodate students who would be admitted to the school this academic year.
Briefing the media about the donation, the Secretary to the Board of Directors of the Bank, Mr Ebenezer Nartey, said the donation was in response to an appeal made by the Parent-Teacher-Association (PTA) of the school.
He said the bank had already constructed a bridge for the school and also initiated a scholarship scheme for needy, brilliant students in communities in its catchment area.
He gave the assurance that the bank would not relent in its efforts to support institutions, organisations, and individuals who initiated projects that would impact positively on the lives of people in the community.
The Headmaster of Wiamoase Senior High, Mr Kofi Anokye Manu, who received the items, commended the bank for its humanitarian gesture.
He said the cement would complement the initiative of the PTA, whic is determined to develop the needed infrastructure to enhance teaching and learning in the school.
Mr Manu pointed out that already, the PTA had started the construction of a fence wall to check intruders, who enter the dormitories to steal from students when classes are in session.
ARREST YOUTH WHO ABDUCTED CHIEF — IGP (SPREAD, MARCH 12, 2010)
THE Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, has ordered the immediate arrest of the youth who abducted the Omanhene of Tuobodum, Nana Asare Baffour II, at Wenchi last Friday, to assist the police in their investigations.
He said his administration would not condone any wrongdoing that would lead to violence, the loss of lives and the destruction of property.
Three people were killed and four others, including a policeman sustained various degrees of gunshot wounds during sporadic gunfire that followed the arrest of Nana Asare Baffour.
The IGP disclosed this last Wednesday, when he interacted with the media as part of his working visit to Kumasi, the first since he assumed office last May.
The IGP’s visit afforded him the opportunity to interact with the Regional Police Command where he addressed senior police officers.
He also paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, in his Manhyia Palace.
Mr Quaye expressed concern about the incident and gave an assurance that the police would intensify investigations on the issue to ensure that those found culpable were dealt with without any fear or favour.
He said the eight suspects who had been arrested would assist the police in their investigations to bring lasting peace to the area.
During his interaction with the police, the IGP expressed concern about the different kinds of firearms that were used to commit crimes in the country and directed the police to investigate and identify the sources of supply.
He, therefore, directed the police to delve into all cases of arms importation, smuggling, ammunition storage and sale, as well as licensing of arms.
He said it was equally important for the police to regulate the registration and transfer of firearms, especially pistols and automatic weapons, to reduce violent crimes in the country.
At the Manhyia Palace, Mr Tawiah Quaye commended Otumfuo Osei Tutu for his tremendous support to the Regional Police Command, making it possible for them to chalk up many successes in their operations.
The IGP appealed to the Asantehene to support the Ghana Police Service to construct a police barracks to accommodate policemen posted to the region.
Responding, Otumfuo Osei Tutu commended the Ghana Police Service for the invaluable service to the nation which had enhanced peace and security.
He said it was the commitment of the police in peace building that was attracting investors into the country.
He, however, charged them to remain neutral in their operations to prevent their ranks being infiltrated by politicians.
He said his administration would not condone any wrongdoing that would lead to violence, the loss of lives and the destruction of property.
Three people were killed and four others, including a policeman sustained various degrees of gunshot wounds during sporadic gunfire that followed the arrest of Nana Asare Baffour.
The IGP disclosed this last Wednesday, when he interacted with the media as part of his working visit to Kumasi, the first since he assumed office last May.
The IGP’s visit afforded him the opportunity to interact with the Regional Police Command where he addressed senior police officers.
He also paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, in his Manhyia Palace.
Mr Quaye expressed concern about the incident and gave an assurance that the police would intensify investigations on the issue to ensure that those found culpable were dealt with without any fear or favour.
He said the eight suspects who had been arrested would assist the police in their investigations to bring lasting peace to the area.
During his interaction with the police, the IGP expressed concern about the different kinds of firearms that were used to commit crimes in the country and directed the police to investigate and identify the sources of supply.
He, therefore, directed the police to delve into all cases of arms importation, smuggling, ammunition storage and sale, as well as licensing of arms.
He said it was equally important for the police to regulate the registration and transfer of firearms, especially pistols and automatic weapons, to reduce violent crimes in the country.
At the Manhyia Palace, Mr Tawiah Quaye commended Otumfuo Osei Tutu for his tremendous support to the Regional Police Command, making it possible for them to chalk up many successes in their operations.
The IGP appealed to the Asantehene to support the Ghana Police Service to construct a police barracks to accommodate policemen posted to the region.
Responding, Otumfuo Osei Tutu commended the Ghana Police Service for the invaluable service to the nation which had enhanced peace and security.
He said it was the commitment of the police in peace building that was attracting investors into the country.
He, however, charged them to remain neutral in their operations to prevent their ranks being infiltrated by politicians.
OFFINSO TRADITIONAL COUNCIL, NGO TO INITIATE PROJECTS (PAGE 31, MARCH 12, 2010)
The Offinso Traditional Council (OTC) is collaborating with Stichitng Lydia Foundation, an NGO, to initiate projects that would empower the youth in the traditional area to develop their potential and acquire employable skills to enhance accelerated socio-economic development of the area.
According to the Paramount Chief of Offinso Traditional Council, Nana Wiafe Akenten, it was also part of their objectives to collaborate with the NGO to establish a quarry at Offinso as a way of generating adequate resources to enhance sustainable development in the traditional area
The project, according to the OTC, is to encourage the youth to support investment avenues and development initiatives in the traditional area, thereby preventing citizens in the area from migrating to urban centres and other parts of the world to seek for unavailable jobs.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on his development initiatives, Nana Wiafe Akenten pointed out that the NGO was sourcing for equipment that would be used to set up the quarry to offer employment opportunity to the youth, as well as supporting the OTC to generate resources to initiate projects that would impact positively on the lives of the people in the traditional area.
He said apart from establishing micro enterprise promotion training centres in selected communities in the traditional area, and linking women’s groups and villages in the area to banks for support, the project, dubbed “Offinso Prototype sustainable village project”, also sought to establish micro credit units and self-help group among women, as well as organising and imparting leadership, development and managerial skills to empower the youth economically for them to initiate the establishment of small-scale industries.
The OTC is also linking up with the NGO to establish an I CT and recreational centre at Offinso to develop the skills of the youth in modern communication technologies, as well as providing them with avenues for them to play, relax and socialise at their leisure period.
Already, the OTC has released a tract of land to enable the project to take off smoothly.
Explaining the rationale behind the project to the Daily Graphic in an interview, Nana Wiafe Akenten said he had already linked up with the Director of Stichitng Lydia Foundation, Mrs Caroline N.M. Bayiha, who would be visiting Offinso in two weeks’ time to finalise arrangements for the project to take off.
He said he was sponsoring the visit, during which they would discuss issues relating to how the quarry and other projects would be established and their benefits to the people including the employment avenues for the youth and the raw materials it would offer for the construction industry.
Explaining the circumstance that led to the linkage between the OTC and the Netherlands-based Stichitng Lydia Foundation, Nana Wiafe Akenten said a few months ago, the Director of the foundation and a Netherlands-based Offinso citizen, Mr Stephen Kwadwo Nketia, visited him at Offinso and expressed interest in supporting the youth in the area not only to develop their potential, but also acquire employable skills and initiate investment opportunities for their benefit and that of the surrounding communities.
He said based on that, the OTC honoured the director by installing her as the ‘Nkosuohemaa’ with a stool name Nana Tabuaa.
He said since then, Mrs Bayiha had been itching to return to Offinso to support their development initiatives.
“As a chief, I am keen on her return to Offinso to finalise arrangement that would enable us to start projects to offer employment avenues for the youth. We are also likely to start projects that are likely to improve the standard of living among the people in the Offinso traditional area, thereby encouraging the youth to stay and work in Ghana instead of risking their lives to travel abroad,” he noted
Nana Wiafe Akenten pointed out that the reign of Otumfuo Osei Tutu as the Asantehene had proved that chiefs had a lot to offer their people and with that inspiration, he was more determined than ever to collaborate with Stichitng Lydia Foundation to improve the standard of living of the people in the area.
He mentioned the construction of an ICT centre to encourage the youth to acquire the techniques in modern communication skills, the expansion of a kindergarten at Offinso, the expansion of the vocational training centre to offer employable skills to the youth, a clinic to offer quality healthcare delivery to the people, a recreational centre for relaxation and sports, and the drilling of boreholes to offer potable water in selected communities in the traditional area as some of his priorities.
He said the project would not be concentrated at the Offinso township alone on its take-off, but would be extended to all the communities in the traditional area for the benefit of the youth in such communities.
He, therefore, urged Offinso citizens at home and abroad to support their initiatives to make them become successful.
According to the Paramount Chief of Offinso Traditional Council, Nana Wiafe Akenten, it was also part of their objectives to collaborate with the NGO to establish a quarry at Offinso as a way of generating adequate resources to enhance sustainable development in the traditional area
The project, according to the OTC, is to encourage the youth to support investment avenues and development initiatives in the traditional area, thereby preventing citizens in the area from migrating to urban centres and other parts of the world to seek for unavailable jobs.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on his development initiatives, Nana Wiafe Akenten pointed out that the NGO was sourcing for equipment that would be used to set up the quarry to offer employment opportunity to the youth, as well as supporting the OTC to generate resources to initiate projects that would impact positively on the lives of the people in the traditional area.
He said apart from establishing micro enterprise promotion training centres in selected communities in the traditional area, and linking women’s groups and villages in the area to banks for support, the project, dubbed “Offinso Prototype sustainable village project”, also sought to establish micro credit units and self-help group among women, as well as organising and imparting leadership, development and managerial skills to empower the youth economically for them to initiate the establishment of small-scale industries.
The OTC is also linking up with the NGO to establish an I CT and recreational centre at Offinso to develop the skills of the youth in modern communication technologies, as well as providing them with avenues for them to play, relax and socialise at their leisure period.
Already, the OTC has released a tract of land to enable the project to take off smoothly.
Explaining the rationale behind the project to the Daily Graphic in an interview, Nana Wiafe Akenten said he had already linked up with the Director of Stichitng Lydia Foundation, Mrs Caroline N.M. Bayiha, who would be visiting Offinso in two weeks’ time to finalise arrangements for the project to take off.
He said he was sponsoring the visit, during which they would discuss issues relating to how the quarry and other projects would be established and their benefits to the people including the employment avenues for the youth and the raw materials it would offer for the construction industry.
Explaining the circumstance that led to the linkage between the OTC and the Netherlands-based Stichitng Lydia Foundation, Nana Wiafe Akenten said a few months ago, the Director of the foundation and a Netherlands-based Offinso citizen, Mr Stephen Kwadwo Nketia, visited him at Offinso and expressed interest in supporting the youth in the area not only to develop their potential, but also acquire employable skills and initiate investment opportunities for their benefit and that of the surrounding communities.
He said based on that, the OTC honoured the director by installing her as the ‘Nkosuohemaa’ with a stool name Nana Tabuaa.
He said since then, Mrs Bayiha had been itching to return to Offinso to support their development initiatives.
“As a chief, I am keen on her return to Offinso to finalise arrangement that would enable us to start projects to offer employment avenues for the youth. We are also likely to start projects that are likely to improve the standard of living among the people in the Offinso traditional area, thereby encouraging the youth to stay and work in Ghana instead of risking their lives to travel abroad,” he noted
Nana Wiafe Akenten pointed out that the reign of Otumfuo Osei Tutu as the Asantehene had proved that chiefs had a lot to offer their people and with that inspiration, he was more determined than ever to collaborate with Stichitng Lydia Foundation to improve the standard of living of the people in the area.
He mentioned the construction of an ICT centre to encourage the youth to acquire the techniques in modern communication skills, the expansion of a kindergarten at Offinso, the expansion of the vocational training centre to offer employable skills to the youth, a clinic to offer quality healthcare delivery to the people, a recreational centre for relaxation and sports, and the drilling of boreholes to offer potable water in selected communities in the traditional area as some of his priorities.
He said the project would not be concentrated at the Offinso township alone on its take-off, but would be extended to all the communities in the traditional area for the benefit of the youth in such communities.
He, therefore, urged Offinso citizens at home and abroad to support their initiatives to make them become successful.
Monday, March 8, 2010
CHURCH UNDERTAKES BLOOD DONATION (GRAPHIC NSEMPA, PAGE 15, MARCH 8, 2010)
By George Ernest Asare, Agogo
The Area Superintendent of the Asante Akim North and South branch of the Apostolic Church- Ghana, Pastor Kwabina Tagba, is collaborating with the youth of the church to form a club that will donate blood regularly to the Agogo Presbyterian hospital in particular and other hospitals in the area to enhance quality health care delivery.
The initiative of the church is to encourage other churches within the district and others in the country to donate blood as regularly as possible to hospitals in order to enhance the treatment of emergency cases to save precious lives.
Pastor Tagba gave the hint when about 150 members of the church donated blood to the hospital as part of the 75th anniversary celebration of the church.
The church also donated quantities of curtains estimated at GH¢2,500 to the maternity and children’s wards of the hospital
“We want to donate blood at least twice a year to enhance adequate stock. This will enhance quality health care delivery and reduce mortalities as a result of inadequate blood to treat emergency cases, ” he explained.
Pastor Tagba who was the first to donate blood after going through screening said their gesture, which was the first of its kind, would be sustained.
He commended members of the church for their positive response to the request for blood to the hospital and appealed to them to make it a regular affair
Earlier, a nurse administrator of the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital, Mrs Mary Tenkorang made a passionate appeal to the public, especially the youth to cultivate the habit of donating blood regularly to the hospital to enhance emergency treatment of cases.
She pointed out that inadequate blood donation to the hospital undermined quality health care delivery, and therefore pleaded with the youth to develop the spirit of donating blood to save patients who need emergency treatment.
The Area Superintendent of the Asante Akim North and South branch of the Apostolic Church- Ghana, Pastor Kwabina Tagba, is collaborating with the youth of the church to form a club that will donate blood regularly to the Agogo Presbyterian hospital in particular and other hospitals in the area to enhance quality health care delivery.
The initiative of the church is to encourage other churches within the district and others in the country to donate blood as regularly as possible to hospitals in order to enhance the treatment of emergency cases to save precious lives.
Pastor Tagba gave the hint when about 150 members of the church donated blood to the hospital as part of the 75th anniversary celebration of the church.
The church also donated quantities of curtains estimated at GH¢2,500 to the maternity and children’s wards of the hospital
“We want to donate blood at least twice a year to enhance adequate stock. This will enhance quality health care delivery and reduce mortalities as a result of inadequate blood to treat emergency cases, ” he explained.
Pastor Tagba who was the first to donate blood after going through screening said their gesture, which was the first of its kind, would be sustained.
He commended members of the church for their positive response to the request for blood to the hospital and appealed to them to make it a regular affair
Earlier, a nurse administrator of the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital, Mrs Mary Tenkorang made a passionate appeal to the public, especially the youth to cultivate the habit of donating blood regularly to the hospital to enhance emergency treatment of cases.
She pointed out that inadequate blood donation to the hospital undermined quality health care delivery, and therefore pleaded with the youth to develop the spirit of donating blood to save patients who need emergency treatment.
KUMACA OLD STUDENTS SUPPORT SPORTS TEAM (BACK PAGE, GRAPHIC NSEMPA, MARCH 8, 2010)
By George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
THE Old Students Association of Kumasi Academy Senior High School (KUMACA) has presented assorted beverages and fruits to the sports team of the school to motivate them to excel in sporting competitions.
Mrs Beatrice Ennison, an old student, who is also the Chairperson of the Board of Governors of the school, donated the items on behalf of the old students.
The items, which were presented to the headmaster, Mr Alex Conduah, were also meant to boost the morale of the athletes competing in the Ashanti regional super zones athletic competition.
In her remarks, Mrs Ennison commended the sports team for their sense of discipline and hard work, which she said had contributed to the success of the team in many ways.
She mentioned in particular the gold award won by the volleyball team (boys category) last year as well as the gold won by the table tennis team (girls category) last year and the honour bestowed on the school this year as the best behaved team during the athletics competition and said, “these are indeed commendable”.
She urged them to continue working hard to enable them develop their potentials in a more effective and efficient way.
This, she said, would enable them break different grounds in both the local and international competitions for them to bring honour to themselves, their school and the nation.
Mrs Ennison gave the assurance that the old students would continue to support the team in many ways and therefore urged them to be disciplined in their endeavours.
Receiving the items, Mr Conduah, commended the old students for their continuous support to the school.
He said the regular support by the old students had always boosted the morale of the sports team and assured them that his administration would also support the team in diverse ways for them to excel in sports competitions.
THE Old Students Association of Kumasi Academy Senior High School (KUMACA) has presented assorted beverages and fruits to the sports team of the school to motivate them to excel in sporting competitions.
Mrs Beatrice Ennison, an old student, who is also the Chairperson of the Board of Governors of the school, donated the items on behalf of the old students.
The items, which were presented to the headmaster, Mr Alex Conduah, were also meant to boost the morale of the athletes competing in the Ashanti regional super zones athletic competition.
In her remarks, Mrs Ennison commended the sports team for their sense of discipline and hard work, which she said had contributed to the success of the team in many ways.
She mentioned in particular the gold award won by the volleyball team (boys category) last year as well as the gold won by the table tennis team (girls category) last year and the honour bestowed on the school this year as the best behaved team during the athletics competition and said, “these are indeed commendable”.
She urged them to continue working hard to enable them develop their potentials in a more effective and efficient way.
This, she said, would enable them break different grounds in both the local and international competitions for them to bring honour to themselves, their school and the nation.
Mrs Ennison gave the assurance that the old students would continue to support the team in many ways and therefore urged them to be disciplined in their endeavours.
Receiving the items, Mr Conduah, commended the old students for their continuous support to the school.
He said the regular support by the old students had always boosted the morale of the sports team and assured them that his administration would also support the team in diverse ways for them to excel in sports competitions.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
POLICE FOIL ATTACK ON BUSINESSMAN (PAGE 25, MIRROR, MARCH 6, 2010)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
After feigning interest in a plot to attack a business tycoon in Kumasi, a 24-year-old man sneaked into the Kumasi Central Police to leak the plan and that saved the life of the businessman.
Jeremiah Benjamin Kyereboah allegedly hatched the plot and sought the assistance of the informant to rob his benefactor, the businessman, who deals in gold and diamonds, at gunpoint.
Kyereboah is alleged to have provided detailed description of the businessman, his itinerary for the day, the bank he would be withdrawing money from on that particular day and the route he would take.
However, unknown to Kyereboah, the police were listening to the information on the informant’s phone and they quickly moved in to arrest him.
Moments after he had been arrested, Kyereboah allegedly confessed the heinous intention he had nurtured over a period for a possible attack on his friend and benefactor.
Briefing The Mirror on the incident, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Regina Addo-Yobo said the businessman, who is also the complainant, had been supporting the suspect in cash and in kind for some time now.
The source said it was that association that made it possible for the suspect to know about the business transactions and source of finance of the business tycoon.
She said around 5 p.m. on January 15, 2010, the suspect engaged the services of the informant, who is also the witness in the case, and others to rob the complainant who had been withdrawing money from both the Barclays and the Stanchart banks at 9 a.m. on a daily basis to facilitate his business.
According to DSP Addo-Yobo, the informant feigned interest in the deal and immediately alerted the police.
She said based on that, Kyereboah, who trades under the store where the complainant had his office at Dr Mensah in Kumasi, started monitoring the movements of the complainant on January 25, 2010 and leaked all the information on phone to the informant.
It was not until the police had foiled the attack that the businessman became aware of the eminent danger around him.
Even when the police invited the businessman for briefing on the supposed attack and assist in their investigations and prosecution of the alleged gangsters, the businessman politely declined the invitation.
She said upon his arrest, the suspect confessed that he had engaged the informant to rob the complainant of his money at gunpoint. He was, therefore, charged with the offence of attempted robbery.
He has been remanded in police custody to assist in investigations.
After feigning interest in a plot to attack a business tycoon in Kumasi, a 24-year-old man sneaked into the Kumasi Central Police to leak the plan and that saved the life of the businessman.
Jeremiah Benjamin Kyereboah allegedly hatched the plot and sought the assistance of the informant to rob his benefactor, the businessman, who deals in gold and diamonds, at gunpoint.
Kyereboah is alleged to have provided detailed description of the businessman, his itinerary for the day, the bank he would be withdrawing money from on that particular day and the route he would take.
However, unknown to Kyereboah, the police were listening to the information on the informant’s phone and they quickly moved in to arrest him.
Moments after he had been arrested, Kyereboah allegedly confessed the heinous intention he had nurtured over a period for a possible attack on his friend and benefactor.
Briefing The Mirror on the incident, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Regina Addo-Yobo said the businessman, who is also the complainant, had been supporting the suspect in cash and in kind for some time now.
The source said it was that association that made it possible for the suspect to know about the business transactions and source of finance of the business tycoon.
She said around 5 p.m. on January 15, 2010, the suspect engaged the services of the informant, who is also the witness in the case, and others to rob the complainant who had been withdrawing money from both the Barclays and the Stanchart banks at 9 a.m. on a daily basis to facilitate his business.
According to DSP Addo-Yobo, the informant feigned interest in the deal and immediately alerted the police.
She said based on that, Kyereboah, who trades under the store where the complainant had his office at Dr Mensah in Kumasi, started monitoring the movements of the complainant on January 25, 2010 and leaked all the information on phone to the informant.
It was not until the police had foiled the attack that the businessman became aware of the eminent danger around him.
Even when the police invited the businessman for briefing on the supposed attack and assist in their investigations and prosecution of the alleged gangsters, the businessman politely declined the invitation.
She said upon his arrest, the suspect confessed that he had engaged the informant to rob the complainant of his money at gunpoint. He was, therefore, charged with the offence of attempted robbery.
He has been remanded in police custody to assist in investigations.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
KMA TO ZOO GARDENS RESCUE (SHOWBIZ, PAGE 3, JAN 28, 2010)
By George Ernest Asare
THE ineffective drainage system at the Kumasi Zoological Gardens which causes periodic flooding undermining tourist attraction has become a major concern to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) and the Management and Board of Governors of the Zoo.
According to the management of the zoo, drains from Mbrom, Bantama and Race Course among other suburbs in the metropolis, converge at the Gardens which is a lowland area causing erosion and creating big gullies .
Consequently, the KMA has resolved to collaborate with the Ministry of Works and Housing to reconstruct the drainage system to make the zoo more attractive to enhance tourism.
Aside the poor drainage, the zoo also faces a number of challenges such as the menace of hawkers who have made the zoo their dumping ground, activities of some miscreants who defecate there with impunity and erosion which is threatening infrastructure development.
But for the above mentioned problems, the Gardens which was adjudged the best tourist centre in Ghana barely a year ago, would have maintained its position.
The Chief Executive of KMA, Mr Samuel Sarpong when he paid a fact finding mission to the Gardens pointed out that the place needed a facelift to improve its infrastructure to make the place more attractive to both local and foreign tourists.
“ The drainage is not the best. Tourists centres should be attractive to market them to potential tourists, but this is not what I found when I visited the Gardens. I am going to get in touch with the Ministry of Works and Housing for us to map out a strategy to revamp the Gardens and bring it to a standard that would make it more attractive to tourists and boost the potentials of the place” he assured.
He said the facelift of the Gardens is important because “ it is part of our development agenda to sustain tourist attraction in the metropolis”
He debunked the assertion that the Kumasi Zoological Gardens should be relocated , saying “ this is one of the few assets we have so far as tourism is concerned in the metropolis, and nothing would compel us to relocate it. It will not be in our interest”, he noted.
The maiden visit of the Kumasi Mayor to the Gardens became necessary when the Manager of the Zoo, Mr E.D Nimoh, together with the Board of Governors paid a courtesy call on Mr Sarpong a week earlier.
The visit was to congratulate him on his appointment and also discuss some of the challenges militating against the efficient operations of the zoo.
On his part, Mr Nimo expressed concern about the poor drainage system at the garden and said “the area becomes easily flooded at the least rainfall, making it impossible for us to operate effectively”
He pointed out that “traders and miscreants have not only made the place a dumping ground, but also defecate indiscriminately, creating offensive odour that pollute the air “and therefore appealed to the Kumasi Mayor to extend the decongestion exercise to the Gardens as a way of warding off intruders”.
Mr Nimo said the Board was planning to launch a fund raising ceremony to solicit financial support from the public to enable them undertake a massive facelift at the Gardens.
He therefore appealed to the Mayor to support them in that endeavour to make the fund raising ceremony a success.
THE ineffective drainage system at the Kumasi Zoological Gardens which causes periodic flooding undermining tourist attraction has become a major concern to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) and the Management and Board of Governors of the Zoo.
According to the management of the zoo, drains from Mbrom, Bantama and Race Course among other suburbs in the metropolis, converge at the Gardens which is a lowland area causing erosion and creating big gullies .
Consequently, the KMA has resolved to collaborate with the Ministry of Works and Housing to reconstruct the drainage system to make the zoo more attractive to enhance tourism.
Aside the poor drainage, the zoo also faces a number of challenges such as the menace of hawkers who have made the zoo their dumping ground, activities of some miscreants who defecate there with impunity and erosion which is threatening infrastructure development.
But for the above mentioned problems, the Gardens which was adjudged the best tourist centre in Ghana barely a year ago, would have maintained its position.
The Chief Executive of KMA, Mr Samuel Sarpong when he paid a fact finding mission to the Gardens pointed out that the place needed a facelift to improve its infrastructure to make the place more attractive to both local and foreign tourists.
“ The drainage is not the best. Tourists centres should be attractive to market them to potential tourists, but this is not what I found when I visited the Gardens. I am going to get in touch with the Ministry of Works and Housing for us to map out a strategy to revamp the Gardens and bring it to a standard that would make it more attractive to tourists and boost the potentials of the place” he assured.
He said the facelift of the Gardens is important because “ it is part of our development agenda to sustain tourist attraction in the metropolis”
He debunked the assertion that the Kumasi Zoological Gardens should be relocated , saying “ this is one of the few assets we have so far as tourism is concerned in the metropolis, and nothing would compel us to relocate it. It will not be in our interest”, he noted.
The maiden visit of the Kumasi Mayor to the Gardens became necessary when the Manager of the Zoo, Mr E.D Nimoh, together with the Board of Governors paid a courtesy call on Mr Sarpong a week earlier.
The visit was to congratulate him on his appointment and also discuss some of the challenges militating against the efficient operations of the zoo.
On his part, Mr Nimo expressed concern about the poor drainage system at the garden and said “the area becomes easily flooded at the least rainfall, making it impossible for us to operate effectively”
He pointed out that “traders and miscreants have not only made the place a dumping ground, but also defecate indiscriminately, creating offensive odour that pollute the air “and therefore appealed to the Kumasi Mayor to extend the decongestion exercise to the Gardens as a way of warding off intruders”.
Mr Nimo said the Board was planning to launch a fund raising ceremony to solicit financial support from the public to enable them undertake a massive facelift at the Gardens.
He therefore appealed to the Mayor to support them in that endeavour to make the fund raising ceremony a success.
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