from Albert Nana Asante

The Obuasi Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, is organising free evening classes for senior secondary school students in the municipality.

Subjects covered under the programme, which is aimed at improving upon the performance of students, are English, Maths and Science.

The MCE added that he would continue to provide teachers and other teaching and learning materials that would be used for the programme, and gave an assurance of sustaining it.

The MCE, who disclosed that the classes were being organised at the Obuasi Complex, therefore, appealed to students in the municipality to take full advantage of the programme.

He also asked parents not to allow their wards to misuse their precious time at the expense of such an opportunity.

Meanwhile, a number of parents in the municipality have welcomed the programme, and appealed to the MCE to sustain it.

from Albert Nana Asante

As part of measures to ensure an accident-free yuletide, drivers in the Obuasi Municipality will from Monday be subjected to a pre-departure alcohol test.

Aside the above, the executive of the various transport unions in the Municipality have been tasked to ensure a pre-departure test of drivers regularly at their lorry stations.

The Obuasi Divisional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), Douglas Kumah, who made the disclosure during the Annual General Meeting of the Obuasi branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union, also cautioned drivers against over-speeding before, during and after the yuletide.

He said interference by opinion leaders, chiefs and politicians who plead on behalf of road traffic offenders was hindering efforts at ensuring road safety.

He called on the general public, especially passengers, to remain vigilant and report recalcitrant drivers, and never to remain passive during trips on public transport.

The Obuasi Municipal head of the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA), Mr. David Nordor, said his outfit would soon descend on drivers and motor riders without licenses and prosecute culprits.

The local Secretary of the GPRTU, Mr. Kwame Adu Gyamfi, outlined a number of challenges facing the union, including traffic congestion at the main lorry station.

He said, looking at the pace the municipality was developing, there was the need for the city authorities and key stakeholders to ensure that all commercial drivers were registered, in order to monitor their activities. 

from Albert Nana Asante

Mr. Benjamin Anhwere, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Adansi South, has assured teachers in the district of the government’s commitment towards improving the well-being of teachers, especially those working in the rural areas, so that they would give off their best for the benefit of the nation.

Speaking at the commissioning of a GH¢65,000 teachers’ bungalow at Annorkrom, the DCE stressed, “Government is committed to improving the welfare of teachers, in order to attain quality education for the nation’s future adults.” 

The DCE appealed to parents to be keen on the education of their wards, while urging them to play their supervisory roles effectively, as well as providing other materials which government is not to able to provide for smooth learning.

He, however, appealed to the teachers to work in unison with other stakeholders and the government to improve quality education in the area.

He called for collaborative efforts from all stakeholders to complement the government’s efforts at raising the standard of education across the country

At Asarekrom, where he also commissioned a three-unit classroom block, office and a store, estimated at GH¢85,000, the DCE appealed to parents to give priority to their children’s education.

The District Chief Executive also cut the sod for the construction of a three-unit classroom room block at Avornyokrom. The facility, when completed, would replace an old structure, which serves as classroom block for the community.

The Chief of Avornyokrom, Nana Yaw Badu, expressed concern about the involvement of minors in galamsey (illegal mining) activities in the area, and appealed to the DCE to help arrest the situation.

He thanked the DCE for coming to the aid of the community, and hoped the completion of the new school block would improve enrollment at the school.

Nana Yaw Badu also appealed to the DCE and his entourage to address the poor road network within the area.

The DCE was accompanied by the Member of Parliament for the area, Mr. Ernest Kofi Yakah.

The newly constructed teachers’ bungalow at Annorkrom

 An old structure, which serves as classroom block for the Avornyokrom community

From Richard Owusu-Akyaw

THE PEOPLE of Mesewam near Asokore Mampong now have a new chief after the stool has been vacant since 1920.

Mr. Agyemang Boateng, alias Abaah Boateng, a mechanical engineer and businessman has ascended the stool under the stool name, Nana Agyemang Adjei Bota II, succeeding his late uncle Nana Kwame Mensah.

His enstoolment last Tuesday follows the resolution of the prolonged dispute by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and has since sworn the oath of allegiance to the Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, at the Manhyia Palace.

Nana Bota, an old student of the Techiman Senior High School is the Chief Executive officer of Empire Star Ghana Limited, Empire Foods Limited and Erigo Canada Incorporated, with headquarters in Germany and Canada.

He is married with six children. He has pledged to promote education to support the vision of Otumfuo Osei Tutu in establishing the Otumfuo Education Fund.

The new chief has decided to transform the community through infrastructural development and ensure vibrant economic activities for the residents.

 Pix: Nana Agyemang Bota being carried shoulder high after swearing in ceremony

 

From Ernest Best Anane,

NANA SARFO Agyemang III, Chief of Baworo in the Ejisu Municipality, has started executing  vigorous development projects  in the community, a year after his installation.

Work on an ultra-modern palace for the community has begun. Other projects include the construction of modern toilet facility, well-furnished 20 capacity computer laboratory with accessories for the local primary and Junior High schools.
Nana Sarfo told The Ashanti File that on his installation, he realized the palace needed a facelift.
He said he had also started the initiation of a modern toilet facility for the Baworo Community which is without a toilet facility for some time now.

According to him, he had to champion the establishment of an Integrated Community for Employable Skills for the young ones in the area, since the school in the community was primary and Junior High School.

He said students who wanted to attend Senior High School, Vocational or Technical Schools had to travel to Ejisu to access education at that level. Mr. Adolf Gyamfi, the Unit Committee Chairman commended the chief for providing the community with a toilet facility.

Mr. Paul Kwabena Darko, Manager of the Integrated Community center for Employable Skills, pleaded with the Ministry of Education (MOE), Ghana Education Service (GES) and stakeholders to help the community expand the educational facilities like hostel, classrooms and Workshop to complement the effort of Nana Agyemang to improve the standard of Education in the community and its surroundings.

Pix 1: New palace under construction

Pix 2: The computer laboratory

From Issah Alhassan, Kumasi

MEDIA PRACTITIONERS in the Ashanti Region and Officers of the Northern Command of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) last Friday commenced what promises to be a fruitful working relationship between the military and members of the inky fraternity in the country.

Members of the two institutions engaged in a 6km Route March through some principal streets in the Kumasi metropolis, to signal peace and cordial relationship.

The Relationship between the media and the military often times have been hazy, largely due to irregular release of information and sometimes reports of alleged mishandling of media personnel by some military officers.

The move, therefore, forms part of efforts by the GJA and the GAF to build smooth working relationship to enhance the defence and development of the country.

The walk brought together high profile personalities, including the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Brigadier-General Richard Opoku-Adusei and the National President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Dr. Affail Monney.

In an address, the Chief of Army Staff, Brigadier-General Opoku-Adusei, said cordial relationship between the media and the military should be a matter of necessity rather than a privilege, since it would go a long way to help in the defence and protection of the territorial integrity of the country.

The Chief of Army Staff noted that there was the need for a review of system of information delivery, stressing that the flow of releasable information must be done proactively, whilst efforts must also be made to avoid the over-classification of information which he said, often gives room for the media to speculate.

He said, to this end, Public Relations directorate within the GAF has been decentralized with the establishment of an office in Kumasi to deal with all issues concerning the media.

According to him, this will create the enabling environment in terms of cross checking information, standing arrangements and other processes in information delivery.

Brigadier-General Opoku-Adusei, therefore, suggested the establishment of a curricular in military training and working process at Journalism institutions in the country and vice versa, so that a working understanding can be created amongst the two institutions.

“There is also the need for the creation of a specialist in defence and security correspondence to enhance the flow of information, this collaboration is necessary so that we don’t operate at parallel lines,” he emphasized.

He further proposed that if possible, the Route March must be organized on quarterly basis to sustain the relationship.

The National President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Affail Monney, commended both the Northern Command of the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ashanti Regional GJA for the initiative, stressing that it would help eliminate all forms of misconceptions the media harboured about the military.

The GJA President pledged the readiness of the media to collaborate with the GAF in working towards ensuring the protection and development of the country.

Pix: GJA President Affail Monney, Ashanti GJA chairman pose with
military officers

From Issah Alhassan, Kumasi

THE PRESIDENT of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Dr. Affail Monney has expressed its gratitude to the Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Eric Opoku for his personal support and commitment to the growth and development of the association.

The President says the GJA appreciates the support the Regional Minister has been giving to the Association, especially its Ashanti Regional branch and believes the cordial co-operation would inure to the development of the region.

Dr. Affail Monney gave the remark when he paid a short visit to the Regional Minister to officially express gratitude to him for the construction of the ultra-modern Regional Press Centre.

Hon. Eric Opoku is spearheading the construction of a state-of-the-art Press Resource Centre for the Ashanti GJA following a request made by the Regional Chairman of the Association, Listowell Yesu Bukarson, at the beginning of the year.

The project, valued at GH¢583,229.08 is at the advanced stage and is expected to be completed by the end of February next year.

Dr. Monney, who was conducted round the building earlier the day, said he was amazed upon sighting the project, more particularly at the speedy progress of work at the site.

Describing the Ashanti Regional Minister as one of the best the region has ever had in recent times, the GJA President expressed the hope that other regional ministers would emulate the shining example of Hon. Eric Opoku in terms of enhancing the resource capacity of the media.

Hon. Eric Opoku, on his part, said he had enjoyed smooth collaboration of the media since assuming office as the minister, notwithstanding the initial perception that media practitioners in the Ashanti Region were antagonistic to the government of the NDC.

He said though he could not say that he has enjoyed hundred support from the media, he believes the criticisms so far had been fair and constructive, adding that he is hoping journalists in the region would continue to support efforts to enhance the development of the region.

Pix: GJA executives in a pose with Regional Minister Eric Opoku

There is a growing discontent about the operations of Police personnel manning the Apremdo-Apowa road in the Western Region.

The Police, according to users of the road, have thrown professionalism to the gutter and are displaying open extortion of money from the drivers who ply the road in question.

This is also having a toll on free flow of vehicular movement, therefore, piling up traffic every blessed day at a time that Police officers in other cities are helping to ease traffic congestion.

Users of that stretch of the road are, however, calling on the regional Commander of the Police Service, Commissioner Kofi Boakye to call his men to order.

The Western File, which has been using the road in question every morning and evening, can also confirm the unnecessary traffic on that road.

The situation has become unbearable, due to the yuletide, which is around the corner.

Compiled by Alfred Adams

As part of efforts to ensure free land litigation between traditional rulers and land users, the government has instituted a Customary Land Secretariat through the Administrator of Stool Lands in the country.

Two traditional councils in the Western Region, who are to benefit from the Secretariat, are the Aowin traditional council and Atuabo traditional council respectively.

Delivering a speech at the inauguration of Aowin customary land secretariat, the Deputy Director of Stool Lands in-charge of operations, Mr. Patrick Amoah, said land as a natural resource is fundamental to the very existence of mankind.

This is because it is the basic resource that defines the existence of man. According to him, the way and manner in which we manage and administer our land resource will set the boundary for our development, if we were able to foster a prudent land management system.

However, the Deputy Director of Stool lands believes that: “we as nation have not been able to exploit the potential of our land resources for our socio-economic development due to the numerous problems associated with landadministration”.

The government has, therefore, launched the Ghana National Land Policy, which identified, among others, the multiplicity of land laws, indeterminate boundaries of customary lands, inadequate security of land tenure and weak land administration system fragmented institutional arrangements with weak capacity.

Lack of consultations with land owners in decision making for land utilization and management, intractable land disputes have serious challenges in the land sector, he added. These challenges he observed have shaken land administration to its foundation and ‘we are now experiencing unprecedented chaos in the land market arena, culminating into the emerging notorious phenomena of land guards with its attendant brutalities’.

 Mr. Amoah said the problems of customary land administration, coupled with the desire of the country to develop into upper middle class income level, informed the Land Administration Project to bring on board the establishment of Customary Land Secretariat in the various customary land owning communities.

It will be promoted as part of the decentralization of land administration services for land owners and traditional authorities who were willing to make initial investment in office accommodation and basic office facilities under the ongoing land administration project.

This Secretariat must be ran and managed as a sustainable business entity which would deliver efficient and transparent services to all stakeholders.

Mr. Amoah, therefore, underscored the need for chiefs and people of Enchi to show ownership and commitment to the Secretariat to ensure its sustainability. The secretariat will help strengthening good governance in land administration at the local level which will help ensure tenure of security and for that matter the confidence for people to invest in the land, which will help alleviate poverty and accelerate socio-economic development, he added.

The acting president for Aowin traditional council and chief of Omanpe Nana Gyening II, said Nananom of Aowin would collaborate with the people, most especially tenant cocoa farmers who work on their lands to demarcate, register and make proper records on their lands.

He was grateful to the government for establishing, equipping and inaugurating the secretariat, and making it first in the region.

Delivering a speech on behalf of the District Chief Executive, Oscar Ofori Larbi, the District Environmental Health Officer, Mr. J.A Frimpong, said government was poised in delivering its promises to the good people in the country and appealed to all to help bring the better Ghana agenda to fruition.

The ownership and possession of land carry a social obligation to serve the larger community, and in particular the state shall recognize that the managers of public, stool, skin and family lands were fiduciaries charged with the obligation to discharge their functions for the benefit respectively of the people of Ghana.

Street naming exercise coupled with spatial development framework would help bring sanity into the system, he added.

 MR. PARTRICK AMOAH CUTTING THE TAPE TO OFFICIALLY OPEN THE NEW SECRETARIAT, ASSISTED BY THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF AOWIN,NANA GYANING II

The Chronicle’s Court reporter, Helena Selby, on Saturday 14th December, 2013, exchanged marital vows with Adam Van Bunnes, at the altar of the Royal House Chapel International, Michelle Camp, as the two tied the knot as husband and wife.

The ceremony itself was well attended by family and friends of the couple, staff of The Chronicle and church members of the newly wed. Below are pictures of the holy matrimony as captured by the sharp lenses of The Chronicle’s Photographer, Eric Owiredu;

The Bride and the Groom in a group photograph with both families

Friends and co-workers of the bride in a group photograph

Bride and  Groom dancing to their favorite tune after the Church service.

The newly wed couple embrace themselves

Bride, Helena Selby and Groom, Adam Van Bunnes pose to camera

From Ernest Best Anane

Henric David Yeboah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Afigya Sekyere East Constituency in the Ashanti Region, has donated four ambulances to four health facilities in the constituency.

These are the Domeabra Maternity Clinic, Kona Health Center, Wiamoase Salvation Army Health Center and Boanim Health Center.

The MP also donated mobile phones and accessories, worth GH¢107,000, in addition to one year comprehensive insurance to cover the ambulances.

He said the gesture would be funded from his share of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and Common Fund, which payment had been delayed, so he had to provide funds for the ambulances from his own resources.

According to him, since the health needs of his constituents were paramount, he decided to fund it and reimburse the cost when the NHIS and Common Fund monies are released by the government.

The MP, last year donated three ambulances to some of the health facilities in the constituency, and decided to add four more this year, to ensure safe health delivery.

He bemoaned the bad road network in the area, and hoped the District Chief Executive for the area would liaise with the Minister for Roads to address to the situation.

Dr. Kofi Nti, Medical Superintendent of Agona Government Hospital, commended the MP for the kind gesture and continued support to the health sector in the area, something, he said, which explained the MP’s understanding of the system and the health needs of the people he represents.

He noted that the health sector in the area was improving, and attributed it to the MP’s tremendous efforts at ensuring that the people access good health care.

The Medical Superintendent mentioned some previous support and assistance to the facility by the MP as being an administration block, children’s ward and five generators, saying the ambulances were very vital in heath delivery, and described them as a Christmas gift to the various facilities that benefited from the latest gesture.

He appealed to the MP to also provide adequate beds to the children’s wards to help reduce congestion.

The Acting Director of Health Services, Madam Vesta Aryordyah, commended the MP for prioritising the health needs of the people, saying before there could be good health delivery, there was the need for the availability of some vital equipment like the ambulance, and expressed his profound gratitude while urging him never to relent on his efforts at improving the health standard of the people.

Health, she said, was life, and for that matter important to every living thing.

The Domeabrahene, Boanimhene, Nana Boakye Yiadom, and Wiamoasehene, who graced the occasion, expressed their gratitude to the MP for bringing relief for the beneficiary communities.

In another development, the MP also presented cheques covering various amounts of money to some selected schools in the area.

The schools are the Agona SDA, Montonsua D/A, Domeabra JHS, Abrakaso JHS, Agona Senior High Technical School (ASHTECH) and Konadu Yiadom SHS (KOYISS) at Agona Asamang.

While ASHTECH and KOYISS received GH¢10,000 each, the rest of the schools received   GH¢5,000 each.

The ambulances

MP Henric David Yeboah assists the Health Director, Madam Vesta Aryordyah, to unveil the ambulances

 The ASHTECH Headmaster receiving a cheque from the MP

Stories from Isaac Akwetey-Okunor

The usual bustle and hustle amidst euphoria that herald the celebration of Christmas, appears to be on the down side in the capital of the Eastern Region, Koforidua, as there is virtually no Christmas feelings of excitement in the air.

A tour embarked on by the Eastern File on Monday to find out how residents in the capital were preparing ahead of the yuletide, confirmed what they (residents) described as dry X’mas, as business activities had gradually come to a halt.

Traders were spotted sitting around their goods with their chins buried in their palms, whilst shop owners looked at passers-by and cars, with those in the food business enjoying comparatively good patronage.

The traders attributed the situation to the unimpressive economic condition, and called on the government to do something.

Stories from Isaac Akwetey-Okunor

A cross section of Koforidua media practitioners, the Headmistress of the Akropong School for the Blind, and management of Mensvic Grand Hotels, one of the largest and finest hotels in East Legon, broke down in tears last Monday, during a presentation to the school by the latter.

It all started when the Headmistress, Madam Mahela Narh, disclosed that a woman, Christiana Billy, wanted to take one Ebenezer Amoah, a 16 year old blind orphan, back home to go and carry firewood to pay her debt.

The Headmistress and the gathering could not help but break broke down into tears, following the condition of Ebenezer. This brought the ceremony to a temporary halt.

According to the Headmistress, Madam Billy, who is a resident of Akye, a community in Nzema in the Western Region, and takes care of Ebenezer, came to the school over the weekend that she wanted to take the boy back home, because she was indebted to the tune of GH¢400.

Speaking to the media, Madam Billy, who claimed to be a bread seller, said she had used all her money from the sale of the bread to take care of Ebenezer Amoah’s education and other expenditure, which had rendered her insolvent.

According to her, since she used the money on Ebenezer and has no other option, it would be good if she takes him home to work on the farm, or carry firewood for sale to pay the debt, but the school authorities declined the request.

The visibly disturbed and traumatised middle aged woman has vowed to take the boy home, since she used the money on him, a he must therefore work to pay the debt, but the Headmistress explained that if the school had to release the young boy, who they described as brilliant, to go and suffer, they would do everything within their means to save him.

Narrating the pathetic story to the media, young Ebenezer Amoah said he was not born blind, but an unknown situation led to his present condition, while he also lost both parents in the struggle.

The young blind orphan said he wished to become a lawyer in future, and vowed that nothing could be an impediment to realising that dream, not even his current condition, and called on Ghanaians to pray for him.

According to him, he had something positive to offer Ghana and mankind, however, that talent would not be unearthed if he was not supported, and declared he not to go anywhere, but would rather die in the school.

“I wish to be in the school and die of hunger in order to realise my dreams of becoming a lawyer, rather than to go back home and eat to my fill without realising my dreams,” the ambitious young man said.

Mrs. Victoria Ntiamoah, who led a delegation to present items to the school, has promised to pay the GH¢400 debt to Ebenezer’s “Aunty” to allow him to remain in school.

She further promised to support the young to be blind lawyer in his education among others, as far as she lives.

Meanwhile, items such as bags of rice, gallons of cooking oil, boxes of tomatoes puree, assorted drinks, and biscuits among others amounting to GH¢5,100 were given to the school.

Stories by Bernice Bessey

Societé Generale Ghana has donated 20 computers to the Mampong Technical Senior High School for the Deaf to assist the special education system in the country.

The Managing Director, Gilbert Hie, indicated that special education was one area that the bank had decided to support, as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR).

While donating the computers to the school yesterday at Accra, Mr. Hie noted that special education had not been given the needed attention by the people, and that the computers would help the students acquire Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills.

He also promised to offer financial training for the students to enable them gain knowledge in the banking sector.

The Headmaster of the school, Nathan Pecku, thanked the bank for the donation, and urged other institutions to do same.

He said the school, since its insertion in 1957, had not been given the necessary attention by governments.

He stated that the school was in dire need of extra physical structures, machines and equipment, as well as expanded programmes that would make our student-products competitive and not subservient in our communities.

Due to lack of a vehicle, the students have to walk three miles, four times a day, to their dormitory and to campus, while several of the hearing impaired children have been knocked down by vehicles.

Thus, he called on the government, organisations and churches to support the school to acquire a bus to transport the children safely from their dormitory to the school.

Mr. Gilbert Hie (r)  M.D. Societe Generale Ghana, presenting the  Items to Mr. Nathan K. Pecku (L) Head, Mampong School, at the background is his students. Pix by Eric Owiredu

From Richard Attenkah

Several hundreds of residents across the length and breadth of the Tema Metropolis, last Saturday joined officials of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) and other stakeholders to embark on a clean-up exercise to rid the city of fifth.

The other stakeholders who participated in the exercise include personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Ghana Police Service, Ghana Navy, Ghana Immigration Service and Zoomlion.

Other stakeholders who joined the exercise were market women from the Tema main Community One (1) market, Tema communities, Two (2), Eight (8), Nine (9) and Tema Manhean markets and other residents across the metropolis.

This is the first phase of the monthly clean up exercise dubbed “Stand for Clean Campaign”, which is the brain child of the new Metropolitan Chief Executive, Isaac Ashai Odamtten, who sees the exercise as one of the priorities of his administration.

According to the MCE, the exercise will be done on a monthly basis for the first six months, after which the frequency would be reduced to, perhaps, once every quarter to help improve upon the health situation in the Metropolis.

Ashai Odamtten himself led officials of the Assembly, including the Tema Metropolitan Urban Roads Engineer, Mr. Steve Attipoe, Tema Metropolitan National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) Coordinator, Hajia Zeinab Abdulai, among others to inspect progress of the work.

At each point where the TMA boss and his entourage reached and residents were busily working, he stopped over to congratulate and encourage them to give out their best, sometimes getting involved with the work, as and when necessary.

Launching the “Stand for Clean Campaign”, Ashai Odamtten hinted that one way people in the Metropolis would enjoy healthy living was for all to hop aboard the efforts of his administration to keep the city clean.

He observed that it was his wish that the exercise comes to stay, so that it becomes part and parcel of the lives of residents in the Metropolis, who would not wait for the Assembly to organise such an exercise before they partake.

He revealed that the Mahama-led administration was so keen on this exercise to the extent that a court had been established within the Metropolis to prosecute recalcitrant residents who would flout the laws of sanitation in the area.

Hon-Isaac-Ashai-Odamtten-Tema-MCE-2nd-from-left-helping-out-to-clean-up-a-drain-at-the-Tema-main-Community-One-1-marke

Hon-Isaac-Ashai-Odamtten-Tema-Metropolitan-Chief-Executive-with-the-megaphone-addressing-a-section-of-the-market-wome

Personnel-from-the-Ghana-Navy-desilting-a-drain-at-Tema-Manhean

Some-youngmen-helping-to-clean-up-heaps-of-refuse-at-the-Kwasea-Dwaso-at-the-Tema-Community-One-1-market

A-worker-from-Zoomlion-spraying-portions-of-the-Tema-main-Community-One

Hajia-Zeinab-Abdulai-Tema-Metropolitan-NADMO-Coordinator-helping-to-desilt-a-drain-at-the-Tema-main-Community-One-1-market-.

A-section-of-the-market-women-at-the-Tema-Community-One-1-main-market-cleaning-a-gutter-infront-of-where-they-sell-their-wares.

A-section-of-the-youth-busily-cleaning-up-a-choked-drain-at-Tema-Community-Two-2

From Issah Alhassan

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Prof. Ohene Adjei, has hinted that the hospital is devising more efficient ways of service delivery in order to enhance the quality of healthcare for its clients.

The CEO said the facility, amongst other things, had prioritised the institution of measures that would help generate enough funds internally to cover salaries and other operational expenses, beginning next year.

Prof. Ohene Adjei made the statement during the hospital’s Thanksgiving Service and Joint Staff Reception to thank God for a successful year, and to commit the affairs of the coming year into the hands of the Almighty.

The annual occasion is organised to reflect on the year’s performance, assess challenges, and to prepare staff for the following year.

Special intercessory prayers were also held for the country, staff of the hospital, and all patients receiving medical care at the facility.

Prof. Ohene Adjei said though the year 2013 was marked with serious challenges, including an industrial strike, which he said affected operations financially, the hospital managed to reach its target, as a result of the dedication and commitment of its taff.

He disclosed that the strike by the pharmacists and doctors, for instance, dealt a crippling blow to the finances of the hospital, as claims for medicines submitted to the National Health Insurance

Authority dropped from an average of GH¢500,000 a month, to about GH¢15,000 in the almost three months of the strike.

The Chief Executive said, notwithstanding the overwhelming challenges, the hospital managed to achieve significant successes, including the installation of four sets of Oxygen Manifolds, procurement of equipment valued at GH¢470,000 for the Urology, Child Health and

Obstetrics and Gynaecology departments, amongst others, through internally generated funds.

He said the year 2013 also witnessed the completion of 50-bed ultra modern eye centre, which was funded through the support of its partners, Himalayan Cataract Project and USAID.

Prof. Ohene Agyei indicated that as part of efforts to enhance operational efficiency, the hospital also introduced the Hospital Administration and Management System (HAMS) to track and capture all information about patients, output of medical staff, and accruing revenues at any particular time at the touch of a button.

Pix: Members Of The Board And Management In A Prayer Mood

From Joyce Addae

The youth of Abenase in the Ejisu Juaben Municipality have appealed to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, to, as a matter of urgency, intervene and resolve the chieftaincy dispute in the area.

They indicated that the chieftaincy dispute in the community had travelled over 37 years, and affected development, and called for a practical solution to it.

The youth, led by Mr. Kwame Frimpong-Manso, said the resolution of the dispute would ensure the speedy development of the area, and the well being of the people.

According to him, the absence of a chief in the town had paved way for wrong doing; illegal sale of lands, unplanned structures, premature deaths, and immoral practices on the part of some youth, adding that the consequence of it would dent the image of the town.

He added that the absence of chief had also stalled the developmental activities, as a result of which the community has no decent place of convenience.

“Whoever is installed as a chief of Abenase, would be welcomed and supported to transform the image of the town to another level,” the youth pleaded.

Mr. Frimpong-Manso said currently, the people live in a state of lawlessness, suspicion and mistrust, as factions are gradually emerging at the expense of growth of the once peaceful town.

The youth prayed the Ashanti King to swiftly intervene to ensure that a new chief is installed to bring unity of the people for development.

From Issah Alhassan

The management of Kessben FM, a private radio station in Kumasi, brought smiles and joy on the faces of inmates of the Mampong Babies Home, ahead of the Christmas festivities, when the station presented items worth over GH¢20,000 to the home.

The items include diapers, toiletries, bags of rice and assorted drinks, which were mobilised through an appeal to listeners of the station.

An undisclosed amount of cash and clothes were also donated to workers of the home for their selfless and dedicated services.

The donation forms part of the station’s social responsibility and efforts at assisting the authorities of the home to celebrate this year’s Christmas festivities.

The General Manager of the station, Mr. Andrew Aninkrah, who led a team of staff of the station to do the presentation on Saturday, commended listeners of the station who donated generously towards the cause.

He said the gesture had been an annual occasion to give numerous listeners the opportunity to contribute their widow’s mite to assist the inmates of the home, who, through no fault of theirs, have found themselves in such an unfortunate situation.

The Proprietress of the Home, Mrs. Margaret Addai, could not hide her joy and excitement, describing the donation as one of the biggest ever in the history of the home.

She was full of gratitude to the management of Kessben FM and its listeners, calling on God the Almighty to bless them for their benevolence.

 Mr. Andrews Aninkrah presenting the items to the Proprietress of the Home

 The items on display

By Bernice Bessey

The Christian Leadership College (CLC) has held its 8^th Matriculation and Graduation ceremony in Accra.

At the ceremony, 80 students were awarded certificates for successfully going through the institution to acquire knowledge in Theology in Management, with 70 others been admitted to start the academic year 2014.

The college, which is under the establishment of the Royal House Chapel worldwide, according to the President and founder, Rev. Sam Korankye Ankrah, is aimed at: “Touching our generation with the power and love of God”.

He explained that CLC aims to empower and equip Christian leaders to realize and maximize their full potentials.

Rev. Ankrah said it was part of his expectations that Ghana would be stocked with required and requisite human resource to man the country’s economy.

He noted that it would be very poor and disheartening for the country to lack human resource and expertise, saying “that is why CLC is dedicated to the moral, ethical, intellectual and spiritual empowerment of her students”.

He added that the church, in an effort to close the poverty gap, awards scholarship to hundreds of brilliant but needy students to further their education and to become self-dependant in the future.

The Guest speaker, lawyer Moses Foh Amoaning, descended heavily on governments of the world for passing laws that defile human dignity under the cover of human rights.

In his sermon dubbed: “which side are you on”, quoting from Exodus 32:36 in the Holy Bible, said legalization of abortion, drugs and homosexuality are efforts by governments of the world to undermine the family system and act to bring disaster to the human race.  

He called on Christians to pray against enactment of such laws which are a disaster to development.

40 graduates from other tertiary institutions in the country were also honoured for perusing and completing their higher learning.

The principal of CLC, Rev. Julie Sally Armah charged the graduates to be worthy ambassadors for the society and the church to see a difference in the way they work, preach and discharge their ministerial duties.

“Finally, I challenge you not to rest, in this technology age, the sky is no longer the limit, so be the best you can and in so doing glorify your God,” she said.

Rev.-Sam-Korenkye-AnkrahFounder-and-Apostle-General-of-Royalhouse-Chapel-delivering-his-speech

CLC-matriculants-swearing-their-oath

A-cross-section-of-Graduants-at-the-Church

A-graduate-r-recieving-his-award-from-Rev-Mrs.-Rita-Korankye-Ankrah

Lawyer-Moses-Foh-Amoaning-President-of-EUC-guest-speaker-for-the-ceremony-addressing-the-congregation

Rev.-Julie-Armah-Principal-of-CLC-delivering-her-speech

Pixs by: Eric Owiredu

From Richard Owusu-Akyaw, Kumasi

AFRICA MEDIA Consult, in collaboration with Genius Creative Media, has honoured Dr. Kwabena Duffour and three others for their meritorious services for enriching the lives of Ghanaians.
Former Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly boss, Mr. Samuel Sarpong, the District Chief Executive of Agona (Sekyere South), Hon. Edward Ayarkwah and the CEO of first class hospital, Konongo, Dr. Steve Ogbordgo were honored for their commendable work in society.
The former Minister of finance, Dr. Kwabena Duffour, was honoured for his selfless contribution to Ghanaians. The event organisers indicated that Dr. Duffour worked in the late Professor Mills’ administration without collecting a dime.  His entrepreneurship prowess has led him to establish a number of companies which employ a number of the teeming youth, thus curbing unemployment in Ghana.
The Kumawu native is seen as a role model whose effort earned the Ghanaian economy the fastest growing one during the tenure of the late Professor Mills, and sparked the torch of alleviating poverty in Ghana. Mr. Felix Nyarko-Pong, Chief Executive officer of UNI BANK received the award on behalf of Dr. Duffour.
Dr. Ogbordgo was awarded for his selfless services to the people of Konongo by sponsoring of poor and needy children to attain higher education. He was also commended for building a library and stocking it with contemporary books.
Hon. Agyakwa was praised for transforming Sekyere South District into a modern community and even as he promised to work hard for his constituents and Ghana at large.
The Chief Executive officer of Africa Media Consult, Nana Ampong, said the motive of honouring the awardees is to encourage well placed individuals to contribute to the   development of society as a whole.
Nana Ampong noted that it is time to let our heroes feel great by praising them while they are alive.

Pix: Mr. Felix Nyarko-Pong receives (left) receives award on behalf of Dr. Duffuor