From Samuel Agbewode, Ho

The Volta Regional Secretariat of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) is helping teachers to live up to expectation in the performance of their professional duties in the various schools across the region.

Therefore, there is the need for those who are not members of the Association to make the necessary effort and join for their own maximum benefit.

The Volta Regional branch of GNAT started in 1975 with the vision to seek the welfare of teachers as well as to promote their professional development. This led to the election of officers and formulation of policies to guide the Association.

The elected officers provide policy framework while the personnel implement the policies to ensure smooth administration of the Association.

The quality of leadership experienced over the years has attracted 17,700 teachers at the basic, Secondary and Colleges of Education to become members of GNAT in the Volta Region.

THE MAIN ACTIVITIES OF GNAT

The GNAT’s main activities are to offer trade union services, promote professionalism and ensure high academic standards among its members by regularly upgrading their skills and knowledge to ensure that they are abreast with modern trends in the teaching profession across the world in providing holistic education.

Also, to help the individual teacher in cases such as wrongful dismissal, transfer of teachers as a way of punishment. This the association does by engaging legal practitioners to protect the interest of the teacher in the discharge of his or her professional duties

The Association also put up a hostel facility at the regional capital, Ho to provide accommodation for teachers who travel to the capital to participate in in-service training organized by GNAT, weekend courses and teachers who visit the capital and have accommodation challenges.

In order, to ensure that the rights of members are protected GNAT in collaboration with the Federation of Canadian Teachers Association organized various upgrade courses for teachers in the region.

The two associations also jointly provided some six communities in the Volta region namelyto  and also helped communities with projects  for example six communities in the Volta region namely Bokorvikope, Matse Nukuasi, Dohia and Awudome Mangoase with modern class room blocks to aid teaching and conducive learning.

Teachers  who are involve in an accident or sick  receives assistance from GNAT  as well as offer  support for teachers to embark on social celebrations like  wedding and during the death of a relative of a teacher who is a member of GNAT to ensure that the member does not bear alone the expenses that  emanate from such social activities.

GNAT’S SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLS

The various schools celebrating their speech and prize giving days enjoy maximum assistance from the Regional Secretariat of GNAT; however, this kind of support was based on request from the school authorities and special support given to institution that had requested for urgent assistance during disaster.

For example the Volta Regional Secretariat of GNAT went to the aid of the Jasikan College of Education last year when one of its dormitories got burnt.

The willingness of GNAT to ensure vigorous academic activities throughout the country led to GNAT officers serving on a number of committees to help influence policy on education which has over the years yielded positively in the nation’s efforts at ensuring vibrant educational activities in schools.

DESEMINATION OF INFORMATION

The Volta Regional Secretariat of GNAT over the years experienced dynamic leadership trying in trying to keep the teacher abreast of relevant information that would keep him or her to be current in discharge of the professional work; hence various strategies were adopted to help ensure free flow of relevant information to teachers.

The quest for smooth method of dissemination of information that affects the teacher resulted in the Regional Secretariat of GNAT coming up with a Bulletin called -“The Volta Teacher”- which was specially designed to cater for the information needs of the teacher particularly updating the knowledge of the teacher on the professional conduct of the teacher to guide him or her.

The Regional Secretariat also prepares teachers for their promotion and help to address the financial challenges that face them by educating teachers on the Teachers’ Fund, which helps the teacher to supplement retirement benefits and have access to personal loans that can help them to build their own houses as well as acquire cars.

The teacher now seems to get some kind of  financial  relieve because under the teachers fund opportunity is given to teachers who are interested in establishing businesses to have access to loan facilities for the purpose apart from the bright future the teacher would  embrace on the day of retiring from active service. The teacher at the end of service would be given all the contributions made with interest accrued whilst in active service as yearly presentation of their accounts were made to them.

CHALLENGES

The 1992 Constitution, which allows for freedom of Association, brought in competition, as unions compete for membership, a development that most of the times was characterized with misinformation being peddled against GNAT by its opponents.

This development affects GNAT in its drive to get more members, making the Teacher Association very weak at the local or basic levels, coupled with the movement of teachers from one school to the other.

Another issue of much concern to GNAT is the lack of commitment of members, as they gather wrong information that they rather use, thereby making the Association not to grow fast as expected, particularly teachers at the basic level of education who are the foundation of the Teacher Association ought to consider the benefits that would be derived as members in active service and on retirement.

The Volta Regional Secretary of GNAT, Mr. Linus Attey disclosed that the major problem confronting the Association was the encroachment on the land in Ho, on which the Regional Secretariat was built, as some people from the family where the land was bought, started litigating with GNAT unjustly after the necessary documents have been prepared on the land by the Association.

WAY FORWARD

The Volta Regional Secretariat of GNAT will embark on serious membership education drive on conditions of service, code of conduct and embark on serious recruitment drive for teachers under training at the various Colleges of Education, as well as training of  school representatives of GNAT would equally be intensified.

The teacher is one of the most respected worker in the society as many other professionals could not have been who they are today without the teacher therefore GNAT would continue to upgrade the skills and knowledge of teachers with emphasis on computer literacy that would enable them to meet the changing trend in the technological development in Information Communication Technology (ICT).

CAPTION: PIX 1 is the Volta Regional Secretary of GNAT, Mr. Linus Attey,

PIX 2 shows the GNAT regional hostel in Ho

PIX 3 is the GNAT regional conference hall complex

From Isaac Akwetey- Okunor, Suhum

Twin sisters aged four (4) of Abenabo, a farming community which is a few miles away from the Suhum Township have been crushed to death by a building that collapsed on them during a heavy downpour that greeted the Suhum Municipality of the Eastern region in the early hours of Friday.

The twins, who were sleeping in the same mud house with their mother and other siblings met their untimely death when the comparatively weakened clay house caved in during the storm and instantly killed them. They have since been deposited in the Suhum Government Hospital morgue.

Meanwhile, six (6) others, including a pregnant woman, who were in the relatively small mud house with visible cracks and signs of warning escaped death but sustained various degrees of injuries.

The injured occupants were in good condition and responding to treatment at the same hospital as at the time of filing this report.

Narrating the ordeal to the paper, the mother of the deceased twins’, Madam Akweley Madzi explained that the late children were sleeping with six (6) others when they met their untimely death.

Meanwhile, hundreds of residents in and around Suhum have been displaced after they had an encounter of ‘life and death’ with the fierce rain that visited them on that fateful day, with areas such as Suhum-Ayehkotse, the main lorry station and the market been the most affected.

Properties running into thousands of Ghana cedis were destroyed in the process when the bridge around the lorry station and market overflow its boundary and in the process submerged vehicles, buildings and stores.

Residents in the area have called on management of the Suhum Municipal Assembly and National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) to assist them with some relief items, as well as financial support.

They have also appealed to the Assembly to clear the weeds that have overgrown the bridge which arguably led to the immeasurable destruction of properties in the area.

According to them, they lost all their belongings and until the Assembly and NADMO come to their aid, they have nothing to depend on at this moment.

Interestingly, it appears that the people of the area have not learnt lesson from this avoidable natural disaster since this is the third consecutive time the fierce rain has shook the foundation of the place.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the area Hon. Samuel Kwabi in an interview with a cross-section of the media, shortly after he had toured the affected areas and bereaved family, expressed worry why people continued to put up buildings on water ways.

He explained that the municipal NADMO officials and team of experts have accordingly accessed the extent of damaged and would immediately meet to put up measures on how to support the affected people.

About the bereaved family, he expressed his condolence to the family and promised the Assembly’s concerns and support for them.

Hon. Kwabi took advantage of the media briefing to advise and called on residents in the area to frown on putting up buildings on waterways, which according to him has been identified as major cause of flooding in the area.

According to him, mankind can cheat everybody but nature cannot be cheated, hence it would be prudent that people do the right thing at the right time and support the Assembly on clamping down on activities that would lead to disasters.

He was worried that, in the quest to turn Suhum municipality to one of the enviable Assemblies in the country, some individuals who were only interested in their gains have organized people against him.

To him, as far as he was doing the right thing within the confines of the constitution, he would not be bothered by what people say about him but rather what he can do for future generation to have a good living. 

From Isaac Akwetey- Okunor, Koforidua

The Eastern Regional Police Command has arrested three (3) notorious armed robbers and three (3) dishonest receivers who have been terrorizing the New Juaben Municipality since September last year.

The three armed robbers and dishonest receivers include Samuel Akwetey popularly known as Kwame Agbeko, 35, the ringleader, Godwin Ametornyo,38, Isaac Agomor,22, and a certain Harrison, who is on the run and Charles Awuku,47, Mammud Zimo,32, and Godorn Boateng,28, respectively.

They have been identified as armed robbers responsible for all robberies in the municipality, including the one that took place at the Koforidua Doctors village recently.

Briefing a cross-section of the media in his office last Friday, the Regional Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Akuribah Yaagy, said Kwame Agbeko was arrested last Thursday in front of the Koforidua Ghana Commercial Bank by a Good Samaritan.

According to the regional commander, Kwame Agbeko, who has been declared a wanted person was identified by the Good Samaritan and subsequently arrested and later handed over to the police.

DCOP Yaagy continued that after thorough interrogation, Kwame Agbeko mentioned the names of the aforementioned accomplice leading to their arrest.

Two plasma television sets, laptops, pistol and other “operational” items were retrieved from their houses.

Whilst investigating and preparing to drag the suspects to court, the Eastern Regional Police Command has promised to smoke out Harrison, one of the suspects who is on the run.

The police commander urged Ghanaians to assist the police with information leading to the arrest of criminals in the society.

The Executive Director (ED) of Jo De Clerk Enterprise, dealers in building and constructional materials, Mr. George Mensah Kumordzi, has presented 50 bags of cement and undisclosed sum of money to management of Bosuso District Assembly (D/A) Primary School.

The presentation, which forms part of activities marking his 50^th birthday was to renovate the school structure, which was constructed in 1962, but has since not seen any facelift.

Recounting what motivated him to present the items, Mr. Kumordzi said he recently attended a funeral at Bosuso and was saddened upon seeing the state of the school where he started his primary education.

Laying emphasis on the need to give back to society, the Executive Director of Jo De Clerk Enterprise was also actively involved in the construction of the Bosuso funeral and durbar ground.

He further indicated his readiness to meet the chiefs and elders of the place, as well as the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Fanteakwa Assembly, Hon. Abass Fusieni Sbaabe, to brainstorm on how to construct the road leading to the school.

Receiving the items, the headmaster of the school, Mr. Daniel Michael Dogbe, on behalf of management expressed profound gratitude to the former pupil of the school for givie back to his former school.

According to him, the presentation, which was the first since the construction of the school, has come at the right time and would be used to construct an office and store room for the school.

He called on other old pupils of the school, philanthropists and corporate bodies to emulate the shining example of Mr. Kumordzi, to help raise the human and infrastructure development of the school.

The Bosuso D/A Primary school headmaster continued that notwithstanding the fact that the development of the school was a sole duty of government, it would not be wrong if individuals and other corporate bodies decided to help.

Stories compiled by Isaac Akwetey- Okunor, Koforidua.

The Assemblyman for Kru-Town Electoral Area in the New Juaben, Mr. Isaac Fiifi Amakye, has taken the Assembly to the cleaners for its inability to clear a heap of refuse in his electoral area.

According to him, he finds it difficult to understand why the Assembly, despite all the petitions he had written to it, would still not clear the refuse.

The Kru-Town Electoral Area Assemblyman noted that the situation, if not addressed with the urgency it deserves, would lead to an outbreak of cholera.

 “I find it difficult and worrying to go out these days because of the state of the refuse dump, because I don’t even know what to tell my people”, he said.

Fred Yaw Amejor, affectionately known as Bob, a resident, who spoke with the paper said not even his sense of patriotism to clear up the heap could help save the situation.

According to him, because the place could not boast of even one toilet facility, inhabitants, particularly children, have resorted to defecating in and around the refuse dump during the night.

As at the time of visit to the area last Thursday, the refuse had spread to houses and churches around, causing inconvenience to residents and visitors.

Madam Gifty Agbo, a traditional chop bar operator said she had lost her customers because of the position of the refuse dump, with its corresponding stench that emanates from it any time it rained.

They have, therefore, given the Assembly one week ultimatum to clear the refuse, otherwise they would embark on demonstration and oppose the paying of taxes and tolls, since there was no sense in doing so.

The Municipal Environmental Health Officer of the Assembly, Mr. Francis Kwame Safo, when contacted, assured the residents that the refuse would be cleared next week.

A cross section of health practitioners drawn from Kwabibirem and Denkyembuo districts in the Eastern Region have launched a passionate appeal to parents and families not to neglect children with Intellectual Disabilities (ID).

Intellectual disability, from a clinical perspective, involves impairments of general mental abilities which are generally recognized as an IQ below 70, that impact adaptive functioning in the conceptual area such as skills in language, reading and writing.

The social and practical area of intellectual disability has the components of empathy and social judgment and self-management in areas such as personal care respectively.

According to the health practitioners, people with ID are not contagious and are equally normal as other human beings who need care and love, despite their relatively genetically challenged condition.

They called on Ghanaians, particularly families or parents with children with ID, to seek early treatment since the condition is not spiritual but medical condition which cannot be treated at church or the premises of juju men.

According to them, often times, instead of parents seeking for early medical treatment for their children, they rather spend their time at prayer camps and premises of juju men for solution, because of superstition.

They made the observation during a three day workshop organized by Inclusion Ghana, in collaboration with Talent Search International, all Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), on people with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) at Kade, on Tuesday.

Speaking with The Chronicle, the Executive Director for Talent Search International, and also Board chairman of Inclusion Ghana, Festus Buetey Longmatey, said the workshop would stimulate the urgency of health practitioners coming into understanding with people living with Intellectual Disability (ID).

According to him, a research conducted by Inclusion Ghana in 2013 on access to health care by people with ID revealed that, the latter face discrimination and other deeply entrenched barriers when accessing health care.

According to him, the research further shows that persons with ID are excluded from general health care, via numerous obstacles, including the interplay between cultural and social environments, physical inaccessibility and communications barriers.

The resource person at the workshop, Mrs. Nana Akua Owusu, Speech and Language Therapist, disclosed that the workshop was not only to find means for people with ID to access health, but also how best parents and families with ID children could be supported in reducing their burdens.

Stories from Albert Nana Asante, Obuasi

FOMENA, the seat of the Adansi Traditional Council erupted into an uncontrollable joy as the citizens welcomed the installation of a new Adansihene, after almost nine years since the demise of Nana Ofori Agyeman II.

The late Nana Ofori Agyemang II, was installed the Adansihene in 1997, but died on July 15, 2005, at the age of 69, after a short illness.

Singing and dancing , the large crowd,  made up of both the youth and the aged moved from one end of the town to the other, in jubilation, wishing the new Omanhene, Nana Bonsra Afriyie II, 63, long life and prosperity

Before the installation of the new Adansihene at the weekend, Okofo Sobin Kan, the chief of Dompoase, had acted as the President of the Adansi Traditional Council.

Known in private life as Kwaku Bonsra, the new President of the Adansi Traditional Council promised a kind of leadership that would bring development to the area.

He, therefore, appealed to Adansiman to give him the needed support and encouragement, stressing that “the development of the traditional area is a collective responsibility”.

Pix 1-The new Adansihene, Nana Bonsra Afriyie II

THE MANAGEMENT of Golden Pride, one of the fastest growing savings and loans companies in the country, has donated 4,000 branded exercise books to students of AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) schools at Obuasi. The gesture, worth GH¢ 6,000 forms part of the company’s social responsibility.

Presenting the books to the school, Mr. Peter Fraizer Owusu-Kusi, Senior Manager in charge of Credit and Operations of Golden Pride, explained that the financial institution was born out of labour agitation because it belonged to Ghana Mine Workers Union (GMWU) and that its commitment to establishing good human resource for the country cannot be compromised.

He added that his outfit had the welfare of children at heart, adding “At Golden Pride, children are dear to us, and because of this, we have a product called the precious kids account, which is purposely designed for children below age 18. As children, we must develop the habit of savings, in order to help us build a better future for ourselves”, he said.

The Headmaster of AGA Schools, Mr. Owusu Gyamera, commended the management of Golden Pride Savings and Loans for the gesture.

Pix 2 – Mr. Peter Fraizer Owusu- Kusi, (right) Senior Manager in charge of Credit and Operations of Golden Pride savings and loans presenting the books to the headmaster of AGA schools

AN 11 – year – old primary four pupil of Adomanu Roman Catholic Primary School has been installed chief linguist at Adansi Adomanu in the Adansi-North District of Ashanti, under the stool name, Nana  Akyina Kwarteng II.

Known in private life as Yaw Kwarteng II, he succeeds Nana Takyi, who passed on a year ago after serving for 38 years.

It was a memorable occasion as the teenager swore the oath of allegiance to the Adomanuhene, Nana  Asirifi Asare II.

Nana Asirfi  Asare  advised  the  new  chief linguist  to take keen interest in his education  as  well as  his “ new position  as chief linquist”.  The Adomanuhene stressed” that at  your tender  age  you should  not  take  pride  in  your  traditional  position  to the  neglect of your educational pursuit.”

Among  the  Cheifs  present were Nana Wireko Kyenkyehene (Krontihene), Nana Appiah Korang  Awere II (Akromehene), Nana Oduro Akwatianin (Gyaasehene), Nana Osei Bobie (Adontehene),  Nana Owusu Sekyere ( Sanaahene)  and Nana Kofi  Nti  ( Edubiasehene  Kyeame).

From Issah Alhassan, Ayanfuri

PERSEUS MINING Company Limited, a mining firm operating at Ayanfuri in the Central region, has provided educational lifeline to about 26 students in both second cycle and tertiary students within the catchment areas.
A total sum of about GH¢17, 500 has been disbursed to 17 second cycle students and nine tertiary students as part of its annual corporate social responsibilities to communities within its operating area.
Additionally, the company has also donated about 9,840 books and other learning materials to schools within the communities.
At a presentation ceremony held last week at Ayanfuri, the Chief Operations Officer of Perseus Mines, Jon Yelland, disclosed that the firm was working in collaboration with some educational institutions in Australia to support schools within the community with some learning materials.
According to him, Perseus Mines had already agreed to bear the cost of the shipment of the materials to Ghana, which is estimated to cost GH¢250, 000.
Mr. Jon Yelland indicated that in spite of the several operation challenges confronting the mining sector globally, the company remains resolute in fulfillment of  its promises to the communities within their catchment areas.
“The firm is already supporting 90 students to undergo vocational and technical training at the Kumasi Technical Institute (KTI) whilst additional 76 youth have been trained in four skill area including Carpentry, Masonry, Plumbing and Electricals,” he added.
The District Chief Executive Officer for Upper Denkyira West, Mr. Ambrose Amoah Ashia, who witnessed the presentation ceremony, commended the company for their efforts at improving the livelihood of the people within the communities.
He stated that the most appropriate way to tackle poverty is to improve education amongst the youth, emphasizing that the company’s efforts at improving education in the community was a laudable one.

Astolinks international, a leading first class private organization, providing international education, travel and immigration solutions to individuals and corporate clients has pledged to expand its capacity in order to complement the good intentions of the government at developing the nations human resource and creating jobs for the unemployed.

Besides helping clients with international education solutions, using immigration laws in ways that will benefit them to study, Astolinks is also into equipping the Ghanaian youth with modern skills and expertise that will help them identify opportunities within the Ghanaian environment to become self-employed.

Mr. Richard Obeng Assuming, the CEO for Astolinks, told The Chronicle in an interview that the time had come for Ghanaian entrepreneurs to elevate their thinking beyond profit making, as the only ultimate purpose for which they exist and contribute in other areas of economic concerns for a better and accelerated economy.

He advised the youth, especially graduates from tertiary institutions, to learn lessons from the current global economic pressures confronting nations, and avoid folding their arms while waiting on governments to provide them with non-existing jobs.

Astolinks began its activities in 2008 in the Ashanti region of Ghana, but currently operates in four regions with offices in Sunyani, Kumasi, Accra and Takoradi.  

Plans are also on-going to open a branch office in Tamale to serve the Northern, Upper East and West regions. The organization have highly skilled qualify staff working in all its office branches with focuses on customer care as its topmost priority.

Mr. Obeng again urged Ghanaian students who intend to study abroad through Astolinks to consider choosing courses that will develop them with critical skills to meet the present demand in the job market.

He mentioned engineering, the oil and gas industry, as well as the health sector as areas lacking the required labour force in Ghana, in which one can take advantage.  

He said Astolinks can assist students to study medicine, oil and gas management, law, nursing and engineering programs in countries like Ukraine, China and Russia.

He further calls on corporate agencies to partner with his organization to provide quality and affordable international education to their staff in any country of their choice for improved performance.

Mr. Obeng stated that between 2012 and 2013, over 200 Ghanaians had admissions to pursue degree programs in various disciplines at universities abroad, with 64 of them obtaining scholarships.

He encouraged them to return home after their studies to help contribute to the development of the country and make it the best place to stay. He, however, suggested to the  government to roll out educational policies with more emphasis on technical and vocational education. This will be the best measure to succeed in the fight against   the high rate of graduate unemployment in Ghana.

Stories by Alfred Adams

The Board Chairman of the AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Community Trust Fund, Professor Newton Amegbey has stressed that the Trust Fund will support long-term sustainable development in the communities in which the mine operates by focusing on community and private sector development. 

He made these remarks when he cut sod for the construction of a sixteen seater aqua-privy toilet facility each for Domeabra and Nkwantakrom and a three-unit Early Childhood Development Centre at New Techiman, all hosts communities of the Mine.

The three projects fully funded by the AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Community Trust Fund and implemented in partnership with the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Assembly and the Municipal Education Directorate are estimated at Three Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢ 300,000).

Professor Amegbey indicated that the projects will improve the communities’ access to quality education and sanitation facilities. He tasked the leadership of the communities to ensure that the facilities are well maintained when completed and handed over to them.

The Programme Manager for AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Community Trust Fund, Kwame Oti Prempeh noted in an interview that all the mine host communities were supported to develop and submit project proposals which were reviewed and evaluated based on the developmental needs of the community that the project seeks to address and the impact and sustainability of the project.

Chief of Teberebie, Nana Kojo Minnah II who is a board member of the Trust Fund was full of praise for AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine and commended them for their contribution towards the development of host communities despite the falling gold price. 

The Senior Sustainability Manager of the Iduapriem Mine, Emmanuel Baidoo, on his part reiterated that the establishment of the Community Trust Fund was an important milestone for the mine in its commitment to leave the communities with a sustainable future.

Very soon, residents within the Ashaiman Municipality will boast of another public health center, which is currently under construction at Tsui Bleoo, a suburb of Ashaiman, which is about 80 percent complete.

This was disclosed by Mr. Ibrahim Baidoo, Ashaiman Municipal Chief Executive on Friday, when he interacted with stakeholders within the Municipality at a meeting to discuss development issues in the area.

According to him, the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA), in collaboration with the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Hon. Alfred Agbesi, will build some CHIP compounds in some strategic locations in the Municipality to bring health care delivery to the door steps of the people.

He disclosed that the Assembly has established an ambulance unit at the old health centre, which according to him, has been very helpful and entreated residents to contact them on 0299370542 or 0299370288 for emergency assistance.

He expressed his profound gratitude to the people of Ashaiman for the trust and confidence they have reposed in him, adding “I am fully conscious of the expectations of our people and I pledge to work with a sense of urgency and remain sincere and truthful at all times”.

He revealed that Ashaiman is a cosmopolitan settlement with a lot of potentials, which must be harnessed through the collective engagement of all stakeholders and in line with the ‘Better Ghana Agenda’ development philosophy.

Mr. Baidoo noted that the Ashaiman irrigation dam is being polluted with waste material from  tanker operators in the area and called on all stakeholders to come together to stop these miscreants from destroying the dam. He directed that no tanker must be allowed to take water from the dam with immediate effect.

On the issue of roads in the area, the ASHMA boss assured the residents that vigorous efforts are being done to fix the roads to facilitate the free movement of both goods and people to improve productivity.

On security, Hon Baidoo said he will intensify joint police and military patrols within the Municipality and ensure the construction of a new police station at  ‘Middle East’ to enable residents go about their normal duties.

Compiled by Richard Attenkah

The Tema Metropolitan Assembly’s (TMA) “Stand for Clean Campaign” programme entered its second month last Saturday with residents of the Metropolis turning out in their numbers to join hands with newly recruited personnel from the Ghana Police Service, military, Fire Service, Zoomlion Ghana Limited and NADMO, among others.

Some high ranking officials who participated in the monthly clean up exercise were; Hon Isaac Ashai Odamtten – Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Maxwel Atingane – Tema Regional Police Commander and Mr. John Yabanni -Tema Metropolitan Health Director.

Briefing the press, Frank Asante, Public Relations Officer (PRO) for TMA tasked residents of the Metropolis to be sanitation conscious, given the fact that a healthy environment makes a healthy people.

According to him, waste management has always been a major challenge to the Assembly, especially judging from the fact that people throw away refuse indiscriminately. He explained that “People dispose of refuse into drains and open places, creating unsightly conditions resulting in choked drains and flooding whenever it rains.

“The rational is for the residents to observe the need for them to sanitize the environment and to keep living in a hygienic environment”.

According to Frank Asante, “the Assembly is enforcing strict sanitation bye-laws so as to maintain a clean, safe and serene environment in all settlements to promote the social, economic and physical well being of all sections of the population”.

He noted that the Assembly would collaborate with the newly set-up sanitation court to take the appropriate action to enforce the bye-laws so as to control sanitation and prevent filth within the assembly’s area of jurisdiction.

Asante further told the press that the Assembly intends to continue with the clean-up exercise, which will empower individuals to also do same by tidying up the environment.

The TMA PRO disclosed that his outfit would endeavour to provide the residents with logistics needed to embark on the clean up exercise to demonstrate its commitment towards ridding the Tema Metropolis of filth.

“We have relaxed the rules. We told them not to open their shops, but only a few of them observed it, but we will continue to educate them, because we want to attach a human face in our process but when it gets to the enforcement stage, we will not be lenient”, he stressed.

The Tema Community Eleven (11) Police Command has arrested a 43 year-old electrician and a resident of Ashaiman, Dodzi Odonu, suspected to be an armed robber.

However, an accomplice, Baba Razak, of Dodzi Odonu, popularly known as Papa Lucky, is currently at large.

Narrating the incident to the press on Thursday, Supt. Ben Wonkyi said on January 19, 2014, the police had information that the security man of American Towers Company, a   tele-communication company, which also deals in electrical gadgets and cables, was threatened by two suspected armed robbers, Dodzi Odonu and his accomplice, Baba Razak at a gun point.

The two suspected armed robbers insisted that the security man showed them where the company keeps its goods and that after the operation, he will be compensated with a brand new saloon car.

“Because he was controlled by a gun, he patiently obeyed the suspects and promised to keep his mouth shut till the day they return to carry on with their operation”, Supt Wonkyi added.

Soon after their departure, the security man lodged a complaint at the Community 11 Police Command.

Supt Wonkyi continued that on the appointed date, January 21, 2014 at about 8:00pm, the suspects returned to loot the goods from the American Towers Company as planned.

“The security man quickly gave the police a text massage indicating that the suspects have arrived to operate.

Immediately, personnel from the Community 11 Police Command laid an ambush, and Dodzi was arrested, but his accomplice managed to escape.

When a search was conducted on him, a bunch of keys which can open almost all manner of doors, spanner, hammer and screw driver were found on him, he noted.

Supt Wonkyi revealed that the bunch of keys, which were retrieved from him, indicates that armed robbers have adopted a new method in their operations and that he had never come across such overwhelming bunch of keys.

Supt Wonkyi appealed to the general public to endeavour to cooperate with the police by volunteering the necessary information to reduce crime to the barest minimum in the Metropolis.

By Bernice Bessey

Over 2,000 residents of Teshie-Nungua and its environs received free health screening and treatment sponsored by Maranatha Power Ministries last week, at the La Dozkukukrowo Municipal Assembly

Maranatha Power Ministries engaged seven doctors, two pharmacists and fifteen (15) nurses to bring healthcare service delivery to the door-step of the residents at a cost of GH¢11,000.

The health screening, which lasted two days, catered for the less privileged in the society, like the aged, children and weak people, who for many reasons can’t afford quality healthcare.

Pastor De-Graft Samson, Director of Urban Mission,  Maranatha Power Ministries, indicated that spreading the gospel  of the Lord Jesus goes with ensuring the wellbeing of the people. He said: “changing lives demands commitment and sacrifice”. 

He also expressed worry over the rate at which diseases like hypertension, diabetes and malaria were affecting people.

The 2-day free medical screening reviewed people of their Body Mass Index (BMI), pressure and sugar level among others.

Some of the residents with minor health issues were given drugs, while others with critical conditions were referred to hospitals for further treatment.

Pastor De-Graft Samson added that although the church, over the years had being embarking on free medical screening for rural areas, the 2-day free medical screening was the second time it was organizing such an event for those in the city.

He adviced people to engage in exercise, check their eating habit, maintain a clean environment and seek medical attention regularly.

“Even though God does all things, it is also important for people to seek medical attention when they are ill, because God has given human beings wisdom to solve physical problems,” he urged.

Mr. Julian and Mrs. Deborah Thayer, major sponsors of the medical outreach added that it was a joy to them to extend a helping hand to those who are in need.

Mr. Thayer noted that for the country to be able to provide quality healthcare to the people, especially the poor, there is a need for a collective commitment and support by all to give back to the society, since government alone can’t do it all.

A woman presure been checked. Pix by Eric Owiredu

some residents  waiting patiantly for their turn. Pix by Eric OWiredu

By Bernice Bessey

The first phase of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on the Amasaman to the Central Business District (CBD) corridor is expected to start on 1^st July, this year, the Chief Executive of Accra Metropolitan (AMA), Dr. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije says.

Although the BRT was in four phases: Amasaman -CBD, Adenta-CBD, Kasoa-CBD and Tema through the Beach  the Amasaman to the Central Business District, commuters from Amasama and its environs  would be the first to enjoy the new transport reforms.

Dr. Vanderpuije announced this at a press conference organised by the Steering Committee on Urban Transportation in Accra (SCUTA), attended by Chief Executives of the 13 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and various transport operators representatives in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA).

The press conference was also to harmonize Trotro (bus) and Taxi Stickers and update on quality bus service on the Amasama-Tutu Corridor.

Even though there were several controversies over the new transport reforms when it was first announced in October last year, the Mayor was of the view that the initiative would address the numerous challenges faced by commuters in Accra and its surrounding communities.

Since infrastructure improvements alone would not yield the necessary benefits, the intended reforms are holistically addressing the institutional, regulatory and industry challenges experienced, he said.

As the Road Traffic Regulations (LI2180) required every transport operator to register and operate under appropriate and stipulated condition, the mayor then charged all urban public transportation services to acquire operating permits from the local Assemblies.

“This means that every transport group must register drivers and vehicles with the local assembly where their loading station is located,” he said.

He stated that the Local Government Service was assisting the assemblies in this course while the 13 SCUTA members which comprise of the AMA, Ga East Muncipal Assembly (GEMA), Kpone Katamanso Municipal Assembly (KKDA), La Dadekotopon Municipal (LaDMA), Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA), Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly (ASEMA), and Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (Ashma).

The rest are La Nkwantanan Madina Municipal Assembly (LaNMMA), Ga West Municipal Assembly (GWMA), Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly, Ga South Municipal Assembly (GSMA), Ga Central Municipal Assembly (GCMA) and Adentan Municipal Assembly (AdMA) have agreed to set up central passenger transport in the metropolis.

“The public transport infrastructure is being improved by providing dedicated bus stops, terminals, bus lanes and the required enforcement measures to ensure that the current long journey times experienced during peak hours are reduced substantially,” the Mayor added.

He indicated that since last October, enforcement activities resulted in the registration of 40 new taxi and trotro groups, with a total membership of 1,365 drivers: “this bring to 544 the total number of registered taxi and trotro groups in GAMA”.

During the enforcement exercise, a total of 21 unapproved stations were closed down across GAMA, while 19 unregistered stations regularized their activities and were issued with operating permits and 11 others were relocated first before being issued with operating permits.

“We are calling on all interested parties, stakeholders and the operators to support in making the urban sector efficient, effective, safe, reliable and profitable,” Dr. Vanderpuije appealed.

Mr-Alfred-Okoe-Vanderpuijer-Accra-Mayor-reading-the-statement-with-him-is-Mr.-Isaac-Djangmah-Vanderpuye-Dept.-Greater-Accra-Regional-Minister

From Samuel Agbewode, Ho

Philanthropists from England, Mr. Clive Beccham and wife Pauline Beccham have pledged their support to ensure that children at the Grace Salvation Army Model School Complex at the Lepers Village in Ho are provided with modern school infrastructure to enhance effective teaching and learning in the school.

Mr. and Mrs. Beccham first visited the school three years ago and  saw the Junior High School students learning under sheds, which made them to take up the challenge to raise 15,000 Pounds in England to provide the school with modern classroom block.

Speaking to The Chronicle at the Lepers Village, during a visit to see how the 15,000 Pounds was used, Mr. Clive, who was full of smiles, said he and his wife were so much satisfied to see a three unit modern classroom block built for the JHS, saying the money which was the contributions of the individuals abroad was effectively put to good use.

Mr. Clive, who is a teacher by profession, and the wife, a Librarian, noted that they were surprised to see JHS students studying under sheds, stressing that even though their efforts had provided three units modern classroom blocks for the school, more infrastructure must be provided for the school.

He said they have enjoyed their second visit to the school because they had seen tremendous improvement. According to them, during their first visit, the pupils were taken through reading tests, which was not encouraging but the situation has now changed.

The Philanthropists attributed the improved performance of the pupils to the hard work and commitment of the teachers and stressed that teachers who excelled in their professional work ought to be commended.

Mr. Clive and the wife also noted during their first visit that the school had no potable water and, therefore, decided to buy two poly tanks to store water for the pupils.

The Head teacher of the Grace Salvation Army School complex, Mr. Vincent Steven Gordor lauded the efforts of the Philanthropists saying the three modern classrooms that they provided for the JHS would go a long way to ensure effective teaching and learning in the school.

Mr. Gordor agreed to the observations made by Mr. Clive that the academic performance of the pupils had seen remarkable improvement, which he attributed to the support the Philanthropists had given to the school as well as the hard work of teachers.

The Head teacher further explained that apart from the provision of the three classroom blocks and the two poly tanks, the philanthropists also provided solar lamps to the school which had been put to effective use.

Mr. Gordor continued that before the philanthropists visited the school, there were no classroom visual learning aids to assist children in their studies, but the philanthropist had provided these classroom learning visual aids which had been pasted in all the classrooms.

He said the coming of the philanthropist had benefitted the school beyond description, noting that the school had no means in educating the children in the area of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the past but this has now been made possible.

Mr. Gordor explained that the philanthropists had provided the school with a computer and its accessories which was timely because the pupils and the students could not complete their basic education without skills in ICT, which had been introduced in schools to effectively equip the students with such knowledge.

He further explained that most of the teachers have enough knowledge in ICT as most of them have their own lap tops which they use to complement those provided by the philanthropist.

He thanked Mr. and Mrs. Clive for making teaching and learning more interesting in the school.

Touching on the performance of students of the school at the 2013 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), Mr. Gordor said the school did well by scoring 80 percent pass. 

According to him, the school has a brighter future since teachers and other stakeholders had shown greater commitment in playing their roles.

Some of the parents who were attending Parents Teacher Association meeting (PTA) in the school said they were surprised about the rapid growth of the school, which they attributed to the activities of the philanthropists.

CAPTION: PIX 1 Philanthropist Mr. Clive Beccham and Pauline Beccham,

PIX 2 The three unit modern classroom and PIX3 is the poly tanks for the school

From Michael Boateng, Techiman

The Techiman Campus of the Valley View University (VVU) is to become a University College soon.

Prof. Dr. Dr. Daniel Bour, Vice Chancellor of VVU disclosed this during the induction ceremony of a new Rector of the Techiman Campus of VVU, Pastor Dr. Robert Osei Bonsu.

The new rector replaces Prof. Joseph Kwame Osei, who has completed his five-year term of office.

The Vice Chancellor of the University charged the new Rector to consolidate the gains made by his predecessor, Prof. Joseph Kwame Osei, charging him to work towards the vision of making the Techiman Campus a University College.

Prof. J.K. Osei, the immediate past Rector recounted some of his experiences as foundation head of the school and lauded the support of management and staff.

He said by dint of hard work he was able to start a campus in 2009, which had yielded a total student enrollment of 3,020 and asked management, members of staff to extend the same level of support to the new rector for the growth of the university.

Dr. Robert Osei Bonsu, Newly Rector pledged his commitment to work assiduously to achieve the vision of the Techiman campus.

He hinted that new programmes would be introduced to increase the number of degree programmes at the Techiman campus. In a related issue, a total of 1,196 newly admitted students of Valley View University-Techiman campus have been matriculated to pursue various degree programmes for 2013-2014 academic year.

Out of the number, 892 representing 75 percent are males whilst 304 representing 25.42 are females.

Addressing the ceremony, Prof. Joseph Kwame Osei out-going Rector of the VVU-Techiman campus congratulated the newly admitted students and urged them to study hard to graduate in the next four years with flying colours.

He disclosed that students’ enrolment of the campus stands at 3,020, a development he described as very encouraging.

From Michael Boateng, Techiman

The Techiman Municipal Assembly has earmarked GH¢137,000 to fight filth. in its quest to attain a Metropolitan Assembly status.

Mr. Philip Oppong Amponsah, Municipal Chief Executive, who disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting to solicit views to fashion out development strategies for the Municipality, said  the GH¢137, 000 would be used to acquire refuse containers to help manage waste collection.

The meeting, organized by the Techiman Municipal Assembly, was attended by civil society groups, private organizations, businessmen, opinion leaders and heads of ministries, departments and agencies, as well as chiefs and assembly members in the Techiman Municipality.

According to Mr. Philip Oppong Amponsah, the stakeholders meeting would be instituted as an annual event, to enable the people of the area to contribute towards the socio-economic advancement of the Municipality, and also to offer the opportunity of the assembly to review its performance.

Mr. Amponsah said the outcome of the meeting would be incorporated into the Medium Term Development Plan {MTDP} of the assembly towards accelerated development.

He also disclosed plans by the Assembly to turn the maternal health unit of the area into hospital for women and children to reduce the pressure at the Techiman Holy Family Hospital and other Hospitals who attend to pregnant women under difficult circumstances.

The MCE appealed for co-operation and unity in the Municipality and entreated parents to take the education of their children very serious as education was the bedrock for development.

Mr. Stephen Brighton, Techiman Municipal Development Planning Officer asked the stakeholders to show active interest, especially the Ghana Shared Development programme for 2013-2017.

He told businesses and other stakeholders of the Assembly to take advantage of the Public Private Partnership {PPP} to initiate development projects as the assembly alone cannot provide all the needs of the people.