Story from Isaac Akwetey-Okunor .

The Denkyi family of Suhum, who are currently domiciled in Australia, has presented hospital equipment to the Suhum Government Hospital.

Present the equipment, Mr. Samuel Denkyi, head of the family, said they (family) were touched by a story published by The Chronicle on November 9, 2009, under the headline: ‘Suhum Government Hospital Faces Infrastructural Problems’.

Hon.-Samuel-Kwabi-in-cap-making-a-point-to-the-family-before-the-presentation.

According to the report, which was written by this reporter, stated in part that: “Very few words can really describe the state of the Suhum Government Hospital, which serves over 188,000 residents within the Suhum Kraboa Coaltar District in the Eastern Region, with the state of its infrastructure appalling.”

It continued that: “the hospital, which started as a health centre in 1958, and was upgraded to a district hospital a year later, has still not seen any infrastructural transformation, even though there has been tremendous management and administrative transformation”.

Mr.-Samuel-Denkyi-in-white-presenting-the-items-to-the-Hospital-Director-Dr.-Ashong-Tetteh

This story, according to Mr. Denkyi, inspired them to solicit support from friends and relatives in Australia.

The benefactor further continued that a few days after the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Samuel Kwabi assumed office, he appealed to residents both home and abroad to contribute their widow’s mite towards the development of the municipality, since government cannot do it all alone.

On behalf of the family, Mr. Denkyi pledged to support the developmental drive of the management of the hospital and the municipal Assembly towards creating a sound and enabling society for all to live in.

Receiving the items on behalf of the management of the hospital, Kwabi expressed his appreciation to the envious gesture demonstrated by the Denkyi family.

According to him, it was important that individuals and corporate bodies would support the development drive of government since every Ghanaian has civil responsibility to offer to his her society.

Hon.-Samuel-Kwabi-Suhum-MCE-having-a-feel-of-one-of-the-items-to-be-presented

The Municipal Director of Health, Dr. Boateng Agyemang also thanked the family and the MCE in their quest to improve on the infrastructure situation of the hospital.

On his part, Dr. Tetteh Ashong, the Hospital Director indicated that the items had come at a time the hospital was faced with huge infrastructure challenges, particularly the accident and emergency centres.

The-items-to-be-presented

Even though he explained that the accident and emergency centre has been awarded on contract for rehabilitation, his administration is having a nightmare over inadequate equipment when completed.

By Fatima Adam

Connecting Kids Education Foundation (CKEF), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), which supports the less privileged, brilliant but needy students to enable them access better education, especially in the rural areas, has awarded scholarship to support a second cycle student to pursue tertiary education.

The beneficiary, John Arthur, who is a student of Kissi Beseasa School in the Komenda, Edina Eduafo Municipality, in the Central Region, The Chronicle learnt, has been supporting his education alone, since the basic level.

According to the boy, who lost his father at the age of three, and was brought back to Ghana by his mother from Ivory Coast, “I weed for the community to support myself in school”.

He explained that his 77 year old grandmother, whom he had been living with, could not afford to take care of him, as she is a peasant farmer. “My grandmother cannot afford to pay my weekly classes’ fee of GH¢1.50 so I skip classes for some days to weed, to enable me pay the fee and other expenses”, he said.

John Arthur, in the company of his grandmother, both expressed their gratitude to CKEF and assured that the gesture would be properly utilized for its intended purpose.

“I want to become a teacher and I know I will grow to achieve this dream, especially with this support CKEF, has given to me. Thank you, thank you and I will learn very hard”, John Arthur said.

The Director of CKEF, Mrs. Ellen Blamires said the gesture was their contribution to support brilliant but needy students to access quality education and to eliminate the high illiteracy at the rural communities.

She explained that, even though this is the first time her outfit was offering a scholarship since their instigation in Ghana in the last two years, the case of John Arhtur “deserves an immediate attention”.

She was quick to add that the aforementioned initiative was the beginning of many more of what her outfit would focus on in the nearest future. She thanked their sponsors and called on other corporate bodies both national and international, to support them in increasing quality literacy level in all rural communities in Ghana.

The Ghana Education Service Director, in charge of the KEEA Municipality, Mr. Gabriel K. Gademor, on his part thanked CKEF for their support to improve quality of education in the area.

According to him, the community could only become a shining star if the children, whom he referred to as “the future of the locality,” could get access to proper education.

“Almighty God will reward you on behalf of these boys and girls. It is my hope that the outcome of this contract will bring the children out of the level that they found themselves. I  will urge teachers to work harder than they are already doing, the school is a role model now in this area and teachers must work hard to ensure the children get the best”, he said.

Mr. Gabriel K. Gademor promised to give proper supervision to ensure the gestures are properly utilized.

CKEF also used the opportunity to present awards to winners of the Essay Writing Competition held on March 6, 2014, to commemorate the 57^th anniversary celebration of Ghana’s independence.

The beneficiaries are a class six pupil, Augustina Asmah and Evans Dadzie, a Junior High School final year student, all of Kissi Beseasa School, who were presented with a certificate and school materials.

The materials, as The Chronicle learnt, was donated by EPP books and Zenith College, included story books, dictionaries, packs of pen and pencils and encyclopedia, just to mention a few.

In a related development, CKEF, in what they referred to as bringing technology to the rural communities, has installed a DSTV, loaded with educational channels for the library at Kisse Besease School.

The installation of the DSTV satellite dish, with a 32″ inch LED television, was to complement the library’s resourcefulness, which was constructed by CKEF in 2013.

  THE Asantehene,  OtumfuoOsei Tutu II has elected Nana Amoanimaa Dede II as the new Queen mother of Adansi. Nana AmoanimaaDede II, who received massive support from the Chiefs of Adansi after her name was announced by Otumfuo at Manyhia on Monday, succeeds Nana KwantwiwaaApoma II, who was recently destooled by the Asante King. The new Adansihemaa is reported to have received the praise of OtumfuorOsei Tutu for her contribution towards the development of Adansiman.   

Stories from Albert Nana Asante, Obuasi.

THE ADANSIHENE and the President of the Adansi Traditional Council, OpagyakotwereBonsraAfriyie II, has expressed grave concern about the absence of Chiefs in four Divisional areas of the Adansi State, namely Akrokerri, Akrofuom, Bodwesango and Ayaase.

The Adansi state is made up of seven Divisions; Fomena, Ayaase, Dompoase, Akrokerri, Akrofuom, Bodwesango and Edubiase.

But out of the seven, only three, namely Fomena, Dompoase and Edubiase have chiefs, leaving Bodwesango, Akrokerri, Ayaase and Akrofuom with no chiefs.

The new Adansihene, who described the situation as anti-productive, was speaking at a colourful durbar organized in his honour on Sunday, after successfully swearing the oath of allegiance to the Asantehene, OtumfuorOsei Tutu II, as Adansihene on Monday February 24, 2014.

Known in private life as Mr. KwakuBonsra, OpagyakotwereBonsraAfriyie II was installed chief of Fomena on January 24, 2014, succeeding Nana OforiAgyemang II, who died on July 15, 2005.

OpagyakotwereBonsraAfriyie II noted that dynamics of chieftaincy is the hallmark of local development and that he alone could not champion the cause of development in the Adansi State “if these chiefs are not there to support me”.

He, therefore, pledged to do everything within his power to resolve all obstacles that had impeded the installation of Chiefs in those Divisional areas.

The Adansihene also called for unity in the area stressing that, “we can only move the Adansiman forward when we co-exist in unity.

“I want to make it clear that without unity, we cannot development the Adansi State and it is for this reason that I introduce to you this new greeting within the Adansi State. Whenever you meet an Adansi person, welcome him/her with the word Adansi, and he /she should also respond you with the word unity”.

Present at the durbar included Members of Parliament, Municipal and District Chief Executives.

By Bernice Bessey

A tour through the city of Accra and its environs clearly shows that city authorities have lost the fight against filth, which is a threat to health and development.

Even though the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) invests millions of cedis every year into waste management, filth continues to rule major parts of the city, especially the streets and gutters.

An area like the Accra Business District (ABD), which is the hub of the city’s commercial activities and administration, has not been spared this canker.

Refuse heaps are seen on pavements and roads, which sometimes cause undue traffic congestion. From Makola to Tudu traffic Light, The Chronicle counted as many as ten refuse heaps along the street.

The same story could be said about Rawlings Park and Tema Station. In most of the cases, the stench emanating from these heaps of refuse are so repugnant that one has to hold tight his or her nostril when passing by.

Some of the drivers at Tema Station told this reporter that though they also generate waste at the station, the chunk of it is brought to the place by private waste collectors, under the cover of darkness.

Joseph Asari, a driver, however, told The Chronicle that it is not their responsibility to compel the waste collection companies to collect the refuse, and that it is the sole responsibility of the assembly to do so.

He said every driver at the station pays GH¢2 each day to the AMA to manage and maintain the station.

He asserted that they (drivers) always dump rubbish into the waste containers provided by the assembly.

“Yes, we spend most of the day here, transporting passengers, but at night it is the Kayayei that take over the station. Secondly, there are no security persons to control what happens here at night.

“The least we can do as drivers is to gather traders and hawkers to sweep and clean the station, but it is the AMA which must make sure the laws are enforced to prevent individuals from dumping refuse at the entrance of the station,” he added.

Failure on the part of city authorities to effectively manage waste can also be attributed to the assembly’s decision to share the responsibilities of waste collection among several companies.

By Bernice Bessey

As part of the launch for Season four of its award winning television programme, Health Line, the telecommunication giant, Vodafone Ghana, has organized a free health screening for over 300 residents of James Town in the Greater Accra region.

Residents checked their blood pressure and sugar levels and were also screened for Hypertension and Hepatitis B among others. The medical doctors of the television programme were also around to offer free medical consultation to residents.

In an interview, one of the residents, Bernice Yayatunde, was grateful to Vodafone for coming to the area to screen the children.

“But for Vodafone, some of us would never have the time or the money to go to the hospital for this check-up. I am particularly happy to see a lot of children here, they are our future leaders and need quality healthcare,” she added.

Chief Marketing Officer of Vodafone Ghana, Uche Ofodile said Vodafone Ghana remains committed to quality healthcare delivery: “We have several projects in the health sector because we want to empower Ghanaians about their health.”

The health screening in James Town is one of the several activities that Vodafone Ghana will undertake, as part of its Health Festival programme.

The new Season is even more engaging as the telecommunication giant has introduced two new segments – ‘Street Doctor’, to educate Ghanaians on first aid techniques and ‘Case Study’, an in-studio interaction with patients living with various health conditions. 

Over the next 13-weeks, Ghanaians will be informed on a wide range of pertinent health issues, including Heart diseases, Sickle Cell, Diabetes, Hypertension, Sex, Cancer, Allergies and Infertility, with in-depth discussion by the doctors on the panel.

From Ishaque Agyei, Cape Coast

The ST. Augustine’s College at Cape Coast the Central Regional Capital has  received a fully equipped Computer Lab with 63 modern computers and printers, worth over GH¢200, 000 from the Adjaye brothers, during the 84^th speech and prize giving day of the School.

The new lab would enable the students to hold computer classes for two groups of 60 students each simultaneously.

According to the two brothers, Prof. Joseph K. Adjaye and Dr. Robert Adjaye, who are also alumni of the School, the computer lab was a small gesture in appreciation to the school.

The Adjaye brothers also acknowledged that everything they had accomplished in life was due to the solid training obtained from the school.

According to them, their father Robert E.K Adjaye Snr. was a founding member of the school and the longest surviving member of the founding group until his death in the year 2002.

They further revealed that their mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Adjaye, was also a domestic bursar of the school from 1965 to 1968, their uncles, Jacob and Edward Ulzen and their nephews all attended ST. Augustine’s College.

The Adjaye brothers were of the hope that the items would go a long way to help the students achieve educational excellence.

The Headmaster of ST. Augustine’s College, Mr. Joseph Connel commended the Adjaye brothers for the kind gesture and was of the hope that the new facility would meet the ICT laboratory needs of the students to a large extent.

Speaking on the theme for the occasion: “Sustaining the Legacy and Dignity of our Alma mater, the role of the alumni”, Mr. Connel noted that the school provides holistic education to its students and ensuring that all talents and potentials are properly harnessed and nurtured.

Mr. Connel stressed that the academic performance and moral upbringing of the student is paramount in ST. Augustine’s College and, therefore, appealed to parents to advise their wards to involve themselves in all aspects of decision making of the school.

He mentioned the building of two dormitory blocks with staff quarters, the renovations of  the School’s assembly hall, expansion of ICT lab, rehabilitation of washrooms and junior science laboratory.

 Mr. Connel commended the government, Parent-Teacher-Association, Past Students Union and philanthropists who are the major stakeholders for helping in the provision of facilities for the college.

He appealed to the government for a bus to help ease the transportation challenges the school faces.

Mr. Connel also appealed to the government to help rehabilitate some roads in the school, which are in very bad shape.

He also appealed for four air-conditioners for the ICT and computer laboratories, to help protect the items from getting damaged.

From Richard Owusu-Akyaw, Kumasi

THE GHANA Standard Authority (GSA) has asked Ghanaian importers to always import goods that are in line with the directives of the GSA to avoid sanctions and penalties. The Authority has, therefore, urged local importers to consider putting quality first before quantity.

Dr. George Ben Crentsil, the Executive Director of GSA reminded importers at an Importers’ forum held in Kumasi that  sub standards goods imported into the country is not allowed and those who would  fall foul of this requirement would be sanctioned.

The GSA Executive Director entreated importers to go for quality goods because sub-standard goods imported into the country will be seized when found.

He advised importers to seek guidance from the GSA as to what sort of goods are permitted and vice versa stressing that one cannot import items which are not permitted by law into the country.

The Director of the Inspectorate of GSA, Mr. Addai Adaquah, cautioned importers not to bring in items whose manuals are not in English.

He said ensuring that only quality goods are imported into the country is the shared responsibility of all and not a of the government and its agents.

According to Mr. Addai Adaquah, quality is not negotiable but price is negotiable and that importers must speak the language of quality in their day-to-day activities since that is the only way to convince consumers have confidence their products.

The out-going Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Eric Opoku urged Ghanaian importers to work closely with the GSA to obtain the relevant information and specifications for their goods. He said the forum was intended to train traders about issues relating to quality of goods and to ensure that, imported products meet the requirements of relevant standards.

Pix: Dr. George Ben Crentsil – Executive Director of GSA

Stories from Richard Owusu-Akyaw, Kumasi

The Orphans and Needy Smile Foundation (ONSF) in collaboration with Canaan Ministry and other UK based churches in the United Kingdom last Friday visited and made donations to three orphanages and Homes in the Ashanti Region.

The three beneficiary homes, namely King Jesus Charity Home, Mampong Babies Home and Hamashiah Orphanage, received items amounting to GH¢3,800.00.

Thirty bags of cement and assorted provisions were donated to the King Jesus Charity home at Boadi near Oduom in Kumasi towards the construction of a building for the 120 inmates. The Director of King Jesus Charity, Rev. Kofi Owusu Afriyie expressed his heartfelt gratitude to ONSF and CM and said the gesture would make the Home functional.

At the Mampong Babies Home, assorted items, including baby foods, diapers, cooking oil, biscuits, paint, baby’s vests and candies were donated to the 36 inmates.

The Principal of Mampong Babies Home, Mad Margret Addae thanked ONSF and CM for the wonderful donation.

Mrs. Addae mentioned that aid to the Home over the years had diminished and appealed to the Government and the General public to assist in the running of the Home.

Mr. Opoku Boamah and Patrick Kwaku Duah received football boots, rice, biscuits, cooking oil and other stuffs on behalf of the Hamashiah Orphanage and Day care at Kona near Agona in Ashanti from the ONSF and the UK delegation.

Rev. Andrew Gilmur, head Minister of Canaan Ministry and leader of the UK clergy delegation including Rev. David Priddy, Nigel Deehart and Stephen Penny, told The Ashanti File that their visit to Ghana is on humanitarian grounds to put smile on Children who are in Charity homes and encourage their care takers to stay on mission with good heart and look after the kids.

Rev. Gilmur said the donations came from contributions by Christian ministries in Europe into a Charity Trust Fund in Britain with the aim of helping the poor and needy in Charity homes in Ghana.

The President of ONSF, Mr. Ross Addae, said ONSF had partnered CM to monitor the Charity homes and ensure that donations are put to use to put smiles on the poor inmates.

Pix 1: The donors at the Mampong Babies Home

Pix 2: ONSF, CM delegation presents cement to King Jesus Charity Home
Ashanti file (page 5)

THE THIRD Graduation and Ordination of the Power Dimension Bible College and Theological Seminary has been held in Kumasi.

Twenty two pastors including four females were ordained during the graduation and ordination ceremony held recently at the Conference Hall of the Old Tafo Methodist Church in Kumasi.

Apostle J.J Manu, a lecturer of the College urged the graduands to set an example of faith, love, righteousness and peaceful change in society.

He urged them to champion the crusade against lawlessness and decay in society through the gospel. Apostle Manu indicated that pastors had a role in changing society on moral, economic and political fronts.

The lecturer pointed to the spate of armed robbery, cases of rape and defilement, teenage pregnancy, sexual promiscuity and drunkenness as a source of worry and hoped the pastors would contribute in the fight against these vices.

Rev. John Owusu, the administrator reminded pastors to pursue higher studies and enhance their divine capabilities for the effective interpretation of the Bible and further boost their divine gifts.

According to him those who fail to undergo biblical training (before or after) their calling turn to be ineffective in the discharge of the pastoral duties. Bishop Divine Adjei of the Calvary Life Chapel, Nana Agyen Frimpong Tafohene and Nana Wadie Assim II, Wadie Adumakasehene graced the ordination ceremony.

From Michael Boateng, Nkoranza

Madam Stella Amoatemaa, Nkoranza South Municipal Chief Executive, has commended donor agencies for partnering the government to implement development programmes in the country.

She said the donor agencies supports had brought improvement in the nation’s socio-economic development, thereby enhancing the livelihood of the people. Madam Amoatemaa said this at a meeting of members of the Municipal Education Oversight Committee (MEOC) at Nkoranza.

The meeting was organized by a two-member team of Evaluators from Social Impact, a United States-based firm contracted by United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Ghana, to assess the impact of the Partnership for Accountable Governance in Education (PAGE) Project in the country.

The two were Mr. Saaka Adams, Social Impact Evaluation Expert and Ms Brenda Sinclair, Social Impact Technical Adviser.

The PAGE Project, launched in 2010 by USAID, to enhance education in 46 districts and which ended at the end of February, was implemented by Care International.

It offered both financial and technical support towards education delivery services and programmes, in basic schools and the Nkoranza Municipality was one of the beneficiaries.

Madam Amoatemaa lauded USAID for the launch of the project, saying there had been a remarkable improvement in the performance of pupils in the Municipality.

She said the Project provided six motorbikes to Circuit Supervisors in the area to visit schools regularly in addition to providing funds for fuel and maintenance of the motorbikes.

She appealed to USAID to extend the Project as the Assembly would strategize for funding support to maintain it in the immediate future.

From Michael Boateng, Koase

The Catholic Diocese of Sunyani has inaugurated the St. Joseph’s Clinic at Koase in the Wenchi Municipality to provide services to the people of Asuogyaman and beyond.

Asuogyaman is made up of six different towns namely; Nkonsia, Koase, Beposo, Asuoano, Droboso and Yoyoano.

The Sunyani Diocesan Health Service Director, Rev. Sr. Wilhelmina Araba Mensah, at the inaugural ceremony narrated that the St. Joseph’s Clinic was established in 1986 under the direction of the then Parish Priest of Our Lady of Fatima, Wenchi.

According to Rev. Sr. Wilhelmina Mensah, the Clinic thereafter started facing lots of problems, resulting in poor patronage. Many interventions were made but yielded no positive outcome, and the Diocese had no option but to close it in January 204.

She said, shortly after the closure of the clinic, there were persistent requests from Nananom, the Catholic Faithful and the National Health Insurance Scheme for its re-opening, where His Lordship, Most Reverend Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi moved by the requests, directed the Diocesan Health Service Director to start renovation of the Clinic for use.

Reverend Sr. Wilhelmina Mensah disclosed that lots of money and effort have gone into the renovation and with the support of the contractor, Mr. Yaw Debie the work was completed successfully on time.

She continued that learning from the past, various meetings were held with the Chiefs and Elders and cross section of the People of Asuogyaman, as well as health personnel in preparation for the re-opening of the clinic.

The Diocesan Health Service Director said the St. Joseph’s Clinic has facilities to render the needed services, with an approval of the EPA to operate and is NHIS Accredited.

To her the inauguration of the new face of the Clinic commences a new chapter and that each stakeholder should be committed to the growth of the clinic.

The inauguration of the Clinic also coincided with the Climax of the Diocesan Celebration of the 22^nd World Day of the Sick, which was constituted by Pope John Paul I of the blessed memory.

The World Day of the Sick is celebrated by Catholic Health Facilities and Catholic Health Workers all over the World on 11^th of February every year, but the Diocesan day celebration was scheduled to coincide with   the inauguration of the St. Joseph’s Clinic, under the theme; “Faith and Charity: We ought to lay Down Our lives for one Another” (1 John 3:16).

Wilhelmina Mensah said the Sunyani Diocesan Health Service puts a lot emphasis on this celebration and devotes a whole week for it, by carrying out various health activities for the benefit of the people in the country.

The Vicar General of Sunyani Diocese, Monsignor George Kwame Kumi who inaugurated the St. Joseph’s Clinic on behalf of the Bishop read the message from Pope Francis for the 22^nd World Day of the Sick 2014, indicating that “the church sees in you dear sick people, the special presence of the suffering Christ.”

Monsignor Kumi said Pope Francis highlights that mankind should approach those who are in need of care with tenderness, and called on the staff of the St. Joseph’s Clinic to share in the suffering of the sick, because “as one shares in the suffering of the sick one is drawn into the heart of God, who is love.”

From Richard Owusu-Akyaw, Asante-Mampong

FOR THE past six years, the Mampong Anglican Children’s Home, established 38 years ago, has no vehicle to facilitate the running of the Charity Home, Ashanti File has learnt.

Government subvention for the running of the facility is also not forthcoming, as a result of which it is currently being run from donations from charitable organizations and individuals.

Nissan and Toyota pick-up vehicles, belonging to the Home, have been grounded over the years, while a mini bus, donated to the Home by Lady Julia, wife of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has also been sent to Japan Motors workshop for servicing, for months now.

The Principal of the Home, Madam Margaret Addae, told Ashanti File during a visit that the absence of a vehicle is hindering the operation of the home. She said members of staff are in a fix when a child gets ill in the night because of lack of available means of transport to rush the sick to the hospital at that time. Principal Addae said even the Anglican Church is doing its  best to run the home effectively and efficiently, they would need the support of the  Government and the general public to make the home function fully.

She, therefore, appealed to the Government to come to the aid of the children by getting the home a motor car as well as beds and babies cot to stalk their newly constructed babies’ hall, funded by a British
volunteer group.

Pix: The grounded Nissan and Toyota pick-up vehicles at the Home

From Richard Owusu-Akyaw

INMATES OF the Garden City Special School for the Intellectually Disabled have expressed their appreciation to members of the Ladies of Cross Ministries, an association of Women Entrepreneurs, after they donated large consignments of assorted goods to the school.

The items, worth several thousands of Ghana cedis, included 30 sacks of Gari, two bags of beans, 50 pieces of chocolate drinks, assorted minerals, 10 bags of rice, a deep freezer, a giant television set and 50 pieces of orthopaedic mattresses.

The donation forms part of activities marking the official inauguration of the ministry, set up by the Women Entrepreneur to seek spiritual intervention on behalf of the country. The Ministry is being led by Rev. Jude Lamptey, wife of the Late MP, Hon. David Lamptey with Mrs. Joyce Sefah Boakye and Gospel Music Singer, Victoria Sarfo, leading the Ashanti Regional Group.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Rev. Jude Lamptey made reference to God’s command for the rich to support the poor as the motivating factor behind their decision to support the Garden City
Special School.

She said the attention of the Ministry was drawn to the plight of the school by the Ashanti Chapter of the Ministry and upon subsequent inspection at the school, they came to realize that the school was in dire need of support.

Rev. Lamptey said the donation was the beginning of the Ministry’s relationship with the school, stressing that from time to time they would visit the school to acquaint themselves with their needs and
support them.

She, therefore, encouraged the inmates to see themselves as special creation of God.
The Headmistress of the School, Mrs. Mary Adjepong, who was full of joy for the gesture, expressed profound gratitude to the Ministry and wished them well in their endeavours.

Stories from Issah Alhassan, Kumasi

ABOUT SIX Communities in the Amansie Central District of the Ashanti Region have benefited from free Glaucoma Screening, undertaken by the Mama Ellen Foundation for the Blind and the Aged. The beneficiary communities include Adansi, Ohiayeya, Gyaametanhunu, Effiamoaso, Aburokyire and Abuakwa.

About 1,000 patients were screened for the disease by a competent medical team assembled by the Foundation, as part of activities marking this year’s World Glaucoma Week, which was held from March 9th to 15th, 2014.

Out of the 1,000 people who underwent screening for the eye disorder, 450 of them were suspected to have been infected with the disease and have been referred to the Obuasi Blind Mission Hospital for further attention.

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness globally, with an estimated 700,000 Ghanaians living with the disease, making the country the highest in the world. About 60,000 people are also said to have gone permanently blind, with most of the cases said to be in the rural areas across the country.

The Executive Director of the Mama Ellen Foundation, Mrs. Ellen Semenyo, said the alarming rate of the disease indicates that every Ghanaian is vulnerable.

According to her, the best way to prevent the deadly eye disorder is to go for screening so that an infection can be detected early and dealt with. She said once someone contracts the disease, it stays forever and can only be managed with drugs in one’s lifetime.

Mrs. Semenyo said her foundation had for the past five years been engaging in active awareness creation and free screening to Junior and Senior High institutions in the country.

She, however, said the foundation was limited by financial and resource constraints and therefore pleaded with organizations and philanthropists to support the noble cause in order to help eradicate
the disease.

Pix: Mrs. Ellen Semenyo, Executive Director of the Mama Ellen Foundation

From Ernest Best Anane, Mankranso
THE NEWLY appointed Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Nathan Kofi Boakye last week Thursday paid a working visit to Mankranso, the capital of the Ahafo Ano South district to familiarize with service personnel in the district.

DCOP Kofi Boakye assured the Police officers of his support and assured that more personnel would be deployed to the district to enhance their activities.

He advised them to put the activities of the Police ahead of their personal interest and stressed that his vision is to enhance the Police to control crime in the Ashanti Region in particular and Ghana as a whole.

Commander Kofi Boakye, however, cautioned the Police Officers against using their office for personal gains and indulging in vices that will bring the name of the police into disrepute.
The Regional Commander charged the police Officers to be clean and disciplined in a bid reduce crime in the district, the region and the country at large.

From Issah Alhassan, Kumasi

THE DECISION by the Assemblywoman for Bonwire, Mad. Akua Afriyie to allocate a parcel of land in the community to a private developer, for the construction of a toilet facility, has sparked tension within the
community.
The youth of the community have vowed not to allow the private developer to embark on the project, said to have been located at the heart of the Bonwire Township.
According to information, though the Chief of the community and the youth have on several occasions protested against the location of the project, which they say could pose serious environmental danger to residents, Mad. Akua Afriyie remains adamant and is bent on leasing the land to the said developer, on a 20-year Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) terms.
In a strongly worded statement released and signed by Spokesperson for the youth, Kwabena Atuahene, the youth bemoaned what they said was a high sense of disrespect on the part of the assemblywoman. He explained that the youth were not against the construction of a toilet facility within the Bonwire community, but they are worried about the fact that the said area, which has long served as a leisure
site and car park for the community, was being encroached upon.
The youth have, therefore, warned the assemblywoman and the developer to desist from their attempt to encroach upon the site in order to prevent what they termed as a repeat of the Kenyase and Buokrom scenario.
Meanwhile, the Assemblywoman has described the action of the youth as sabotage, being orchestrated by some high profile personalities within the community.
Mad. Akua Afriyie told Ashanti File in a telephone interview that the said site, which the youth are protesting against, had long been a place of convenience for the people.
According to her, she decided to construct a decent place of convenience to avoid the regular defecation and also prevent any possible environmental hazards.
“The place was initially being used as a dumping site and later turned into place of defecation so I decided that rather than allowing the people to defecate around, let’s construct a decent facility and that is how come I brought this developer to the site,” she explained.

From Richard Owusu-Akyaw, Kumasi

THE INTERNATIONAL Council of Churches and Ministries of Great Britain, in conjunction with Shilo United Church, Ghana, have ordained 110 pastors who undertook one year theology studies with the Shilo Bible Training Centre for Pastors (SBTCP).

The Archbishop of Shilo United Church-Ghana (SUCG), Most Rev. Dr. S.R. Addae, encouraged the ordained pastors to be ready to suffer as Paul for preaching the Gospel and witnessing about Jesus Christ during an ordination ceremony at the Jubilee Park in Kumasi.
He stressed that Paul was imprisoned in Rome, but that experience in prison was in furtherance of the Gospel because he preached the gospel even in prison for the benefit of the prison guards. Archbishop Addae cautioned that as messengers of God they should not expect everyone to be friendly towards them.

The General Overseer of SUCG advised the ordained pastors to be wary of the fact that as true messengers of God, there are those who will listen and cooperate with them and others who want to stir up troubles, stressing that the most important thing is that Christ is preached.

“Ministers of the Lord should not be surprise if they encounter envy, rivalry and partnership born of self-seeking. Paul certainly experienced these for the fact that he was not given the respect and
honour he deserved as an Apostle,” he added.

The West Africa President of International Council of Churches and Ministers of Great Britain, said  there is no purer desire than pastors  dedicate their whole  life to Christian service to  enhance the glory of God.

“Whatever the alternatives, life and death, suffering or joy, for those who love Him and are called according to his will they lead to the same end: for me to live is Christ and to die is gain”, the Archbishop encouraged the newly ordained pastors.

Story from Isaac Akwetey-Okunor, Koforidua

The General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Church, Ghana, Rev. Dr. Paul Frimpong Manso has told pastors of the church who think they can divorce their wives and yet stand before the congregation to preach, to revise their notes.

Sounding the warning to the pastors last Sunday during an ordination ceremony for 14 Reverends, 18 Exhorters and 10 licensed pastors at the Koforidua Assemblies of God church, Rev. Dr. Manso said any pastor who indulges in that act would not only be prevented from preaching but sacked from the church.

He warned the newly ordained men of God to be circumspect about their call, since it was not from man but from God. Hence anything that would not please the one who called them would be a gross contempt to the word of God.

He explained that many men of God have reduced the worship place to a business centre, where the former amass wealth at the expense of the flock, more than even politicians milk the resources of the country.

According to the outspoken Assemblies of God Chief Servant, it is sad that men of God who arguably are considered to be holy and, therefore, would help to resolving the high spate of corruption in the country, are themselves corrupt.

He continued, debatably about 74 percent of Ghanaians are pastors and Christians who should hold the principles of Christianity in high esteem, but rather the situation has been the opposite.

Rev. Dr. Manso continued that most men of God are today obsessed with amassing wealth from their members, at the expense of preaching and navigating them to salvation, which is the benchmark of Christ.

He has, therefore, appealed to the newly ordained men of God to live a life akin to the one who called them and desist from living an opulent life.

On his part, the Eastern Regional Superintendent of the church, Rev. Stephen Ohipeni Narh, who succeeded Rev. Alex Ofori Amankwah, paid a glowing tribute to the latter, describing him as hard working and dedicated to the call of God.

Acknowledging that the job would be very challenging, considering the work of his former boss, the new regional superintendent promised to give off his best towards the development of the church and mother Ghana.

He charged members of the church to desist from activities that would not only bring disgrace and gross disrespect to the Assemblies of God but rather be ambassadors of the word.

Rev. Narh further urged politicians to quench the thirst for corruption and abort the pregnancy of self interest, in order to discharge their duties of improving the socio-economic conditions of their people.

From Isaac Akwetey-Okunor, Atibie-Kwahu

Nana Kwaku Ankamah II, a newly installed Krotihene of Atibie-Kwahu in the Kwahu South district of the Eastern Region has sent a strong warning to visitors, particularly ladies who would be climbing the Kwahu Mountain for this year’s Easter celebration.

According to the Atibe-Kwahu Krotihene, the Kwahu Easter which is highly cherished and observed by the people of the area, both home and abroad, and serve as a point of family reunion, has received negative publicity in recent times, following certain unpardonable dressing by some young ladies during the celebration.

He explained that ”it is an eyesore to see ladies who are half naked or completely naked parading the streets of the area without any shame, and when their attention is drawn to the act, they will tell you I am aware”.

This development, coupled with other social vices, have marred the beauty and essence of the celebration, hence the Atibe-Kwahu Krotihene has warned they would be tough on anybody who dresses in an indecent manner during this year’s Easter celebration.

The newly installed Krotihene urged all inhabitants of the place, both home and abroad, to give peace and unity chance, in the quest to bring accelerated socio-economic development.

According to Nana Kwaku Ankamah II, there is no community in any part of the world that has developed in the midst of animosity; therefore, in order to build both human and natural resources, it is incumbent on them as a people to eschew all form of personal interest.

The 75 years old Nana Ankamah II, who is known in private life as George Addai Ampratwum, made the call last Saturday, shortly after he was enstooled as the new Krotihene of the community.

The colourful ceremony, which was interlaced with the rich culture of the country, attracted people from all walks of life, including the old and young, as they heralded their new Krotihene through the principal streets of the place.

The assumption of the new role of Nana Ankamah II became possible after thorough consultation and brainstorming on the need to have a new Krotihene, following the visibly poor health status of Nana Aduampem Dankwah II.

Paying glowing tributes to Nana Dankwah II, the newly installed Krontihene reiterated that, he would not be in position to bring the expected development to the people of the area if he was not supported.

On his mission and vision for the area, the Store Supervisor at Ballasi Nebam Gh BV made education and sanitation one of most important among many other things as the new Krotihene of Atibie-Kwahu.

Touching on sanitation, he disclosed that a person with high education or position in the midst of wealth would soon be poor and useless, if that person does not have good health, hence the two are inseparable.