Story by Isaac Akwetey-Okunor

The Fanteakwa District Assembly is one of the 26 Municipal and District assemblies (MDAs) in the Eastern Region which was curved out of the old East Akyem District Council by Legislative Instrument (LI) 1411 of 1988, in pursuance of the government’s decentralization policy and local government reform policy.
The district, which ranks sixth in the region, in terms of landmass, with an area of 1,150 square kilometers, shares boundaries with other assemblies in the region, including Kwahu South to the West, Kwahu East to the North, East Akyem, Manya Krobo and Yilo, and Atiwa to the South, East and South-West respectively.

The-Octave-palm-tree-eight-branches-palm-tree.

The Fanteakwa District Assembly, with its acronym FDA, can boast of a population of 108,614, with males constituting 54,010, whilst females make up 54,604 as at the time of 2010 Population and Housing Census, with its corresponding estimated growth rate of 3.17 percent. The population of the district is dominated by Christians, who constitute about 86.3 percent, and Muslims and traditionalists, 11.2 and 2.5 percent. The religious and sacred roles they play towards the development agenda of the district cannot be underestimated.

It is a place worth visiting on any given day, with little or no language barriers, particularly local tourists who would put the place ahead of any other tourist sites, not only in the region, but Ghana, because of its ethnic diversity. The district is dominated by Akans, who constitute 61.3 percent of the entire population, followed by the Ga-Adangbe, 13.1 percent, with others such as Chamba, Kotokoli, Moshie and Ewe making up 11.5 percent, while northerners and Guans account for 6.9 percent and 4.7 percent respectively..

The-10-storey-building-like-paradise-rock

It is naturally gifted with waterfalls and many other tourist attraction sites which have virtually been under-utilised to the benefit of its inhabitants, most of whom are wallowing in abject poverty, amidst school dropouts.
Assuming office in 2009, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of the area, Abass Fuseini Sbaabe, with immense support from the Assembly, decided to research, identify, and develop tourist sites in the district. His effort was rewarded with the discovery of many sites packaged in different fascinating sizes, shapes, and colours that tourists could not resist

Notable among them are the Akrum Waterfalls situated on the Begoro Apaa road, Trudu Waterfalls at Begoro, and Osuben Waterfalls also at Osubenbuom, which visitors have over the years patronized, especially during festive occasions.

One-of-the-numerous-water-falls

The most fascinating site is the Paradise Rock. A natural rock that looks like a ten-floor storey building, with what could be described as rooms and other resting places which has made the district to stand tall in the area of tourism.   The octave palm tree is another handicraft of God that leaves a tourist wondering how it came about. Others include the Omotare Island on the Volta Lake that has attracted numerous tourists from home and abroad as a result of its uniqueness, and the Peseator Caves also called Obadan by the native Akyems, which is a must-see site, where farmers have engaged in farming activities by way of attracting visitors and also providing food for them.

Omotare-Island.

In the quest of the assembly to improve the economic condition of the area, huge sums of money have been pumped into developing some of the sites, if not all, to play host to many tourists, both locally and internationally, leading to jobs creation and increasing the economic potentials. These sites, with some well developed and others being developed, would not only generate income for the assembly, but also open up the district, since the sites would get busy during national holidays, particularly Independence Day celebrations, Farmers Day celebrations, as well as excursions by churches and students alike.

According to the DCE, the forest reserves of the area could be developed for eco-tourism, while the waterfalls and caves, including hills and beautiful physical sites, could lead to finding jobs for the teeming unemployed youth in the area. The district can boast of a radio station, constructed from the assembly’s resources to bring governance to the doorsteps of inhabitants, a significant edifice that would go into the history book of decentralisation in Ghana. The station, which cost the assembly about ¢1.4 billion (old Ghana cedis), was constructed by Three Shades Media and Communication Agency (TSMA), a Tamale-based communications agency.

The-Palm-tree-that-gave-Begoro-its-name

Dilating on the idea behind the establishment of the station, Abass said the intention of the assembly was to deepen grassroots participation in local governance, as well as reach residents with the concepts and activities of the assembly. According to him, it was very worrisome to see assembly members, who had been sent to represent their communities, keep quiet during assembly meetings, whilst members of their respective communities suffer for lack of development. Despite the initial challenges to get the green light from the National Communications Authority (NCA) for a frequency to make the station operational, after several failed attempts, the station has now started with its test transmission.

From Michael Boateng

Workers of Ghana, under the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in the Brong-Ahafo Region, wailed over low salaries amidst increases in utility tariffs, taxes, and fuel prices during this year’s Annual May Day celebration held in Berekum.

The workers marched through the principal streets of Berekum wailing; “Yakatua Sua, Nso y’atoto bibiara mu”, which literally means “Our salaries are low, but everything has been increased.”

They held placards with inscriptions such as, “Pay us well for productivity”, “Release funds to pay contractors”, “Tweaaa the minimum wage is small” among others, express their economic situation.

Brother Opoku Agyemang, acting Brong-Ahafo Regional Secretary of the TUC, noted that workers in Ghana face social economic hardship, but whenever they express their sentiments publicly, government commentators descend on them for no reason.

He, therefore, called on such government commentators to desist from attacking workers who express views of the economic hardship, and assess the situation as it is to devise a holistic approach in resolving it.

According to Brother Opoku Agyemang, wages are low in Ghana, and one of the surest remedies was the introduction of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS), adding that the SSSS has the potential to rescue the plight of workers, only if its implementation is reviewed to take full coverage.

The Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Eric Opoku, noted that economies all over the world depend on a simple principle of reciprocity, where in the life of humanity, people realise that certain essentials in life cannot be provided individually, hence, the need for people to come together and contribute towards the provision of such facilities.

Mr. Eric Opoku continued that the basis of the sustainability and resilience of the economy is the individual contributions of all Ghanaians, in the form of taxes.

He said, interestingly, in Ghana most people place heavy demands on the government, but do very little to honour their tax obligations, which weakens the capacity of the government to meet all the demands of the people.

The Regional Minister asked who amongst the workers has always been able to provide everything the children want in the house. None is able to do that, because of the scarcity of resources.

He said, “Ghana belongs to Ghanaians, and all must sacrifice to enable [government] solve the current challenges confronting the nation.”

He entreated all workers not to sit aloof and place the blame about challenges at the doorsteps of the government, but rather contribute towards resolving these challenges.

Mr. Opoku urged Organised Labour to understand that its output constitutes a major component of the wealth of the nation, consequently, if the government is able to multiply wages and salaries, it would be fair on the part of labour to demonstrate a sizeable increase in output.

In all, eighteen workers were awarded for their outstanding performances in the respective unions, receiving fridges, laptops, gas cookers and certificates.

By Bernice Bessey

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has commissioned the 8^th of the 100 Millennium City Schools which project is to roll-out the aged-long shift-system among public schools in the country’s capital, Accra, on Tuesday.

The 18-unit classroom block, which has offices for teachers, washrooms, library, computer and science laboratories, was commissioned at the Odorkor Cluster of Schools, not only to end the shift system, but also to make teaching and learning attractive, said the Accra Mayor, Dr. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije.

According to Dr. Vanderpuije, the two-storey edifice cost GH¢800,000.00, and was funded by the Assembly through the Social Investment Fund.

He said the Assembly was committed to completing the 100 classroom blocks promised to teachers and students in the Metropolis.

The Mayor stated that a Memorandum of Understanding had been signed between the AMA and the Columbia State to annually send assembly members to the United States to have an exposure of some best practices of city management.

He disclosed that this year three best teachers from the assembly would be given the opportunity to have the experience of travelling abroad.

The commission attracted the presence of the Mayor of Columbia in the United States, the Member of Parliament for the area, Assembly Member, Metro Education Director, teachers, pupils, and nearby residents.

The Regional Minister, Laryea Afotey Agbo, said the edifice was evidence that levies and rates collected by the Assembly are invested into useful ventures for the benefit of the present and future generations.

He said education and training was the key to national development, since it transforms an individual, society, and the country at large, through the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and experience.

Afotey Agbo said the government, recognising the benefits of education, had placed the provision of educational infrastructure as its topmost priority.

He warned that though education had long been acknowledged as the bedrock of national development: “its purpose is better served when its quality is assured, to enable a nation attain its developmental aspirations through the efforts of its citizens.”

“These classroom blocks, and the others already provided by the AMA, will be complementary in elevating the educational standards and quality in our schools, and for our children who are the future leaders of this nation,” he added.

The Regional Minister further advised the pupils to take advantage of the ICT Centre and Library to explore and seek knowledge.

The Accra Metro Education Director, Mrs. Rosetta Addison Sackey, could not hide her joy and thanked the Assembly on behalf of the teachers and students.

To her, the key ingredient of quality education is the availability of the requisite infrastructure for teaching and learning.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for area, Justice Joe Appiah, was grateful for the completion of the edifice, and even promised the school 20 desk top computers to enhance teaching and learning.

He also said for Ghana to become a prosperous nation, it needs to first tackle education, health, housing, and agriculture.   

Stories from Michael Boateng

The Holy Family Nursing and Midwifery Training College (HFNMTC) have been commissioned at Kenten in the Techiman Municipality to train young men and women and equip them with the required technical skills and professional knowledge as nurses and midwives.

The inauguration of the college coincided with the maiden matriculation of a total of 99 students in both Registered General Nursing and Registered Midwifery training. At the inaugural ceremony, the Catholic Bishop of Techiman Diocese, Most Rev. Dominic Yeboah Nyarko, noted that the training, recruitment, and retention of technical staff like nurses/midwives, medical doctors, pharmacists, laboratory technicians and technologists, pharmacy technicians, administrators and many others remained a major challenge that confronts Ghana as a nation.

The Most Rev. Yeboah Nyarko reiterated that the wealth of any nation was contingent on the health of its people, emphasising that Ghana would always need a strong and healthy population to build a better and formidable society, hence the establishment of the HFNMTC. He said the College would serve, not only as the centre of academic excellence, but a grooming ground for health workers who are professionally competent, conscientious and hardworking individuals with the right ethical values and burning desire to respond to the health needs of the country.

The Principal of the HFNMTC, Madam M.M Alacoque Dapilah, disclosed that the college received 402 applications in the 2013/2014 academic year, out of which 271 applied for the Registered General Nursing, and 131 for the Registered Midwifery programme. She said 148 (36%) applicants did not meet the entry requirements as specified by the Ministry of Health, thus the college offered admission to 99 students out of a total of 402 applicants, which comprises 50 Registered General Nursing and 49 Registered Midwifery students.

She, however, enumerated some of the challenges facing the HFNMTC as being inadequate number of Midwifery tutors, delay in financial clearance for the school, lack of a transformer to boost power supply to the college, computers for the ICT laboratory, Broadband internet facility, school bus and pick-up, and the mechanisation of the college borehole. The Principal appealed for a three-unit classroom block with library and skills laboratory, and gravelling and electrification of access roads, and college and hostel surroundings, and called on individuals, corporate bodies, the government and non-governmental organisations(NGOs) to come to their aid.

The Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Director Clinical Care, Dr. Kofi Amo-Kodieh, cautioned the matriculants that the profession chosen was very demanding, knowing the unpredictable nature of human beings. According to Dr. Amo-Kodieh, every man or woman is a unique being, and should be treated as such; therefore, it is an undeniable fact that nurses/midwives play important roles in healthcare delivery.

He bemoaned the fact that the image ordinary citizens presently have of nurses and midwives was not the best, adding that clients speak, and they say nurses and midwives behave inhumanely towards them.

I however, cannot begrudge the citizens, for when you visit the hospitals, you see nurses on phones on end, whilst most of their patients are left in the care of family members,” Dr. Amo-Kodieh emphasised. He asked whether nurses are currently being taught not to help patients on their beds, or clean a patient who has soiled himself or herself, or how nurses now graduate as managers of the care of patients, whilst the actual care is done by relatives.

The Board of Directors for the college was as well inaugurated to steer its affairs.

From Ishaque Agyei

The Bakatue Festival, celebrated by the chiefs and people of Elmina in the Komenda Edina Eguafo- Abirem (KEEA) Municipality, was last Wednesday launched.

. The 7-day programme of activities would start from July 1, to July 6, 2014, and this year’s festival would be on the theme: “Time to Promote Ghana’s Trade Potentials is now; Buy Made in Ghana; be a Proud Ghanaian”.

Launching the festival, the Omanhen of the Edina Traditional Area Nana Kojo Conduah VI, advised that the Bakatue festival should bring unity among the people, and teach them to tolerate each other for any offence committed, since with unity, Edinaman would see development.

He stressed on the Traditional Council’s commitment in ensuring sound and peaceful Bakatue celebrations, adding that the chiefs and people of Elmina, with one accord, would want to extend a hand of unity to all who share the same aspirations with the Traditional Council.

Nana Conduah VI also advised that those still sitting on the fence put the past behind and forge ahead in unity, since the community had lost a lot through chieftaincy issues, and that there was the need for all to open up the town with the view of attracting would-be investors to Elmina to create job opportunities for the youth.

Nana Conduah VI also regretted the recent situations where some so-called men of God give sermons against customs and traditions in churches, to persuade the youth to stay away from the festival at the expense of the word of God.

He noted that customs and traditions started from the Bible, and therefore, appealed to the so-called men of God to eschew such attitudes, since it could have a negative effect on the rich culture of the people Edina.

On his part, the Member of Parliament for KEEA, Dr. Nana Ato Arthur, who also presented ten street bulbs to the community, advised that the peaceful atmosphere the inhabitants were enjoying now should not be taken for granted, since peace is priceless.

Per the theme for the festival, he agreed that producing and buying made in Ghana goods was important, but the community must also consider the provision of proper markets for those made in Ghana items produced.

Dr. Nana Ato Arthur suggested that a day within the week should be set aside as “Market day for Elmina”, in order to help traders and farmers sell their products for some income.

Bakatue, literally translated means “The opening of the Lagoon” or the Draining of the Lagoon”, is celebrated to commemorate the founding of the town, Elmina, by the Europeans, and also it is celebrated to invoke the deity, Nana Benya’s, continuous protection of the state and its people.

During the celebration, the Paramount Chief and his sub-chiefs, elders, fetish priests and priestesses, and indeed the entire state, offer the sacred food of eggs and mashed yam mixed with palm oil to the river god and pray for peace.

 M.Y. Ventures, a herbal nutritional supplement organisation, has opened a new Clinic at Manso-Nkwanta in the Amansie West district of Ashanti.

The Managing Director of M.Y. Ventures, Dr. Ceasar, said the establishment of the new clinic at Manso-Nkwanta was a response to the request by the Omanhene of Manso-Nkwanta Traditional Area, Nana Bi-Kusi Appiah II, to complement health delivery and reduce deaths.

Commissioning the facility, the Omanhene of Manso-Nkwanta Traditional Area, Nana Bi-Kusi Appiah II, commended Dr. Ceasar for the establishment of the clinic, and appealed to the people in the area to patronise the facility. The Omanhene also encouraged the people to engage in regular body exercises to enhance their health status.

Pix: Nana Bi-Kusi Appiah commissioning the facility

From Sebastian R. Freiku

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), last Saturday, engaged residents of the metropolis in a general massive city-wide clean-up exercise to herald the celebration of Akwasedaekese of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II on May 11, 2014.

The six-hour exercise saw the general public and major stakeholders such as assembly members, traditional authorities, religious bodies, fun clubs, the media, market women associations, fire service personnel, and other organisations actively participating to help clean and desilt choked gutters at Adum, Central Market, Railways, Krofrom, and Asuoyeboah among others.

The Mayor, Kojo Bonsu, joined the exercise initially, but had to leave to join the President to visit Manhyia. The Presiding Member of KMA, Nana Kofi Senyah, and other heads of departments took part in the exercise, which lasted nearly five hours.

A good number of compactors, skip loaders, mini tractors, and tipper trucks were used in the clean-up exercise. The Director in charge of Waste Management, Mr. Tony Mensah, who briefed the media on the sanitation situation in Kumasi after the exercise last Saturday, said the KMA had improved upon its efforts at waste management.

He said of the 1,500 tonnes of waste generated daily in the metropolis, the Assembly disposes of about 95 per cent of the refuse regularly. The Waste Management Director said domestic waste generated was being taken care of through the door-to-door collection and communal collection.

He said the Central Business District of Adum, as well as Kejetia, generated a huge quantity of waste because of the intense trading activities in the area.

Mr. Mensah was, however, happy to note that the night cleaning exercise had helped to contain the litter situation, and that the Assembly would soon introduce other waste management schemes that would help deal with challenges in other parts of the Metropolis.

From Isaac Akwetey-Okunor

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Suhum Assembly, Samuel Kwabi, has launched a passionate appeal to residents of Suhum and its environs to contribute thei quota towards the development of the municipality, through consensus building.

According to him, the development of the municipality was not the sole responsibility of the Assembly, but through a deliberate and conscious effort of all residents, and called on them to desist from a sense of apathy, since it would hold back development.

The MCE made the call in his welcome address, during the official commissioning of the first public storey building school at Suhum New Town.

Mr. Kwabi, who expressed joy and satisfaction over the project, which nearly suffered a setback as a result of litigation over the piece of land for the project, thanked everybody who contributed to the completion of the project.

The building, which cost GH¢1.2 million, can boast of 12 classrooms, ultra modern computer laboratory, headmaster’s office, staff common room, and a mechanised underground water supply.

 “I was wrongly insulted, attacked, and taken to court for my overwhelming quest to bring development, including this project, to Suhum. Today, my detractors would see that, after all, I was fighting for their own good, and [the] good of the municipality,” he emotionally told the gathering.

He continued: “Looking at these excellent facilities here, the impressive classroom block and the computer suite, I know that you will agree with me wholeheartedly, when I say that it was money well spent”.

The MCE hinted that new buildings do not just happen, but rather take years of planning and perseverance, optimism, organisation, consultations, and unfortunately, with some frustrations.

He, however, tasked all and sundry to put their shoulders to the wheel towards reaching a common consensus for the total development of the municipality.

The Acting Municipal Director of Education, Madam Rebecca Larbi, charged teachers in the country, particularly those in the municipality, to demonstrate a high sense of professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

According to her, the significant and immense contributions teachers play in transforming the generation of young people into literate and empowering individuals to be self-reliant, could only be achieved when they discharge their work professionally.

She grumbled about the spate of unprofessional attitudes such as laziness, lateness and misappropriation of lesson hours for private activities among others, that have characterised the noble teaching profession in recent times.

According to her, the Great Being regarded man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value, adding that, education and a good teacher can cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit there from.

The ceremony was graced by the Municipal Chief Executives (MCEs) for New Juaben, East Akim and Nsawam, Dr. Kwaku Owusu Acheapong, Simon Peter Asirifi and Mark Annor Dompre respectively, and traditional leaders, including the chief of Suhum,  Osabarima Ayeh Kofi, and educationists.

The Acting Director disclosed that the construction of the new building was the latest chapter in the story of the school, which had contributed considerably to the educational progress and academic achievements of many people in and outside Suhum.

She hinted that evidence across the world suggests that the teacher is the most important ingredient to a child’s schooling experience, self-confidence, and the ability to reach their full potential.

To this end, she urged teachers to enrich the lives of these children to realise their potentials and help them become good servants of their nation, through love and encouragement.

Taking the gathering back memory lane, Madam Larbi told the gathering: “When the school was established some years ago, I believe Suhum was a small village, so enrollment was also small, and the old structure could contain the few pupils enrolled”.

She continued: “The dilapidated school, as time went on needed rescuing, because of large enrolments, and a helper to provide the type of infrastructure that would meet the demands, like the new one constructed”.

The Acting Educational Director called on teachers, parents, and traditional leaders in the area to protect and maintain the building and materials supplied, in an effort to increase the lifespan of the project.

For parents, Madam Larbi encouraged them to supply the basic needs towards the training and educating of their wards, which she described as obligatory and not voluntary.

Challenging parents in the area to take inspiration from Prof. Larbi, the owner and President of Regent University, who hails from Kyenku Larbi, a village in the Ayensuano District, Madam Larbi contended that if parents in the area invested in the education of their wards, it would not be a surprise to produce “bigger” men than the Professor.

She further advised learners to eschew laziness, be regular and punctual to school, do all exercises, exhibit a high sense of discipline and commitment, as well as remaining focused in their studies.

The Suhum Municipal education don finally tasked the children not to see Junior High School (JHS) as the end of their education, rather pursue Senior High School (SHS) and university education, in order to acquire real value from education.

From Michael Boateng.

THE GHANA Immigration Service (GIS) would establish a training institute at Acherensua in the Asutifi South District of this region. This came to light when the Director of the Ghana Immigration Service, COP Dr. Peter Wiredu, paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of Acherensua, Agyewodin Professor Adu Gyamfi Ampem.

Dr. Wiredu’s purpose of the visit was to express appreciation to the Kenyasi Traditional Authority, led by Agyewodin Professor Adu Gyamfi Ampem, for the donation of an 80-acre land for the establishment of the GIS Training Institute. The establishment of the Acherensua GIS Training Institute would be the second in the country to that of Assin-Fosu in the Central Region.

A carton of Schnapps and a ram, as well as an undisclosed amount of money, were presented by COP Dr. Peter Wiredu to Agyewodin Professor Adu Gyamfi to express appreciation towards the donation of the 80-acre land. The Director of Immigration Service had earlier paid a courtesy call to the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Eric Opoku, in Sunyani. Mr. Eric Opoku used the occasion to appeal for the establishment of an Immigration Service post at Dokokyina, near Bui in the Banda District, to check on the influx of foreign nationals who have been engaged in illegal mining activities.

He said there were lots of suspected illegal immigrants in the area who were engaged in illegal mining and other illicit activities that have been affecting the smooth management of the Bui project. At Acherensua, COP Dr. Peter Wiredu disclosed that plans were underway to establish an immigration office at Kenyasi, due to the expatriate officials of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited within the Ahafo Mines area.

He said the establishment of the Kenyasi office would ease the inconveniences associated with people having to travel from Kenyasi to Accra before their traveling documents are processed, when they want to travel outside the country. Dr. Wiredu also indicated that the office would help in the decentralisation process of the Ghana Immigration Service, where other people can go there to process their passports and other immigration related issues without wasting time and resources travelling to Sunyani or Accra.

He commended Agyewodin Professor Adu Gyamfi Ampem for the donation of the land for the establishment of the training institute, assuring him that the land would be used to the expectations of the Acherensua traditional authority.

Agyewodin Professor Adugyamfi Ampem called on the Director to, as a matter of urgency, commence work on the land to prevent prospective encroachers, so that the youth of the country could be trained to gain employment. Adu Gyamfi Ampem later led the Director of the GIS and his entourage to the 80-acre land allocated for the establishment of the GIS raining Institute.

The Regional Youth Association has expressed its heartfelt appreciation to the President for appointing a native of the region to serve as the Cief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Minerals Commission. The association said the appointment of Dr. Toni Aubynn who, until his appointment, was the CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, was an indication of many glad tidings to come to the region.

“In the month of April, 2014, we, the youth of the Western Region, could not hide our joy when His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, announced the appointment of Dr. Toni Aubynn, an illustrious son of the Western Region, to head one of the prestigious positions in the country – Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Minerals Commission.

“By this singular act, the President has demonstrated his commitment to harness the country’s best human capital to efficiently manage the resources of this country.”

In a press release issued and signed by the Communication Director of the Association, Mr. Adu Baffour, he pointed out that the entire youth of the region, both within and outside the country, commend and thank His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for the trust and confidence he had in Dr. Toni Aubynn, who is well known to have made enormous contributions towards national development in both the energy and mining sectors.

According to the association, the appointment of Dr. Aubynn as the CEO of Minerals Commission had indeed brought great honour and prestige to the entire people, especially the youth of the region, due to his strong sense of professionalism, humility and exemplary modest lifestyle. In Dr. Aubyn, as a product of a mining region, “We have no doubt that his deep expertise and understanding of the industry will bring enormous benefit to the industry and the country.”

This illustrious son of the region has distinguished himself in every endeavour he has been involved in, right through his days as the Human Resource and Local Affairs Manager of Abosso Goldfields Damang mine. That apart, he was the  Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainable Development of Goldfields Ghana Limited, Director of Corporate Affairs at Tullow Oil, and, in the last two and half years, as the CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines.

Continuing, the Communication Director of the Association pointed out further that Dr. Aubynn’s vast knowledge and experience of the industry, his deep sense professionalism, firm passion and conviction,  and unalloyed commitment to Ghana, stood  him out as a capable hand to change the face of the mining industry, which “we all have had issues with over the years.”

“We are of the view that his work will continue to brighten all the four corners of this country, and inspire the youth to emulate his undisputable records over the years, and appeal to all stakeholders in the sector, as well as the chiefs and people in the various mining communities, to co-operate with him to ensure that his mission and vision for the sector is executed accordingly”.

Stories from Alfred Adams

A day’s training has been organised for community contractors of AngloGold Ashanti, Iduapriem Mine, at a short ceremony over the weekend. The workshop, which is the third in the series, forms part of the Local Economic Development Initiatives of the mine, and was aimed at developing the capacity of contractors in its host communities for business development and job creation. It was in partnership with the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI).

Addressing participants, the Municipal Director of the NBSSI in Tarkwa, Mr. Francis Baghr, explained, that the workshop would help participants acquire the basic rudiments of business management, in order to make their businesses attractive. The participants were taken through topics such as Expansion of Business, Taxation, Financial Management and Good Record Keeping. Mr Baghr encouraged them to register with the NBSSI, and be abreast with technological advancements.

The interactive session also afforded the contractors the opportunity to share among themselves some challenges confronting them in their line of work. The contractors, who were appreciative of the training, called on the mine to organise such sessions quarterly, to enable them be abreast with modern trends of business and entrepreneurial skills.

A Senior Community Development Officer of the mine, Enoch Osei, added that the training would enable the local contractors to be competitive and self-sufficient after the mine’s closure, and obtain the requisite skills in business management The Local Economic Development Initiative of the mine forms part of its Social Investment Strategy.

It is a broad partnership between the Tarkwa Municipal Assembly through the National Board for Small Scale Industries to empower small enterprises development in the promotion of businesses development.

By Bernice Bessey

The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has organised a three-week disaster prevention planning exercise, evaluation and professional conducts to the various security agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Ghana Red Cross, and Information Services Department.

The exercise planning/training, which was aimed at preparing the various security agencies like the Ghana Police Service (GPS), Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), and Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and staff of NADMO towards future disasters, came to a close last Friday.

The NADMO Deputy National Coordinator of Technical, Mr. Ebenezer Dosoo, after the closing ceremony when certificates were being awarded to participants, told the media that the training would also be extended to the market places. He stated that the training was designed to ensure that it provided support to partner agencies, in the form of training on preparation and planning to mitigate the effects of all kinds of disasters and reduce the hazards from becoming disastrous.

He said, as part of preventive methods, the organisation has also embarked on massive clean-up exercise and de-silting of gutters and storm drains, especially in Accra and other regional capitals in the country, to ensure the free flow of water during the rainy season.

“There was the need to work to ensure that people are protected from any future disasters or risks associated with all forms of disasters,” he added.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) of the USA has renewed its institutional cooperation with the Accra Institute of Technology (AIT) to enable AIT have access to top-class teaching and learning materials for all the courses being taught at MIT, via the Open Courseware initiative of the university.

Through this agreement, AIT’s faculty and students will have direct and free access to teaching and learning materials for over 2,000 courses spanning MIT’s entire curriculum, via AIT’s university campus network, according to Prof. Clement Dzidonu, President of AIT, in Accra.

“This special agreement with MIT is in line with AIT’s determination to offer its campus-based and open university students in Ghana and elsewhere high quality education and professional training offered by top universities anywhere in the world,” Professor Dzidonu observed.

He said, as part of the cooperation, MIT has made available to AIT a specially configured system, containing materials and learning resources on all MIT’s programmes, including syllabuses, reading materials, lecture notes, students’ handouts, courseware, lessons, learning videos and lectures, exams, e-books, e-journals, e-lab resources and other teaching and learning materials of all MIT’s undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes.

According to Michael Obiri, Head of Network Systems and Services at AIT, “Our students at any of our campuses can now have direct and free access to MIT’s top-class and quality learning resources and lecture materials on all courses being taught by world-class MIT professors in all fields and disciplines, spanning, engineering, science, architecture, management, and computer science among many others.”

Students can access these extensive learning and teaching support resources on AIT’s campus network server without the need to download them over the Internet.  MIT, using an online link over the internet, will regularly update these resources on the AIT’s local servers, which is serving as a mirror site for the MIT’s Open Courseware (OCW) system.

Daniel Nettey, Head of Learning Management Systems Development Unit at AIT, noted: “Our students, in addition to having access to AIT’s own extensive learning support and e-library resources can now have direct and free access to all learning resources on all degree programmes available to MIT’s own students.  Our faculty members can also have direct access to teaching materials and lecture notes prepared by top-notch Professors at MIT to teach our own students in Ghana.”

According to Professor Rafael Reif, MIT President, MIT’s mission is to advance knowledge and educate students, and bring knowledge to bear on the world’s challenges…open sharing of knowledge is the purest manifestation of this mission.”
“Working with world-class institutions like MIT is central to AIT’s strategy to partner with the best in the world of university education and professional training to offer our students world-class quality degree programs of international standard,” noted Mr. Dominic Osei-Boakye, Executive Manager for Admissions and Operations at AIT.

According to Professor Francis K.A Allotey, President of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences and Chairman of the AIT Board of Trustees, AIT is privileged to be partnering with such a prestigious institution of learning to provide world-class education at an affordable cost to students  AIT is a technology-focused research university modelled on internationally recognized institutes of technologies like the MIT and the California Institute of Technology (CALTECH) both ranked in the top 5 of the world ranking of universities.

AIT operates both campus-based university and Open University systems. It offers a number of undergraduate campus-based programs as well as undergraduate and postgraduate Open University programs in various fields including engineering, computer science, information technology, business, project management, education among others. AIT is a leading PhD research university currently enrolled over 250 PhD students and candidates.

MIT established in 1861 with the mission to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology and other areas of scholarship is now ranked No.1 in the World Ranking of Universities.  MIT is famous for its quality education, major achievements in research and as a leading entrepreneurial technological university in the world. According to the British newspaper, the Guardian, MIT alumni have set-up 25,800 companies, employing more than three million people, including about a quarter of the workforce of Silicon Valley.

Those firms, between them, generate global revenues of about $1.9 million a year.  If MIT were a country, it would have the 11th highest GDP of any nation in the world.

Stories from Isaac Akwetey-Okunor.

The leading communication network in Ghana, Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN), has handed over a GH¢200,000 Accident Centre and Casualty Ward to the management of Atua Government Hospital.
Addressing the gathering at the short but impressive ceremony, the Corporate Service Executive (CSE) of MTN, Mrs. Cynthia Lumor, explained that the MTN Ghana Foundation is focused on making relevant investment in communities across Ghana to brighten the lives of the people. This, she disclosed, has stimulated and motivated the management of MTN to closely work in partnership with stakeholders to identify projects which would help improve the livelihoods of the people.

“We are, therefore, glad to be handing over this facility to the members of this community. As you may all be aware, the Atua Government Hospital, since its inception in 1977, has been a referral centre for the people living in this community,” she added.   Mrs. Lumor, who was overwhelmed with the hard work and dedication to duty of the management of the hospital, but was worried about the constraints of the hospital, said: “In this facility, emergencies, including accidents in this part of the region, have been attended to over the years because of its strategic location.”

The hospital, according to available statistics, records about 250 patients per day, however, serious financial constraints have thwarted the efforts of management to deliver quality service to clients.  The CSE of MTN mentioned that as her outfit continues to advocate for safe driving and a healthy lifestyle, the MTN Ghana Foundation also takes pride in the fact that it was able to contribute towards the constitution of the Accident Center and Casualty Ward.

Touching on the Foundation, she disclosed that since the establishment of the Foundation, it had invested GH¢14 million in health, education, and economic empowerment, from which the Eastern Region has benefited immensely. According to her, the Foundation had invested over GH¢1,318,251.66 in the areas of education and health projects in the Eastern Region.
Under the health projects, mention can be made of the Kwahu Government Hospital, and Kotokoum Health Centre where among other equipment such as 10 incubators and five ventilators were distributed to the hospitals across the country to curb infant mortality rate.

MTN has further been awarded by the National Blood Bank as the Best Corporate Blood Donor in the country, following its national blood donation exercise held on Valentine’s Day. In his welcome address, the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr. Alexander Osei-Bonsu, mentioned that the most important and critical yardstick normally used to measure any hospital was responsiveness to emergency situations.

He continued that despite the commitment and preparedness of his staff to deliver quality service to people in the area and beyond, there were some challenges, including the lack of a casualty and emergency unit and laundry. In its attempt to address the situation, the management of the hospital, according to the Medical Superintendent, a small room with one bed was converted into a Casualty and Emergency Ward, as well as a laundry where washing is done by hand.

Dr. Osei-Bonsu continued that the condition had brought intense pressure on staff and the wards, since all cases that come to the facility and which needed hours of observation, were always sent to the wards. “Proper triaging during mass home or road accidents becomes a problem, thereby hampering effective service delivery. For the past four years, for example, the hospital has recorded a total of 3,500 road traffic and home accidents,” he said. The Atua Government Hospital Medical Superintendent hinted that after some months of taking over the administration of the hospital, he, together with his staff, decided to purchase a washing machine for the laundry.

This, he said, was followed by countless writing of letters to stakeholders and corporate bodies to come to the aid of the hospital, and in the case of the laundry, help came from Nazareth for its construction. Dr. Osei-Bonsu, however, averred that the project had since been left at its foundation level, and all efforts to have it continued have hit snagged, whilst nobody shows interest in helping with the construction of the Emergency Accident Ward.

At a time when the management of the hospital was about throwing its hands in despair, there came a savior, MTN, through the instrumentality of a certain Rhodarlyn, who is the Social Service Manageress of MTN Foundation.On behalf of management, the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, expressed his gratitude to MTN Foundation for the timely rescue, and like Oliver Twist asked for the supply of hospital beds among other support.

From Richard Owusu-Akyaw.

The Ministry of Roads and Highways, through the Kumasi Urban Roads Department, has contracted an Australian firm, Waagner-Biro Bridge Systems, to construct a pedestrian steel arch footbridge at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) junction.

The Metro Director of the Urban Roads, Ing. Theodore Quaye, who spoke to the Ashanti File, said the project is being funded by the Central Government, and it is being rolled out simultaneously in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions. According to Ing. Quaye, the construction of the footbridge will help to control and manage traffic at the congested junction, and enable pedestrians to cross from one end to the other, and vice versa, without using the road.

He said the Urban Roads Department had met stakeholders, which included the Ghana Highways Authority, Road Safety Commission, traditional leaders, traders and drivers who operate in the area, ahead of the construction of the steel footbridge, to know the nature of the project. The Urban Roads Director, however, bemoaned the rate at which people politicise issues as being terrible, saying this is a project aimed at easing and controlling pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

From Issah Alhassan.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia South, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, has expressed his displeasure at what he said was the taking over of the uncompleted Ashanti New Town Community Centre facility by some institutions and individuals without approval.

Some quasi-state agencies such as the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Agency (GYEEDA), the Leadership Enterprise and Skills Development Programme (LESDEP), and other private organisations have reportedly taken over the facility, which was initiated by the former Member of Parliament for Manhyia, Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor, and now being funded by the incumbent MP.

The Manhyia South MP contends that it is unacceptable for any institution, be it government or private, to occupy the facility, which is still under construction, without going through the necessary procedures for approval.

Matthew Opoku Prempeh, aka Napo, has, therefore, parried rumours that made rounds in the media last week that he had locked the offices and prevented anyone from occupying them. The MP stated that he will not allow the building to be taken over by “squatters and encroachers”, pledging that he will ensure that the facility will be utilised for its intended purpose of construction.

According to him, the facility is a community-based initiative, and must not, therefore, be treated as an asset of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA). He argued that once the funding and other costs are being borne by him, as an MP, and wholly owned by the community, any attempts to take over the facility without the involvement of the local people must be rejected.

Reacting to the said allegations, Matthew Opoku Prempeh said he had, for the past few months, been outside the country, and could, therefore, not have been present to execute the action, which some assembly members were alleging. He, however, explained that he set up a committee to oversee the management of the facility, which is only about 50% complete, and ensure maximum returns on investments made so far. According to him, the decision was to ensure that some revenue could be generated for the upkeep and maintenance of the facility, stressing that issues about revenue and occupation of the facility were left in the hands of the committee, without his involvement.

Reports, however, indicate that some executives of the Manhyia Sub Metro had clandestinely rented the apartment, solely managed under the office of the MP for Manhyia South, without prior approval. At a press conference to express his concerns on Monday, Dr. Opoku Prempeh said his attention was drawn to the fact that some institutions were occupying the building without approval, after some people wrote to his office demanding an office for their personal business.

According to him, the letter he received had an attachment of a receipt of payment of cash from the Manhyia Sub-Metro, and this, he said, made him suspicious about how the facility was being managed. “I could not imagine how a facility, which is wholly being funded from the coffers of the MP, was being rented out without my approval. As for the accusation that I have locked the offices, you can see things for yourself that it is true,” he contended.

But the Manhyia Sub Metro Chairman, Alhaji Alhassan Bin, however, admits he was not aware that the facility did not belong to the KMA, until the revelation by the MP. Dr. Napo, however, said he would do everything within his power to ensure accountability for the revenues accrued from the facility.

He said he would consider involving external auditors, if need be, to ensure that the right thing is done, so that the community can benefit from the facility adequately. The MP also announced the setting up of new committee to oversee the operations of the facility.

From Michael Boateng.

The Health Center at Danyame, a farming community in the Dormaa Central Municipality, is faced with numerous challenges, ranging from inadequate and inefficient source of water, lack of electricity, inadequate human capital and logistics, as well as accommodation facilities.

The health facility serves over ten communities, including people from neighboring La Cote d’Ivoire, since Danyame is very close to them. Mr. Peter Valyn Coffie, Physician Assistant in charge of the facility, in an interview with the Brong-Ahafo File, disclosed that the facility has a human capital base of three enrolled nurses, three Community health Assistances, a Midwife, two labourers, and one casual worker.

The Brong-Ahafo File visited the facility during a tax sensitisation forum organised by Global Media Foundation (GLOMEF), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), and Gift FM, a Dormaa-Ahenkro-based radio station, at three separate communities, which are Danyame, Nseserso and Sokura. Mr. Peter Valyn Coffie told the Brong-Ahafo File that the pressure on the facility and the staff was so great that they are compelled to work overtime most often to serve humanity, because the number of Out Patient Department (OPD) attendance keeps on increasing.

According to Mr. Peter Valyn Coffie, the facility was yet to be connected to the national electricity grid, which makes quality health care delivery a challenge, because most of the emergency and critical cases come in the evenings and nights, where torches are used, particularly during deliveries. He lamented on the lack of logistics, proper storage facilities for drugs, and a vehicle to transport people with critical cases to Dormaa-Ahenkro.

Mr. Peter Valyn Coffie indicated that the only borehole, constructed by MAP-Ghana for the health facility, has been taken over by the community members, because the one which serves the community is broken, thereby putting pressure on that of the health center. He said because of the pressure on the only borehole, the colour of the water has changed, and it is not good to be used for medical purposes, therefore, the labourers have to trek long distances to fetch clean water for such duties.

The Physician Assistant indicated that despite all the challenges, the facility recorded no maternal deaths and still births last year, and the staff were working very hard to maintain this success. He appealed for a vehicle to transport patients whose conditions were critical to Dormaa, whilst the facility be connected to the national electricity grid, with a source of potable water to enhance quality health care delivery.

Mr. Peter Valyn Coffie called for the expansion of the maternity block, since, according to him, the current one was small, coupled with poor ventilation, which is not good for deliveries, because women in labour need enough air to assist them deliver safely. However, the Physician Assistant indicated that the chief and people of Danyame had decided to organise a durbar to raise funds on May 30, this year, to construct a modern maternity block.

The Chief of Danyame, Baffour Brafo Okoforobour, told the Brong-Ahafo File that the Health Center has been serving the people of the town and other communities around, as well as people from Cote d’Ivoire, but lacks a whole lot of things, so it was practical for the community members to contribute and upgrade it to a standard that could cater for the pressure it encounters.

He said the facility had helped reduce maternal mortality, still birth, child mortality, and death from snake bites, cutlass wounds, and malaria, as well as other  environmentally-related diseases, so the fund raising was necessary.

From Richard Kofi Attenkah.

After countless number of complaints from road users and pedestrians about the poor state of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) road leading to Kpone, and the seemingly total neglect of the stretch by the city authorities, work has finally commenced.

As a result of the poor nature of the 4.7 kilometre road, drivers, pedestrians and other road users heaped a barrage of criticisms, not only on the contractor, Core Construction Limited, but most importantly, the city authorities.  However, last Saturday, the contractor started work on the road, and has so far completed the asphalt surface of a little over half a kilometre from the VALCO roundabout to the first bridge towards TOR.

If the promise of the company to continue work on the stretch this Saturday and Sunday is anything to go by, then one can conclude that by next Monday, motorists can drive on a smooth surface between the VALCO roundabout and TOR traffic lights. The journey from the VALCO roundabout to the Kpone Township, which previously took less than 15 minutes to complete, now takes over 35 minutes.

Mr. Frank Lartey, Managing Director of Core Construction Limited, in an interview with the Tema File, said the delay on the project was a result of lack of funds from the government, adding, that the banks had refused to give them more loans, as those they had already borrowed had not been paid.

He disclosed that even though the government had still not paid what it owed them, his outfit decided to look for money elsewhere to enable them complete the work. Mr. Lartey explained that because of the huge traffic on the road during working days, his outfit thought it wise to go to site on Saturdays and Sundays, when traffic is less.

He was optimistic that in the next few weeks, work on the VALCO roundabout to the TOR  traffic lights, which is to be asphalted, would be completed before they come back to complete the stretch from the TOR traffic light to the VALCO junction, which is to be paved, saying about 90 percent of that job had been completed.

From Richard Kofi Attenkah.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Tema East Constituency, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, has called on the Ministry of Works and Water Resources, as well as the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), to, with immediate effect, repair the only footbridge which links the township to the Tema Fishing Harbour.

According to him, the footbridge, which was constructed over 50 years ago, had now become a death trap for residents and non-residents who cross it on a daily basis to transact business at the harbour and return to their homes, as it has not received any renovation since it was constructed.

“The poor state of the bridge is affecting the fishing activity of the people in the area,” he bemoaned. The Tema East MP revealed that another challenge facing people in the area, especially those at the Canoe basin, including the fishermen and fishmongers, was the rate at which the tidal waves were destroying activities of the fisher-folk. “When I was a child, all the channels were well done, but because of the pressure of the tidal waves, they have eventually destroyed everything in the area,” he hinted.

He explained that “The waves are fast eating into where the fisher-folks carry out their activities, so with time, if we are not careful, the people will be washed away. Therefore, we need a proper sea defense wall to really stop the waves advancing any further.” Titus Glover made the statement when he conducted a section of the Tema press around parts of his constituency to show them the extent of damage caused to the Canoe Fishing beach by the tidal waves, and the state of the dilapidated footbridge among other problems.

He warned: “If we do not put urgency in this matter people will die, which I do not wish it happen.” He stated that the main bridge linking the Tema Manhean Township to the rest of Tema was weak, and if it breaks down, the people would have no other option than to use canoes as their means of transport, or go through Kpone to Tema, which will be a difficult task.

Touching on the kind of pressure on that road, he noted: “When you look at the pressure that the articulated trucks that ply the weak stretch conveying goods to warehouses around the area, if care it not taken, it will be disastrous. “We are sitting on a time bomb; I am not trying to predict any disaster, but should anything happen today, nobody can enter Tema Manhean, or come out from the area.

“It needs urgent attention, and every part of the bridge is weak. If you take a look at the vehicular traffic on the road, which is gradually eating into the base of the bridge, then there is a problem ahead,” he lamented. He continued that during the raining season, the water overflows the bridge, saying, “We are not safe; should we sit down for something bad to happen before we take action?”

Titus Glover revealed that he has been negotiating with the authorities of Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) to construct a road from their bush canteen to link Tema Manhean to Tema, but VALCO has been so difficult and adamant. The Awudum Chief Fishermen, Nii Odametey, said they urgently needed a sea defense wall to stop the tidal waves from destroying the place where they sit to mend their nets.

From Richard Kofi Attenkah.

Members of the Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union (GNPTDU), on Monday, refused to allow any vehicle to load petroleum products from the Accra Plains Depot of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST) to other parts of the country.

They said their decision stemmed from the fact that the new management of the BOST, which just took over administration of the company, had razed to the ground the office structure from where they operate.

The tanker drivers have, therefore, called on the management of BOST to immediately rebuild their office structure, to enable them get a place to do their work peacefully, else, they would not allow any tanker to load from the depot. Consequently, the angry GNPTDU members defied the presence of over a dozen fully armed police officers and prevented other tankers which came to load the products for onward distribution to other parts of the country from entering the yard.

According to them, BOST wrote to the union requesting it to remove its office structure from the premises of the company, following a contract it had entered into with a Nigerian company, TSL, to operate, maintain, and manage its petroleum terminals. They said the union wrote back to the new management of BOST, requesting them to reconsider their decision, since the presence of the union’s office was the only way to help regulate the tanker drivers.

Mr. Eric Amoako added that the union was doing all it can to prevent the stealing of petroleum products by some of its members and some staff members of BOST, this, he believed, is the reason why some BOST members were harassing the union.
George Nyaunu, Executive Member of GNPTDU, mentioned some of the challenges the tanker drivers are facing as disrespect of their members by some management staff of BOST.

When contacted for his reaction to the numerous allegations leveled against the company by the tanker drivers, Mr. Joshua Sackey, Secretary to the Senior Staff Association of BOST, said his outfit was going to hold a meeting on the issue, before they commenting on it.