Compiled by Alfred Adams

TAKORADI, WHICH now prides itself the ‘Oil City’, is dirty and stinking. The odour coming from the stench of refuse and choked gutters is unaccommodating, and goes to deride it  as an ‘Oil City’.

The Oil City, which hitherto was one of the cleanest cities in the country, is fast losing this accolade, and gradually gaining notoriety for the piling up of refuse, with its attendant nauseating odour.  Take a walk around Market Circle, the central business district, and one common feature you would come across are the piles up of refuse being carted away.

It is upon this sad development that the Regional Minister, Paul Evans Aidoo, has given an ultimatum to the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), headed by Captain Anthony Richard Cudjoe (Rtd), to clean up the city. The Minister gave the ending of this month as the deadline for the STMA to undertake the exercise.  He added that failure of the STMA to undertake the exercise, the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) would have to come in and help the STMA, because it has the capability.

The Regional Minister, in an interaction with the media, explained that his ultimatum was not to slight the head of the STMA as an under-performing person, but rather to restore the city to its former status as one of the cleanest in Ghana.  He stressed: “The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis has hitherto been one of the cleanest cities in Ghana. There has been purposeful environmental management, and, therefore, [we] had no problem with sanitation. But the current situation is the reverse; therefore, we must do something about it now, before it gets out of hand.”

Meanwhile, another area of worry, which is fast eroding the beauty of the Metropolis, is the springing up of unauthorised buildings and structures. Consequently, the Regional Minister has ordered the STMA to pull down unauthorised structures.
What is wrong with some of the constructions is that the buildings impede the right of way of people.
The Minister added that some of the buildings were being constructed on waterways, causing floods during the rainy season, as well as destroying mangroves and vegetation.

A journalist recounted how he took a picture of a building sited on a waterway and took it to the STMA Mayor, yet five months down the line, the STMA has done nothing about the situation. In that direction, Minister Aidoo said it was becoming clear that selfish actions and inactions were perpetuating disasters for future generations.

‘I want to assure you that we cannot continue to live in a state of self destruction, and the STMA has full support of the Regional Coordinating Council and government to pull down illegal structures, especially those that would cause inconveniences and social nuisance.”

The Regional Minister disclosed that from the period of January to April, a total of 23 highway projects had been awarded at a total cost of GH¢4,300,643.35, and also, new feeder road projects totaling GH¢1,454,538 were now under construction, with 11 ongoing community water projects at a cost of GH¢21,435,347.32, and six new school projects at a cost of GH¢3,665,485.65.

From Edmond Gyebi.

THE NORTHERN Regional Programmes Manager of ActionAid Ghana, Madam Esther Boateng has charged governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), civil society organisations, and other stakeholders in education to, at all times, consider the quality of upbringing and mental development of the child, before constructing classrooms for early childhood development.

Attributing the growing falling standard of education at the basic school levels to poor development of the very foundation of the little children at the kindergarten and nursery levels, Madam Boateng said that every early childhood learning centre, whether private or public, must have strategic learning and teaching aids or tools for the comfort and mental development of the pupils and teachers. Madam Esther Boateng made the call when ActionAid Ghana commissioned a three-unit model classroom block for the Kpene community in the Sagnarigu District of the Northern Region.

The GH¢82,000 structure, which is to provide early childhood education for kindergarten pupils in the community, was constructed with support from some Greek volunteers, who spent four days offering voluntary services during the construction of the school block.  The school has a fence wall, water harvesting and storage facility, decent place of convenience, playing kits, and other interesting teaching and learning aids.

However, Madam Esther Boateng urged the various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to adapt the design, and build similar ones for their kindergarten pupils to further sharpen their brains. The Kpene M/A Community School, until now, was one of the most deprived schools in the Sangnarigu District with inadequate facilities. The old Kindergarten block, made of mud, which has been replaced by the newly constructed model school built by ActionAid Ghana, was nothing but a death trap.

The school currently has only three classrooms, which are also begging for replacement.  Primary one and two pupils are housed in the classroom, primary three and four also in the same classroom, and Primary five and six also in one classroom. The Sagnarigu District Chief Executive, Alhassan Mohammed Sorugodow, bemoaned the abysmal performance of students in the 2013 Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE).

He said that even though the district has a large number of trained teachers and adequate learning facilities, the performance of schools in the area continued to record poor results. The DCE warned that his administration would not countenance any form of misbehaviour on the part of the teachers in the district, and charged them to demonstrate more commitment to enhance the quality of education. The project was commissioned by the Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji A.B.A. Fuseini.

The Minister, who could not stop praising ActionAid for the construction of the modern school block, urged the chief and people of Kpene, especially parents, to enroll their children, and also ensure that they stayed in school. He said that the government, on its part, was also going to connect the community with electricity, to enable the children have access to computers. So far the government has provided good roads to the community and provided them with potable water.

By William N-lanjerbnorr Jalulah.

THE FALLING standard of education in the Upper East Region over the past five years has been of a major concern to many stakeholders, who often express their concerns at the least opportunity.  The latest to add his voice is the Paramount Chief of the Sandema Traditional Area, Nab-Azagsuk Azantilow II.

The Chief said the poor performance of students at the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the area was partly due to the absence of a College of Education to produce teachers to augment the work of those posted from other areas.

Nab-Azagsuk Azantilow II said this when the Upper East Regional Minister, Dr Ephraim Avea Nsoh, paid a courtesy call on him as part of his familiarisation visits to paramount chiefs in the region, to formally introduce himself to them and ask for their support to execute his development agenda. Stating that the greatest asset of a nation was its youth and who needed to be given the needed education, the Chief, therefore, called for the concerted effort of all stakeholders in education to address the problem, which was now engulfing the region, and the country at large.

Nab-Azagsuk Azantilow II appealed to the government, through the District Assemblies, to, as a matter of urgency, institute a scholarship scheme to students for further studies, as a way of enticing them to study hard to revive the falling standards. Dr. Ephraim pledged support to engage the chiefs at a forum as part of his yet-to-be-implemented Regional Development Strategy, aimed at enhancing the development of the region.

By William N-lanjerbnorr Jalulah.

THE INGENUITY of an indigenous entrepreneur in the Upper East Region could soon find an antidote to the many poverty-related problems, including high unemployment in the region, if the government and financial institutions give him the needed push to turn around his innovations.

Untill now, locally produced beverages were imported from other regions into the Upper East Region.  But, today, an indigenous entrepreneur is fast taking over the region’s market, in terms of indigenous fruit juices, which are very rich in nutrients. Yabco-Focus Company Limited has started the production of local beverages that are now hitting the region’s leading supermarkets.

Under the brand name Starr Fruit Juices, the company has launched six products that are receiving significant patronage across the region.  The products include watermelon juice, baobab juice, tamarind juice, butternuts juice, pineapple juice, and mango juice. In an exclusive interview with this reporter, after conducting him round the plant and briefing him on how the equipment work, the Chief Executive Officer of Yabco-Focus Company Limited, Mr. Baba Yabdow, explained the uniqueness and rich nutritional value of baobab fruit, which is in abundance in the region.

It would be recalled that in 2010, this reporter serialised a feature showcasing the value of the baobab tree, and how if utilised, could be a tool to solving Northern poverty.  It was on the topic: “Exploring the value of the Baobab tree”. His little research on the tree showed that its fruit (pulps) contains more than 6 times the antioxidant levels of cranberries, blueberries and pomegranates, more than 6 times the potassium of bananas, more than 6 times the Vitamin C of oranges, 50% heart healthy fiber, and twice as much calcium as milk.

These facts were re-echoed by Mr. Yabdow, who said some schools in the region had made the baobab fruit juice, and other fruit juices he produces, their number one choice for their pupils and students, because of the rich nutritional value they present. He added that the baobab tree has a lifespan of about 1,000 years. With high-tech processing equipments, which he described as very expansive, the CEO said he could produce to meet any demand.  He currently has a store room in the Northern regional capital, Tamale, where some of the products are stored for very short period before they are distributed.

According to him, he has engaged 21 women from the Nyariga and Dorongo communities in the Bolgatanga Municipality, who supply him with baobab fruit powder.  He has also provided them with sickle-like tools for plucking the fruits, and sacks and polythene materials for packaging of the powder. He said he had given them orientation on how they should pluck, crack and pound the fruits to extract the pulp into powder.

After obtaining the powder, the women then sieve it before they bag it. The powder is then sold to him at GH¢5.00 per bowl.
Other products such as Watermelon Fruit Juice, Tamarind Fruit Juice, Butternuts Squash Juice, Pineapple Fruit Juice and Mango Fruit Juice are produced with very little or no preservatives. When asked how he gets the raw fruits for these other juices, Mr. Yabdow explained that Tamarind fruits are bought from Walewale and Nalerigu in the Northern Region. Mangoes are bought from Navrongo, Pwalugu, Nakpanduri.

Though he said he sometimes buys grafted mangoes from Burkina Faso when the local ones are in short supply, he prefers the local mangoes, because they contain a lot of fluid, and are also very sweet. While butternut squash is bought from Buipe in the Northern Region, watermelons are bought from Zebilla, Bazua, and Pwalugu, all in the Upper East Region. Pineapples are also bought from Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo Region.

These successful innovations are not without challenges.

The major hurdle now for the company is to purchase at least one distribution van. The CEO says the lack of a distribution van often caused wastage, as some of the products go bad.  His explanation is that because they do not add preservatives, the products cannot last for long. Another concern is that the raw materials are seasonal. He observed that most of the raw materials (fruits) are seasonal, and cannot also be stored, because they are perishable, except tamarind and baobab.

Started in 1996 as a sole proprietorship and registered as a company in 2006, Yabco-Focus Company Limited has a vision of seeing the Northern Savannah Region without poverty.  Its mission is also to expand business opportunities for the youth and women in Northern Ghana, and young businesses. In line with its vision and mission, the CEO says the company has employed 45 people.  He adds that should he get support to purchase a distribution van to distribute his products to every part of the region, and across to Northern and Upper West Regions, the company could employ 40 more people next year, and increase the workforce to about 3,000 in the next five years.

Mr. Yabdow is saddened by the volume of preservatives in most of the drinks being spewed into the market.  He said most of the drinks, especially the foreign ones, are adulterated with so many preservatives that those who patronise them are “buying diseases”. Some of the company’s state-of-the-art machines include a juice extractor, mango pulping, pasteuriser, shrinking, and vibro sieve.

He has four giant regenerators for cooling the juices, and neatly maintained processing rooms with regulated temperatures.
The company also produces natural mineral water under the brand name ‘Starr Natural Mineral Water’, as well as operates a washing bay.

From Samuel Agbewode

The ancient methods used in conserving the environment, such as declaring certain areas of the vegetation as sacred groves and shrines, which forms the core of the cultural heritage of the people of the Volta Region, has been endangered as a result of wrong interpretation of modernity, thereby making these values obsolete.

As a result, rituals and important ceremonies performed regularly to keep people away from destroying the vegetation have gradually been abandoned, just because there is no such place to offer rituals and celebrate, since they were destroyed through what has come to be known as modernisation, which refers to the traditional ways of protecting the environment as being primitive.

However, there is a new awakening in the region to educate the people to, at least, embrace the old method of protecting the environment through what could be described as vigorous public education by a group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to protect the historic landscape of Ghana and the Volta Region, popularly called in Ewe as “Weto”, which is known in geography as trans-boundary mountain range referred to as the Togo-Atakora mountains, or the” Akwapim Togoland range”.

The NGOs trying to protect “Weto” from further destruction through human activity include the Development Institute, EDYM and YAWFO, which have held a durbar to launch what is called the Weto Platform, made up of NGOs, traditional rulers and the various stakeholders in environmental protection efforts in the region.

Speaking at the launch of the Weto Platform at Amedzofe, the highest human settlement in Ghana and a portion of Weto, the Executive Director of the Development Institute and the Interim Chairman of the Weto Platform, Mr. Ken Kinney, observed that the range should be seen as one of the important heritages of the country, and conscious efforts made to protect it for the benefit of the present and future generations.

Mr. Kinney described the Weto Range ecosystem as being in the state of environmental crisis, with the underlining cause being poverty, which led to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, uncontrolled soil erosion, degradation of water sheds leading to drying of water bodies, and pollution of existing rivers, which, he stressed, ought to be stopped.

He said the Platform would collaborate with stakeholders in the Republic of Togo and Benin, so as to ensure effective coordination of activities to ensure sustainable environmental practices.

He also noted that Ghana could have achieved much more development if the country had paid more attention to the development and use of internal resources, through the cultural values of the people as the basis for development.

Mr. Kinney emphasised that development at the Municipal and District levels should not be seen by the sale of timber and other natural resources to companies, which would only process the raw material for export, but that it was very important for stakeholders in development to pay more attention to sustainable systems of development, which ought to involve the citizenry.

He mentioned the indiscriminate cutting of trees for charcoal production, poor agricultural practices, and illegal timber harvesting as some of the factors that have been reducing the value of the Weto Range ecosystem.

He noted that the range protects high biodiversity and serves as home for many water bodies, saying the protection of the aesthetic beauty of the Weto range should be seen as the collective responsibility of all.

The Interim Chairman of the Weto Platform continued that the unique natural and cultural resources did not bring anything positive to the people living along the range as subsistence and small holder farming was the basis of a rural economy that suffered endemic poverty stressing that depletion of the vegetation and natural resources had become major sources of poverty.

According to Mr. Kinney, 40 communities had been identified along the range from Asikuma to Amedzofe to benefit from the activities of the Weto Platform, which would include sustainable development practices in the Weto landscape to improve the quality of life of the people, and help reduce poverty.

He said the Platform would work hard to protect the range and natural resources, including non-timber forest products such as Xylopia, Monodera and Piper Nigrum, which are popularly called in Ewe as “Etso, Ayiku, Agumetakui and Kale.”

He further noted that in the immediate future, the Platform would collaborate with district assemblies in their development planning, as well as the implementation of development activities.

The Country Coordinator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Mr. George Ortsin, pointed out that the effective way for nations to develop was to ensure the prudent use of the natural resources like the Weto Range in Ghana, saying his outfit would support the Platform to enable it to achieve success.

Mr. Ortsin said the Weto Range is unique, because it had many waterfalls, caves, varieties of trees, plant species, and animals which could be developed to promote ecotourism that would generate more revenue for the nation.

He further added that three years ago, the UNDP saw the economic potential in the Weto Range, therefore, its involvement to help harness the full potentials of the range for the benefit of the nation.

The UNDP Coordinator stressed that efforts to protect and  ensure sustainable economic activities of the range would not only lead to the development of the cultural heritage of the people, which would lead to socio-economic development, but also ensure that a more efficient method of eradicating poverty among the people living along the Weto range was achieved.

Mr. Ortsin disclosed that so far, 5,000 cocoa seedlings had been developed for distribution to farmers under the Weto Range programme to revamp the cultivation of cocoa, adding that Amedzofe has been noted for its large production of coffee in the past, and that efforts would be made to ensure that coffee farmers in the area start the production of the cash crop to enhance their income status.

He said the future plan of the Weto Platform should include the production of honey for export, adding that within five years, the effective use of the natural resources of the Weto Range would see massive development, and urged the Weto Platform to develop a strategy to promote an acceptable and sustainable development of the range.

The Chief of Amedzofe, Okusie Akyem Foli V, commended the members of the Weto Platform for their vision, saying the theme: “Consolidation of Bio-diversity Conservation and Sustainable Livelihood on the Weto Range”, was timely, because the change in climatic conditions of the country, coupled with human activities such as land degradation, was on the increase on the range.

Okusie Akyem Foli hoped that the Platform would work hard to restore the vegetative cover of the range, and sustainably harness its agricultural resources for the socio-economic transformation of the people.

He disclosed that indiscriminate deforestation had also resulted in streams and springs drying up, leading to severe water shortages in the communities.

An 18-member Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science and Technology has paid a working visit to Amansie West District to interact with stakeholders on how best to find a lasting solution to land and water bodies being destroyed by illegal gold miners, popularly called galamsey operators.

The Committee, led by its Chairman, Mr. Simon Edem Asimah, Member of Parliament for South Dayi constituency in the Volta Region, and the Ranking Member, Mr. Francis Addai Nimoh, Member of Parliament for Mampong, visited some of the selected sites at Manso-Nkwanta and Manso-Nsiana, and expressed worry about the rate at which land and water bodies are been destroyed by galamsey operators, without efforts at reclaiming them.

The District Chief Executive for Amansie West, Mr. Alex Kwame Bonsu, indicated that illegal mining had gained root such that it was difficult for the Assembly to stop the youth from engaging in it. He reported that even though the Small Scale Mining Association is mobilizing funds to purchase heavy duty machines to reclaim some of the destroyed lands, efforts to stop them from destroying and degrading the virgin land by the Assembly has yielded negative results.

The DCE thanked the Parliamentary Select Committee for the visit to the sites, which afforded them the opportunity to get first-hand information about the activities of galamsey operators.

The committee later interacted with the stakeholders, who include chiefs, assembly members, heads of departments, officials of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Minerals Commission, and Association of Small Scale Mining operators.
Meanwhile, a meeting of stakeholders suggested the establishment of District Office at Manso-Nkwanta.

The stakeholders further  suggested that the EPA and the Minerals Commission should educate galamsey operators on the need to protect our land and water bodies, and a District Assembly taskforce be formed to enforce and monitor the activities of galamsey operators in the district.

Stories from Richard Owusu-Akyaw

A 21-member Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, led by Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Member of Parliament for Wa West, has paid a day’s working visit to the Bonsaaso Millennium Village project in the Amansie West District to assess the progress of work since its inception eight years ago.

The project team leader, Mr. Samuel Danquah, briefed members of the Committee on Telemedicine, by which clinics in the cluster easily communicate with a Medical Doctor at the Saint Martin Catholic Hospital at Agroyesum, to give first aid treatment to patients at the cluster.

Welcoming the Parliamentary Committee, Mr. Samuel Danquah said during a durbar of chiefs and people of Bonsaaso that the MVP is an integrated rural development programme, designed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 in low income rural communities in Africa. He said the MVP operates in more than a dozen countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including major clusters of villages in 10 countries.

The Millennium Villages strategy is based on simultaneous, integrated investments in five key sectors – Agriculture and Environment, Health, Education, Infrastructure, Institutional Development, and Business Development -in order to raise household incomes, reduce disease burden, and cut food insecurity and chronic hunger. He said the Bonsaaso Millennium Villages project site was launched in Ghana in January 2006, and named after the Bonsaaso community, located in the Amansie West District.

The cluster encompasses 30 contiguous rural communities in and around Bonsaaso, with a total population of 30,000 people, covering three out of 13 area councils, and including about 22% of the district’s population . He said before the project began, the area had seen poverty in all of its forms, low food crop productivity, poor infrastructure, poor health and education, etc., the health system was not functioning adequately.

The population of 30,000 had no medical doctor, only two midwives, one community health nurse and one health assistant.
He said not a single community in the cluster had access to electricity, even though the electricity grid was 5 kilometres away, and that safe drinking water, sanitation, the road network between communities, and information and communication technology coverage were all insufficient.

The team manager said the education system had declined, and that the government of Ghana is providing implementation and resource support to the Bonsaaso MVP. At Manso-Datano, the team inspected a clinic and CHEW Programme.
The District Chief Executive for Amansie West, Mr. Alex Kwame Bonsu, said the Millennium Villages Health Project component has helped Amansie West a great deal in the area of child immunisation, care and support for people living with HIV (PLHIV), control of Malaria, infrastructure provision and others, in line with the government’s interventions for quality healthcare.

According to him, the MVP, in collaboration with the Novartis Foundation, is rolling out one of its successful health interventions dubbed “Telemedicine in April, 2014, where several diagnosis of diseases and ailments, as well as drug dispensation would be done via internet and telephone, for which two ambulances would be launched in April 2014 to augment the healthcare delivery system in the District.

Mr. Bonsu gave the assurance that as the Millennium Villages Project prepares to fold up in 2015, the District Assembly would be committed to ensure continuity of this all-important development programme in the District, especially in the health sector, within its mandate and resources for which a District Assembly/Millennium Villages’ Project Technical Committee to facilitate the process and ensure a smooth takeover of the project interventions at the district wide level has been formed.

The leader of the Parliamentary Committee, Mr. Yieleh Chireh, commended the team leader and management, as well as the Amansie West District Assembly, for a good work done to improve the living standard of the people in the cluster, and assured them that a report would be submitted to the Local Government Minister and Parliament for immediate consideration of the scale up of the laudable project to cover the entire Amansie West District.

The Member of Parliament for Manso-Nkwanta, Grace Addo, thanked the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health for the visit and inspection, and appealed to them to convey their experiences, with regards to the road network in the district, to the President.

Stories from Michael Boateng.

Information gathered by the Brong-Ahafo File indicates that the Techiman Campus of the Valley View University (VVU) would soon be upgraded into a University College. This follows a two-day official working visit by a high-powered delegation from the Valley View University in Accra, led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Dr. Daniel Buor, to the Techiman Campus.

According to Prof. Dr. Dr. Daniel Buor, the purpose of the visit was to inspect on-going projects being financed by the university, and to discuss the upgrading of the Techiman Campus into a University College. Among the projects inspected included a 4-storey male hostel, and a two-storey female hostel, which are to help upgrade the campus into the University College, as proposed.

The Vice Chancellor of the VVU disclosed that the 4-storey male hostel, estimated at GH¢12.6 million, was financed with a bank loan, whilst the 2-storey female hostel, estimated at GH¢1.8 million, was financed from internally generated funds.
Prof. Dr. Dr. Buor expressed confidence at the pace of work, adding he hoped the project would be completed in the scheduled time to meet the expectation to upgrade the campus into a University College. The delegation was taken round to inspect the projects by Mr. Edward Boabeng, Works Foreman of EVANMIKE Multipurpose Company Limited, an Accra-based construction firm in charge of the ongoing projects.

Mr. Boabeng assured the delegation that the female hostel would be completed by July, whilst the first floor of the male hostel would be completed by June, this year, to commence academic activities, in line with the planned upgrading of the campus.
Some members of the delegation included Professor Philip Maiyo, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the VVU, Mr. Robert Korankye-Mensah, Registrar, VVU, Mr. Matthew Annor-Appiah, Finance Officer, VVU, Mr. Francis Opoku, Dean of Students, VVU, and hosted by Dr. Robert Osei-Bonsu, Rector Techiman Campus VVU.

THE TEMA TRADITIONAL Council (TTC) has reminded authorities of the Eastern Naval Command of the Ghana Navy in Tema that the ban on noise-making, which includes drumming, dancing, merry-making and any other form of noise making, is still in force.

According to the TTC, it has been brought to its attention that the Command, during its training sessions, has been making noise, which the indigenes and residents are not happy about. The residents, therefore, complained about the issue to the Paramount Chief of the area and his elders, and upon investigations, they realised that the Ghana Navy was not well informed as to when the festivities start and end, an indication of the fact that there is a communication problem.

The spokesperson for the TTC, Nii Shipii Armah, speaking at a meeting with the leadership of the Naval Command, including Commodore Stephen Darbo, Eastern Naval Commander, explained that the ban on noise-making is still in force. Nii Shipii Armah stated; “We just want to remind your outfit of noise-making, because, residents have made references to the Command as the source of noise-making in the area. Then we decided to check where the noise was coming from.”

He continued that the TTC, having discovered that the noise within the community was a result of the activities of the Naval Command, thought it was important to send a delegation to come and alert them on the issue, to avoid antagonism. He reiterated that it was their belief that the Naval Command was not adequately informed, and, therefore, it was important for them to make it official, so that they will be able to comply with the directive. Reacting to the issue, Commodore Stephen Darbo, who also doubles as the No. 1 Garrison Commander, apologised for the noise-making, saying that they were not aware of the ban.

He explained that even though his outfit was aware of the ban on noise-making in the Ga Mashie area, they did not know that of Tema was on a different date, saying they thought they were all working at the same time. Commodore Darbo indicated: “We thought that it was only in Accra that the ban on noise-making was being observed. We did not know that it is being done in Tema as well.” The Eastern Naval Commander expressed regret, saying: “We were not officially informed, but I must say that ignorance of the law is no excuse.”

He assured the TTC that the Naval Command, under his watch, will not go against the customs and traditions of the people, and that what happened was not deliberate, just that they did not know. “We asked that next year, TTC should officially inform us about the period, so that we schedule our work accordingly, not to go against the tradition,” he stated. He hinted that one of these days he would return the visit of the traditional authorities by leading the leadership of the Command to the Chief’s palace to interact with them for peace and tranquility to prevail in the town. The meeting was climaxed with a lunch.

The annual Homowo Festival, which is celebrated by the Ga people from the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, begins with the sowing of millet by the traditional priests in May every year. According to Ga oral tradition, a severe famine broke out among the people during their migration to present day Accra, and they were inspired by the famine to embark on massive food production, which eventually yielded them a bumper harvest. Their hunger ended, and with great joy they “hooted at hunger.”

It is celebrated to remind the people of their victory over a great famine, which they experienced in the olden days when they were migrating from their ancestral homeland to occupy their present area of settlement.After this, a 30-day ban is placed on drumming, dancing, merry-making and any other form of noise-making in the Ga-Dangme traditional area by the priest of the land.

The festival is highlighted at varying times by the different sections of the Ga tribe. Homowo recounts the migration of the Gas and reveals their agricultural success in their new settlement.  The Ga-Dangme traditional area comprises Ga Mashie Accra, Osu, La, Teshie, Nungua, Prampram, Kpone, Ningo, and Tema.

THE TOTAL neglect of four state-owned companies in the Region has given leeway to unscrupulous individuals and business operators to invade these companies for their illegal purposes. These were one-time vibrant companies that provided jobs for many people over decades ago. But, today, the four companies are defunct, and their structures and expensive equipment are fast deteriorating.

They include GIHOC Meat Product Company Limited at Zuarungu, Northern Star Tomato Company in the Talensi District, Ghana Rice Production Company at Kumbosigo, near Bolgatanga, and the Catering Rest House in Bolgatanga, near the Regional Hospital. Apart from the superfluous GIHOC Meat Product Company Limited at Zuarungu, where caretakers have managed to keep the vast yard tidy, and the equipment intact, but the story at other sites was totally different.

Established in 1965, the activities at the factory came to a halt in 1995, due to lack of raw materials. An elderly man, who gave his name as Martin Adongo, said he was a technician during the functioning days of the company.  He told the Regional Minister, Dr. Ephraim Avea Nsoh, that the collapse of the company in 1995 was politically motivated. According to him, as of date, some of the machines only need repairs or overhauling, and it may be difficult to find fitting spare parts for them today.

Thieves, Mr. Adongo said, are now removing the wire mesh used as fencing, and selling them as raw materials to blacksmiths who use them for the commercial production of dog chains. At the Ghana Rice Production Company, the story was horrifying. The building is now accommodating Indian hemp smokers and other hardened criminals, who operate in gangs.  Upon seeing the Minister and his entourage, the criminals fled into nearby bushes, apparently, to avoid any the possibility of their arrest.

The stench that greeted the Minister and his team was more than enough to anger him. As if that was not enough, the team also observed that a private foodstuffs buyer hasd taken over the company’s warehouse, and now bags and stores rice and fertiliser. Though the occupant was not present at the time of the Minister’s visit, some carpenters he reportedly had engaged were busily replacing the old roofing sheets with new ones. The MCE, Mr. Ayagle claimed, the occupant could not be reached, even though the assembly had made efforts to invite him to come and explain how he secured space in the building. Saddened by the development, Dr. Avea ordered the immediate padlocking of the building.

Meanwhile, the remaining land belonging to the company has been encroached upon as private residential houses are sited all around the building. At this point, the Minister looked dejected and furious. He lamented that of all the companies he visited so far, the rice mill was the most uncared for among them. “It is the most dilapidated.” And most annoyingly, encroachers have also taken over the land.

“If we find out that it is an illegal possession, definitely, you know what I will do. If it means breaking down the structures, I’ll break them down, once they advise me on it. I’ve done that before as a Minister in the Upper West. I have no fears about that,” he warned. The Minister’s dissatisfaction and expression of worry were not different when he visited the Northern Star Tomato Company at Pwalugu. His language was straightforward. He described the company as his biggest disappointment, and its premises “a graveyard”. No single management staff was found there, except a certain Francis Bozembe, who claimed to be the security personnel.

The place was locked up and no keys present to open the place for the Minister to enter the production unit, let alone examine the machines.  Interestingly, this is the factory Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Trade and Industry, early this year visited and promised the government was going to revamp it within the first quarter. What the sector minister did not know, however, was that the people of the region did not take him serious, for they believed it was an empty promise. Why, because Hannah Tetteh, who handed over the same ministry to him, did the same last year when she visited the factory.

The once-vibrant hospitality establishment, the Catering Rest House,, has also lost its prestige.  Some old managers of the place now have some so-called powerful individuals are now condoning and conniving and selling the land and structures of the establishment to some members of the public. Many others are also occupying the chalets free of charge because government does not seem to have authority over it any longer.

The Regional Minister was touring the defunct companies last week in the company of the Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Edward Ayiriba Ayagle, and some officials of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC). His visit was unannounced.

SIX MONTHS after the MTN Foundation commissioned a modern Information Communication Technology (ICT) Centre at the St. Charles Primary School in the Bolgatanga Municipality, the pupils and teachers are fast gaining knowledge and skills on the subject.

Since ICT became an examinable subject in basic schools in Ghana a couple of years ago, most schools, especially those in the rural areas, lack computers to aid in the teaching and learning of the subject. In spite this, candidates sitting for the Basic Education Certificate Examination are not exempted from writing ICT in their final examinations.

In an exclusive interview, the ICT Teacher of the school, Mr. Samuel K. Awuni, said all the syllabus, from Primary one to six, have been stored on one of the computers connected to a projector and used in teaching the pupils.  He said the teaching of ICT has become easy for him, because the centre has cultivated huge interest among the pupils in the learning of the subject.
Meanwhile, his colleague teachers who had little or no knowledge on how to use the computer are now fast becoming ICT geniuses, because the centre is open to them to use in improving their knowledge.

Mr. Awuni is grateful to MTN Foundation for the provision of the ICT Centre, and to the Parent-Teacher Association for purchasing a projector and a printer. According to him, it has become very necessary for the centre to be connected to the internet, and appealed to MTN Foundation to provide an internet service at the centre to give a broader scope in the teaching and learning of ICT.  He noted that it would also enable the school to innovate ways of generating revenue to be able to pay electricity bills and maintain the centre.

For the Headteacher, Madam Kumagye Bibiana Weye, the centre will serve, not only her school, but the entire Bolgatanga Central Circuit “A” and other sister schools which may need it for the teaching and learning of ICT. She explained that the PAT Executive took a decision last term that with effect from this term, each pupil should pay GH¢1 per term for ICT.  These levies will go into the maintenance of the centre and settlement of electricity bills, while other avenues are explored to keep the centre running.

She said, sometime this week the PTA Executive will meet to discuss a report the school will be presenting on the usage of the centre, adding that the whole of last term, the centre did not give the school any problems.  The 20-seater capacity facility, plus a server, cost the MTN Foundation the sum of GH¢128,000. The school’s present population stands at 403 pupils.

The Kumawu Clergy Wives Association has been inaugurated to empower its members in the area, by equipping them with employable skills like tie and dye, batik, soap making, baking and also organising periodical health screening for women in the various churches.

The association also plans to assist brilliant but needy pupils to the secondary level, and establish a guidance and counseling unit to sensitise young girls against teenage pregnancy and other social vices. Rev. Dwamena-Boaten of the Kumawu Presbyterian Church, who inaugurated the association at the auditorium of the Church of Pentecost at Kumawu recently, commended the clergy wives for coming together as one body to champion the welfare of society.

He said such an initiative will enable them to pull their resources together to better the lots of their members and the under-privileged in their churches.Rev. Dwamena-Boaten also advised the members of the association to support their husbands in all human endeavours, and again, maintain good human relationships with their church members at all times.

In her maiden address, Mrs. Agatha Barnie Appiah, wife of Rev. Canon David Appiah of the Kumawu Anglican Church, and President of the association, appealed to the association members to bring their “three Ts” (time, treasure and talents) to bear on the association to move the group forward. She also appealed to corporate bodies, philanthropists, and well meaning individuals to come to their aid when the need arises.

The women leader commended some pastors, including Alex Boakye Agyeman, Antwi Boasiako, G. Y. Dwobeng and George Tease for their untiring efforts that led to the birth of the association. The District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Samuel Asiamah, also commended the clergy wives for the laudable initiative, and promised that the Assembly would support the association in their activities. He, however, suggested that the association should be district-wide in nature, so that their activity covers the entire district.  Asiamah again advised the women to actively get involved in the upcoming district assembly elections.

Nana Pepra Koduah II, Acting President of the Kumawu Traditional Council, advised the members to be very supportive and prayerful to their spouses, since their success or failure as women of God would to, a very large extent, depend on their support and prayers. Rev. Fr. John Abban-Bonsu of the Catholic Church commissioned the nine-member executives into office.

The executive members are Mrs. Irene Christiana Dwamena-Boaten, Vice President; Mrs. Doris Gyankoma Appiah, Secretary; Mrs. Sarah Boakye Agyeman, Financial Secretary; Mrs. Esther Addo, Treasurer Mrs. Agnes Konadu Tease, Organiser, and Mrs. Margaret Dwobeng, Welfare.

From Ernest Best Anane.

The first Prison Catholic Church in the region has been constructed and dedicated to God in Kumasi. Madam Matilda Baffuor Awuah, Controller-General of the Prisons Service, in a statement read on her behalf by Mr. Anthony Yeboah, Controller of Prisons in Kumasi, at the dedication ceremony of the St Martin Prison Catholic Church, urged Ghanaians to accept ex-convicts as the part of society and complement to re-integrating them to become more useful to society, to contribute their quota to the socio economic growth of the nation, instead of stigmatising them.

According to her, the spate of stigmatisation of ex-convicts by society leaves much to be desired, saying there is the need for society to change its perception about ex-convicts, and, instead, assist them to be re-integrated into society successfully.
She said the choice of name for the sacred edifice, St. Martin Prison Catholic Church, was appropriate, considering the humane treatment, care, and love for inmates by prison officers can be likened to the qualities and calling of St. Martin de Porres, in memory of the French Priest who demonstrated the love of God to all humans, and even animals, and therefore, earned the respect of society, because he comforted the sick, and provided food and clothing for the destitute.

Madam Baffuor Awuah indicated that the core mandate of the Ghana Prisons Service is not distinct from the work of the kind-hearted Priest, as far as the welfare of the inmates was concerned, saying it was in that vein, among others, that the Prisons administration instituted the Transformational Task Force, with the aim of improving conditions in their prisons.
She implored non-governmental organisations (NGOs), corporate institutions, religious bodies, and individuals to emulate the good works of Saint Martin de Porres, by supporting the Prisons Service to reform and rehabilitate prisoners, who need care, love, and support, during and after serving their sentences.

She commended the Regional Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Supt Martin Padi, for efforts at the construction of the church, from the foundation level to completion. Rev. Fr. Padi also expressed his heart felt appreciation for the support of donors and individuals who contributed in diverse ways to put up such a magnificent edifice at the cost of about GH¢2,000,000.

ASP Annan, Regional Public Relations Officer of the Prisons Service, commended the founders of the church, and pleaded with the public to desist from discriminating against the ex-convicts, and accommodate them to enable them face their challenges so that they may not go back to their negative activities. The PRO also pleaded with the government and all stakeholders to come to their aid, by providing accommodation and a vehicle to help the administration work of the prisons.

 from Richard Owusu-Akyaw

The Kumawu Traditional Council has met the District Chief Executive (DCE), Samuel Asiamah, and nine assembly members within the traditional area. They are Samuel Agyekum, Woraso Electoral Area and a Presiding Member; Kwasi Dankwah, Market Square Electoral Area; Believer Nkrumah, Bodomase/Etia Electoral Area; and Kwame Aboagye, Kumawu Apibiakyer Electoral Area.

The rest were Henry Donkor, Kumawu Electoral Area; Amponsah Gyebi, Ahenbronum Electoral Area; Ohene Ntow, Wonoo Electoral Area and Owusu Afram, Abotanso Electoral Area.  The meeting, called at the instance of the Traditional Council, was to afford the DCE and assembly members the opportunity to brief the Traditional Council on the activities and projects they had undertaken over the last four years. The Acting President of the Traditional Council, Nana Pepra Koduah II, urged the assembly members in particular, to be innovative and use their good offices to initiate development projects for their areas.

He said organising communal labour to clean up one’s community was not capital intensive for communities to rely on the central government or the District Assembly. “You can also organise fund-raising activities in your various communities to generate funds for development projects, without necessarily depending on the assembly,” Nana Peprah who is also the Krontinehene of Kumawu said. Nana Koduah II also tasked the assembly members to write a report on their achievements and other projects they had embarked on.

He appealed to the DCE to ensure that ongoing projects in the Kumawu township were completed within the stipulated times.
The Krontihene bemoaned the delay in the completion of projects like the construction of a lorry station at Kumawu, the street naming exercise, construction of speed ramps, and extension of electricity to the newly developing areas of the town.
The Queenmother of Kumawu, Nana Amponsah Serwaah II, on behalf of the Traditional Council, commended the DCE and assembly members for responding to their invitation, and appealed to them to pay regular visits to their respective chiefs to brief them on the various activities being undertaken.

DCE Asiamah used the opportunity to introduce four officers newly-posted to the district.  They are Mr. Anthony Kwenin, District Co-ordinating Director; Mr. Justice Samuel Servugu, District Health Director; Mr. Isaac Gyamfi, Physician Assistant at the Kumawu Health Center, and Mr. Isaac Odoom Egyin, District Information Officer.

From Isaac Akwetey-Okunor

THE EASTERN Regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has honoured four past regional chairmen for their immense contributions towards the sustainability and improvement of the association.

The four include Mr. A.C. Ohene, News Editor and political morning host at TV Africa, Mr. Ransford Tetteh, Editor, Daily Graphic, Mr. Emmanuel Sarfo, a former Eastern Regional Editor, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), and now Acting Eastern Regional Manager, Ghana News Agency (GNA), and Mr. Edmund Quarnor.

They were presented with a citation which read: “This citation is honoured to you in the recognition of your immense contributions to the Eastern Regional GJA, through the dedication of life and everything to make sure the association survived.” 

Presenting the citation to them, one after the other, the Eastern Regional Chairman, Mr. George Larbi, paid glowing tribute to these exceptional chairmen, who, through their instrumentality, the Association strives.

According to him, the Association would not have survived without the immense contributions of these individuals, hence the recognition to honour them, before they join their ancestors.

On behalf of his colleagues, Mr. Sarfo thanked the regional branch for the honour, and promised to continue to contribute their quota from the background.

From Isaac Akwetey-Okunor

THE DEPUTY Eastern Regional Minister, Mavis Ama Frimpong, has called on media practitioners in the country, particularly those in the Region, to be self-motivated if they wanted to be respected.

According to her, journalists are the most powerful people in Ghana today, but little do many of them know, hence parade themselves around like less important people and are treated like a piece of meat for dogs. To this end, she urged journalists in the country to respect themselves, and execute their constitutional mandates without any fear and favour, as well as adding value to their market premium.

“If you take pastors and politicians, the next people that come to mind are journalists, and we, as politicians, respect them for that, provided they would respect themselves,” she advised. On the celebration of the World Freedom Day, the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister described the programme as very successful and worthy of attending, considering the role the media plays in the development of the nation.

“It is refreshing to see journalists in the region coming together to deliberate on basic issues that are very critical to the development of the profession, particularly, considering the ethics of the profession,” she stressed. According to her, the symposium, to a large extent, offered the platform for the regional media practitioners to take stock of their constitutional mandate, and critique themselves on the ethics and principles of the profession.

The Minister charged media practitioners in the country, and the region in particular, to uphold the ethics of the profession, which has taken a nosedive, if they want to be respected. To her, most journalists in the country have thrown the ethics of the profession to the dogs, and have virtually reduced themselves to propaganda tools, used by some selfish politicians for their gains.

She mentioned that media practitioners who are watchdogs, referees, and voices for the voiceless in society have undermined and interlaced their reportage with a high sense of sentiment and bias, to drum home the interest of their “masters”.

Touching on the award of the past chairmen, the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister paid glowing tribute for the regional branch of the GJA for recognising the immense contributions of their past leaders towards the sustainability of the Association.

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From Isaac Akwetey-Okunor

THE EASTERN Regional Superintendent of the Koforidua Central Assemblies of God, Rev. Dr. Stephen Ohipeni Narh, has called on Ghanaians to put their shoulders to the wheel to find a lasting solution to the economic challenges the country is going through now.

According to him, finding a lasting solution to the current economic challenge was a shared responsibility, since we are one people with common interest and destiny, and pleaded with government authorities to also showcase patriotism to help save the economy from its current crisis.

He made the observation in an exclusive interview with the Eastern File shortly after he was inducted into office of as the Regional Superintendent for the next four years.

The Induction Service, which took place at the Calvary Assemblies of God, Koforidua Central Assembly, follows his election by the pastors on February 15, this year, in accordance with the church’s constitution.

Before assuming the position, he had served as the Regional Treasure for 11 years, under the then Superintendent Minister, Rev. Alex Ofori Amankwaa, who decided to step down willingly.

Rev. Dr. S .O Narh is currently the Vice Chairman of the Ghana Pentecostal Council of Churches at Odumase-Krobo, he is also the Senior Pastor of Coastland Assemblies of God and the Parent Teacher Association Chairman of Manya Krobo Senior High School.

Preaching the sermon on the theme “Behold the Master calleth,” Rev. Dr. Sam Ato Bentil, General Treasurer of Assemblies of God, Ghana, advised pastors not to take advantage of their pastoral positions to engage in corrupt practices, but rather respond to the calling of God with faithful service.

He charged pastors to exhibit an exemplary life, not only in the church, but in the environments they found themselves, and portray the Christ-like attitude to the congregation they serve, adding: “Remember, you don’t own yourselves, because you are leaders, but always know that there is an overall master, who supersedes every leader in this world,” he stated.

Rev. Dr. Bentil indicated that the call into the ministry was for the purpose to reach out for the lost souls; preach the true word of God, and to serve as shepherds of God’s lamb.

He urged them to showcase competent leadership, and also care for everyone, including the vulnerable.

In his acceptance speech, Rev. Dr. S.O Narh called for unity and effective contribution from his colleague pastors to promote the kingdom of God.

He said his office would contribute its quota to the development of the country, by drilling boreholes and organising free health screening exercises in the under-privileged communities.

From Ernest Best Anane

MTN Foundation has commissioned a 16-room, two-storey boys’ dormitory block for the Owerriman Senior High Technical School to replace old dormitories which were  congested and lacked basic sanitary facilities.

The project, which falls in line with efforts to train quality human resource for the country, in response to the dictates of Millennium Development Goals (1, 2, 7 and 8),  is a fulfillment of a promise by MTN in realising the educational needs of the youth.

Hitherto, the school authorities, in their bid to address the issue of congestion, converted classrooms into hostels to help accommodate the students.

Professor Franklyn Manu, Board Chairman of MTN Ghana, who represented Mr. Serame Taukobong, Chief Executive Officer of MTN, commissioned the project last Friday, as part of activities outlined by MTN to mark Ashantifest 2014 in appreciation of the people of Asanteman for their loyalty to the brand.

According to him, MTN-Ghana Foundation remains committed to the cause for which it was established and launched in November 2007, to identify and implement sustainable initiatives that enrich the lives of people in the communities in which it operates.

He said the advent of the educational reforms in the country had resulted in the establishment of more community based Senior High Technical Schools in the country, resulting in increased admissions.

Prof. Manu noted that lack of dormitories can affect academic performance, and needs to be addressed, and hoped with the commissioning and handing over of the project,  academic performance would improve in the long term, as the students would have more time for tuition, and the supervisory role of the Housemasters would be easier and more enhanced.

He said upon knowing the plight of the students, the MTN Ghana Foundation Board approved the construction of the 16-room two-storey dormitory block for the students, to accommodate their growing number at a total cost GH¢399,510.

The MTN Foundation has also provided bunk beds at GH¢22,800, and also tiled the Housemaster’s bungalow at the cost of GH¢14,100,which, he said, brings the total cost of the project to GH¢436,410.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the school, Nana Asante Afriyie, Mmawerehene, commended MTN Foundation for the kind gesture, and assured the foundation that the facility would be well maintained to serve its intended purpose.

Nana Konadu Yiadom, Headmaster of the school, also commended MTN for the rapid completion of the project, and gave the assurance that the facility would serve the intended purpose to make sure the students had the best benefit in improving teaching and learning.

He said the school authorities and tutors were making every effort to ensure quality tuition, as it was one of the best schools in the region, being among the best 30 schools in the region, and 70 in the country in the last year’s WASSCE

He pleaded with all stakeholders, especially citizens of the area, to emulate the shining example of MTN Foundation, and come to the aid of the school, in terms of infrastructure to achieve good results.

Meanwhile, Nana Afriyie, on behalf of relatives and close associates,has donated an amount of GH¢35,000 into a Maintenance Fund initiated to protect the project.

Mr. Jerry Orchi, CEO of Ash Cell, a distributor of MTN in the region, contributed GH¢1,000 to the Fund.

By Bernice Bessey.

The Joint Monitoring Platform estimates only 14 percent of the Ghanaian population has access to improved toilet facilities, while close to 20 percent continue to indulge in open defection, due to lack of access to sanitation facilities and adequate water.  

This, Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection Benita Okity-Duah noted, had negative consequences for the health and wellbeing of people, particularly women and children  .The Deputy Minister made the observation at the World Vision Ghana’s 35 Anniversary, dubbed “Every child deserves clean water”, at the Ghana Physicians and Surgeons College in Accra.

She said even though Ghana is close to achieving the Millennium Goal on water, a lot must be done to improve sanitation.
Benita Okity-Duah, however, commended World Vision for its efforts to increase access to water, sanitation and hygiene, improved health, quality education, food security and economic empowerment to assist deprived and vulnerable communities.

She said World Vision’s numerous interventions had not only saved lives, but provided communities with reasons to survive, adding: “I strongly believe that we all need to recognised and appreciate them for contributing immensely to the socio-economic development of this country.” The Deputy Minister expressed concern over the number of hours school children, especially girls, spend searching for water, which had resulted in some dropping out, and being forced into marriage.

“The time and efforts children put into searching for water affects their performance in school. Ensuring that communities have access to water and sanitation, therefore, leads to improved livelihoods and living conditions of children, enhanced quality education, as well as reduced infant and maternal deaths,” she noted. She also asserted that the US$4 million invested by World Vision to provide potable water to over 150 deprived communities in 2013 was highly recommendable.

World Vision’s fundamentals are based on improved household food security, nutrition for children, access to quality education, and strengthening partnerships and citizens’ empowerment, said National Director Hubert Charles, adding that the organisation was working towards addressing poverty and injustice in society.

He said over the last three years World Vision had reached out to 3.5 million people with water, sanitation and hygiene, stressing: “World Vision reaches a new person every 30 seconds with clean water. We hope to reach 10 million people by 2016”. World Vision, from 1985 to date, has drilled close to 4,000 boreholes, and equipped them with hand pumps, hundreds of alternative water systems, rooftop rainwater harvesting schemes, ponds, dams, and institutional latrines.

By Bernice Bessey.

Persons with mental disabilities are often ignored and rejected by society, but the Weep No More Woman Foundation (WNMWF), a non-governmental organisation that seeks the welfare of the vulnerable, has come to their aid by donating food and clothing to inmates of the Pantang Psychiatric Hospital.

The donation cost well over GH¢2,000, and indeed, put smiles on the faces of the inmates, some of who have been abandoned by family and friends. Mrs. Grace Boateng, Leader and Founder of the foundation, said it pleased her heart to support women, children, and the vulnerable in society, adding: “We are reaching out to the less-privileged, through [the] evangelism of Jesus Christ, education, material support, and skills training”.

She noted that persons with mental disabilities are not given the needed attention, such as shelter, food, water, clothing, security, and medical care by both the government and citizenry. Mrs. Boateng indicated that lack of protection for mentally-ill persons, especially, the women, had exposed them to sexual and physical abuse by people who should know better.

We are here today to share our love with the inmates to prove to them that no matter their situation, there is hope,” he stated. Although the foundation is young, the Founder and Leader of WNMWF added that the donation would not be last, as the organisation had taken upon itself to provide social intervention incentives for destitute mothers, children, and the vulnerable in society.

The Pantang Hospital Principal Nursing Officer, Mary Kalawu, could not express any other sentiments than to thank the foundation for the love they had shared with the female inmates of the hospital. She, however, could not also end her speech without pointing out some challenges, such as lack of a feeding fund, water supply, and family members neglecting their relatives when admitted at the hospital.

She said when family members neglect their relatives at the medical outfit, “aside taking care of the mental illness, the hospital has to incur more cost to treat the patients outside”. Ms. Kalawu further added that some of the inmates had been treated and discharged, but their family members are not willing to accept and take them back.

On the water situation, she said the hospital used to have two water tankers, but the other one had broken down, making it difficult to access water for the running of the institution.She called for support from all sundry to assist the hospital address the challenges.