From Samuel Agbewode.

The Principal of the Have Technical Institute (HAVETECH), Mr. Jackson Mawunyo Affram, one of those advocating for the strengthening of technical and vocational education as key in creating jobs for the youth, noted that the country would have not experienced the problem of high unemployment if more attention had been given to technical education over the years.

Mr. Affram cited the example of HAVETECH, which was absorbed by the government in 1984, but had since not been given any meaningful support, which made the training of the youth in the school difficult. This development, he admitted, would not be far different from the other technical institutes in the country, saying that the management of technical schools was more demanding than Senior High Schools (SHS).

He explained that management of technical schools, as compared to SHS, demands high financial support, because of the high cost of buying training equipment, together with taking care of students in the boarding house. He further noted that assistance to technical institutes has not been encouraging, thereby making the training of the youth at the various institutions very difficult. The attitude of the Ghanaian society, that technical education is the preserve of the less intelligent, and that only intelligent students go to the SHS, should be discouraged.

He said the erroneous impression created about technical education was very unfortunate, and that parents should rather encourage their wards to take up skills training to avoid becoming unemployed after the completion of the structured formal education. Mr. Affram continued that technical education, in the past, was considered an area meant for mature students, because it was an area that called for a high level of intelligence, since any mistakes committed by technical personnel, such as an architect, could lead to massive destruction, if the appropriate building materials were not used.

The HAVETECH Principal was of the view that the government should not establish any more technical institutes, but rather equip the present 45 institutes with the needed training equipment. He noted that the government seemed not to attach much importance to technical education with the decision to build more SHS in communities without mentioning how to promote technical education in the country. According to him, the development of the nation largely depends on technical and vocational education, which would ensure that the small scale industries grow, as our natural resources could be used as raw material, thereby creating jobs that would help grow the economy.

Mr. Affram, touching on the situation at HAVETECH, pointed out that there was the problem of inadequate infrastructure, saying the institute lacked major laboratories such as a mechanical engineering laboratory among others, and no modern equipment to support the training of the youth. He said HAVETECH needed more infrastructure to promote effective teaching and administrative work, because the current administration block of the school was an old abandoned classroom block, built by the EP Church in the 1950s. He said the administration block was renovated by the students, but the termite-infested structure did not befit the status of the school, and called on the government and organisations to help the school with a modern administration block.

The teachers, including the Principal, have no accommodation in the school, as they all live in rented premises in town and Ho, which, he said, did not enhance teaching and promote discipline, because there was no effective supervision of students after school. He disclosed that the school authorities, with prudent management of the little resources, had tried to renovate an old girls dormitory built to be used as accommodation for some teachers. Mr. Affram stressed that the government should increase its financial support for technical institutions, to enable the schools embark on the needed development activities.

He stated that HAVETECH students, with the relevant skills and direction from tutors, put up almost all the classrooms in the school, as the current boys’ dormitory and kitchen were all built by the students, thereby reducing cost in the provision of these facilities. He suggested to the government to ensure that projects awarded at the various technical institutes were not given to contractors, but should be awarded to the schools, since the students had the skills to execute any kind of projects, and that some of the projects awarded on contract by the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAS) should be awarded to technical institutes to enable them to get some money to manage the schools.

According to the Principal, the government had awarded the construction of a classroom block project for HAVETECH under the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), but work was still at the foundation stage, and believed that if the contract had been awarded to the school, the project would have been completed by now.

Mr. Affram commended the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) of the school for the continuous support, noting that it has started the construction of a storey building classroom block, which was being built by the students with technical assistance from outside the school in order for the structure to meet international standards. He, however, commended the government for the provision of a girl’s dormitory, as well as a workshop, and appealed that the contractor working on the boys’ dormitory and other projects be prevailed upon to complete them.

By Richard Attenkah.

ODEHE KPAKPA King Odaifio Welentsi III, Paramount Chief of the Nungua Traditional Area has expressed great worry over the indiscriminate sale of parcels of land within government acquired areas under his jurisdiction by some individuals in the area.

The areas include the Sakumono Ramsar Site, which covers an area of about 1,364.35 hectares and the state lands reserved for a national sports complex covering an area of about 301.835 hectares. He has therefore called on the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Iddrisu Fuseini to take the necessary steps to stop all such encroachers from selling these lands.

According to the Nungua Mantse, the Sakumono Ramsar Site is one of the six wetland sites in the country designated as Ramsar Sites to safeguard and improve the ecological values of the lagoon. The site for the national sports complex, on the other hand was to be used to construct a sports facility for the general public, the Nungua Mantse noted in a press statement released in Tema on Friday.

King Welentsi III revealed that because chiefs are the custodians of the traditional and cultural boundaries of Ghana, they are duty bound to protect lands or properties belonging to the government in their respective areas, including government acquired lands. He explained that one major reason why they ought to do so is because if government acquired portions of land within a particular area; by law, if it is unable to use the land for the purpose for which it was acquired, it has to revert it to the traditional authority from where it took over.

“What it means therefore is that when government is unable to use the land it has acquired from us (traditional authorities) for the purpose for which it was obtained; it has to reverse it back to us, as a matter of law. “Therefore, as traditional authorities, we have reversionary interest in lands, which government has acquired from our fathers for certain purposes, because once government is unable to use the land for the purpose for which it was acquired, we are the first options”, he noted.

The Nungua Mantse also called on all traditional rulers across the length and breadth of the country, especially in the Greater Accra region to wake up and wage a crusade against the wanton sale and destruction of government properties.  He said chiefs should not sit down unconcerned for some unscrupulous individuals, some of who parade as traditional authorities among others to indiscriminately sell government acquired lands to line their pockets.

According to him, if chiefs refuse to protect government acquired lands within the areas of their jurisdiction and allow some individuals to encroach upon such lands, they would wake up one day to realize that there are no more lands for them to embark on development projects for their people.

In a related development, King Welentsi III has written a letter to the Tema Regional Police Commander to assist one Nii Subrukutu Dadekowa I, Divisional Chief of Nungua Tetebibiano, who he has mandated to drive away all encroachers at the Ramsar Site to enable him discharge his duties well.

By Richard Attenkah

THE GHANA Ports and Harbour Authority (GPHA) has taken delivery of two new mobile harbour cranes to beef up the stock at both the Tema and Takoradi ports to help boost the efficiency in these ports. One of the cranes, which was bought at a cost of US$7million, was sent to the Takoradi port, whiles the other, which was brought to the Tema port was estimated at a cost of US$8million.  

Addressing a section of the Tema press, Mr. Paul Ansah Asare, Marketing and Public Relations Manager of the Tema Office of the Ghana Ports & Harbours Authority (GPHA), during the discharge of the crane said these cranes are very helpful because they help the port to fill in the gap when it receives vessels that may not be that strong. “Yesterday they were discharging some cargo when one crane collapsed. In a situation like this without this crane the vessel would have had to take back the cargo in that hutch. So this crane is very useful.

“This one has a special component, which is the platinum system that makes it faster with several attachments. One grab for example can lift 30 tons of cargo at a go, so just two swings could fill a whole articulated truck. “It also has two spreaders capable of lifting two containers at a go. And it also came with a jumbo sack attachment capable of lifting 25 tons of cargo at a go. That accounts for the difference in the prices of the two cranes”, he explained. According to him, the purchase of the cranes is part of efforts the Authority is making to boost the capacity of the port to handle the increasing volumes and tonnages of incoming cargo; that is pending the execution of the master expansion project itself.

Regarding the construction of container, RoRo and cruise terminals as part of the expansion of the Tema port, Mr. Ansah Asare disclosed that at the end of the deadline, 15 companies submitted their bids, saying they are scrutinizing them so they can shortlist and invite the most credible ones among them for serious business.  The Tema GPHA Marketing and Public Relations Manager hinted that management of the port has positioned itself to respond to the growing demand of the economy.

Explaining further, Mr. Ansah Asare noted that plans are far advanced for the construction of the cruise terminal at the Tema port, saying that debarring any unforeseen changes, in the next four years, the cruise terminal will come alive.    He observed that the port is one of the basic attractions, as far as tourism is concerned, receiving about 500 visitors from schools, institutions of higher learning, social organizations, professional institutions and various groups in the sub-region, including even competing ports to the port on daily basis.

“That is why we are introducing a cruise terminal here at the Tema port. Interestingly, there are some companies that have expressed interest in starting sub-regional passenger service, especially Accra-Lagos service. “As part of the solution for the difficulties they encounter at the various borders, these cruise terminals will help position us to develop this particular business and I believe that traders who do Accra-Lagos would be very happy when this terminal come into fruition”, he stressed.

From Musah Umar Farouq

The Upper West Regional Minister, Bede A. Ziedeng, has appealed to consultants and contractors to execute quality work on government projects in the region. According to him, consultants have full responsibly of the work they execute, and that the people would not benefit if work is not done well.

The occasion was an inspection tour of the region by the Minister, during which he visited the sites of ongoing water projects.
The two districts, which benefited for the Small Town Water Project, are Goripe and Mamwa in the Wa East, and Wa West townships, which were awarded on contract in March 2014, and are expected to have been completed by December 2014.

The Regional Minister was accompanied by the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) Chief Director, Mr. J. B. Atogiba, Regional Economic Planning Officer, Mr. Osman, Regional Director of Community Water and Sanitation Agency, Mr. Siabi Worlanyo Kwadjo, and the Director in charge of Water and Sanitation at the RCC, Mr. Adam Walid.

The District Chief Executives, Mr. Dasaana N.S. Adamu in Wa West and Mr. Abdul Karimu Abudu for Wa East, led the Regional Minister and his entourage to inspect the Small Town Water Projects in the two districts. Bede Ziedeng has, therefore, threatened to blacklist any contractor who fails to go on site or complete projects awarded, and further asked contractors and stakeholders in the region to be responsible in their call to duty.

The Regional Minister expressed gratitude to some contractors, and appealed to them to speed up work to enable the districts get water by December this year.

From Michael Boateng.

The Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation (NADeF) has commissioned three projects at Yamfo in the Tano North District, which were implemented in collaboration with the community, Ghana Education Service, Ghana Library Board, Ghana Health Service, and the District Assembly. The projects commissioned are a multi-purpose community library, nurses’ quarters, and a recovery ward for the Yamfo Health Centre, which cost GH¢344,998.82.

Mr. Kwame Saarah-Mensah, Board Chairman of NADeF, explained that the Foundation was established in 2008 as a mechanism to manage Newmont’s sustainable community development commitment to its ten host communities. He said the establishment was the result of a two year engagement between Newmont and the Ahafo Social Responsibility Forum, a key stakeholder group of Newmont Ahafo mine.

Mr. Saarah-Mensah continued that over the past five years, NADeF had been built on a stronger foundation of respect, stewardship, participation, inclusiveness and transparency in ensuring that communities of the Newmont Ahafo Mine achieve prosperity and self-reliance. According to him, society is developed when capacities in the human resource base are strengthened, and as a result, NADeF commits 24% of its total funds to human resource development where GH¢5,306,073.01 worth of scholarships have been awarded to 4,986 Senior High School (SHS) and Tertiary students, as well as 499 apprentices throughout the ten Ahafo Mine communities.

He said out of the figure, NADeF had awarded 255 scholarships to SHS and Tertiary students, as well as 20 apprentices from Yamfo at GH¢353,292. Commissioning the Recovery Ward, Dr. Yakubu Bayayinah, District Director of Health Services, commended Newmont for the provision of the ward, saying the Yamfo community was the second largest amongst the five sub-districts after the district capital, Duayaw Nkwanta.

Dr. Bayayinahh continued that Yamfo had a population of 9,580, but the total population, including all the communities numbering 18, was 18,394, and all depended on the Yamfo Health Centre for their health care needs, so the construction of the ward was, therefore, timely and necessary for such an expanding population. He recalled that late last year, the wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Amissah-Arthur, handed over a large quantity of medical equipment made available by Newmont and its foreign collaborators to about six health facilities, including Yamfo.

The Health Director indicated that the equipment made available now would be used to furnish the ward to facilitate the admission of patients who might be in need hospitalisation for further investigation and treatment. He added that the ward would reduce the burden financially on patients and relatives having to spend money in transporting themselves to Duayaw Nkwanta and Sunyani when referred for further treatment.

From Isaac Akwetey-Okunor.

Two Junior High Schools (JHS) in the Yilo Krobo Municipality have received a major educational boost, following the donation of generators to the schools by Mr. Davis Narh Koboo, Chairman of Rite 90.1 FM, a local radio station in Somanya.

The two automated generators, valued at GH¢3,600, were given to the Wurapong and Aboa-Osuboninya Junior High Schools (JHS), and forms part of Mr. Koboo’s efforts towards accessibility to quality education, which has eluded the municipality in recent times. The items were in fulfillment of an appeal made by the students from the deprived communities on the station’s programme dubbed “District Education Watch” and hosted by Owureku Asamoah, when the students attributed their abysmal performance to the unavailability of electricity in their areas.

Mr. Narh Koboo, who was monitoring the programme, was touched by the concerns, and made a promise to the host to help open a new educational chapter in the municipality. Presenting the generators on behalf of Mr. Koboo, a staff of the station, Mr. Kenneth Oliver, charged the beneficiary students and teachers to put the items to good use. Receiving the items on behalf of the beneficiary schools, the Deputy Director for Monitoring and Evaluation, Ms. Augustina Dedo Odonkor, thanked the benefactor for his interest towards the improvement of education in the municipality.

She assured Mr. Koboo and staff of the station of the Municipal Education Directorate’s commitment to ensure that the students benefit from the items. Mentioning some measures put in place by the Directorate to improve the of quality teaching and learning, she hinted that the Municipal Directorate had intensified its monitoring system by sensitising parents not to take too much of their wards’ learning time for house chores.

She, however, noted that her office was faced with numerous challenges in discharging its duties effectively, since the schools are scattered in the municipality, and, therefore, appealed to the Ghana Education Service (GES) to provide motorbikes for the field officers to do monitoring and evaluation work very frequently. Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer  (PRO) of the Yilo Krobo Municipal Education Service, Mr. Joseph Agbeko, also attributed the abysmal performance to both teacher and student absenteeism, and I don’t care attitude on the part of parents.

He explained that eleven Basic Schools in the Municipality had for the past three years obtained zero percent in the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE), with abysmal record results obtained in the past three years which stood at 25.7, 35, and 47.7 per cent, from 2011 to 2013 respectively. Addressing the issue of teacher absenteeism in the municipality, the Municipal PRO said the Yilo-Krobo Ghana Education Service (GES) had begun deducting a percentage of amounts from the salaries of teachers who absent themselves from school.

According to him, the Yilo Krobo Municipal Oversight Committee had also agreed to promote teachers within the municipality, only on merit. In a related development, the condition of infrastructure at the Aboa-Osuboninya JHS, apart of unavailability of electricity, raises questions about the quality of our future leaders. This is because, despite access to quality education being a constitutional right of every school going child, children in the aforementioned school are living in conditions that are awful.
The pen-like school building, which was built with mud and is without windows and doors, has become a waiting fatal tragedy.
The building is visibly wearing out, following exposure to rains and sun, with its roofing sheets posing a danger, whilst mark the children relax after classes hours under a shade made of four sticks and branches of a palm tree.

From Isaac Akwetey-Okunor.

The Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Mr. Samuel Afari Dartey, has called on Ghanaians to be conscious of their responsibilities and protect our forests, because a degraded environment is a threat to national development. According to him, it was defeatist for Ghanaians to throw their arms up in despair and allow a few social misfits and miscreants who in pursue of their own inordinate ambition to endanger the lives of millions of innocent and law-abiding citizens.

He explained that there was an imminent threat to livelihoods with the fast depletion of forest covers and resources, and until Ghanaians act as a collective body to fight and confront what he described as enemies of the forest, generations yet unborn would not forgive us. “My responsibility and your responsibility, and, indeed, our collective responsibility is to stand resolute and determined to resist those keen on plundering forests and forests resources for their selfish interest, while the rest of us wallow in misery and poverty,” he emphasised.

The Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission made the call during the launch of 2014 Greening Ghana Day in commemoration of the International Day of Forest and 3rd Forestry Commission Week celebrations in Begoro. The celebration, which was on the theme “Celebrating Our Forestry for Sustainable Development,” took place in the capital of the Fanteakwa District, Begoro, because of its proximity to the Atiwa Forest, which equally relates to the theme for the occasion.

Mr. Dartey continued that the United Nations (UN) General Assembly has proclaimed March 21 every year as the ‘International Day of Forestry’ to celebrate and create awareness on the importance of all types of forestry. According to the Forestry Commission boss, the responsibility to protect cascades to individual levels at every stage of human development, where individual responsibility becomes a critical piece of the chain, without which, success remains a mirage.

He assured Ghanaians of his outfit’s continues commitment to be at the forefront of innovating forest-based sector reforms as a critical component and pre-requisite for a green economy, as well as create as much awareness as possible about the inherent dangers associated with the unbridled destruction of the forest cover. Mr. Dartey paid glowing tribute to the media for its immense watchdog role in covering and reporting issues on forests and the Commission, but was quick to challenge them to go further with investigative reports, since forestry issues have both national and global appeal.

He was of the conviction that investigative reports into syndicates operating under the cover of darkness, investigative reports into unpatriotic citizens colluding with foreigners to deplete forest covers through illegal mining, pollution of water bodies, and its effects on heath and wealth, would not only give the media house or reporter international recognition, but save the country. On his part, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, reiterated that the need for concerted efforts towards the protection of the forest and other natural resources was no longer a national issue, but also of global concern.

It was in this context, according to him, that the celebration of a day as an International Day of Forest has been put on a global agenda by the UN, which reaffirms the global commitment to the protection of forests. The sector Minister stated that over 70 percent of our rural population depends on the forest directly or indirectly for their livelihood, hence most it was important to celebrate the forest, adding that, “as we celebrate the day, we need to remind our communities of the important roles of the forest”.

He disclosed that one of the major challenges the sector was facing was how to eliminate illegal chainsaw operations, which have been found to be wasteful and destructive to the environment, and illegal mining. Despite acknowledging that the fight to curb this canker was not only the responsibility of the government, thus in finding solutions, the Commission has established a Rapid Response Unit and personnel deployed to various hot-spots to clamp down on destructive perpetrators.

 From Edmond  Gyebi.

COMMERCIAL DRIVERS and passengers plying the Salaga-Makango road in the East Gonja District have raised the “red flag” over a looming danger being posed by two bridges linking the two main commercial towns in the District, which are on the verge of collapsing.

They insist that it has become extremely dangerous for drivers and their passengers to cross those bridges as they physically feel heavy vibrations anytime they are crossing.  The concrete in the bridge, and even some of the metal slabs, as well as iron rods, are either hanging or have fallen into the river, which makes the road a fatal death trap.

At times, some drivers, especially big buses and articulator trucks fully loaded with yam and maize have to offload their goods to reduce their weight before crossing the bridge.  The bridge has compounded the poor nature of the Salaga-Makango road, which already has recorded several accidents leading to fatalities and injuries among passengers.

The spate of road accidents in the area has compelled the District Chief Executive (DCE) for East Gonja, Mohammed Adam Lukman, to constitute a 15-member Road Safety Taskforce, chaired by the District Police Commander, to check indiscipline, and also educate drivers on how to manage the dangerous spots on the roads.

The DCE, members of the East Gonja branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), and the members of the Taskforce, during their first road safety campaign, visited the Salaga-Makango road to assess the dilapidated bridges.
Some commercial drivers who spoke to The Chronicle during the road safety campaign complained that they feel very scared when they approach the bridge.

One of the drivers, Tijani Ewuntomah, described the bridge as a “life sentence bridge.” Adding, “Anytime I approach the bridge, I feel like I and my passengers have [a] 50-50 chance to live, because we don’t know how lucky we can be. Even when I try to dodge, I still do not know where is safer for me.”

He, therefore] made a passionate appeal to the government to tackle the Tamale-Salaga-Makango road, to save them from the trauma they go through. One Hajia Mariama Alhassan, a trader, also attacked the government for neglecting the people of East Gonja for far too long. According to her, apart from the difficulties they encounter on the road, traders who want to transport their goods from Makango to the South, through the Volta River, also face similar problems, as the only ferry serving the people was not in good condition.

The East Gonja District Police Commander, ASP Alhaji Simons Amenu, said that the nature of the roads in the district had made it very difficult for the security agency to carry out road safety campaigns. He noted that most of the roads had developed serious potholes with some bridges and culverts washed away. This, he said, trapped and caused accidents for motorists on a daily basis.

At the moment, the members of the Road Safety Taskforce, according to the Police Commander, are facing an uphill task in educating the drivers, or compelling them to comply with road traffic regulations, as a result of the poor nature of the roads. The drivers, he said, complained of the frequent breakdowns to their vehicles.

But, that notwithstanding, the Taskforce insists that drivers and motor riders wear their seatbelts, crash helmets, possess genuine driving licenses, first aid box, reflectors, number plates, fire extinguishers, rectangles, and torch lights among others.
ASP Alhaji Amenu gave the assurance that the Road Safety Taskforce would be extended to the remote communities to reduce the activities of Fulani herdsmen on passengers, especially traders.

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for East Gonja said that the nature of the bridge had been a major concern to the District Assembly, as it posed a severe danger to the lives of traders and passengers. He said: “The nature of this bridge is not a danger to one particular truck, but the whole of the district. This is the main route for transporting our yams and other farm produce to urban centres in the south. So, if this bridge finally collapses, all of those yams will have to find [an] alternative route, which is also impossible.”

He was apprehensive that with the onset of the rains, the road would face serious danger or wash away completely, and that it would be impossible for the assembly to create a diversion, due to the size of the river. The DCE, however, mentioned that the Tamale-Salaga-Makango road remained a priority for the government, which had plans to develop it.

In the interim, Mr. Adam Lukman gave the assurance that the Assembly was in talks with the Ministry of Roads and Highways to carry out a technical assessment on the bridge, and advice accordingly.

Stories from Michael Boateng.

The chiefs and people of Asuakwaa, near Chiraa in the Sunyani West District, have expressed worry over the alarming rate of teenage pregnancy and unsafe abortions in the town.

Addressing community members at a durbar organised by the Sunyani West District Assembly, in collaboration with the National Youth Authority and Center for National Culture, under the sponsorship of the UNFPA, Nana Kwasi Yeboah, Asuakwaahene, declared war against teenage pregnancy and unsafe abortions in the town. The Tanokrom Troupe of the Center for National Culture demonstrated in a drama on the dangers of teenage pregnancy and unsafe abortions.

Nana Kwasi Yeboah stated that the future of Asuakwaa was threatened by the increasing rate of teenage pregnancy, and it was important that the leaders of the town take a stand to curb the situation. He called on parents to be responsible in the upbringing of their children and wards, and not sacrifice their children’s education for expensive funeral cloths and alcoholism.

According to Nana Kwasi Yeboah, the elders of the town had agreed that parents should be held responsible children who get pregnant before the requisite rites are performed between the ages of 13 to 16 years. The Regional Coordinator of the National Youth Authority, Pascal Assan Edwards, indicated that the UNFPA Community Drama on Teenage Pregnancy and Unsafe Abortion was to be implemented in six districts of the region to help young girls abstain from early sex and have access to medically safe abortions.

Mr. Pascal Assan Edwards reiterated that the fight against teenage pregnancy and unsafe abortions should have a collective approach to bring the situation under control. He advised, especially girls of school-going age, to resist attempts by their peers to lure them into pre-marital sexual relationships.

Mrs. Theresa Agyei-Mensah, a Resource Person for the programme, indicated that girls who engage in pre-marital sexual practices stood a higher chance of acquiring HIV, as well as sexually transmitted infections, as they could not protect themselves well.     She advised the girls to always think about the outcome of sex whenever they develop the desire for intercourse.

Stories from Michael Boateng.

To assure security of power supply to the Brong-Ahafo and parts of the Western regions, a 161 kilovolts sub-station has been built at Mim in the Asunafo North Municipality.

Briefing the media, the Techiman Area Manager of Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), Ing. Benard Asante Gyan, narrated that previously, power was being supplied from Sunyani at 34.5 kilovolts, through a 63 kilometre transmission line to Mim, which was not reliable, hence the decision to have a substation to increase the capacity of the line to 161KV.

According to Mr. Gyan, the substation has a 33MVA transformer to supply communities in the two regions. He continued that capacitor banks had been installed at the Mim sub-station to increase supply and voltage. He said the substation will help connect about 500 communities in the Brong-Ahafo and Western regions. The current load on the newly installed transformer is only 11MVA, and GRIDCo has plans to install another 33MVA transformer within the year.

He further disclosed that the project was funded by the Government of Ghana, with a loan from US Eximbank, through the Ministry of Energy, at a total cost of $18.8 million. The Head of Public Relations of GRIDCo, Mr. Albert Kwesi Quainoo, said the construction of the substation will support the government’s electrification project in the two regions. Already, distribution poles have been erected in most communities on the Sunyani-Mim corridor to extend power to the people in the area

From Ernest Best Anane.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, last Friday cut the sod for the commencement of the proposed Kumasi City Mall, which would be the biggest retail shopping facility in Kumasi, with a call on all indigenes to invest in the development of the region to help improve the lot of the people.

He called on all chiefs in the region to always make land which they hold in his trust available to any business-oriented companies and institutions willing to invest in the region, to enhance job creation towards a reduction in unemployment among the youth.

The Asantehene noted that while the government does its part, the citizenry must complement efforts of the government to make the country progress, and urged hard working indigenes to invest to give Asanteman a facelift. “As citizens, we are mandated to complement [the] efforts of [the] government”.

He said it would be prudent for businesses to pay taxes to the government, so it could, in turn, use the tax payers’ monies in opening hospitals, to enable people have access to health care. Mr. Kofi Sekyere, Director of Delico Kumasi Limited, who is in charge of the construction, said the facility was the beginning of a new transformation process for the City of Kumasi.

He commended his Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for his personal interest in the project, which was evident in his acceptance to cut the sod to mark the commencement of works on the project described as unique. He explained that the facility is wholly owned by Delico Kumasi Limited, which, in turn, is owned by Delico Mauritius, and together with their investment partners are the majority owners of the Accra Mall.

Mr. Sekyere commended the Regional Minister, Samuel Sarpong, and the Mayor of Kumasi, Kojo Bonso, for his unrelented efforts and commitment that had contributed to the commencement of the project in the region. He revealed that the entire development, to be rolled out in two phases, will occupy a land area of 15.43 acres.

The project will comprise a retail shopping mall component, which will cover approximately 29,000 square metres, five cinema halls, and the possibility of a second phase, which will comprise of a 120-bed hotel facility.  The anchor tenants will be Shoprite and Game, while there will be spaces for about 60-line shops and restaurants.

He said the development is designed to offer approximately 1,250 parking bays, translating into a parking ratio of 4.6 parking bays per square metre. Mr. Sekyere added that certain sustainability features of special interest to be incorporated into the development include a grey water harvesting (filtration, piping and storage) collection tank, landscaping, building management systems, and a waste recycling and separation storage.

From Sebastian R. Freiku.

Three communities in the Obuasi Municipality and one other in the Amansie Central District have benefitted from education projects by the Obuasi Community Trust Fund of Anglogold Ashanti (AGA).

The beneficiary communities are Ayease, Jimiso Kakraba, Ahansonyewodea, Obuasi Municipality and Nyamebekyere in the Amansie Central District. The fund, established in September 2011, has committed a total of GH¢599,380.46 in the construction and rehabilitation of some school facilities in the four communities, since November 2013.

The Ayease M/A Primary School  benefited a 3-unit  bedroom semi-detached  teachers’ quarters at the cost of GH¢184,084.91, while a three classroom with office  and store block for the Jimiso Kakraba Methodist Junior High School (JHS) cost GH¢119,234,06.

A total of GH¢173,208.53 was expended  on the rehabilitation of a six classroom block and three classroom block for the local Primary and Junior High schools  respectively. The Nyamebekyere community also took delivery of a three classroom block and office and store constructed at the cost of GH¢122,852.96. The projects have since last Friday been commissioned for use by the various communities.

Mr. Frederick Attakumah, Managing Director of AGA Obuasi Mine, called on the residents and beneficiary schools to give the maintenance of the projects top priority to encourage the fund consider them for other projects under its sustainable development programmes.

Joined by the members of the Board of the Trust Fund, chiefs, including Nana Poku Ababio, Adontehene of the Bekwai Traditional Area, as well as community heads to commission the projects separately, Mr. Attakumah said the AGA had decided to focus on education, because it was the key to opportunities in this highly competitive world.

He observed that it was through education that the people could lift themselves from poverty, and urged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the facilities to acquire the best of education. The MD called for the support of communities in its efforts at rebirth, giving the assurance that the AGA could do more for communities if the economic downturn the company is currently facing is reversed under its restructural programme.

Richard Kwasi Ofori Agyemang Boadi, aka King Zuba, Municipal Chief Executive of the Obuasi Metropolis, thanked the AGA for supporting the government in the provision of infrastructure to promote education. Nana Okofo Sobin Kan II, Dompoasehene, who presided over commissioning of the projects, expressed appreciation to AGA for the projects, which, he noted, would be beneficial for the overall development of the communities, and the area as a whole.

From Issah Alhassan.

Whilst their colleagues elsewhere in the country enjoy relatively better conditions, namely, access to health facility, good classrooms, a comfortable desk to sit on and access to other educational facilities, the children of the Sekyere Afram Plains District, are grappling with the harsh realities of having to endure the absence of these basic facilities, let alone, quality teachers.

Educational facilities in the district are either absent, or in such deplorable states that it does not encourage teaching and learning in most parts of communities in the newly-created district.

The poor structures of the school, coupled with poor access to roads, particularly during rainy seasons, usually disrupt the little academic activities of the students in some communities, because there are no classrooms for them.

In some remote parts of the district, school buildings are constructed from clay, grass with bamboo roofs, whilst others are simply constructed through the erection of planks with roofs on top, making teaching and learning during rainy season, virtually impossible.

In one of the villages called Ofe, which is predominantly occupied by northern settlers, the pupils and volunteer teachers, mostly non-professionals, are left with no option than to travel miles on foot, arriving in the classrooms very tired and not ready to teach and learn.

To the pupils, getting access to quality basic facilities and educational infrastructure is only a mirage, and perhaps, several years away from reality, unless there is urgent assistance from the government, philanthropic groups and individuals.

The District Assembly, led by the District Chief Executive (DCE), Fuseini Donkor, is struggling hard to improve the lives of the people, but appears overwhelmed by the numerous challenges confronting the new district.

“The roads to these communities are bad; no vehicles, water, electricity, teaching materials and decent accommodation for those who have accepted the challenge to teach in schools in the area,” Fuseini Donkor told The Chronicle in an interview.

He said because the conditions for teachers in these communities were not conducive, it was extremely difficult to get trained and qualified personnel to come and teach at those places, even for a week.

Fuseini Donkor said though his administration was trying hard to attract support from elsewhere, rather than the government, it was not enough to surmount the myriad of socio-economic challenges.

“Last week, for instance, on my way to Ofe community, I was forced to walk through the mud at some point, because the motorbike I was riding won’t go. My brother, it is serious, extremely serious, it’s like the people of Drobonso and its environs are cut off from Ghana, we need urgent assistance,” he pleaded.

He said most of the communities lacked access to health facilities and quality drinking water, posing serious consequences in the case of any outbreak of environmental-borne diseases.

From Samuel Agbewode.

The Ho Nursing Training College (NTC) has launched its 50th Anniversary celebration in the regional capital, Ho, under the theme “Academic excellence for quality nursing care: A concern for all.” The anniversary, which would be celebrated in October this year, has attracted a number of dignitaries, including chiefs from the region.

The launch of the Ho Nursing Training College anniversary celebration was aimed at raising funds to build a modern hostel to be called “Golden Hostel” to mark the occasion. The Agbogbomefia of the Asogli Traditional Area, Togbe Afede XIV, who could not be present at the programme, donated GH¢5,000 to the school, through a Divisional Chief of Asogli, Togbe Kassa, towards the celebration.

The Ho NTC, according to available records, has trained 4,922 nurses since its establishment 50 years ago, who have since been playing crucial roles in health care delivery, not only in the Volta Region, but also across the country. The Principal of Ho NTC, Mrs. Josephine Ansu-Gyeabour, thanked her predecessors for their hard work and determination that had led to the growth and development of the institute in the face of the numerous infrastructure problems, and called for the necessary support from all stakeholders, including the government, to address them.

Mrs. Ansu-Gyeabour mentioned overcrowding in the classrooms, inadequate buses for the school, and the non-resident status of the majority of students, as only 20 percent of the students were accommodated on campus. She further said that the deplorable state of the access road in the school called for urgent attention to aid effective teaching and learning, as well as administrative work.

The school, the Principal said, had only one hostel, leaving the majority of its students to live outside the school, and appealed to the Ministry of Health to help resolve these challenges, especially the provision of student hostels, which was the focus of the fundraising.

She added that the management of the college was ready to collaborate with construction firms which were prepared to build hostels and staff accommodation for the school, under a build, operate and transfer arrangement. The Volta Regional Minister, Madam Helen Adwoa Ntoso, commended the founding fathers of the college for their foresight that made it possible for the institution to grow to the current status.

She stated that 50 years of nursing education was a great achievement, in view of the number of professional nurses were trained there and were saving lives across the country and beyond. Madam Ntoso assured the staff, students, and management that the educational infrastructure problems confronting the college would be tackled jointly by the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) and the government, to ensure that adequate facilities, including classrooms among others, were provided.

The Deputy Volta Regional Director in charge of Clinical Care, Mr. Robert Adatsi, noted that the 50 years achievement of the Ho Nurses Training College could not be over emphasised. He added that nursing was basically the skill of caring for the sick and injured, which required the highest level of commitment, dedication, and self denial, to be able to meet the demands of quality nursing being demanded by clients in the 21st Century.

Mr. Adatsi observed that the qualities of nursing were most of the time missing in many nurses in recent times, which was a major problem to many stakeholders. He further pointed out that the issue of the standard of nursing trainees, as well as the quality of nursing care being practiced at the various health facilities, should be of much concern to all.

He noted that the theme for the anniversary celebration, “Academic Excellence for Quality Care; A Concern for All”, was most appropriate, because for some time now, the standard of education in the Nursing Training Colleges had fallen, due to multi-sectoral factors. Adding that nursing education in the region, most especially the low pass rate, was of concern to the Regional Health Directorate.

Mr. Adatsi continued that as a result, a stakeholder’s conference was organised to determine the factors responsible for the poor academic performance, in order to adopt effective strategies to improve the situation, and it was identified at the forum that the environments at the nursing training schools were not conducive for teaching and learning. He stressed that as the standard of nursing education falls, the pass rate declines, with the number of qualified nurses posted to health facilities also declining.

Mr. Adatsi noted that the negative development was directly affecting the quality of care at the health facilities, because the nursing requirements were not met for the expected quality service delivery, as the challenges facing the training of nurses in recent times were varied and diverse. A Member of the Council of State, Togbe Binah Lawluvi, commended the managements of the colleges for their efforts to train a high level of human resources relevant to national development.

Meanwhile, the Ho Nursing Training College and entire township have been thrown into the state of mourning over the death of four students and a driver in an accident. The students were allegedly travelling from Ho to Aburi on an excursion, when the bus in which they were crashed near Aburi in the Eastern Region, resulting in their untimely deaths.

From Ishaque Agyei.

The Central Regional Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr. Emmanuel Sandy Amartey, has assured residents of Cape Coast that there is no cause for alarm following the flooding of some areas in the Metropolis, and asked them to continue to have hope, and support the activities of NADMO.

Even though several areas were affected, Kowprow, Ayusu, Abakam, Essuakyir, Pedu, Adisadel Estates, Akotokyire and Tantre, all in the Cape Coast Metropolis, as well as Pershie, Atabaadze, Essaman, Nkontrondo, all in Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirem (KEEA) District, and Moree in the Abura Asebu Kwamankese (AAK) District were areas that were seriously affected by the heavy downpour last Friday.

Several structures, including schools and church buildings, were affected. Four churches in Antem were not spared by the rain, as their members tried to retrieve some items that were being carried away by the flood, while the residents complained bitterly about the magnitude of properties lost.

In an interview with The Chronicle, Mr. Amartey said that people had not been displaced, since the water receded immediately after the rain, so there was no any cause for alarm, and gave the assurance that NADMO was firmly on the ground.

He attributed the intensity of the flooding to the construction of houses on waterways, which obstructed the free flow of rainwater. Mr. Amartey noted that his outfit was currently assessing the extent of damage caused by the floods, and not until a report is sent to Accra, there is nothing much it could do to support victims.

He, however, dismissed claims that about 40 houses had been affected, but clarified that an estimated number of about 26 houses were hit by the flood. Mr. Amartey stated that it took the intervention of personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service to pump out the water from the affected buildings, and therefore, assured residents that NADMO was working to put the situation under control.

From Richard Owusu-Akyaw.

Thirteen students of Zurich International School are in town to strengthen ties with their counterparts at the Bosomtwe Community School at Behenase in the Bosomtwe District.

The students, 11 girls and two boys, would spend a week, during which they would teach their colleagues at BSC, and also familiarise themselves with developments at the school.

Mr. Robert Friesen, their leader, who has been coming to Ghana annually to teach in the local school, said while here, they would consider projects in the school besides teaching, under the directorship of Mr. Ibrahim Oubda, who Mr. Friesen describes as committed to teaching students.

Miss Claire Cole, a member of the Zurich team, told the Ashanti File in an interview that they were in Ghana to teach their counterparts English, Mathematics and Science.

She added that the Bosomtwe Community School students would be schooled on special programmes in the areas of health, hygiene, cleaning, and washing of hands.

Mr. Ibrahim Oubda, Head and Director of the Bosomtwe Community School and a former Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club player, urged parents to take advantage of the emergence of super technology to invest in the education of their wards.

He further called for a push for comprehensive Information Technology (IT) under the Global Educational Scheme in all schools in Ghana, which, he said, could take Ghana’s education sector to another level.

From Issah Alhassan.

The proposed construction of a Community Police Station at Krobo Odumase, a Kumasi suburb popularly known as KO, has received a boost, following the donation of an amount of cash to the KO Unit Committee.

Mr. Kwabena Owusu Dapaah, Chief Executive Officer of Dapaksa Enterprise, an agent of Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN), last week Wednesday, made an undisclosed cash donation to the Assembly Member for the area, Mr. Kesse, towards the construction of the police facility.

The Community Police Station is expected to enhance peace and security within KO, and would also serve other areas, including Mbrom and Dr. Mensah, which are known to hubs of business activities in the Kumasi metropolis. Presenting the cash to the Assembly Member, Mr. Owusu Dapaah said the donation was part of the company’s social responsibility towards assisting in the maintenance of peace and safety for people within the communities.

He stressed that businesses cannot thrive without peace and security, adding that once the community police station is constructed, traders would feel safe to embark on their businesses without fear of being attacked by unscrupulous persons.

Mr. Kesse expressed his gratitude and that of the electoral area to the management of Dapaksa Enterprise for the kind gesture.
He said the donation would immediately be utilised for the intended purpose, in order to ensure the early completion of the project.

The Assembly Member pointed out that the project was in response to several cries of residents and traders for maximum security in the area, in the wake of constant attacks by robbers.

The Cardiovascular Diseases Centre of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital’s fight against cardiovascular diseases in the country has given a huge boost, following the presentation of 15 pairs of clutches, and 10 wheelchairs to support it.

The items, worth GH¢5,400, also included water purification devices manufactured by Unilever Ghana to make water available to patients and the general public who visit the Centre. The Melcom Care Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Melcom Group of Companies, which presented the items to the Centre, said the gesture formed part of its give-back-to-society, as it marks its 25th Anniversary.

Presenting the items, the Communications Director of the Melcom Group of Companies, Mr. Godwin Avenorgbo, said as part of the year-long celebration of the 25th Anniversary, the retail and departmental supermarket giant was making investments in the communities in which it operates.

He noted that the development of the nation could not be left to the government alone, and, therefore, urged the private sector to help. Mr. Avenorgbo was quick to add that nation-building needs the collective effort of all and sundry like Melcom to address challenges facing Ghana.

The Director of the National Cardiothoracic Centre (NCC) of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Lawrence Siriboe, who received the items on behalf of the Centre, thanked the Melcom Group for the timely gesture, saying: “ I feel gratified when individuals and institutions show recognition for the work being done at the Centre, by supporting it with such donations.”

The wheelchairs and clutches would enhance patient mobility, and go a long way to reduce the challenges confronting the Centre, he indicated. Dr. Siriboe, therefore, appealed to Ghanaians to change their lifestyles, by exercising regularly and eating fresh fruits and vegetables, so as to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

In a related development, the Melcom Care Foundation presented a cheque of GH¢1,500 to a medical student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ms. Joseline Haizel-Cobbina.

The money was meant for the payment of further medical education tuition fees in Norway, for her. Ms. Haizel-Cobbina thanked the Melcom Group for the gesture, and pledged to return to Ghana after completing the course, to contribute her quota to the healthcare needs of the country.

From Alfred Adams .

Water, they say, is life and life is water. It is upon this that the Aowin District Assembly at its Third General Assembly Meeting, agreed to prioritise water and sanitation in the district, in order to protect the health of its people.

At its First Ordinary Meeting of the Third Session of the Sixth Assembly of the Aowin Assembly, the District Chief Executive, Mr. Oscar Ofori Larbi, maintained that prioritising water and sanitation was important in improving the living conditions of the people.

He pointed out that “at the moment, the Assembly prioritises water, since water is life, and the health of the people depends on the quality of water they drink.”

Mr. Larbi further said water and sanitation are among the powerful drivers of human development, as they affect the quality of life at many levels, including improved health and economic status.

The desired impact of improved water infrastructure, in terms of community health benefits, cannot be underestimated, DCE Larbi argued.

For this reason, he considered it a duty to indicate to the general assembly the significant progress made on the borehole projects funded by the Ghana government and International Development Agency in some communities in the district.

He mentioned the communities as Charleskrom, Monkey Yard, Sarkodie Junction, Aframkrom, Avlemegede and Abochia. Others are Akroakrom, Asemkrom, Atobiase, Tawiakrom, Akontombra Nkwanta, and Adiepena.

The rest include Limankrom, JK Krom, Papueso, Sulleykrom, Kordjour, Nyamebekyere Camp 4, Camp 4 Junction, Nanakrom and Nana Dorlikrom. The DCE indicated that the total water and sanitation coverage in the district was about 92%.

This, he believes, was gratifying to note that five communities in the district, including Nkwanta No.1 and 2, have been declared open defecation free, and commended the Environmental Health Unit of the District Assembly for being up to the task.

On the rural electrification project, Mr. Larbi said the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, in collaboration with the District Assembly, had selected 53 communities in the district to hook on to the national grid.

Work towards connecting the 53 communities on to the grid was going on steadily, and pledged that by the end of the year, the project would be fully completed.

On security, the DCE pointed out that development in the district could only go on in an atmosphere where there was absolute peace and security. He, therefore, and boasted that it was an enviable record that the Aowin District was among the relatively peaceful areas in the region.

From Alfred Adams .

It is becoming seemingly clear that the various branches of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) are deviating from their core business in the transport sector.

Though the GPRTU has never been into real estate development, it seems it has now decided to invest in that sector.

This is because most of the lorry stations being managed by the organisation has seen the sudden development of storey buildings, which are being rented out for offices, thereby compounding the already lack of adequate space at the various stations.

In Sekondi-Takoradi the story is no different, as the main GPRTU lorry station has suddenly seen the rise of a three-storey structure which is being rented out for offices.

This structure has, surprisingly, culminated in reducing space at the lorry station, leading to vehicles, which hitherto parked in the station to load and offload passengers, having to do that by the roadsides.

This has led to vehicles now competing with pedestrians for space. At Kwesimintsim, for instance, the Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA) is also battling the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) to secure a permit to also put up a building structure to rent out as offices.

Meanwhile concerns have been raised about how the STMA managed to give a permit to the Takoradi GPRTU to put up the storey building structure.

At a regional workshop held for stakeholders in the land sector, it became clear that the granting of the permit to the GPRTU was illegal, since the union’s core business was not the development of buildings for rental at lorry stations.