By Bernice Bessey

The people Ga-Mashie have set the tone for the celebration of this year’s Homowo festival last Saturday, which would later be followed by other groups like Teshie, Osu, La, and other communities of the Ga State.

The agriculture festival (Homowo), which literally means “hooting at hunger”, was welcomed by thousands of Gas from all walks of life, who joined their families to celebrate the annual festival, with other tribes and nationals.

The festival is uniquely marked with the sprinkling of “Kpo Kpoi” (traditional food prepared with corn dough and palm nut soup) by Nea Wulumo (Highest Priest of the Ga State) at selected family houses and historic sites early in the morning, followed by the Gbese Mantse, Nii Ayi-Bontey II, the Ga Mantse, and the other chiefs.

There was heavy security presence at the durbar grounds to maintain law and order, since there exists a dispute over the Ga Mantse stool.

The Homowo celebration is also colourfully marked with traditional rulers and leaders clad in red cloth, beating of drums, blowing of the atentenben (traditional horns), and firing of musketry.

A month before the celebration a ban is put on noise-making, which is to remind farmers to plow and plant for the rains have set in, and climaxed with a ritual performance for twins on the eve of the Homowo.

The Highest Priest, in a brief interview with The Chronicle, described this year’s festival as the best so far, after decades of chieftaincy issues in the Ga State.

Nuumo Akwaa Mensah III, while seated with his elders receiving greetings and well wishes from all and sundry, recounted the genesis and exodus of the Gas, which goes way back to the fall of Babel, where mankind was divided by language barrier, hence their migration to the present Accra.

He said their arrival at the shores of Accra was met with great famine that many of people died of hunger.

“The priest leading the people by then in the midst of the famine found a cob of corn and planted it, and after three weeks, it was fully grown and harvested. So the High Priest gave it to the people to cook and eat. That is why every year we celebrate Homowo to commemorate our forefathers struggle to overcome severe hunger,” he explained.

He added that “Kpoikpoi” is sprinkled for the gods, forefathers, and animals to partake in the glory of overcoming hunger.

Nae Wulomo prayed for peace, unity, and prosperity for the country, and urged the youth to hard work to attain a high level of life, and accept the Supreme Court verdict on the 2012 election petition.

Nuumo Akwaa Mensah III emphasised that next year’s celebrations would be bigger and better, since it will be a total improvement over this year’s. “We will make sure disputed stools are occupied by the right persons for peace to prevail.”

The Paramount Chief, King Tackie Adama-Latse, also called for unity, peace and love among the country men and women, traditional leaders and politicians to build a prosperous Ghana.

According to him, when there is trouble in Accra, the rest of Ghana would not be in peace, and therefore, pledged to work tirelessly to unite traditional leaders of the Ga state.

As he waits his final crowning as the overlord of the Ga state, Nii Adama Latse would be working from the public view for the Ga Mantse Palace to put things in order to restore the Gas lost glory.

Gbese Mantse II, Nii Ayi Bontey, added his voice to the peace call, by charging all and sundry to respect the final decision of the court.

He also expressed appreciation for the unity among chiefs which has culminated in the establishment of a new Ga Traditional Council, following the granting of paramount status.

By Richard Attenkah

Members of the Tema Methodist Circuit, on Saturday, put together a blood donation programme aimed at generating blood to fill the National Blood Bank at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.

The Tema Methodist Circuit is made up of three societies, which are the St Paul’s Methodist Cathedral at Tema Community One, St. Andrew Methodist Church, Tema Community Two and Calvary Methodist Church, Tema Community Three.

Some members of the church, who had previously donated blood, turned up at the venue for the programme, which was the forecourt of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), to grace the occasion.

Briefing a section of the Tema press, Dr. Kaicoo, a veteran medical doctor who has made a huge name for himself as far as Tema is concerned, said the church had been organising health programmes, but this time, they decided to organise a blood donation exercise.

“We, at the Methodist Church here in Tema, have a programme we do every year on health.

Today, we decided to do blood donation to help fill the National Blood Bank at Korle-Bu,” Dr. Kaicoo revealed.

He disclosed that they were aware that medical institutions like the Tema General Hospital, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital among others were always in need of blood, because of the increasing in the number of patients who needed blood.

“It is against this backdrop that we decided to partner the National Blood Bank to organise this blood donation exercise to help stock the national blood reserve,” he said, adding, “This is the fifth time we are organising such an exercise.”

Dr. Kaicoo  continued that even though they were okay with the turnout for the exercise, they would have been more grateful if more people could have turned up to donate blood for this very important cause, because Ghana needs more blood.

He explained that they were hopeful that by the time they close the programme, they would be able to reach their set target, which is 100 pints of blood.

He called on all Ghanaians, who are 17 years and above, to endeavour to freely donate blood towards helping people who would need it when the need arises.

Dr. Kaicoo said before blood is taken from someone, they would check the pressure, weight and all the necessary areas, after which it will be taken to the laboratory for investigation to see if it is infected with any disease, before continuing with the process.

He said it was very important that we store enough blood, because people get involved in fatal accidents and are rushed to hospitals and other health facilities to be saved, and if there was no blood in stock, then we would lose so many of our kindred.

He stated: “Others have sicklings, anemia and a host of other sicknesses who need blood to stay alive, and if we are unable to get it for them, then most of us will die, hence the need to organise such exercises to cater for such eventualities.”

He called on all Ghanaians to endeavour to know their blood and Hepatitis ‘B’ status.

He advised all and sundry to shake away the fear element that grips them any time they decide to donate blood to save lives, as they would be saving the lives of helpless people.

Mr. John Ahadjei, deputy blood donor organiser, who led the team from the National Blood Bank to the programme, called on the youth of this country to take blood donation as their civic responsibility, and ensure that they do it as often as they can, to help save lives.

By Richard Attenkah

The chiefs and people of Tema and its surrounding villages, last Saturday celebrated this year’s annual Homowo festival with drumming, dancing and the performing of traditional rituals that usually come with the sprinkling of Kpokpoi, incantations and pouring of libation.

Hundreds of natives of the town, especially those domiciled beyond the Greater Accra Region and abroad, joined their relatives and traditional rulers to celebrate the festival in a grand style.

For the first time in many years, the Paramount Chief of the Tema Traditional area, Nii Osongaa Adjei Kraku II, rode in his palanquin through the principal streets of Tema Manhean, receiving cheers and accolades from his subjects.

As part of the rituals, the sub-chiefs under the Tema Traditional Council, fetish priests and priestesses, other high ranking traditional office holders, and subjects of the area joined the Paramount Chief and his elders to perform the rituals.

Nii Adjei Kraku II, together with his entourage, visited all the clan houses throughout the kingdom to perform the sacred rituals, after which they converged at the palace of the Paramount Chief for him to address them.

Addressing the gathering, the overlord of Tema called on his subjects to make the education of their children their topmost priority, because the time had come for the youth in the area to prepare themselves for the economic fortunes ahead of them.

The Paramount Chief of Tema called on his subjects to organise themselves adequately for the challenges in the coming years, by equipping themselves in terms of academic and professional training, as well as technical and artisanal preparations.

He thanked members of the National House of Chiefs, Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, and all those who contributed one way or the other in ensuring that the local traditional areas which were stripped of their paramountcies during the days of Col. Ankrah, former head of state of Ghana, were restored to their former glory.

According to him, the elevation of most of the traditional areas to paramountcies would help to reduce the many conflicts in the region, because then traditional rulers would have the opportunity to seek redress to issues that affect them in their various traditional councils.

Representatives of chiefs from towns and villages under the Tema Traditional Area and the fisher-folks took turns to address the teeming crowd at the palace of Nii Adjei Kraku II.

Nii Ashittey Saasaabi, Chief of Saasaabi, a village in the Tema Traditional area, who spoke on behalf of the chiefs from the towns and villages under Tema, called on natives of Tema to unite their front, now that Tema had been elevated to paramount status.

He said they should all come together as a people to think about how to bring development to their people, not only for themselves, but also for posterity.

Nii Ashittey Saasaabi reiterated the call of the Tema Mantse on the people of Tema to ensure that they invest heavily in the education of their wards, so as to equip the youth, who are the future leaders, to face the challenges of the future.

On his part, the Chief Fisherman in charge of Tema Ashamang, Nii Adjierteh Mattor III, hinted that fishermen in the area were doing their very best to ensure that their people saw some improvement.

Consequently, Nii Adjierteh III explained that they (the fishermen) had contributed about GH¢150,000 towards the construction of a hostel for the only public second cycle institution in the town.

He appealed to the government to endeavour to come to the aid of the town and develop the infrastructural needs of schools in the area, to ensure quality education for their children.

The Volta Region Vector Control team of Zoomlion Ghana Limited has intensified its activities with a massive spraying exercise to disinfest communities of insects, as part of its programme line up for the Control Unit to ensure that all the 25 districts and municipalities in the region are kept clean.

The Vector Control initiative, which was dubbed “Municipal and District Disinfestations”, was to rid the municipalities and districts of insects, particularly reptiles, rodents and mosquitoes, which are responsible for diseases in communities in the region, and called on the public to support Zoomlion.

Addressing the media after one of such exercises at Dzodze in the Ketu-North District, the Head of Environmental Sanitation of Zoomlion in the region, Mr. Richard Attipoe, explained that the exercise was being taken more seriously by his outfit, because it was geared towards improving the health of citizens in the region, stressing that the waste management expert wished to ensure a hundred percent success, since spraying teams had been positioned in all the districts and municipalities.

Mr. Attipoe said it was important for the people to adhere to healthy environmental practices that would help ensure that their surroundings were kept neat at all times, by weeding and emptying containers filled with water, in order to destroy the breeding grounds of insects, including mosquitoes.

The Ketu-North District Environmental Health Officer, Mr. Agortse, said the Assembly was collaborating effectively with Zoomlion to ensure the success of the disinfection exercise. He further noted that the exercise had helped in promoting good health among the people in the area, and that his outfit had also intensified public education on the need for the people to adhere to sound environmental practices.

 From Samuel Agbewode

The chiefs and people of the Asogli State in the Ho Municipality launched the tenth anniversary celebration of the enthronement of the Agbogbomefia, Togbe Afede XIV, and their 2013 Annual Yam Festival at the Accra International Conference Centre.

The event, which attracted high government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, the business community, as well as friends and business partners of Togbe Afede, was under the theme “Traditional Leadership and Development Redefined.”

Addressing the gathering, Togbe Afede noted that traditional leadership must be taken to a new level through commitment to the development aspirations of the people, as well as constant dialogue and collaboration with other stakeholders in the development process.

He said in order to lay the foundation and effectively mobilise and inform the people and investment partners, the Asogli State had developed a web-site and put together two publications, namely, “Ho Tourists and Business Guide 2009” and “The Volta Region: A Guide to Tourists and Investors.”

Major development projects initiated by Togbe Afede during his ten-year rule include the Sunon Asogli Power Plant, which currently supplies 14% of electricity distributed by the Electricity Company of Ghana, and Africa World Airlines, an intervention to make Accra the hub of aviation activity in West Africa.

He announced the commitment of Shenzhen Energy Group to add 360 MW to the Sunon Asogli Power Plant before the end of the year, while pursuing plans for a 600-700 MW coal-fired power plant, a total investment of more than US$1billion.

The Chief of Staff, Prosper Bani, who was the Guest of Honour, highly commended Togbe Afede XIV and the chiefs and people of the Asogli State for their modern approach to the chieftaincy institution, and contribution to national development.

The function was chaired by the Agonahene, Nana Frempng Anokye Ababio.

Stories From Samuel Agbewode

The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) has received major support from the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) with the provision of relevant modern structures at the permanent site at Sokode in the Ho Municipality.

The Management of GRIDCo, as part of its contribution to ensure smooth and uninterrupted activities of a Chinese construction company working at the permanent site, has provided two  transformers with capacities of 33/0.433kV to ensure effective supply of electricity to the site to power the heavy duty equipment of the contractors.

The intervention of the management of GRIDCo became necessary after electricity was connected to the site, but could not power the heavy equipment of the contractors.

Now that two transformers have been provided to facilitate work, it is believed that the contractors could complete the building of major structures at the site on time.

Presenting the transformers to the Vice Chancellor of the UHAS, the Director of Engineering at GRIDCo, Rev. Samuel Kwofie, said the donation of the two distribution transformers would enable the institution to take its rightful place among the growing universities in the country.

Rev. Kwofie explained that the donation formed part of the social responsibility policy of the company, and that it had coincided with the 5^th Anniversary celebration of the operations of the company as a transmission utility.

He disclosed that the total cost of the two transformers was GH¢80,000, which was freely donated was as a result of the hand of God on the company, as well as the support of the general public in the successes chalked in the five years of operations, in spite of the numerous challenges that had confronted the management of GRIDCo over the years.

The Vice Chancellor of UHAS, Prof. Fred Binkar, who received the transformers on behalf of the university, thanked the management of GRIDCo for the support, which he said, would go a long way to facility the quick execution of projects at the permanent site.

Prof. Binkar noted that the transformers would not only help in powering the heavy equipment of the contractor, but also help in the distribution of power to the main campus of the university, residents of university staff, as well as student hostels when work on the project was completed.

Stories by Sebastian R. Freiku

The World Vision International (WVI) Ghana and Sekyere East ADP have made a joint presentation of a quantity of assorted items estimated to cost GH¢57,889 to three organisations at the premises of the WVI Ghana at Effiduase.

The three beneficiary organisations are the District Directorates of the Ghana Education Service, Ghana Health Service and Ghana National Fire Service.

The Ghana Education Service received 480 textbooks made up of Mathematics, English, Asante Twi, Integrated Science and Citizenship Education books.

Others were nine sets of 4 pieces of play equipment, which also included merry-go-round, swing, see-saw and slide. The rest were 29 different titles of 50 pieces each of reading books, and 25 pieces of hand washing facilities for the schools.

The items received by Ghana Health Service were 54 boxes of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), 108 boxes of Zinc, four pieces each of ward screens and trolleys, five sets of Veronica buckets and one television set, while 150 pieces of wellington boots and 150 cutlasses were items presented to the Ghana National Fire Service to be given to trained fire volunteers.

Mr. John Kwaw Yankson, the Atebubu Operations Based Team Leader of WVI Ghana, who made the presentation, noted that it had always been the desire of WV Ghana to promote education and quality health delivery in its areas of operations.

The Sekyere East ADP Manager of WV Ghana, Mrs. Ernestina Armah, said, “WV Ghana aspires to see a Ghana in which children; especially the most vulnerable enjoy true wellbeing.”

Mrs. Armah mentioned some of these intervention areas as education, health, nutrition and livelihood, water and sanitation, emergency relief response and HIV/AIDS education.

She also expressed the hope that the items being presented to the organisations would be used in a manner that would bring improvement into the lives of the beneficiaries.

The District Chief Executive, Solomon Adjei Mensah, on behalf of the assembly and the beneficiary organisations, expressed appreciation to WV Ghana for the support.

He said ever since WV Ghana started operations in the district, it had contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of the area.

Present at the ceremony were the District Health Director, Mrs. Josephine Ahorsu, and Madam Dora Fosu, who represented the District Director of Education.

Stories by Sebastian R. Freiku

A one-day orientation course has been organised for 30 students under the Ghana Students Industrial Attachment Programme (GSIAP) at Effiduase in the Sekyere East District.

Mr. Oppong, District Environmental Health Officer, said it was a nationwide exercise taking place in all the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

He said the selection was based on evidence of studentship (admission letters and identity cards).

Mr. Oppong, who was also the course facilitator, stated that after the training, the students would be grouped before they go into the communities to provide health education services.

Among topics discussed included community entry, how to prepare an action plan, how to organise communal labour and channels of communication.

Mr. Oppong, however, told the students that the sustenance of the programme (GSIAP) would depend on the success of the programme, being the first of its kind to be run, and entreated the beneficiaries to show much commitment and dedication towards the programme.

The GSIAP is a career module designed to help tertiary students on vacation to find and develop their potentials, through industrial attachment opportunities in leading organisations in Ghana.

The objectives of GSIAP are to reduce communicable diseases, control infection of communicable diseases, prevent communicable disease, expose students to the world of work, opportunity to acquire relevant work experience and to foster synergies or bridge academia and industry.

Among the strategic partners of the GSIAP are the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, Zoomlion Ghana and Jepson Group of Computers.

Stories by Sebastian R. Freiku

A former assembly member of the Effiduase Zongo Electoral Area, Alhaji Ibrahim Omar, has constructed a bridge over drain in the vicinity, at a total cost of GH¢2,500.

Before the construction of the bridge, the over 200 metres road, which links the main road leading to Kumawu and the Dagomba Area, was virtually impassable by both pedestrians and vehicles.

Omar was inspired by the fact that residents of the Dagomba area were cut off from the rest of the Zongo community, as a result of which he requested for the assembly’s grader, and fuelled it from his own resources to resurface the road, which was in a terrible state.

The ex-assembly member (2001-2009) said his next programme was to liaise with the elders of Effiduse Zongo, and lobby for the establishment of a vocation school.

This, he hoped, would enable the youth in the community get employable skills.

From Ernest Best Anane

Junior Chambers International, Ghana, a non-governmental organization (NGO), has donated items worth GH¢1,000 and undisclosed amount of money to the Ashan Children’s Home at Denase in the Afigya Kwabre District.

The items included toys, teaching and learning equipments, Kalyppo, second hand clothes, a carton of Voltic mineral water, carton of mixed fruit juice drinks, two bags of rice and slippers.

Mrs. Juana Erica Arthur, at the presentation, explained that the gesture was part of the corporate social responsibility of the organisation, aimed at helping the needy and less privileged in society.

According to her, the organisation was a federation of young people worldwide, with a membership of over 2,000.

She urged every young person within the age group of 18 to 40 years, who has the will to help the needy and less privileged in society, to also join the organisation.

Mrs. Jim Konadu, Deputy Director of Ashan Children’s Home, commended the President and management of the organisation for the kind gesture, and appealed to them not to end it there, but continue with the good work.

She appealed to other corporate bodies and individual philanthropists to also emulate JCI Ghana.

Story from Samuel Agbewode, Ho

The chiefs and people of the Agortime traditional area in the Volta Region have launched the celebration of the 2013 “Agbamevorza” (Kente festival) in grand style.

It is under the theme: “conserving Our Cultural Heritage”, which aims at using the festival to deepen the culture values of the people.

The significance of the Agbamevorza celebration, over the years, is the protection of the traditional values of the kente fabric, which forms an integral part of the culture practices of the people for the benefit of the present and future generations.

The launching ceremony, which took place at Kpetoe, was deliberately organized to ensure that the indigenes would fully participate to enable them have a feel of it instead of launching it in Accra.

Addressing a mini-durbar of chiefs and people of Agortime to launch the Agbamevorza, the Konor of the Agortime traditional Area, Nene Neur Keteku III expressed satisfaction about the festival, which has been celebrated over the past 13 years to help mobilize human and material resources in the traditional area for development.

The Agortime Paramount Chief pointed out that the importance of the kente cloth, locally called by the people of Agortime as ‘Agbamevor’, was gradually losing its traditional value which the annual festival was steadily restoring.

Nene Neur Keteku noted that the festival has over the years helped in re-defining the cultural practices and values of the people, particularly in the traditional way of dressing, which was discouraging the youth from adopting foreign culture.

He was, however, not happy with the development where people dressed in traditional attire are referred to as fetish in some parts of the country.

According to him, the Agbamevorza was fast uniting citizens of Ghana and those in the Republic of Togo, since the Agortime traditional area extends to Togo.

Nene Neur Keteku disclosed that the people of Agortime, particularly majority of the youth, do not rely on white colour jobs as the main means of getting employment because the traditional occupation of the area, which is weaving of the ancient fabric of Agbamevor, still remains the first class economic activity for the people.

The Planning Committee Chairman of the 2013 Agbamevorza, Mr. Prosper Ledi, said the chiefs and people of Agortime had gone far in protecting the cultural practices and values in the traditional area over the years, which had led to the peace being enjoyed in the area.

Mr. Ledi, therefore, appealed to Ghanaians to uphold the rich cultural practices and values in their respective areas to ensure the accelerated growth of the nation, adding that no nation could develop without upholding its culture values.

He pointed out that this year’s festival would showcase the ‘afutu’, a traditional dressing by the females, to promote the  traditional way of dressing that had been preserved over the years, noting that young women would be dressed in variety of kente cloth during the festival, and some of these cloths age between 90 to 186 years.

The District Chief Executive of Agortime-Ziope, Mr. Michael Adzaho commended the chiefs and people of Agortime for instituting a festival aimed at preserving and protecting the kente cloth, as well as deepening the existing peace among the two traditional areas of Agortime and Ziope.

Mr. Adzaho stressed that the Assembly would continue to support the festival which had shown greater prospects of advancing the socio-economic activities in the area assuring the chiefs and people that the Assembly would play its role in making the festival one of the best in the region and the country in general.

Available statistics show that the kente industry alone has provided jobs for 3,200 youths in the traditional area and 4,600 individuals patronize the kente product both within and outside the nation since the festival was instituted.

The launching of the 2013 Agbamevorza was also used to award the winner and the first and second runners of the 2012 ‘Agbamevorza beauty pageant, which is organized annually at Kpetoe to educate young ladies about the decent traditional ways of dressing.

The winner of the 2012 Agbamevorza beauty pageant was Ms. Tracy Afari and she received a 21 inch flat screen television set, the first runner up,  Ms. Precious Tenge and the second runner- up, Ms. Rosemond Sename all took home 21 and 14 inch television sets.

The winner of the 2012 ‘Agbamevorza beauty pageant’, Ms. Tracy Afari commended the chiefs and elders of the traditional area for the establishment of the annual festival.

The Paramount Chief of Agortime Traditional Area, Nene Neur Keteku III at the Launching ceremony at Kpetoe

District Chief Executive  for Agortime- Ziope, Mr. Michael Adzaho 

 Some chiefs and people of Agortime traditional area at the 2013 launch of Agbamevorza

From (Left) the 1^st and 2^nd runner-up of the 2012 beauty pageant and (right) is the winner of the competition, MS. Tracy Afari

Nii Tetteh Otu II, paramount chief of the Kpone Traditional Council (KTC), has called on supporters of both the petitioners and respondents in the ongoing election petition, currently before the Supreme Court (SC), not to provoke one another after the court has given its final verdict either on August 29 or Sept. 4, 2013.

He explained; “By all means, there will be a loser and a winner. How does the loser or winner react? This is our worry. We worry because there are small groups within either the winners or losers who are bent on causing trouble.

“They do not like peace; they enjoy an environment of strife because that is what gives them a feeling of importance. It is this type of recalcitrance we want to admonish”.

Nii Tetteh Otu II made the call in a statement read on his behalf by Mr. Harry Anthony Attipoe, registrar of the Kpone Traditional Council (KTC) at a programme organized by the Council in collaboration with the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE).

The programme was to give the two bodies the opportunity to add their voices to the call for peace by the Peace Council to all Ghanaians to allow peace to prevail in the country after the SC delivers its final judgment.

Representatives from all the 10 clan houses within the Kpone Traditional area, political party representatives, youth groups in the area and a host of other interest groups were present to grace the occasion.

The programme, dubbed ‘Kpone Annual Homowo Lecture’ also forms part of this year’s annual Homowo festival which is being celebrated by the people of Kpone.

He said violence can negatively affect a lot of things and could as well bring hardship to people, adding “We can become refugees in other peoples’ country. Education, health, productivity and many other things can suffer”.

The Kpone paramount chief therefore appealed to Ghanaians to have confidence in the Supreme Court to deliver a fair and just judgment.

He called on Ghanaians not to panic because the Supreme Court as empanelled presently is made up of very experienced judges who would deliver a verdict that would satisfy both petitioners and respondents.

“Ghana is the only country we have and we should make sure that we do not become refugees after so many years of independence. We all have a stake in the welfare of Ghana and we should, therefore, not allow a few to disturb the peace we are enjoying now”, Nii Tetteh Otu II noted.

Mariejose Educational Complex, a private school at Zenu in the Kpone-Katamanso District (KKD), has celebrated its fifth anniversary and pre-school graduation, under the theme: ‘Education, the Greatest Legacy’.

The ground for the colourful anniversary, which saw 63 pre-school pupils presented with certificates and promoted to Basic One, was charged with interesting drama performance under the theme for the celebration, and there were other interesting performances, including cadet display.

In an address read on behalf of the guest speaker, Mrs. Patty Assan, Education Directorate of KKD, Mr. Samuel Adu Gyamfi said education is an insurance premium any parent must endeavour to give to their children for a better future.

A well-educated person, he explained, is able to manage tension in society and furthermore, inculcates honesty and spirit of commitment in the dispatch of their duties.

Though informal education could be good, formal education, Mr. Adu Gyamfi elaborated, is more important and a must have to promote national development and international trade.

Consequently, he charged parents to spend more of their incomes in providing good and quality education for their wards.

The proprietor of the school, Nene Kabu Aberbleh II, on his part, was of the view that parents who were unable to spend on their children’s education were being insensitive and inconsiderate to their children’s future development.

Mentioning education as the best legacy for the child and nation, Nene Aberbleh II entreated parents to invest the chunk of their income in providing their children quality education which is expensive, though.

The proprietor entreated parents to, therefore, be prompt in the payment of their wards’ school fees which could be used in the timely payment of the hardworking teaching and non-teaching staffs, the provision of learning materials and other bills.

The Assemblyman for the Sraha Electoral Area, Nii Laryea Kweistu, who was there to grace the occasion, used the opportunity to educate all present on the need to avoid utterances and deeds that could tear Ghana into pieces as the country awaits the Supreme Court’s final judgment on the election petition.

He said, “Our children need a peaceful Ghana to enjoy their education just as we also need that peace to enable us go on with our daily work. Let us all be ready to welcome the verdict of the court and with a unity of purpose, let us support whoever will be pronounced the victor to work hard to change the lot of everybody.”

Mariejose Educational Complex, which started with 50 kids in 2008, now has about 600 pupils in a beautiful learning environment and a well-equipped Information and Communication Technology (ICT) laboratory.

Stories by Sebastian R. Freiku

The popular Paul Sagoe Lane in Kumasi in honour of the Kumasi-based businessman, Nana Paul Sagoe alias Nana Kofi Enu V, Tufuhen of the Ekumfi State in the Central Region and Member of the Nkosuo Division of the Kumasi Traditional Council, has been renamed under the street naming project being undertaken by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA).

Paul Sagoe Lane now has two names. A part of the Lane is now Aburatiaso Walk, and the other Akyawkromhene Walk.

The late Asantehene Otumfuo Opoku Ware II and the Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem, had bestowed that honour on the Fante indigene for being able to singlehandedly transform the once stinking area in the Central Business District of Kumasi to a desirable place, by financing the construction of the first Kumasi Improved Ventilation Pit (KVIP) in the whole of Kumasi, to improve the sanitation in the area at the time he established Sanbra Hotel there.

In January 2002, the KMA contracted ASI Zipcode Systems Limited to embark on a street  naming and house numbering project with a contract sum of GH¢1,200,000 to establish the orientation system of the City of Kumasi .

The project is using demarcations of the Land Valuation Board as a guide to identify areas in the Kumasi Metropolis, and to produce and install 100,000 house numbers and number all vacant plots for easy identification of areas, places, businesses and homes.

It would also produce and install 6,000 street name signage poles with two street names for easy direction, faster delivery of letters/mail, and quick response to emergencies by the Fire Service, police and ambulance service.

Mr. Owusu Bempah, Managing Director of ASI Zipcode Systems Limited, the project contractors, told Ashanti File that the decision to rename the Paul Sagoe Lane emanated from deliberations of a committee by KMA, upon recommendation of Manhyia to name  all streets, avenues and walks in the Central Business District of Adum to the original 77 townships that constitute Kumasi, and that save those named after Colonial masters like Guggisburg Road, streets bearing the names of indigenes should be changed.

A proposed Paul Sagoe Street at Adum, for which Nana Sagoe contributed GH¢1,500.00, cannot materialise because of the decision, according to Mr. Owusu Bempah. He said however, that a Street at Patasi where Nana Sagoe resides has been named Paul Sagoe Avenue in recognition of his contribution.

Nana Boakye Ansah Debrah, Asokore Mamponghene, who heads the Manhyia Committee for Street Naming, corroborated Mr. Owusu-Bempah’s explanation, adding that Nana Paul Sagoe had done a lot for Kumasi.

Traders at the Paul Sagoe Lane were not happy because the change would affect business addresses and directions.

Some of them are angered that a decision by the late Oumfuo Opoku Ware and the Asantehemaa, in honour of an illustrious resident, had been reversed in like manner as Dr. Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, the Accra Mayor, unilaterally re-named the Theodosia Okoh Hockey Stadium after the late John Evan Atta Mills recently.

Oko Vanderpuije’s decision has since been reversed by His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama on seeing the impropriety of the decision.

Nana Paul Sagoe could not be reached for his reaction. “Sorry, Nana is out of town” came an answer from the other end, when the paper called his landline of his Patasi residence.

By Sebastian R. Freiku

The Prempeh Assembly (Town Hall) in Kumasi, built in 1938 for social events and the theatres, is deteriorating. The building, which accommodates the office of the Presiding Member of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), is seriously leaking, as a result of which the woolen carpets at the high table are soaked whenever it rains.

The hall and the office of the Presiding Member and the restrooms are filled with stagnant water after the rain.

The facility, named after an Ashanti King, first saw a major renovation in 1998, when the then Mayor, Nana Akwasi Agyeman, sunk ¢1.28 billion (GH¢128,000) of KMA funds into it, amid much criticism.

The rehabilitation works involved changing the roof, fixing new ceilings, new electrical systems and rehabilitation of the offices and fence wall, among other things.

But the maintenance of the facility has been relaxed since, leading to the steady deterioration of the place.

When contacted about the situation, Mr. Godwin Okumah Nyame, Public Relations Officer of the KMA, told the paper that the attention of the Maintenance Unit of the Assembly would be drawn to the situation, for the preparation of a budgetary estimate for approval by the General Assembly to rectify the situation

By Bernice Bessey

The Chairman the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Dr. Opoku Onyinah, has called on Ghanaians to respect the rule of law, and accept whatever verdict that would be passed on the 2012 election petition by the Supreme Court panel of judges.

The verdict, which is just two days away, according to the Apostle, is an opportunity for Ghana to prove to the rest of world that its citizens understand democracy.

“Ghanaians will do it again by lifting high the flag of Ghana on August 29, and show the rest of the world that we are indeed, God-fearing people, and also understand democracy,” he predicted.

Apostle Dr. Opoku Onyinah was speaking at the church’s farewell and induction service in honour of outgoing and incoming Executive Council Members over the weekend.

He also emphasised that peace was not far away, and that peace was within a person, adding, “If you decide to respect yourself and your neighbour, be tolerant and kind to your neighbour, respect the rule of law, not [being] selfish, and celebrate your victory graciously by taking into consideration who might not have been victorious as you, you have found peace.”

Apostle Dr. Opoku Onyinah, who had been re-elected as the chairman to serve another five years, pledged to work tirelessly with the other members of the council to push the church to greater heights, while strengthening the Christian fraternity with other churches.

The Guest Speaker for the ceremony, Rev. Paul Yaw Frimpong Manso, Chairman of the Apostolic Church, touched on the subject “Humility, the Key to Spiritual Leadership.”

According to the Chairman of the Apostolic Church, leadership is demonstrated not lectured, thus leaders should not lord over the people who have entrusted power into their hands, saying, “humility should be a leader’s attitude, because humility comes before honour.”

He advised the church to be united to draw more people to receive the salvation of God.

The new executive council members are Apostle Dr. Opoku Onyinah, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, Apostle Dr. Alfred Koduah, Apostle Ekow Badu Wood, Apostle Zabre Ousmane and Apostle Emmanuel Owusu Bediako.

( From Right) Apostle Kwabena Nyamekye , Apostle Zabre Patinde Ousmane , Apostle Dr. Alfred Koduah And Apostle Ekow Badu Wood

The Congregation Sitting Glued To Their Seats Witnessing The Ceremony

Some Past Executives Receiving Certificates Of Honour From The Church

The Chairman – Elect , Apostle Dr. Opoku Onyinah, Addressing The Congregation

The Elected Executive Being Prayed For

From Issah Alhassan

Mr. Kwaku Appiah, 50-year old industrialist, was last week Monday enstooled the new chief of Essienimpong in the Ejisu Juaben Municipality at a grand ceremony at the Manhyia Palace.

He now answers to the stool name Nana Kwaku Appiah Owawani to succeed Nana Kwaku Bio I who was destooled by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, in June this year.

The action followed the unanimous decision by members of the Asanteman Council to show the embattled chief the exit for disregarding Otumfuo’s Great Oath, and trampling upon customary practices, including pouring of libation in the stool room.

Otumfuo also heard how Nana Bio had taken a firm position not to pour libation and other rites in the stool room, claiming he was a Christian, and that indulging in such customary practices contradicted his beliefs and violated his Christian doctrine.

Tradition was at its best, as the new chief, adorned in a black cloth, was carried high in a palanquin amidst the playing of Fontonfrom and other traditional drums, soon after swearing the oath of allegiance to the Asantehene at the Palace.

The Asantehene charged the new Essieninponghene to hold in high esteem the traditions and customs of the people, and also listen to the advice of his elders at all times.

In addition, it was expected of him to be humble, respectful, truthful and honest in the discharge of his duties.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu reminded Nana Kwaku Appiah Owawani how his predecessor disregarded custom, and hence, created problems for himself, resulting in his destoolment, and charged him to use his new office to unite all his subjects and develop Essieninpong.

He stressed the need for him to be a unifier and development-oriented to bolster sustainable socio-economic growth for his people.

Nana Kwaku Appiah Owawani, who is the CEO of Agya Appiah Bitters and also president of Ghana Federation of Medicine Association, GHAFTRAM, thanked the Asantehene for the honour done him, and assured him that he would be committed to the cause and welfare of his people, and also abide by the oath he had sworn.

From Isaac Akwetey-Okunor

The District Chief Executive (DCE) of the Fanteakwa Assembly, Abass Fusieni Sbaabe, has assured residents of Ahomahomaso of the commitment of his office to bring development to their doorsteps, in order to improve on their living conditions.

The assurance of the DCE was in a response to an appeal made by the Assembly Member of the area, Theophilus Fiagbor Kwame, following the bad state of the only toilet facility that serves the people, as well as their market which arguably, is the second largest in the district.

Speaking to the Eastern File over the weekend at Ahomahomaso, Theophilus Fiagbor Kwame lamented over the total neglect of the area by the Assembly for many years, despite its economic contributions.

According to the Ahomahomaso Electoral Area Assembly Member, the only Kumasi Ventilated Improved Pit (KVIP) toilet, which was constructed in 1995, was full to the brim, and all requests to the Assembly to have it emptied had fallen on deaf ears.

The situation, according to the Assembly Member, had compelled the residents to turn any available open space to a place of convenience, with black polythene bags popularly known as take away littering the whole area.

Mr. Kwame disclosed that he would not be surprised if the area was declared a cholera zone, because of the pace and irresponsible way foreign materials are discharged into gutters and rivers because of the absence of a proper toilet facility.

He further expressed worry over the fact that the Ahomahomaso market was the second largest income generator of the Assembly, yet little or no attention had been directed to its development.

But, the DCE denied that the management of the Assembly had shown none or little attention to the development of the area, particularly with the issues raised by the Assembly Member.

According to him, the Assembly acknowledged the immense contributions of the area towards the socio-economic development of the district, and has, therefore, allocated funds for the construction of modern toilets and markets among others soon.

He, therefore, asked residents of the area, particularly the Assembly Member, to support the Assembly and the government in their bid to improve on the living conditions of the people.

Stories from Isaac Akwetey-Okunor

The Odikro of Pimpimso, a farming community in Begoro, capital of the Fanteakwa District, Nene Baffour Teye Pinoko I, has charged the various sub-chiefs and residents in Begoro to make the education of their children a priority.

According to the Odikro, also a strong traditionalist, the issue of education has become a nightmare for the Krobos, because many of them did not understand the need for sending their wards to school.

The Odikro, who is also the chairman of all sub-chiefs in Begoro, intimated that the advantages derived from education were immeasurable, and, therefore, charged all the sub-chiefs and residents of the respective communities to make it a duty to send every child of school-going age to school.

Nene Baffour Pinoko I contended that this advice, if adhered to, would help reduce the huge numbers of Krobos who have not gone to school in the near future, leading to accelerated socio-economic development.

He made the call during an out-dooring and presentation of certificates and identification cards to 30 recognised sub-chiefs within and around Ahomahomaso, a farming community in the district, as well as usher them (sub-chiefs) into the Begoro Sub-Chiefs Association.

The programme was heavily attended by residents and natives of the various communities to support their sub-chiefs.

The concept was conceived following the hue and cry that had characterised the various communities over who becomes a Dadedmantse and Dademanye in recent times, hence the Association was to bring that situation to an end.

Chief among the objectives of the programme was for easy identification of sub-chiefs, which would bring sanity into the chieftaincy institution, a situation, he claimed, would help to weed out self-styled chiefs.

Nene Baffour Pinoko I said this would also help to sanitise the traditional systems of the various communities, leading to unity and peace, with its corresponding organising of community labour towards development.

The 30 sub-chiefs make up the Ahomahomaso zone with the Dademantse of Ahomahomaso.

Certificates and Identification cards were given to the recognised Dademantse within their areas of operation, as this would help to prevent the temptation of people challenging the legitimacy of their leadership.

The Presiding Member (PM) of the Fanteakwa District Assembly, who is also a Krobo, David Odjidja, lauded the effort of Nene Baffour Pinoko I because of the enormous positive contributions it would bring to the development of the various communities.

Briefing the media on the concept, the PM said in Kroboland there were people called Dademantsemei (sub-chiefs) and Dademanyemei (queenmothers), and upon his (Pinoko’s) installation as the Odikro of Begoro was charged to bring all the Dademantsemei and Dademanyemei under a single umbrella.

The concept, he averred, would go a long way to mange and sanitise the traditional system within the various communities of Begoro, and overcoming the “enemy” of chieftaincy disputes that has greeted many communities.

The PM further advised the chiefs to be mindful about the people around them, because the very people who would hail you, would be the same to nail you when things are not going well with them.

Djidja also charged the chiefs to discharge their duties with honesty and a sense of humility, because they were enstooled to serve the people and not to lord over them, and also called on the subordinates to give the chiefs the needed support for development.

Stories by Bernice Bessey & Pixs by Eric Owiredu

The Methodist Church Ghana, Kwashieman Circuit, St. Mark Society, celebrated its golden jubilee over the weekend.

Over 500 members of the church, dressed in their anniversary cloth, came together to honour, praise and worship the Almighty God for how far He had brought them.

The church has chalked successes such as building schools, a bookshop, and assisting the aged and adolescent mothers like “kayayoo” (head porter).

The Minister in-charge, Rev. Mrs. Doris Saah said the church, after 50 years, was looking forward to strengthening social intervention programmes to help the poor and vulnerable in society.