Stories by Bernice Bessey & Pics by Eric Owiredu

Countries like Ghana have placed much emphasis on youth capacity building, since the adolescence are considered the future of every nation, and are to be protected by the adult generation, so that foundations that have been laid can be built upon.

This statement, indeed, has gone down really well with people, to the extent that parents especially, do all possible to hand the baton of life to their children through education and other life privileges to make them successful for the tradition to continue.

Although, the adult generation is playing its role to guide and protect the younger, they (aged) on the other hand, are being rejected and disregarded.

Some of those rejected, especially women, have accused of witchcraft, and to escape beatings, torture, and being lynched by their family members, they opt to seek refuge at witches’ camps.

Since they are denied the opportunity to defend themselves, their fates are left in the hands of poverty, drought, illness and death.

The Maranatha Church, as part of its outreach programme, organised a feast and medical screening for the aged and persons with disability in Nungua and its environs over the weekend.

The initiative, which cost thousands of Ghana cedis, according to the Head Pastor, Bishop Afotey Odoi was about sharing what one has.

“As a church, the only way we can show love, just like Jesus Christ did through compassion, is to invite and feed and treat those who have been rejected by society,” he said.

He urged the youth to treat the aged with love, care and respect, as one day, they will also grow old.

The Chairman of Accra Great Olympics Football Club, Eric Afotey Agbo, also donated an amount of GH¢6,000.00 and bags of rice to the aged.

He said the programme is run twice every year by the church to give hope to the aged that Jesus Christ loves and care for their welfare, and even after death, there is hope of life with the Creator, God.

Stories from Alfred Adams

The management of Goldfields Ghana Limited (GGL), a mining firm operating in Tarkwa, on Monday paid a courtesy call on the custodian of Wassa Fiase lands, Osagyefo Dr. Kwamina Enimil VI, to introduce the recently appointed Senior Vice President of GGL for the West Africa Region, Mr. Alfred Baku.

The courtesy call afforded the management of GGL to seek the blessings of Osagyefo Dr. Kwamina Enimil VI, and inform him of the appointment of Mr. Alfred Baku as the first Ghanaian to be promoted into such a high office. Per the appointment, Mr. Baku would be serving on the GGL Executive Committee.

Speaking at the function, Mr. Baku expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the Omanhene for the various support and advice the latter had been offering him. He added that his appointment and promotion was a victory for Ghana as a whole, and a vindication of his meritorious service.

Mr. Baku, however, admitted that his appointment had come at a time there was crisis in the gold industry, which had seen the gold price fall below expectation. “I have accepted the position at a time there is crisis in gold production and sale.”

But, this, he said, would not detract him, since he believed it was only a leader who worked to turn things around.

He added that GGL used to produce a total of 730,000 ounces of gold, but this had drastically reduced to 630,000 ounces. This sad development, according to him, called for restructuring.

Responding, the Omanhene of Wassa Fiase, Osagyefo Kwamina Enimil VI, put it bluntly that the promotion of Mr. Baku was a vindication of meritorious service offered GGL.

Osagyefo Dr. Kwamina Enimil VI, who is also the President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs and a member of the National House of Chiefs, however, advised the GGL to tread cautiously in undertaking its restructuring exercise. This was because the exercise was not only going to affect employees of GGL, but their dependants as well.

Mr. Alfred Baku, until his appointment as Senior Vice President for the West Africa Region, was the Vice President, Operations, with both the Tarkwa and Damang mines reporting to him. He was born, grew up in Kumasi, and attended the TI Ahmadiya Senior High School.

He holds an MSC degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Mines and Technology. He also holds s statutory Mine Managers Certificate, and is a member of the Australian Institute of Mining Metallurgy.

Mr. Alfred Baku’s role as head of the West Africa Region of GGL will be to improve the GGL’s relationship with key stakeholders in Ghana, and as well, take responsibility together with the GIP team for the next development phase of the Yanfolila project in Mali, as well as other potential opportunities in the region.

Stories from Alfred Adams

A total of hundred students selected from the catchment area of Goldfields Ghana Limited have undergone a three week mathematics work camp in Accra.

The students, including teachers selected from schools in Tarkwa, took part in the programme at the Meagassa Mathematics Academy in Accra. Due to the high cost of transporting and accommodating the students, only 100 could be sponsored for the programme.

The essence of the programme is to demystify the teaching and learning of mathematics at the basic and senior high school levels.

This will help the beneficiary students to then pursue mining and engineering programmes at the tertiary level of education.

The programme, which is sponsored by Goldfields, was organised in collaboration with the Ghana Mathematics Society. The Goldfield Foundation has spent a total of GH¢42,375 on this year’s programme. This year, a decision has been taken to bring the programme to Tarkwa, so that a lot of students could benefit from it.

The Head of Community and Public Relations of the company, Lawyer Tahiru Dari, who gave the welcome address, expressed the hope that the programme would go a long way to demystify the teaching and learning of mathematics in the company’s stakeholder communities.

He said it was the hope of the company to encourage the students to pursue mathematics and science related courses in order to secure employment in the company.

He added that his company would go all out to equip the students to become better mathematics and science related students at both the secondary and tertiary levels.

The Course Prefect of the students at the Meagassa Mathematics Workshop, Leticia Tandoh, told the gathering of her colleague students that the workshop had not only helped improve their study of mathematics, but also to socialise with other students who were also at the workshop.

She expressed the hope that the workshop had improved their knowledge of mathematics.

As part of efforts at meeting the Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDG-4) of minimising child mortality by 2015, the Ghana Health Service will, from next week, embark on a mass vaccination of children between the ages nine months and fourteen years against measles and rubella.

The safe and effective measles and rubella vaccinations will take place in all communities, schools, market places, health centers and hospitals in the region, from the 11 to 20 of September.

At a press briefing in Bolgatanga on Wednesday, the Deputy Director of Public Health, Upper East Region, Dr. James Akpablie, said the viruses that caused measles and rubella, which are highly contagious, spread through respiration from an infected person to the other.

Dr. Kpablie said the virus that causes measles has a long incubation period of ten to twelve days, making it difficult for one to know if he or she is infected with the virus.

He disclosed that seven to eight million measles deaths occur each year worldwide, but due to vaccination against its virus, child mortality, due to measles, has reduced drastically.

Dr. Akpablie emphasised the need for individuals to embrace the incoming vaccinations, because the region was one that has periodic outbreaks of measles.

Pregnant women, diabetic patients and HIV/AIDS patients are ineligible in this mass vaccination exercise. Individuals are also advised to report to the nearest health center, in case of any adverse reaction due to the vaccination.

As part of gestures earmarked for its 20^th Anniversary celebrations, Gold Coast Securities Limited (GCSL) has presented a branded barrier to the Ghana Police Service in the Upper East Region. The barrier has since been placed at the Pwalugu barrier post, on the Bolgatanga-Tamale Highway.

Fitted with reflectors, it was expected to enhance easy sighting of the barrier, so as to avoid any possible road accidents, since the reflectors on the old barrier have faded.

The Upper East Regional Manager of the GCSL, Mr. Emmanuel Appau, who made the presentation with the assistance of the Head of Research at GCSL, Mr. Samuel Ampah, said the donation was part of several gestures budgeted for by the company commemorate the 20^th Anniversary of their institution.

According to Mr.Ampah, the GCSL had outlined a number of similar gestures as part of its corporate social responsibility to give back to society for accepting and patronising its services for the past 20 years.

He said the company prides itself as the only investment bank with representation in all the 10 regions of Ghana, with the aim of bringing investment opportunities closer to the people.

The GCSL won several awards, including the best investment advisor for 2012 and the best financial institution in the Ashanti Region, which achievements Mr. Aampah said they could not celebrate alone, but to share with the general public which had made the company what it is today.

Receiving the gesture on behalf of his Regional Commander, DCOP Alex Isaac Quainoo, the Officer Commanding the Regional Police Training School at Pwalugu, Superintendent William Y. Acolatse, commended the GCSL for the gesture, and appealed to its administrators to also support the Police Training School.

Deputy Local Government and Rural Development Minister Mr. Baba Jamal has presented some logistics to the Upper East Regional Town and Country Planning Department, to be used for a Street Naming and Address System across all the districts of the region.

The logistics include desktop and laptop computers, secured phones, color photocopiers and scanners.

Presenting the items at an orientation workshop at the Regional Coordinating Council on Tuesday, Mr. Jamal said the government was taking the Street Naming and Address System very seriously.

Mr. Jamal, on behalf of the government, also presented 120 tricycles to beneficiaries of the Local Enterprises and Skills Development Program (LESDEP).

Receiving the items, the Upper East Regional Minister, Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru, said he was confident that the tricycles were going to help improve lives in the region.

From Edmond Gyebi

The Paramount Chief of the Buipe Traditional Area, Buipewura Mahama Jinapor II, has passionately appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to critically look at the deplorable state of the Buipe market, and direct resources for its development to befit its status as one of the largest markets in the Northern Region.

The Buipe Market attracts traders from Kumasi, Techiman, Dormaa, Berekum, Sunyani, Krachi, Bimbilla, Yendi, Salaga, Makango, Tamale, Wa, Bolgatanga, Bawku and almost all the regions of Ghana.

It is also patronised by traders from neighbouring Burkina Faso, Togo and Niger, who usually deal in cattle, goats, tomatoes, and onions.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Chronicle at his royal palace in Buipe, the Chief expressed his deepest disappointment at successive governments unjustifiably neglecting the Buipe market, which, he indicated, had the biggest potential to generate massive revenue for the nation.

Buipewura Jinapor II was confident that when given the needed attention or facelift, the Buipe market would inarguably rub shoulders with the Techiman market, in terms of patronage and revenue generation.

Buipe is the gateway to the three Northern regions, neighbouring Burkina Faso, and Niger, and the market has become attractive to traders because it offers them the opportunity to transport goods to and from the southern part of Ghana, through the Volta Lake.

The Buipe market is strategically located between the main Kumasi-Burkina Faso trunk road and the Buipe Inland Port on the Black Volta.

It is also the central point for all the fishing communities along the White and Black Volta rivers, as well as those along the other major rivers, and even those from the coastal areas of Ghana to do business.

Apart from the fish, the market has the comparative advantage over others, due to the large sale of cattle, goats, sheep, and guinea fowls.

The Buipe market is also noted for the availability of large quantities of yams, groundnuts, sorghum, soya bean, dawadawa, okra, pepper, tomatoes, watermelon and a host of other crops, fruits and vegetables.

The market also witnesses the display of different types of farm inputs, cooking utensils, electrical appliances, clothing, and other items that are useful in the homes.

However, the nature of the market leaves much to be desired, especially, during the rainy seasons.

The Chronicle discovered that most of the items, including tomatoes, pepper, onion, garden eggs, oranges, carrots, groundnut paste, palm oil and so many other perishable and delicate items were displayed openly on the muddy ground for buyers to purchase.

Cargo trucks, passenger vehicles and truck pushers also struggle with buyers and traders, as they either load or offload their goods in the market. In most cases, the vehicles end up splashing muddy water onto the buyers, traders, and their products.

Some of the traders, who boldly spoke to The Chronicle, including Madam Elizabeth Ansah, Maame Blackie and Madam Rabi (all fish sellers), accused the government, and for that matter the Central Gonja District Assembly, of neglecting the market for far too long.

According to the traders, the government, through the District Assembly, collected taxes from them on a daily basis, and yet very little or nothing was done to improve the state of the market.

They asserted that most of the traders were in the fish business using loans from banks and other micro-finance companies, but the state of the market always put them at a loss, since they could not sell whenever there was little or heavy rain.

“During dry seasons too, all the muddy areas also turn very dusty, so we have to battle with the scorching sun and dust, because vehicles also pass through the market. We don’t even have stores in the market, so as you (referring to this reporter) can see, anytime it is raining or whenever we close from the market, we have to convey all our fish to our homes. Some of us come from far communities, and supposing you have 30 or 50 baskets of dry fish, and you are to pack all of them during rains, definitely, you will lose most of them to the rain.”

The frustrated traders lamented that because of the high losses, the majority of the women had left of the market, because they could not pay their creditors, who always threaten to seize their goods or have them arrested.

One Abednego Nortah, a fisherman, also called for refrigerators and other storage facilities to enable them store their excess fish to reduce wastage and losses.

What compounded the deplorable state of the Buipe market, The Chronicle discovered, was the absence of places of convenience, refuse containers and drainage systems.

Both male and female traders face each other to defecate and urinate in open spaces and nearby bushes.

Meanwhile, Buipe is the leading commercial hub of the Northern Sector, as businesses continue to relocate to the area. One of the largest cement producing companies in Ghana, Savannah Cement Company Limited (SAVACEM), is located in Buipe.

The area also serves as the transit point for the offloading and distribution of petroleum products to the northern sector, cement from the Ghana Cement Company (GHACEM), Volta Cement Company (Diamond Cement) and other metal and aluminum companies which supply the north through the Buipe Port.

Almost all the cargo trucks that ply from the neighbouring countries to the southern part of Ghana also use Buipe as their resting place for days before continuing their journey.

Buipewura Jinapor II, also a former Police Commander, lamented the neglect of the town by successive governments, which, he indicated, had reduced or affected the socio-economic fortunes of the area.

The Paramount Chief ardently called on the ruling government to construct the Buipe market into a modern business or commercial centre with stores, walkways, car parks, sanitation facilities, slaughter houses, and fridges for the fishermen to store their excess fish among others.

Stories from Issah Alhassan

The Sankofa Gold Mines at Prestea in the Western Region has presented 100 bags of cement to support the construction of a multi-purpose community centre complex at Bekwai.

The donation followed an appeal by Nana Karikari Appau II, Omanhene of the Bekwai Traditional Area, on behalf of the Bekwaiman Development Committee.

The Omanhene, on behalf of the Traditional Council and the Committee, expressed his appreciation to the management of Sankofa Gold for the kind donation and support, and hoped other corporate bodies and individuals would continue to offer assistance for the completion of the project.

The project, initiated by the Bekwaiman Development Committee in April 2011, is estimated to cost GH¢400,000.

Under the project, a four-acre plot of land released by the Omanhene is to be converted into a modern community facility for various activities, including meetings, funerals, political rallies, religious crusades and sporting activities.

The project would also have a library, offices, and conference hall.

Stories from Issah Alhassan

The South Ghana Conference of the Seven Day Adventist Church, Ash Town District, has presented assorted items worth about GH¢3,000 to the Children’s Ward of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

The items include an LCD television, chairs, toiletries, assorted drinks and tissues, mobilised through welfare and the coffers of the Ash Town District of the church.

The presentation was an annual occasion, which forms part of activities marking the church’s yearly Camp Meeting, which was held at the Military barracks branch of the church.

Presenting the items, the District Pastor, Pastor Kwaku Adu-Boahen, said the donation was the widow’s mite of the church, in fulfillment of the scripture which encourages one to support the vulnerable and those in need.

He said the church was hopeful that the items would bring joy to patients of the hospital, especially the children receiving medical care at the ward.

Pastor Adu-Boahen noted that the heart of the church would continuously be with the sick, as they seek divine healing for them on a daily basis.

He, therefore, urged Christians all over the country to fulfill the word of God, by rendering support to people who need them in the society.

The Nursing Officer at the Children’s Ward 4 and 5, Evelyn Acheampong, who received the items, thanked the church for the kind gesture.

Pix: Pastor Adu-Boahen presenting the items to the hospital

Stories from Issah Alhassan

The study of Information Communication Technology in the Asokore Mampong Municipality has received a massive boost, following the commissioning of a new Community Information Communication and Technology Training Centre at Asawase.

The about GH¢120,000 project, funded by the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Asawase Constituency, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, is expected to provide avenues for the teaching and learning of basic knowledge in computer technology for school children, and also provide internet service facilities to the public at a fee.

The facility would also be fitted with other secretarial services such as scanners, projectors, and photocopiers to provide a one-stop business centre for residents living within the Asokore Mampong Municipality and beyond.

Speaking at the official commissioning of the project, MP Muntaka lamented the poor performance of schools within the locality, and called on stakeholders to collaborate their efforts at arresting the unfortunate situation.

The MP said there was the need for urgent attention to be given to the improvement of education in the area, and stressed the provision of educational infrastructure and other logistics to basic and junior high schools within the locality.

Muntaka disclosed that though lots of schools, through his initiative, had benefitted from facilities such as the provision of computers and information technology, a lot more schools lacked these resources, a situation, which he said, had impacted negatively on the development of education in the area.

The MP revealed that other project facilities in the area of health were also being undertaken, and cited the proposed establishment of a sick bay and nursing quarters at the Kumasi Academy Senior High School (KUMACA).

Muntaka, therefore, charged the Municipal Assembly and Ghana Education Services (GES), which will have oversight responsibility over the project, to ensure its proper utilisation and maintenance, in order to achieve the purpose for which it was established.

The MCE for the area, Nuru Hamidan, said the study of computer and information technology was relevant to modern courses, and expressed the hope that the project would help change the educational direction of the municipality, and improve the performance of students.

The Municipal Director of Education, Mrs. Agyemang Badu, acknowledged the support of the MP, and wished that other areas would also receive such facilities.

Pix 1: The newly constructed ICT Centre

Pix 2: Asokore Mamponghene’s rep being assisted by the MP and MCE to commission the project

Stephen Odoi-Larbi reporting

Deputy Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Hon. Sampson Ahi has promised extending portable pipe-borne water to Ekrawfo and four other communities in Ekumfi District, following the completion and handing over of the Essakyir Water Supply Project in March 2014.

Ekrawfo, which was previously connected with pipe-borne water, was disconnected during the construction of the road network that links Essakyir to Ajumako.

Surprisingly, the community (Ekrawfo), together with Atabenadze, Atakwaa and Gyinankoma were not factored in the €21.8 million Essakyir Water Supply Project.

Essakyir, the host community of the water works, was also ignored in the multi-million euro project funded by the DENYS NV of Belgium.

The Essakyir Water Supply project, which started on September 1, 2011, was initially billed to supply water to the following communities -Ekumfi, Otuam, Mumford, Dago, Mbroboto, Ekumpoano, Muna, Aboano, Sefara, Essuehyia, Akra, Asaafa, Etwaa, Nakwa, Asokwa, Abeka, Swedru and other communities at the tail end of the distribution network of Winneba, Balikrom and Kwanyako Water Treatment Plants.

However, Hon. Ahi, addressing the durbar to celebrate this year’s Akwambo Festival at Ekrawfo last Saturday, on behalf of the sector minister, Alhaji Collins Dauda, said the plight of the people of Ekrawfo and surrounding communities would be a thing of the past, since the government has factored them in its plans.

The government, he noted, was currently looking for funding from a Danish company to finance the extension of the project to cover the deprived communities which only needed laid pipes to be connected to the main pumping station at Essakyir.

The Essakyir Water Supply Project, which is 97% complete, according to Hon. Ahi, seeks to produce 3.2 million gallons of water a day to serve an estimated population of 163,000.

He told the gathering that “since one cannot live without water”, the contractor has been directed to speed up work on the completion of the project and hand it over by March, 2014.

The District Chief Executive of Ekumfi, Hon. Ibrahim Dawson, commenting on the project said the Assembly has made a budget for two hundred pipes to ensure that the deprived communities in the district were connected to potable water.

“When the pipe is connected from Essakyir, the remaining deprived communities will be connected. That is the priority of the Assembly,” he noted.

He also promised one hundred and fifty bags of cement and some roofing sheets to the people of Ekrawfo to help them complete their community center.

The Member of Parliament for the area, Hon. Abeiku Crentsil said the Essakyir Water Supply Project when completed, would enhance water supply to the communities in the district and would no longer depend on other communities for supply.

The people of Ekrawfo in the Ekumfi District in the Central Region over the weekend celebrated this year’s Akwanbo Festival with pomp and fanfare.

The annual festival had its own side attraction. Before the durbar starts, the Asafo group and the youth engage in a route march and a float through the principal streets of the town, amidst drumming and dancing.

It is also a day where indigenes of the town, as well as friends and loved ones meet to brainstorm on how to develop their community.

Saturday was a big event where invited guests came to the town to pay homage to the chiefs and elders of the area. The guest of honour for this year’s event was Hon. Alhaji Collins Dauda, but due to his busy schedule, his deputy, Hon. Sampson Ahi stepped in his shoes.

At the event, the deputy Minister promised to connect the town with potable pipe-borne water, following the completion of the Essakyir Water Supply Project in March, 2014.

On Sunday, the indigenes of the town met to brainstorm and raise money to develop the town.

At the event, the townsfolk discussed a wide range of issues ranging from education to healthcare.

They also brainstormed on what should be done to improve the living conditions of the area.

Top of the agenda was the issue of connecting potable water, completing work on the community center and building toilet facilities.

The Editor of The Chronicle, Mr. Ebo Quansah, who chaired the event, advised parents in the community to take education very seriously and send their wards to school. He also urged them to take good care of their children, especially the girl-child, by helping them to avoid teenage pregnancy.

Mr. Quansah also advised parents to encourage their children to take part in sporting activities, especially football, since it now pays very well.

He turned the heat on the youth and entreated them to desist from alcohol abuse and smoking because it is dangerous to their health.

Some money was raised during a funds-raising event to help finance some projects earmarked for development.

Pix: Hon. Sampson Ahi in a handshake with Ebo Quansah, Editor of The Chronicle who hails from Ekrawfo

Pix: Nana Atta II, Adontehene of Ekrawfo and the Queenmother being entertained by a cultural troop in the area.

Stories from Isaac Akwetey-Okunor

The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mavis Ama Frimpong, has charged assembly and presiding members of the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the country to sell government projects.

The former District Chief Executive (DCE) for Birim North said the issues of people pouring onto the streets to demonstrate against the government would become thing of the past, if Assembly and Presiding Members “evangelised” what the government was doing to bring socio-economic relief to the people.

She made the call at a day’s national decentralisation advocacy workshop, organised by the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee (IMCC) at Akosombo over the weekend for the Eastern and Volta Zone.

Issues such as introduction to decentralisation policy framework and action plan, status report on the implementation of the new decentralisation policy framework, and action plan and role of assembly and civil society organizations in the implantation of the policy and plan were key among the discussions.

The programme, which was sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme, was under the theme, “Deepening Advocacy for Accelerating Effective Decentralisation and Local Governance in Ghana,” and attended by Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi, the leadership of the IMCC, assembly and presiding members, coordinating directors from the Eastern and Volta regions, as well as civil society organisations.

She continued that despite the fact that Ghanaians had the right to demonstrate to register their displeasure over one thing or the other, demonstrations did not necessary mean one should go onto the streets.

According to her, sitting down with the authorities to brainstorm on how best to find lasting solutions to some challenges should be the best option for members in our various communities, rather than poring onto the streets.

To this end, he urged the assembly and presiding members to take the challenge of educating their electorates on the need to jaw-jaw, than to “war-war” on trivial issues.

This she was convinced that if assembly and presiding members would be ambassadors of their respective institutions by telling their electorates the effort the assemblies and government were putting in place to improve on their conditions, the issue of unnecessary demonstrations would be over.

The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister took opportunity of the programme to express her profound gratitude to Ghanaians for level of political maturity demonstrated throughout the 2012 election petition hearing.

According to her, the selfless effort of Ghanaians, to protect and project the socio-economic and political image of the country during this challenging time, had paid immensely, as it had boosted the confidence of the international bodies in Ghana.

Speaking at the programme, the Executive Secretary of the IMCC, Dr. Callistus Mahama, intimated that the role of local governance in the decentralisation process cannot be under-estimated in Africa, and in Ghana in particular.

According to him, in many Africa countries decentralisation was focused on political and individual leadership, hence building the capacity for local governance was most important to the cause of decentralisation.

He mentioned that the introduction of the decentralisation policy framework and action plan was to improve local governance development in Ghana.

Stories from Isaac Akwetey-Okunor

The newly-installed Queenmother of Nkrukan, a farming community in the Yilo Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region, Manye Dedeyoo Ahudey I, has reiterated her commitment towards the empowerment of the girl-child in the area.

The 35 year old business woman, who is married with two children, became Queenmother after the death of Manye Georgina Ablah Ansah I, her predecessor, some three years ago.

According to her, most young females in the area had fallen prey to men because of the lack of sustainable employment, leading to unwanted pregnancies and school drop-outs among others, On tackling the “curses” of teenage pregnancy, massive drop-out of school by the girl-child and social vices confronting the socio-economic development of the commercial town, the Queenmother suggested the empowerment of the girl-child through skills training and education.

She made the disclosure during the installation ceremony, which was attended by the traditional leaders within and around the area, at the Nkrukan market square, which is the largest revenue generating market in the municipality, over the weekend.

Others, who graced the occasion, included the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Yilo Krobo Assembly, Andrews Sodah, the clergy, and other very important people in the area.

Manye Ahudey I stressed that education was, no doubt, the pivot around which the socio-economic development of every society revolves, and to this end, would use her position to encourage the girl-child to take education serious.

The Nkrukan Queenmother contended that this, if done, would not only make education an indispensable tool for creating a level of enlightenment, promoting social interaction, and sense of wellbeing, but also provide knowledge to harness the economic potentials of the place and girl-child.

Andrews Sodah, in his speech, re-echoed the need for residents, particularly, natives of Kroboland, to make the education of their wards a priority.

Andrews Sodah mentioned that the establishment of the Eastern University on Kroboland should be a tonic to encourage and drum home the need for Krobos to invest to the education of their wards.

According to him, if the people of Kroboland failed to invest in the education of their wards, he would be the last person to listen to anybody who comes to his office for protocol admission when the university is established and starts full operations.

He averred that the people of Krobo should have themselves to blame if the unlikely event that Krobos did not get admission to the yet to be established Eastern University, which would be situated in the area.

On peace and unity, the Yilo Krobo MCE called on the people to be united, since unity and peace were prerequisite tools for accelerated socio-economic development.

His call for unity and peace was because the Krobo State, made up of the Yilo, Lower and Upper Manya Krobo Municipal and District assemblies, was starved of development, following their inability to give unity and peace a chance.

But the MCE assured the gathering that despite acknowledging that that in every human institution there were one or two who would always oppose the development of the institution, his office and that of sister assemblies were working tirelessly to put their differences behind them.

He disclosed that despite the fact that Krobos were the minority group in the Eastern Region, he had observed with great regret that they use the media to address their problems, which, in many cases, had led to division among them.

He, therefore, pledged to the Queenmother the commitment of his office to join her in the bid to improve the living standard of the people in the area, most especially, the youth, who are the future leaders.

By William N-lanjerborr Jalulah

Even at a time sanitation and hygiene issues have become major concerns to health experts in the Upper East Region, some 514 Environmental Health Assistants, comprising 2011 and 2012 graduates of the School of Hygiene in the region, are still sitting at home without postings.

After submitting two letters to the Office of the President and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, calling on them to expedite action on their postings, the 2011 and 2012 graduates of the Environmental Health Assistants School in the Upper East Region, this week held a press conference in Bawku to reiterate their call on the President to expedite action on their postings.

The government established the Ho and Tamale Schools of hygiene, through the Ministry of Health, with the core mandate of training professional environmental health assistants.

This, the government hoped would go a long way to educate the people of Ghana on sanitation and hygiene related diseases, and how to prevent them, as well as help monitor the effective maintenance of clean water and environment.

Unfortunately, after their successful training and certification, which qualifies them as Environmental Heath Assistants, the 514 graduates in the Upper East Region are currently at home without places of work.

Interestingly, all these people were trained with the taxpayer’s hard earned money, yet, the purpose of their training has had no positive impact on the Ghanaians, at least for now.

Mr. Abode Ibrahim, spokesperson for the graduates of the School of Hygiene in the Upper East Region, told reporters they were getting frustrated, and called on the government to do something about the situation.

By Richard Attenkah

Sixteen female graduates, drawn from public universities and polytechnics across the length and breadth of the country, have been honoured by the Unilever Ghana Foundation for distinguishing themselves in their various fields of study, at its 15^th Excellence Award ceremony here in Tema.

The award was also to draw attention to the significant role of women in the country’s socio-economic development.

The ceremony is an annual event, organised by the company to honour female students from public universities and polytechnics, who have been adjudged best graduates by their respective institutions.

The names, educational institutions, and areas of study of the respective awardees are, Hassan Addai-Boateng – KNUST, BSc Microbiology; Theophiline Bose-Duker – University of Ghana, BSc Economics; Sandra Naana Ayiku – University of Ghana, BSc Administration; Nana Abena Quansa – University of Cape Coast, BSc. Commerce.

The rest are Hilda Akosua Bru-Minda – Takoradi Polytechnic, Electrical Engineering; Rebecca Ackaah-Mensa – Sunyani Polytechnic, Electrical/Electronic Engineering; Gifty Bani – Ho Polytechnic, Electrical Engineering (Telecom Option); Baafi Emelia – Kumasi Polytechnic, Marketing, and Mary Bonsu Oteng – Cape Coast Polytechnic, Electrical Engineering.

Addressing the gathering, the Chairman of the Trustees of the Unilever Ghana Foundation (UGF), Mr. Andrew Quayson, revealed that “Our primary objective is to facilitate the socio-economic growth of Ghana, albeit in our own small way.”

He added: “We are committed to continuously finding innovative ways of offering value-adding interventions to bring our objectives to life.”

He noted that their main concentration was on the sciences, with emphasis on technical education and engineering, as they believed that the country needed more professionals in these fields, in order to develop further.

Unilever Ghana (UG), which is the donor of the UFG, have a deliberate policy of gender diversity, which seeks to facilitate the rapid development and progress of females in the company, by providing conducive environments to enable them thrive and compete favorably with their male counterparts.

Mr. Quayson continued: “The varied programmes on women we support are our way of driving the development of resourceful female leaders in both the informal and formal sectors of our society.”

Each of the 16 awardees was presented with a Samsung notebook, assorted Unilever products, and a certificate, after which they were later conducted round the two factories of the company to familiarise themselves with the operations of their benefactor.

The awardees expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the organisers of the programme for putting together such a ceremony to honour them gracefully, and vowed to be good models to other female students across the country.

By William N-lanjerborr Jalulah

Unless they change their desires for idolatry, alcoholism and polygamy, the people of the Upper East Region would remain poor and the region undeveloped, according to the Founder and Head Pastor of the Fountain Gate Chapel, Rev. Eastwood Anaba.

Delivering the keynote address at the maiden edition of the Northern Brother Summit 2013 in Bolgatanga, Rev. Anaba regretted that idolatry, alcoholism and high polygamy were common practices in the Upper East Region that drain the people of valuable resources that could have been channeled into their personal and regional development.

Over the years, the people of the Upper East Region have been blamed by their own social advocates like Mr. Noble Alagskomah for careless spending on alcoholism, funerals, polygamy, and idolatry, to the total neglect of education and other profitable ventures that would lead to their own development, and the region at large.

About three years ago, a research, conducted by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in the region on the rate of alcohol consumption, put Navrongo in the lead.

Evidence abounds of how residents consume alcohol, as every little space left at any corner is used as a drinking spot. Most of the drinking spot owners, either sell local gin referred to as ‘akpetashie’, or ‘Pito’.

The rapid springing-up of these spots also brings to question the role of the city authority and other government regulatory bodies like the Ghana Tourist Authority and the Police Service on the dangers posed.

The Northern Brother Summit 2013 brought together 50 delegates from the Northern, Upper East and Northern regions, as well as some from the southern part of the country, who were mainly young tertiary graduates and entrepreneurs of northern descent, to share ideas on how the poverty gap between Northern and Southern Ghana could be closed through the establishment of private businesses. There were also 20 observers and 24 invited guests.

The summit also served as a platform for some businesses to exhibit their products.

Rev. Anaba is the Patron of the summit with other Northern elites like former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies, Prof. David Miller, the Sakoti Chief, Naba Sigri Bewong, Deputy Regional Minister Mr. Daniel Syme, and the Chief Executive Officer of Bencyn Pharmacy, Mr. Benjamin Anyannah.

Mr. Roger Laari, Leader of Northern Brother Summit, explained that of organising the summit was borne out of their conviction that Northern Ghana had a lot private business potential, which could be explored to the advancement of the area.

According to him, the support he and his team received from their sponsors, and the patronage at the event were so encouraging that it had given them hope to plan a bigger summit next year.

Stories By Bernice Bessey

The Accra Brewery (AB) Limited, in collaboration with Graphic Communications Group Limited, as part of their Social Cooperate Responsibility (SCR), have organised a health screening  exercise, free registration of the National Health Insurance Scheme, and dental care to residents of Adabraka, Old Fadama, and its surroundings.

The exercise, which was welcomed by the chiefs and people, screened over 1,000 residents, with medicines administered to them after treatment last week.

The Managing Director of Graphic Communications Group Limited, Mr. Kenneth Ashigbey, indicated that even though they were into business, it was necessary that national development was placed at heart, noting, “it not only about raising issues, but been part of solution.”

He added that although the companies had taken it upon themselves to provide free health screening every year, it also demanded that the residents take their health seriously.

Mr. Kenneth Ashigbey appealed to Ghanaians to see themselves as one people, driving at one destination. “We must not see ourselves as enemies, because the enemies we have are disease, illiteracy, and poverty.”

A patients blood pressure being checked

Mr. Gregory Metcalf, ABL Managing Director, said the exercise was an act of giving back to the society in which the companies operate.

According to him, the companies were part of the community so the people’s health was their concern.

 Pix by: Eric Owiredu

Stories By Bernice Bessey

The Ghana Muslim Mission has urged Ghanaians, especially Muslims pilgrims to Mecca, to make physical exercise part of their lifestyle, since it had the potential to control weight, health and diseases, improve mood and boost energy.

According to Deputy National Coordinator, Alhaji Nuhu Anyetei Cofie, physical exercise was any bodily activity that enhanced and maintained physical fitness and overall health, and the wellbeing of a person.

He noted the month of hajji was at hand, and since it was the fifth pillar of Islam that every adult Muslim must undertake, at least, once in their lifetime, if they can afford, it was, therefore, necessary for the pilgrim to be physically able to undergo the religious mandate.

After a health walk through some principal streets of Accra on Saturday morning, Alhaji Nuhu Anyetei Cofie stressed that “hajji is about walking, and if the pilgrim wants to find it easy, then they must sort to physical exercise, especially walking.”

He added that the health walk was also to promote Ghana Muslim Mission ideologies, and efforts at the development of the country.

Exercise, they say, doesn’t only give more energy, but can also prolong life, because of the strengthening of muscles and cardiovascular system, honing athletic skills, weight loss or maintenance, as well as for the purpose of enjoyment. Frequent and regular physical exercise boosts the immune system, and helps prevent the “diseases of affluence” such as heart disease, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity

The Deputy Coordinator indicated that the mission had been able to construct about 220 schools across the country, with one university in the pipeline at Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

He further urged parents to aid their children, especially the girl child, to attend school to acquire knowledge and skills, stating: “Seeking knowledge is compulsory for everyone. Knowledge is important, so please fathers, be serious with your children education.”

 Pix by: Eric Owiredu

From Ishaque Agyei

A US-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), which has its affiliates in Ghana and other parts of Africa, the United Charity Endowment Fund of Africa (UCEFF), has supported four communities in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem District.

The communities Abaka-Ano, Ankwanda, Nyamebekyere and Abayee have suffered shortage of water for a couple of years, and their inhabitants have to cover several miles to fetch stream water, which would have adverse health implications.

The communities share their only source of water from a stream with animals, amid the washing of vehicles and the washing of clothes.

In an interview with The Chronicle, Mr. Kojo Opoku Wood, Country Director of UCEFF, noted that the organisation, which begun operations and registered in 2004, had embarked on several developmental projects in the region.

He said even though the organisation had the aim of providing clean and potable drinking water to Ghanaian communities, education was also an important area which the UCEFF had taken into consideration.

Mr. Wood stressed that the organisation has putting up a free skills training centre to train dressmaking, carpentry, artisans, baking and other vocations to better the lives of the people in the area.

He mentioned plastering, roofing and the refurbishing of headmasters’ offices in some schools in the area, as several ongoing projects the organisation was embarking on in the communities.

Mr. Wood added that public schools in the Amoanda and Ankwanda communities had also benefitted from the distribution of textbooks, pens, pencils and other learning materials.

The items donated to support the four communities in the KEEA District .

Some of the Donated Items

Mr. Kojo Opoku Wood, Country Director of UCEFF