UG FACILITIES IMPERVIOUS TO THE NEEDS OF PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED PERSON'S

UG FACILITIES IMPERVIOUS TO THE NEEDS OF PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED PERSON'S

WRITER; ANANPANSAH ISAAC

Under the  realm of natural justice,everyone should be given the unalienable privilege to utilize their prowess to the apex and better still,harness their naturally endowed potentials which would yield positive dividends to the overall process of  nation building.As expert projections will have us believe,66% of the world's population will seek shelter in the urban cities by 2050. However,the focal point is hinged on inclusive, sustainable and equitable development for all people including  person's with disabilities devoid of negative stereotyping,inability to access facilities and stigma according to the division for social policy and development of the united nations.

Infact,the contributions of persons with disability situations cannot be underscored the world over. For instance, Steph William Hawkins a prominent cosmologist, a physicist, renowned scientists and more so, professor at Cambridge university who is physical challenged but however, has tremendously influenced the world of science with his nemerous theories speaks volumes to this effect. .
  Indeed,another physically challenged person is France Jane Van Alstyne popularly known as fanny Crosby who has composed many of the popular hymns,numbered 800. In one way or the other, we have all wined to the sweet melodious sound of hymnals from this physically challenged person.

All over the world ,institutions of learning are supposed to provide the enabling environment for all manner of person's to better develop their natural intellect. Indeed, some institution have taken giant steps to make their places of learning readily accessible to all including person's with physical default. Michigan university which is adjudged one the world disability friendly institution according to survey is a clear example. 

Ghana, according to Act 715,2006 of parliament, has clearly stipulated the unrestrained rights of persons with disabilities. However, this law seem to be very potent on paper but not effectively implemented. As person's with disability have been denied access to essential public facilities  such as hospitals, schools inter alia because,the architectural design of most of such buildings didn't take into cognizance the plight of the disabled citizens in the county.

Most  public educational institutions with particular reference to public universities, have in most  times paid a deaf ear and blind eye to the immediate needs of the physical challenged person's.

Zeroing it down to the premiere university, majority of lecture rooms,halls of residence and the all famous Balme library have their architectural make up  impeding the learning comfort of the physically challenged person's in the university. Even though,the premiere university is making frantic efforts to make its facilities disability friendly by establishing *the office of the students with special needs ( OSSN)*,much still need to be done...Infact,having the opportunity to witness  some of the laborious struggles and tussle students with disability go through in order to manoeuvre their way to the various halls, lecture rooms and,the library is pathetic . It's pathetic.Pathetic.Pathetic.Pathetic.
As estimations will have it, one out of every hundred students in the university of Ghana campus is physical challenged out of a population of about thirty-seven thousands(3700) students.

JQB,one of the major lecture halls is designed in such way that it's a hindrance to such students(students with disability) accessing the facility.As a matter of fact,halls of residence such as Commonwealth,Mensah Sarbah,Volta, liman and legon hall just to mention a few  have their design crafted in such a way that deprive such students especially, the annexes associated with some these hall easy access.

The university authorities on countless occasions have hewed and cried  about the lack of funds to construct facilities that would be sensitive  to the needs of students with disability.Yes, 'Mr . authorities,' we understand you.But these people have a right.Infact, they have a right.

Well, are we going to play the Wait and seek affairs until a bizarre event manifest before we start to put in place some pragmatic and bold initiatives to arrest the unbearable situation of our brothers and sisters with disability?It is clear in the background that using these facilities by the physically challenged person's, they are at great risk of further injuries and worst still, untimely deaths.

Verily verily, the onus lie within the ambit of the government to provide funds to nip this trend in the bud.Also,Non governmental organizations, philanthropist , cooperate bodies and well meaning citizens should come on board and help improve these life threatening facilities,especially to the disabled in the university of Ghana campus by providing sufficient funds to construct halls,lecture rooms and libraries that are disability friendly or better still improve to the standard of the disabled,the already existing structures to best serve the interest all students including person's with disability...
The inscription on Awodome cemetery speaks volumes...It reads, "we were like you before".Person's with disability were like us before and we can be like them.No one is born with such labels. It's  circumstances.Let's care for one another and make the world a better place.UBUNTU.

BY ANANPANSAH ISAAC
PRESENTER-RADIO UNIVERSE 105.7mhz
(ananpansahisaac@gmail.com)
0200316691
University of Ghana

DAMONGO YOUTH PARLIAMENT CONGRATULATES HON.MUHAZU

DAMONGO YOUTH PARLIAMENT CONGRATULATES HON.MUHAZU

Damongo Youth Parliament(DYP) wish to apprehend this very long awaited moment to join the many good people of West Gonja and beyond in congratulating hon.Saed Muhazu Jibril on your appointment as the new District Chief Executive (DCE) for West Gonja District.

We believe this is the day that the Lord has made and it's His will that you ascend this high office of our land to help better the lots of the district.
It's indeed a well deserved appointment.After such a long period of careful consideration and wider consultation,we hold a strong conviction that the president has made the right choice for the district and the youth particularly.

As a youth group that has been championing the development of Damongo and the district all this while,we can assure you of our unflinching support and cooperation.Plans are far advanced to work with you and the other members of the assembly to uplift the image and development of the youth and community at large.

Pending your confirmation by the assembly,we pray you advance plans to put youth issues at the front desk of your administration.As a youth yourself, you will agree that the situation of the youth in the district is not the best. DYP is focused on youth and youth development and will draw ourselves closer to you in realising this goal.(Unity and purpose for youth and community development is our goal).

To the other candidates who were in the race(hon. Diwura Albert and hon.Seidu Ayuba), we wish you better luck next time.You both have carved an enviable niche for yourself insofar as the social and political life of the district is concerned.History will forever remember and reward your efforts in the service of mankind.This is not the time to coil back.This is the time to get involved more.The community need your expertise more at this moment.And we are sure the new DCE will stretch a hand of invitation and tap into your rich experience in the larger interest.

Congratulations once more hon.Saed  Muhazu.We are sure to meet up with you after the endorsement and swearing-in to sell the ideas and plans of the group for the youth and how we can all partner and work together for the youth and community.

May God bless us all.

Long live West Gonja District!
Long live DAMONGO YOUTH PARLIAMENT (DYP)!
Long live the youth and people of Damongo!

Signed:
Hon.Mumuni Mohammed(Lead Coordinator)

Ananpansah B Abraham (Secretary)
0241129910 /02001704844

Issued;Saaka Karim (P.R.O)

*DAMONGO YOUTH PARLIAMENT(DYP)*

Damongo youth parliament(DYP) incorporated,is a non-profit,non sectarian and non partisan youth organisation located in Damongo in the West Gonja District of the Northern Region of Ghana. 
It was first established under the name Youth And Advocacy in the year 2014 with proud support from Ghana Community Radio Network,Denmark Civil Society Organisation and Radio for Peace and Development.
The name however, was changed to Damongo Youth Parliament (DYP) in the middle 2016 to align itself with changing trends and its international reputation.

The motto of the association is,"Unity and Purpose for Youth and Community Development."

Vision Statement:Towards an Empowered Youth and Community.

Mission Statement:Motivated by our creator,Damongo Youth Parliament,incorporated is a non-profit,non-sectarian,and non-partisan youth organisation whose mission is," to promote the development and empowerment of young people in Damongo and beyond in realising their full physical,social, economic,spiritual,and intellectual potentials as individuals and responsible citizens,and as members of their local, national and international communities."So help us God!

Through;
Method for achieving mission:The method for achieving this mission is by creating a space for youth dialogue,active participation in the decentralisation process,and building a very resolute relationships between the youth and relevant stakeholders,central government,local authorities, NGO's, development partners and the general public.

EXIGENT PLEA:RESURRECT DISTRICT MAGISTRATE COURT IN DAMONGO

EXIGENT PLEA:RESURRECT DISTRICT MAGISTRATE COURT IN DAMONGO

By ANANPANSAH,B ABRAHAM (AB)

Is it 'resurrect' or 'bring back?'These two closely related word and phrasal verb really got me contemplating.The court edifice is right there.The human resource is conspicuously missing.The court is dysfunctionally hidden.Infact, the court is gone!So,in the situation,are we resurrecting or bringing back?My choice of "resurrect" in the title is thus intentionally couched.But you can also take it to mean "bring back."
Take note:district magistrate court as used in this article is the same as community tribunals as created by parliament in the mid-1993.In the newly created system by parliament,lower courts, consisting of circuit tribunals and community tribunals replaced circuit courts and district (magistrate) courts.

On that note,I like to begin by introducing cherished readers to West Gonja District.
West Gonja District is a cosmopolitan agrarian community of peace loving and culturally diverse people.It is one of the twenty-six (26) administrative districts in the northern region of Ghana.The district was established on the 23rd of December,1988 by PNDC L207.By legislative instrument (LI 1775), in 2004, Central Gonja District was carved out of the District.North Gonja was also carved out of the district in 2012 by LI 2069.Damongo is the capital of the district and also serve as the seat of the overload of the gonja Kingdom.

According to the 2010 Population and Housing Census(2010 PHC), the district has a total population of 41,180 (50.2% male and 49.8% female), thus,1.7% of the total population in the northern region.And a household population of 40,269 with 6,255 households.
There are twenty-two (22) ethnic groups in the district.The major groups in order of magnitude include:Gonja, Hanga,kamara,Dagomba,Tampulma,Frafra and Dagaaba.The main festivals of the district are Damba and fire festival (Jintigi).
Religiously,the district is made up of the following groups in their proportions:Islam (41.7%), Catholic (26.3%), pentecostal (8.0%), and traditional worshippers (5.4%).
The district has eighty-five (85) basic schools and second cycle institutions.Thus,34 kindergartens and nursery,33 primary schools,17 junior high schools,3 senior high schools,1 agricultural college and a nursing/health assistant training college.
The main economic activity of the district include farming,agro processing and trading in foodstuff.Infact,60.5% of the population are engaged in agriculture.Also,more than 6 out of 10 of the population(65.3%) of households in the district are into agriculture.Crop farming is the main agricultural activity(89.4%) of households engage in it.Livestock rearing accounts for (50.1%) and tree planting (0.5%).
There is high inter-ethnic marriages and peaceful co-existence-unity in diversity in the district.(See the 2010 PHC with focus on West Gonja District for more).

Noteworthy also is the fact that,the district used to credit itself with a magistrate court (community tribunal).But in plain language,the court has been moved to Bole,a sister community since 2015 for certain reasons.
It is widely speculated that one of such reasons is the undue traditional interference in the normal work of the court.(He is my uncle, he is my sisters brother's brother,he is my this, he is my that, so we can solve this matter at home by consulting our elders (traditional authorities); meanwhile the matter is criminal).
It is also rumored that the magistrate at the time complained of the lack of accommodation.Thus, the district could not provide accommodation for the magistrate.(not strictly confirmed). (Traditional interference + Lack of accommodation for magistrate=court moved to Bole).

Indeed,these speculations notwithstanding,it seem to fly in the face of every reason that a district like West Gonja is without a community tribunal for this while.Better a mouse in the pot than no meat at all (To have something,no matter how little or poor in quality, is better than to have nothing at all). And the situation seem normal.We are all silent willy-nilly.As the book of proverbs will make us understand,foundations are being destroyed,what can the righteous do?This is the outcry of the silent community.As a matter of fact,when the diseased is not cured of his disease,the diseased become deceased.Similarly,When the law in society is not resurrected,the society become lawless.Anarchy everywhere assume the order of the day.And no community has ever seen development without law and order.

Naked truth be told in bold words,the district obviously need a community tribunal to maintain civil and criminal order in order to propel development.With the district court,sanitation laws were fully implemented.I remember the gone days in Damongo where no one needed to tell you to clean your home and the surrounding.The sanitation officers (samasama) just needed to remind us of the now defunct Damongo district magistrate court and we were out there cleaning every corner of our communities.Are you now surprised that of  the many toothless bye-laws by the West Gonja District Assembly against rosewood and charcoal burning,none was implemented?There is no institution of law to interpret and effectively enforce the laws.The many trees are gone and the remaining few are still going.

Undeniably,district courts handle cases that bother on the core of society:cases that affect social cohesion,family lives,land litigating,landlords and tenants, children's wellbeing, gender based violence,criminal cases,defilement,indecent assault inter alia.It is the face of the law.
In his "practice and procedure in the trial courts and tribunals of Ghana,"Justice Brobbey (JSC) states that, "the magistrate has been described as the face of the law,the rational for this being that most people have their first and sometimes the only brush with the law at the magistrate level and therefore tend to view the law as a whole from that experience."So, we can effectively engender public trust and confidence in the justice delivery system in Ghana through the district magistrate courts.

Some useful facts:
Indeed, the courts Act of 1993 (Act 459),section 39 establishes:(a) Circuit Courts;(b)District Courts;(c) Juvenile Courts;(d) the National House of Chiefs,Regional Houses of Chiefs,and every traditional council, in respect of the jurisdiction of any such or council to adjudicate; (e)Such other lower courts as parliament may by law establish.
Section 45-establishment of District Courts-
(1) There shall be in each District of the country such District Courts as the Chief Justice may determine.
(2) There shall be assigned to each District Court,a Magistrate who shall be appointed,subject to the approval of the president,by the Chief Justice on the advice of the judicial council.
(3) The Chief Justice shall specify the area of jurisdiction of each District Court.

Just to state that the traditional courts are important as well.But they are limited in jurisdiction to matters affecting only chieftaincy.They also complement the efforts of the superior and inferior courts by offering useful advice on customary matters. 
(See section 47 and 48 of of the courts Act of 1993 (Act 459)-Jurisdiction of District courts,and section 51-General powers of District Court for more insights on the jurisdiction and general powers of community tribunals).
Just to touch on some of them,district courts intervene in matters relating to ownership,possession or occupation of land where the value does not exceed 50 million cedis;personal actions arising under contract or tort for the recovery of any liquidated sum when the amount claimed does not exceed 50 million cedis;in diverse and matrimonial cases or matters and actions for paternity and custody of children,succession to property of a deceased person;an offence punishable by a fine not exceeding 500 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or both,abetment of or conspiracy in respect of any such offence;any other offence except an offence punishable by death or imprisonment for life or an act declared by any enactment to be first degree felony;in landlord and tenant cases;in ownership,possession,occupation and title to land cases;every Magistrate by general powers may administer oaths,take solemn affirmations and declarations,make such decrees and orders,issue such process and exercise such powers,judicial and ministerial in relation to or for administration of justice as are prescribed by any enactment,rule of court or District Court.So you see why West Gonja District is missing out badly!

It is well to note,just like the former president of U.S.A, Barack Obama rightly put it that,all we need as a people are strong institutions and not strong men.Our institutions are going and as young voices,we are duty called to rise up in one accord and stand for the community and posterity.Our law court must not go like that.We have the locus standi from the forgoing reasons to clamor for a resurrection or come back of our court .Let's make a strong case to that effect.Let's safe ourselves the travel expenses involved in seeking legal services elsewhere when such services could have been delivered at our doorsteps by community tribunals.It is called decentralisation.The vulnerable in society must be protected.We must have quick access to justice.Our society must develop pari passu irrespective of race, creed, colour,culture and other colourations.Our law court is our security and hope.It is the strength of the weak and the voice of the marginalised.Disorder in society must not be our order.Graft must not effectively become the law in our society.
And all who agree must join me to say,resurrect or bring back our court.
May the good lord bless us all.

The writer is a teacher by profession,a freelance journalist,youth advocate,blogger/writer and a student at the University of Ghana Business School pursuing Bachelor of Science in Administration with a major in Public Administration.
Read more of his works on (ananpansah-ab.blogspot.com).

By ANANPANSAH,B ABRAHAM(AB)
(The Village Writer)
0241129910/0200704844

100 days in office:The change Ghanaians didn't anticipate

100 days in office:The change Ghanaians didn't anticipate

By ANANPANSAH,B ABRAHAM (AB)

It's often said that all that starts well ends well.Others howbeit contradict this statement by maintaining that the end justifies the means.(Thus,it's the end that matters and not the start).
Either of these statements could just be right or wrong depending on the situation at hand.

Infact, it has become a common tradition the world over to have political watchers, the media,think tanks,civil society et cetera subject the first 100 days of political leaders (presidents) to critical analysis and scrutiny.The wisdom of such analysis may well be found either in the first statement above, or founded on the wisdom of the builder,thus,the foundation matters most in determining the strength of a building.

It's well to note that the idea of the first 100 days in office was pioneered by Franklin D. Roosevelt when he took over the white house in 1933.We are told he moved with speed and decisive leadership to surmount the calamity of depression his government was faced with.
According to Kenneth T. Walsh,"the first 100 days measure is 'not a perfect measure, but it is a useful one – the 100 day standard for gauging Presidential effectiveness."
He further noted that,"Presidents tend to be most effective when they first take office, when their leadership style seems fresh and new, when the aura of victory is still powerful.”
To him,the importance of the first 100 days is the assurance or otherwise that citizens will derive from the leadership of the new president.

For the reasons above,the first 100 days in office are usually accorded much prominence in many political systems including Ghana.

Today,the 17th of April,2017,marks exactly 100 days since Ghanaians arose and voted for change.The change was very massive.Infact,there is this NPP communicator on one of our political platforms who has made it his pastime to always remind,in his own words,NDC members of the massive change by updating us with the declared figures of the 2016 presidential election everyday.According to him,NDC members want to deliberately forget the figures and humiliating defeat, which to him is not possible.That may be true...

It was a mysterious defeat caused by the mistake of an opponent riding a lame horse.In reminding us however,the NPP communicator forgot the fact that the resounding victory and endorsement of the NPP by the good people of Ghana can only mean one thing-high hopes by the ordinary Ghanaian in the NPP government.Indeed, the party promised to solve almost all the problems of Ghanaians which they believed were caused by the "incompetent or is it substandard Mahama?"

As a matter of fact,we are at the first lap today,the first 100 days like joke "like joke" is here with us in Ghana and it's good we remind ourselves about where we started off with the NPP government and how far they have brokered the social contract we entered into with them.

It's instructive to note that the NPP's Nana-Bawumia government started off very well after such a smooth transition process despite the pockets of violence by supporters of the party which we can take mildly to be part of the jubilation.The government however got caught up in the whirlpool of plagiarism on the 7th of January,2017, during the swearing in ceremony.
Immediately power had changed hands, the hooliganism on the part of party supporters intensified.Popular government offices across the country(such as the YEA and NHIS)where braced up in the name of our government is now in power and we owe those offices.Such practices were widely condemned and the situation came under sustained control.

Then fast-forward to the State of Nation Address (SONA) which to me was very apt and promising.The asempa budget gave Ghanaians every reason to keep hopes alive.That budget is something else.Very inspirational, self explanatory,promising and a well articulated document.Most of the manifesto promises of the NPP were captured in that budget:free S.H.S,teacher and nurses trainee allowance, major tax cut...ad infinitum.

It should also be said that the NPP government chalked some successes within the first 100 days.Of particular mention is the commitment to establishing the office of special prosecutor to deal with corruption,removal/reduction of major taxes,suspending the licencing of small scale miners, year-on-year inflation dropping to 12.8 since March this year(but this may also be a carry over effect from the previous administration),14 special courts designated to fight the almighty galamsey,planting for food and jobs agriculture flagship programme(we are told 250,000 farmers are to benefit from phase one of the project),IMF is also predicting an economic boom for the country...It's also important to put on record that most of these successes are as a result of the good foundation the previous administration laid.

What Ghanaians didn't anticipate:

The stupefying change Ghanaians didn't however anticipate is the lack clear source of sustained funding stated for the free S.H.S which is to commence this September...That policy is just for political capital.It can't be meaningfully sustained into the near future.The 2017 budget is even struggling to contain the policy.

Also,the NPP government categorically pledged to restore in full teacher and Nurses trainee allowance and to pay all contractual debt within the first 100 days...These promises were emphatically made taking into cognisance the kind of system we operate in Ghana and were to be fulfilled without excuses.Maybe we will have to ask the trainees and contractors for the facts regarding the progress of payment.Political Talk indeed is cheap.(It was a change Ghanaians never anticipated).

Indeed,the most "flabberwhelming" news Ghanaians never anticipated is to wake up one morning to hear that our dear country had made it into the Guinness Book of Record.Why? The president appointed 110 men and women as ministers of state .Unprecedented!
Ministries were created for anything and everything.One was nearly created for social media.Jumping Judas!
Civil Society,think tanks,development experts, the media and the ordinary Ghanaians lamented in silence about the number.But the dead goat syndrome seem to have caught up with our dear president.(Mr.president,if you don't know Ghanaians,ask ex president Mahama.We are marking your actions).Try as they did to justify the number,hard could Ghanaians come to terms with the logic of such a wasteful number of ministers.And this makes sense.In a country where there is a clamor to downsize the civil service,it makes no sense to "up size the executive arm of government that basically does nothing without the technical help of the civil service .This is common sense!Well,we are waiting to hear any politician talk about a particular bloated wage bill or large size of the civil service,not to even talk of public service.

100 days in office and there is no sign of a single dam being dug or factory being put up.100 days in office and the National Identification Scheme which according to their manifesto is key to formalising the economy and regenerating taxes is yet to be initiated.Has the Right to Information Bill been passed?How about corporate taxes,have they been brought down to 20% from the 32% as promised?How about the energy sector levy,has it been abolished completely?

Deepening the cracks in the system,New MMDCs are yet to be appointed but the one's who were serving under the previous administration have been dismissed.The assemblies for months now are under the control of the coordinating directors who only look at things from a purely technical point of view and thus the political aspect or public choice is sacrificed.The district assembly common fund administrator has been asked to proceed on leave,YEA regional directors and a host of other office holders have been asked to proceed on leave.The festival of 'proceed on leave and hand over to the acting CEO or caretaker officer is the order of the day....Another mild way of saying, "you're fired!
We are politicising public offices and state institutions yet we pretend to be fighting against the the winner takes all politics in Ghana.Huh!

Statutory payment to the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) reduced to 5% from the previous 7% as hinted in the 2017 budget.Many have challenged the legality of this action already as it clearly violate Article 252 Section (2) of the 1992 Constitution which allot 7% of Ghana's annual revenue to MMDAs.The Akuffo Addo government has allocated Ghc1.7billion(5% of Ghc34 billion total revenue expectation) to MMDAs instead of Ghc 2.38 billion (7% of Ghc34 billion total revenue expectation ).I'm suspecting just like many Ghana's that the 2% will be channeled into realising the 1million, one district policy which a local government worker has hinted me is to be managed by politicians and not the assembly.Those politicians will be appointed independent of the assembly to mismanaged the fund. (Job for the boys)...
Seven other statutory fund earmarked for downward review are the Ghana Education Trust Fund (Getfund),the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), Petroleum-Related Funds,Ghana Infrastructural Investment Fund (GIIF), Ghana National Petroleum Corporation Fund (GNPC), the Social security and National Insurance Trust(SSNIT),and the Road Fund.Change has come,ampa!

Fresh in our minds:the NPP in its 2016 manifesto noted that the Ghanaian economy is broken-there is widespread hardship and suffering,resulting in insecurity at all levels.They promised to repair the situation when voted into power.100 days in power and the nightmare of Ghanaians continue unabated.Private security groups largely affiliated to the NPP are causing unrest and injustice everywhere.Once they don't like you,they take the law into their own hands and launch an open attack.A point in case is the raiding of the Asanti Regional Coordinating Council by Delta Force and assaulting the coordinating director...13 members of the group who were arrested in connection with the crime were later assisted to escape remand from court  by same group members.Well, eight of such felonies have been charged with disturbing a court session,for resisting arrest and freeing 13 persons who were in lawful custody, and are scheduled to reappear before court on the 20th of April, 2017.We pray the matter is pursued to a justifiable end without political interference.
These people have terrorise our society enough .Unlawful sizure of private vehicles of political opponents,dragoon takeover of public toilets, school feeding programs...Raiding of Tema ports and harbour,passport office,Kumasi circuit courts, attacks on innocent citizens,and the government of the day is silent in all these cases of injustice with impunity.Enough is enough.The president's condemnation to me came rather too late.(His government seem to have lost control of state of affairs)...But let's hope things are brought under control in this country.

It's or should be said that it's early days yet for anyone to do a comprehensive analysis of this current administration.All that starts well may just end well or the end may justify the means.We only pray the government succeed in improving our lot.
But let's keep our eyes widely opened and our ears alert to hold them accountable to their campaign promises.The days of politics of sugarcoated words is over...
Happy Easter and may God bless us all.

The writer is a teacher by profession,a freelance journalist,writer/blogger,a youth advocate and a L400 student of Bachelor of Science(BSC) Public Administration at for University of Ghana Business School (UGBS).Read more of his works on (ananpansah-ab.blogspot.com).

By ANANPANSAH,B ABRAHAM (AB)
Teacher/Blogger/Freelance Journalist
0241129910/0200704844

The golden rule:Do unto others only what you will have them do unto you

The golden rule:Do unto others only what you will have them do unto you

ananpansah-ab.blogspot.com

Just the use of the word "SUBSTANDARD" has provoked the hell out of a whole party.The party has become so uncomfortable and uneasy like a fish let out of water.(That's the power of words, in fact,political wording).
They are issuing official statements here and there demanding for an official apology from Joy FM and the host Sampson Lardi Ayenini.

Communicators and social media commentators and infact,attention seekers of the party have taken the person of the humble servant of our dear nation(Sampson) to the cleaners and market, probably for sale at a very cheap price.
Unprintable words such as,"fickle minded typical buffon; empty headed village boy talkative" are rained on the person of this gentle man.
I'm told a whole lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology(KNUST) or is it the information minister jointly started the fray of insults.(Well, they have clarified, it's the lecturer Mustapha Hammeed and not the information minister Mustapha Hamid).

Is it now a crime to hail from a certain part of this country,countrymen? One of their communicators ignorantly wrote, "...now, he never thought where he came from he would ever get that big opportunity to be rubbing shoulders with the BIG NAMES ON RADIO AND ON GH POLITICAL SPACE."

Where does he hail from?Yes, the Northern Part of Ghana,Bolgatanga specifically!And what has that got to do with the work that he does?In your own words, does that mean people from that part of the country cannot "rub shoulders" with others in the political and journalistic space?

I won't be the one to remind you that the current fine vice president is rubbing shoulders with all the big names and he hails from the north.The immediate past president His excellency John Dramani Mahama hails from the north.But he ruled you for close to 6 years.Take this or feel free to burn the sea...Manasseh Azuri Awuni hails from the north,in fact, the same region as Sampson,and they are all big brains when it comes to Journalism in Ghana.So what is the point here!

Now to the substance of the matter,today, the use of "Substandard" we are made to believe is an insult to the NPP and the said communicators.
We were all in this country when the same party took the former president to the cleaners.His name was changed from "His excellency" to "His INCOMPETENCE."The word incompetence became a house hold name in the NPP.Incompetent Mahama.Incompetent Mahama.Incompetent Mahama.They sold this phrase even to the international media.(It's instructive to note that SUBSTANDARD can be SYNONYMOUS to INCOMPETENCE in a way and in some context of usage).

"The poor boy from Bole" was accused of appointing amateurs as deputy ministers and ministers alike.These honourable men were described as "babies with sharp teeth."(Credit to former president Jerry John Rawlings).They were insulted,bastardized and reduced to nothing.
The former president was even pressed to the extent that he had to reply by saying that such critics have come no where near the presidency."You don't know what it takes to be president..."He charged.

That is the power of words.You never saw anything wrong when you were trying to run down a whole president and his appointees just because of the thirst for power.(The golden rule is applicable).

Today, it's a journalist not a politician against just two of your communicators and hell is breaking loose in this country.
Let the young man be.Sampson Lardi and Joy FM do not owe the NPP or its communicators any apology.After all,it's a democracy .It's freedom of speech.And just like Manasseh echoed,Journalist have the right and  must begin to dictate the pace.
Sampson Lardi and Joy FM must be bold and stand on principle.They should never render any apology to the NPP or its communicators . It's a matter of principle and not pity.

Happy Easter and May God Bless us all with renew hearts and minds to watch our words and put Ghana first.

ananpansah-ab.blogspot.com

ANANPANSAH,B ABRAHAM(AB)
0241129910/0200704844

GONJALAND IS GRADUALLY BECOMING A DESERT-A CONCERN YOUTH FUMES

GONJALAND IS  GRADUALLY BECOMING A DESERT-A CONCERN YOUTH FUMES

A concerned youth of Damongo and deputy communication director of the opposition NDC Zion Abdul Rauf  has lamented the extent to which gonjaland is fast losing its once upon a time fertile lands and forest.

Commenting on the issue of rosewood and charcoal burning,he asserted that although several bans have been imposed on the two activities, not much has been done to really clamp down on perpetrators of these activities.
He lay the blame squarely on the faces of chiefs,opinion leaders and the assembly for not putting their foot down and doing what they are supposed to do but always deceiving the public that they are fighting the menace when in actual case they are encouraging same.

Find below the full Statement as posted on Damongo Youth Parliament WhatsApp group.

Growing up in this community, I saw many of us climbing the educational ladder through the support of peasant farming which was the main occupation of our forefathers passed on to our fathers. My late father popularly called A.P.C was a peasant farmer. My late Mother, Mariama was also into sheanuts and dawadawa production. My late grandfather, Atuto Akati a.k.a Akass was herbalist, something he inherited from his late dad Akpampo Lange.

People from all walks of life across Ghana were always in our family house at Langbonto to seek for medications. I saw people being treated from all kinds of diseases. My grandfather used nothing apart from herbs to cure all manner of diseases. He made use of the lankprang,the kawuba,etc trees to save the lives of many.
All these trees are gone as a result of charcoal burning.

On daily basis,I can count not less than 60 articulator tracks leaving my community loaded with charcoal. Go into the bushes of Damongo and see the artificial mountains with smoke forcing its way out. People migrate from different parts of Ghana to Damongo not to come and farm but to destroy our forests. They are done with the big trees and now depending on garden sticks to make charcoal.

The land that was used for food production is gradually becoming a desert. What is the crime of the people of Damongo? Is it that laws don't work here or what is the problem?

Our chiefs and opinion leaders will continue to deceive us that it is as a result of chieftaincy issues that causes the seeming drought. I can't forget, back in our days at Jakpa J.H.S my agriculture tutor in the name of Mr Jawula Salisu of blessed memory, taught me that felling of trees can lead to draught.
Our chiefs will continue to deceive us by killing fowls and goats to pacify the gods for rainfall but that will never materialize until we sack this people who think it is only through charcoal burning that they can survive.

The most annoying aspect of the whole thing is that,there is no year you will not hear the West Gonja District Assembly placing a ban on this menace. The moment you hear there is a ban on charcoal burning, that will even bring this people more into the community. And this canker is not limited to West Gonja District; Central Gonja District in the Yapei-Kusawgu Constituency, North Gonja District, Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District etc. are not left out. I will therefore appeal to the the government of the day to as a matter of urgency place a permanent ban on charcoal burning like they are singing the hymn of stopping galamsey elsewhere. The Gonja Traditional Council, the Gonjaland Youth Association, our respected chiefs, the media especially the few ones in Gonjaland should help stop this menace in gonjaland.

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RESIDENTS OF DAMONGO FEAR THEIR BUSINESSES WILL COLLAPSE DUE TO LACK OF POWER

RESIDENTS OF DAMONGO FEAR THEIR BUSINESSES WILL COLLAPSE DUE TO LACK OF POWER

Residents of Damongo in the West Gonja District of the Northern Region are expressing fear about the possibility of their businesses collapsing due to lack of access to power for their prepaid meters.

For the past three days now,businesses,individual home business owners,departments and the only community radio station in the district have had to shut down their operations will-less,because the only sales point at the V.R.A substation in the district is unable to serve them power with the reason that their network is down.

A situation which is causing so much uneasiness among a section of the public,especially business owners that rely on power for their operations.

Debating the issue on Damongo Youth Parliament (DYP) political platform, majority of the youth parliamentarians therein are of the view that the number of sales point/vendors of power for the prepaid meters should not just be one but expanded to make it possible for power to be purchased at all times including Saturday's and Sunday's.Others however, are of the view that the prepaid metering system is not good for Damongo.To them, the post paid metering system should be maintained.

It's also widely perceived by a section of the public in Damongo that the kind of prepaid meters being installed in the district consume more power than normal.As such,they are more expensive to use than the post paid meters.

Information is also rife from suggestions and opinions sorted from the youth that if the current situation persists,a petition and planned demonstration will hit the town to drum home the displeasure of the youth about the situation.

Meanwhile,the installation of prepaid meters in Damongo has been intensified.We have picked intelligence to the effect that every single home in and around Damongo will soon be given a prepaid meter.

It can be recalled that,earlier attempt to install prepaid meters in Damongo prior to the 2016 general elections was vehemently resisted by the youth especially...The issue took a political dimension and upon series of stakeholder dialogue and meetings, the exercise had to be put on hold.

The youth have made a passionate appeal to appropriate authorities to act in order to safe the situation. 

Story filed by ANANPANSAH,B ABAHAM(AB)
ananpansah-ab.blogspot.com/Freelance Journalist
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Breaking News:Two Police Men Shot between Datoyilo and Sankpala

Breaking News:Two Police Men Shot between Datoyilo and Sankpala

Two police men have been seriously injured after a gun battle with some unknown armed robbers between Datoyilo and Sankpali along the Damongo-Tamale road.

The incident according to eye witness report happened around 7:00pm this evening after it was alleged that the said unknown robbers had snatched an ash saloon car from a near by community and were trying to abscond with it along that stretch of road.

The victim immediately called the Yapei police and a road-block was mounted around Datoyilo some few miles away from Sankpala.

The armed thief's upon reaching the road-block opened gun fire on the two men in black.One of the police men was shot in the head and arm while the other was shot on the leg.They continued to shoot at every side of the road till they got their way through.

According to the report,the unknown thief's succeeded in absconding with the said Saloon car by making a U-Turn along the Buipe road.

The injured police men have however been rushed to the hospital and are responding to treatment.

By ANANPANSAH,B ABRAHAM(AB)
FREE LANSE journalist
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