MP moves to fix broken-down borehole in Canteen

MP moves to fix broken-down borehole in Canteen

The member of parliament for Damongo constituency,hon. Adam Mutawakilu has moved to the aid of the people of Canteen in the West Gonja District of the Northern Region in a prompt response to a plea by a radio presenter,Ananpansah B Abraham to fix a broken-down mechanized borehole.

The pump of the mechanized borehole which is among the only two boreholes supplying the whole of Canteen and some residents of Damongo township water,got damaged for close to a month today and has since not been fixed.
The radio presenter known in radio circles as 'AB for Short',also a member of the community descended heavily on the managers of the facility during a popular weekly political talk show,'Within the Issues' hosted by himself on Radio Pad 95.1mhz Saturday evening.

He lamented that the situation was visiting untold hardship and pain on the people, especially his mothers and retarding economic activities, adding that he doesn't understand why monies are taken for every pan of water fetched from the facility but when it breaks down, same cannot be used to fix it.The situation according to him,was putting a lot of undue pressure on the only facility now left and causing long queues which irritates his eyes as a concerned community member.
His frustration was not different from one of his panel members,Amidu Abdallah who also revealed a similar situation in his area,Yagbonkura.

The outspoken presenter,recounted that the last time the same facility broke down,it had to take the intervention of a 'white man' through a community person 'uncle Mushe to fix it.He questioned the essence of taking the money and how long such a trend would continue,pleading with listeners and the community to rise to the occasion of tackling such issues devoid of politics,since water has no political colorisation.

The West Gonja District manager of Ghana Water Company(GWC),hon.Atta Zack was raised on the phone line to respond to the issues particularly,the broken down boreholes in Canteen and other parts of the District.
The manager conceded that he was aware of the situation in Canteen and some other two communities including Yagbonkura.
He disclosed on the program in response to a question posed by the host that genuine effort was being made by his office to address the situation.
On accountability,he said contrary to public perception that they were generating a lot of revenue from the sale of the water to the public,the monies they usually receive is nominal and inadequate to fix most of the damages they usually incur.

The MP whose ears are always on the ground with regards to happenings in his constituency got wind of the radio discussion and the plight of the people of Canteen which was topical.He immediately contacted the presenter on Sunday to ascertain the situation,and promised to support the community fix the damaged pump the next day,Monday.
The MP enquired from the District manager to confirm the extent of the damage and how he can support fix the challenge.

The legislator through the local committee managing the two mechanized boreholes in Canteen,opinion and community leaders,his rep and the radio presenter then handed a cash sum of Ghc1000.00 to the District branch of the GWCL to help fix the challenge.
In receiving the money, the District manager thanked the MP, admitting that the amount far exceeded their expectation.Together with the endorsement of his pump attendant,he promised to fix the damaged pump within the next 24 hours.

The chief of Canteen,opinion leaders and the chief Iman who were briefed about the donation,together with the delegation that presented the sum to the District GWCL expressed profound gratitude to the MP for the kind gesture.The community at large is full of praise for the MP.

It can be confirmed that the situation at Yagbonkura has equally been fixed the next day after the radio discussion. There is also currently,a bandwagon by the youth to clean the weedy area around the soon-to-be fixed borehole in Canteen on Friday in the forenoon.

The MP is expected to complete some five(5) mechanized boreholes project he started for communities such as Busunu,Tailorpe,Achubunyor and Sumpini by the end of the year up to the first quarter of 2019.He disclosed in a phone-interview with this writer that,he has secured additional 12 hand pump boreholes for some communities dotted around the constituency under his 'self-initiated mechanized boreholes project' as part of effort to provide clean and adequate water supply to the entire Damongo constituency.

Source:Village Writer (AB)

Yagbonwura installs Akuffo-Addo as chief who 'speaks and acts'

Yagbonwura installs Akuffo-Addo chief who 'speaks and acts'

The president of the Republic of Ghana,His Excellency Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo-Addo has been installed as a chief that ' speaks and acts' by the overlord of the Gonja Traditional Area,Yagbonwura Tutumba Bore Esa I.

His skin name is 'Yenawura Wura'.

The enskinment according to Yagbonwura,in a speech read on his behalf when the president paid a working visit to him at the Jakpa palace as part of his three-day working tour of the Northern Region was in recognition of his many fulfilled promises, including the creation of the proposed Savannah Region.

"Your Excellency,my chiefs and I, and indeed all the people of Gonjaland shall be your partners in this coming and ongoing development projects.We are committed to work tirelessly and devotedly,to realise the full completion of a Savannah Region to your vision of a Ghana beyond aid.We shall endeavor to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you in our journey towards creating a prosperous and a peaceful Ghana.

Mr.President,you're truly a man of your word, and that is why today,we shall give you a special and ark recognition.I,Yagbonwura Tutumba Bore Esa Sulemana Jakpa the first,recognise you President Nana Akufo-Addo as 'Yenawura wura, 'a man that speaks and acts.This ceremony would follow now,"he said.

He remarked as unprecedented,three visits by Akuffo-Addo within nine months to the area outside an electioneering period,adding that,it was a clear manifestation of his desire to keep faith with the people,consult to know their issues first hand and build consensus.

The Yagbonwura further stated that he was pleased with the stewardship of the president thus far,and excited about the positive impact and the difference of his bold initiatives such as the planting for food and jobs,free SHS,IDIF, IVID and the re-organization of the regions,professing that the initiatives were been felt in the lives of the ordinary Ghanaians.

Whilst expressing appreciation and support for the creation of the Savannah Region,he disclosed that the vision of a Savannah Region has been pending for over three decades and only a man of vision and determination could bring the creation to a reality within such a short time.
He assured the president of a massive turnout during the referendum,emphasizing that,the president has kept his word by doing his constitutionally mandated duty and the people of Gonjaland will do their part beyond his imagination.

He said,"Your Excellency,my people and I,are appreciative of the bold decision you took in response to our request for the creation of the Savannah Region....I wish to assure you of the full support of the people of Gonjaland in ensuring that this journey for the creation of the Savannah Region which has been pending for over three decades becomes a reality during your time as president.It has been a bold initiative and only a man of vision,courage and determination can bring this thus far in such a short time,"he asserted.

The overlord debunked allegations that the proposed Savannah Region was a mono-ethnic region,reiterating that there were over 20 ethnic groups that identify with Gonjaland and are living in unity and peace.He appealed to the president to consider constructing an express link road in preparation for the Savannah Region to connect East Gonja,Kusawgu and Tuluwe to Damongo which is the proposed Regional Capital.

He expressed gratitude to the president for projects embarked on in the traditional area,such as the construction of the Accident Emergency Medical centre along the high way in Central Gonja District,three bridges earmarked in the 2018 budget in North Gonja District,the Business Advisory Resource Centre In Damongo for the development of enterprises in line with the IDIF,the completion of the District Assembly complex in North Gonja,the construction township water systems in four deprived communities in North Gonja and the anticipated completion of the Tamale, Salaga-Makango road among others.

To take full advantage of the planting for food and jobs programme and exploit the vast arable lands in Gonjaland,the Yagbonwura reminded the president of his promise to convert the Damongo Agricultural College into a Technical Agricultural Agro-Business University.

The colorful ceremony was attended by people from all walks of life including high profiled politicians,chiefs and traditional leaders, religious leaders and the media.

Source:Ananpansah B Abraham(AB)

Do not be misled by misinformation and calumny of opposition press-Bagbin

Do not be misled by misinformation and calumny of opposition press-Bagbin

The Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament,Albert S. Bagbin has adjured members of the NDC to refrain from falling for what he describes 'misinformation and calumny of opposition press', which he says has the tendency of causing dissatisfaction,distrust and hatred among the family.

In response to unremitting attacks on him by members of the party over widely circulated comments he purportedly made to the effect that the party had no leadership,he said his interview with the mediae were taken out of context,adding that no where has he stated what was currently been circulated.

" Oh members! No where have I stated what is being circulated(rephrased).I paid my tribute to the late Vice President at the AICC this morning...A reporter from citi fm suggested that the party could use the opportunity created by the death to unite the party.

I conceded to the fact that we could have taken advantage of the death to further unite the party like we did during the demise of the late President Mills. But the way we came in separate groups, we have lost the opportunity. I conceded again that we could have done better.

I said as leaders we didn't plan today's attendance well. Where did JM come into this? Please the leader of the Party is a constitutional matter. It is clear in the party's constitution that the National Chairman is the leader of the Party when in opposition. So why the reference to JM? Is JM the National Chairman?....", the Nadowli legislator quizzed.

He further lamented that the attacks on him which have been going on for sometime now are not healthy,and that a lot of the stories usually ascribed to him were untrue, adding that his response to those untrue stories do not usually get the same coverage or the same prominence.

He admonished members to always try and cross-check before reacting to most of the stories.

Source:Ananpansah B Abraham (AB)

Bishop hands over three unit KG block, office complex to St. Peters' basic school in Lingbensi

Bishop hands over three unit KG block, office complex to St. Peters' basic school in Lingbensi

The Bishop of the Diocese of Damongo and chairman of Ghana Prisons Council, Most Rev.Peter Paul Angkyier has handed over a three unit kindergarten block, an office complex and a staff common room to St.Peters' cluster of schools in Lingbensi in the North Gonja District of Northern Region of Ghana.

Constructed with full funding(Ghc130,000) from the Cross Catholic in Kenya,the facility is expected to lighten the massive infrastructural gap the school was currently bedevilled with.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony,the Bishop emphasized that,catholic education has been part and parcel of the missionary work in Northern Ghana since its inception,because education is about human promotion, adding that,illiteracy which leads to poverty and misery are obstacles to life.

Catholic education according to him is based on the mandate of Christ and focuses on the human person who is related to other people and that is why intercultural and interreligious dialogue are some of the special qualities of Catholic education.

He further stated that,in the context of Catholic education,it is not just about passing exams but character formation,thus,developing the human person Intellectually,emotionally,socially,spiritually inter alia.

"In the context of Catholic Education,we are not looking at only passing exams.I think recently,the government mentioned that they want to reform education by moving from the stage where you only pass exams to building character.This is basically what Catholic education is all about;developing the human person Intellectually,from the emotionally,socially,spiritually,culturally,religiously...,"he said.

He called on the teachers to espoused the principles of commitment,dedication,discipline, sacrifice and hardwork; and make their relationship with pupils formative and transformative for the school to grow and develop.

Whilst admonishing the school to preserve the environment and plant trees,he applauded the District assembly,GES office,the chiefs and opinion leaders for the diverse support they have been rendering to the school.

The Guidance and Counseling Coordinator of the District and the acting headmaster of Wasipe S.H.S.,Isaac Nyame acting on behalf of the DCE pledged the continuous support of the assembly towards the needs of the school.
He however,lamented the lack of commitment and dedication on the part of teachers,as well as ,the lack of interest on the part of parents towards the education of their wards.He called on the education directorate to strengthen its monitoring and supervision.

Dr.Rev.Clement Aapegnua who represented the Cross Catholic related in brief how the project came about,and that if there was any thank you , it is to the Bishop,because he first 'cried that there was a need here'.He disclosed that anytime the Bishop comes around on pastoral visit, he listens to the challenges,needs and difficulties of the people and try to find ways he can help. So it was during one of those advocacy,a group called Cross Catholic heard of the need of the Diocese and expressed interest in helping in the area of education.The Bishop directed that they should be sent first to Lingbesi, and that was how the project was realised.

The head teacher of the School, Alori Wer Daniel bemoaned the inadequate furniture in the school with about three to five pupils sharing one mono desk or at worst checking the floor.He disclosed that the facility came at the right time, since at present the school was currently occupying two classrooms of the S.H.S., and have to vacate the premises next academic year.

The total enrolment of the school according to him currently stands at 469 pupils,consisting of 225 boys and 244 girls.KG1 and KG2 and all other classes have enrollment of more than 60 pupils, and that even though, the school has enough teachers for double stream,they lacked facilities.
Whilst thanking the Cross Catholic for the kind gesture, he called on the assembly and other groups to come to the aid of the school.

The ceremony was graced by the Bishop of the Diocese of Damongo,the DCEs representative,representative of the District director of GES,Rev.Clement Aapegnua,other clergymen,teachers, students,chiefs and opinion leaders,parents and the media.

Source:Ananpansah B Abraham (AB)

Stop destroying the environment-Bishop Angkyier decries

Stop destroying the environment-Bishop Angkyier decries

The Bishop of the Diocese of Damongo who doubles as the chairman of the Ghana Prison council,Most Rev. Peter Paul Angyier has widely condemned the destruction of the environment by some residents of Daboya in the North Gonja District of Northern Ghana.

The servant of the Lord bewailed the indiscriminate logging and commercial charcoal burning within the Bawena,Mankarigu,Kpulimbo, Yezori and Diisah areas of the North Gonja District which fall under the Damongo Diocese.

These activities he believed,are having a heavy toil on the environment and endangering our common future.

He made these remarks during a four-day pastoral visit to some  parishes in the Diocese.

"As leaders,we have the duty to preserve the gifts of God for the benefit of the welfare of the entire community,"he said.

The Bishop who was alarmed,wondered why community members would co-operate with individuals and groups to exploit and destroy the environment.

He launched a passionate appeal to the overlord of the Wasipe Traditional Area and his sub-chiefs and politicians to put in place the necessary measures to clampdown on the twin evils which in his own words are "a slow killer to the lives of the inhabitants."

Weighing-in on the peace of the area,the Bishop observed that there was an eazily broken relationship among the different tribal groups.This he said had the tendency of breading suspicion and insecurity which are inimical to development.This is despite the apparent peace among the different people leaving in the area.

He lamented on the inadequate resources and infrastructural support to facilitate the work of the church,in terms of leadership due to high illiteracy rate among the people.

Source:Ananpansah B Abraham

We will bare our teeth at Kennedy Agyapong after funeral of late vice president-Chairman Azorka

We will bear our teeth at Kennedy Agyapong after funeral of late vice president-Chairman Azorka

The woes of maverick politician,Kennedy Agyapong seem to be coming to an end as the Northern Regional Chairman of the opposition NDC hints that,he and his boys were going to show him their teeth after the funeral of the late vice president, H.E. Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur.

In a statement challenging the Assin Central legislator to come clean,Chairman Sofo Azorka maintained that,at no point in time before,during and after the 2016 elections had his boys met Kennedy Agyapong.He debunked totally allegations that Kennedy Agyapong stopped the Azorka boys of NDC from rigging the 2016 elections.

He said the attempts by Kennedy Agyapong to divert attention as NDC is planning to hit the road on the removal of the Electoral Commissioner and her two deputies will not wash.

"I challenge Kennedy Agyapong to come clean with his diversionary allegations just because NDC is planning to hit the road on the removal of the Electoral Commissioner and her two deputies.We are unshaken with this blatant lies and will soon show our teeth after the funeral of the late Vice President,H.E Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur,"the chairman fumes.

He further pointed out that the allegation made by the Assin Central MP that Azorka boys has been rigging elections for the NDC is untenable, adding that the group is not part of the NDC Election Directorate and does not meddle in their activities.

According to him,the NPP is going through difficulties and can only take to diversionary tactics to resuscitate.The removal of the EC boss and her two deputies is giving the NPP a lot of nightmare in his view,and the only body the NPP and Kennedy Agyapong fear is the Azorka boys,hence the monstrous lies being heaped on him and his boys.

His statement was in response to an allegation by Kennedy Agyapong that he contracted the leader of Azorka boys and promised him a Land Cruiser and gifts just to influence him to control his boys on the day of the elections.He said it took his effort to tame the Azorka boys from intimidating and terrorising voters which would have paved way for the NDC to smuggle their illegally created thumb printed ballots from their disillusioned polling stations to the collation centres for counting.

Source:Ananpamsah B Abraham

Upgrade Tinga health Centre to polyclinic-Chiefs and Opinion leaders to government

Upgrade Tinga health Centre to polyclinic-Chiefs and Opinion leaders to government

The chiefs and opinion leaders of Tinga in Bole District of the Northern Region of Ghana have called on government to consider upgrading Tinga Health Centre to the status of a Polyclinic.

They launched this appeal on receiving hospital equipment worth hundreds of Ghana cedis from the Franciscan Missionary of Mary(FMM),a Catholic religious body.

The items received include:Four examination beds,10 beds with mattresses,20 bed sheets,two trolleys,six screens,three wheel chairs,two Delivery beds,two Oxygen cylinders,two patient stretch,three Delivery set,four Accoson BP monitors,four stethoscopes,one infrared thermometer,10 digital thermometers,two Weighing scale hanging,three Heavy duty scales,eight Bed pans,eight Vagina speculum metals,two Sonicade digitals,two Sterilizers,six Drip stands ,four Urinals,10 Dressing sets,two Glucometers,three Armpit crutches,one Zimmer Frame,one Weighing scale (bowl),one Otoscope,two Fridges,three crutches,two Motor bikes,15 Patient benches,four Nurses tables,eight Chairs,two Resuscitation machine,10 Blankets,three Computers,10 Mackintosh,10 Pillows and one polytank.

The huge support received according to the chiefs and opinion leaders set enough fertile grounds for the facility to be upgraded to a polyclinic.
Whilst thanking the donors for the support,they disclosed that it was the first time the facility was receiving such a massive support since its establishment.

In handing over the items,Msgr.Augstine Towoni,the Vical General of the Damongo Diocese who represented the Bishop,Most Rev. Peter Paul Angkyier, stated that,the catholic church is human development centered and does not rely on catholic population in an area before providing basic social amenities for the common good of the people. 

He disclosed that,since the creation of the Damongo Catholic Diocese in 1995, the church had built clinics in the diocese,which is covered by five political administrations namely: West, Central,and North Gonja Districts,Bole and Sawla-Tuna- Kalba Districts. 

He reiterated that,aside the Damongo catholic hospital,plans are far ahead to upgrade the St. Joseph clinic in Kalba,a hinterland of Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District to the status of a hospital.This he said will bring proper healthcare service delivery to the people of that part of the country and will also serve neighboring Burkina Faso and the Ivory Coast,which share boundaries with Kalba and are currently seeking healthcare services at the St. Joseph clinic.

He underscored that,the church’s effort in providing basic social amenities in the area that they operate is to complement government's effort and not to compete with government.

The facility In-charge,Mr. Okpaa Cephas Kwasi,stated that,since the establishment of the facility in 1976,it has been facing a lot of operational challenges ranging from human resource to equipment.

He said,"this donation does not only bring relieve to the workers but also patients,most especially,pregnant women who in most cases we are compelled to refer to Bole because of lack of proper maternity facilities.This poses a life risk to the unborn and the mother.Now,with a well-furnished maternity ward with modern health facilities at the center, pregnant women can now heeve a sigh of relieve and we assure them of our professionalism in safe delivery and also the development at the facility is a moral boaster for we the eight professional nurses and other workers."

Mr.Cephas disclosed that,the facility currently serves over 200 settler communities,mostly from hinterlands who are farmers and small scale mining operators and records OPD attendance of over 30 a day before the project.
According to him, Tinga Township is along the Wa –Kumasi trunk road and is considered an accident-prone area. He stated that many accident victims’ lives could have been safed if the facility had received these equipment earlier. 

He thanked the donors:Missionszentrale der Franziskaner e.v in Germany for their effort in helping to improve healthcare delivering by providing this equipment and also added his voice to the opinion leaders call on government to upgrade the facility to a polyclinic.

Rev. Fr. Martin Muosaayir,the Parish Priest of Christ the King parish at Tinga, stated that,it is regrettable that these days’,people are turned away from even bigger hospitals in the cities as a result of no bed for admission,adding that this shows how limited our health facilities are in health care delivery.
The community according to him,therefore,received the equipment with great relieve and joy and urged the staff to put the equipment into good use.

Rev. Sr.Sebatiana Bekyane,the brain behind the project and donation said that,as a staff of the health center,she realized that clinic attendance was high but with very limited equipment making their operation very challenging.Rev.Sebatiana who had work at different hospitals said a colleague from Germany visited them at Tinga and decided to visit her work place and on seeing the poor state of the health center,encouraged her to put a proposal for support.

Together with her congregation,a proposal was put together and sent to Germany and it was approved,she said.
She disclosed that,her joy was seeing the staff work under good condition and attending to patience in conducive environment and that,she is very grateful to the bishop for giving them(FMM) the opportunity operate in his diocese.

Source:Ananpansah B Abraham

Beating of war drums by Nawuris and Nchumurus regrettable-Kokomba youth

Beating of war drums by Nawuris and Nchumurus regrettable-Kokomba youth

The youth of Kokomba in the Kpandai District of Northern Region has cautioned the Nawuris and Nchumurus against beating war drums that have the tendency of distempering the peace of the area.

In a statement signed by the Vice Chairman of the Kokomba committee of Kpandai and copied to Ghanaweb's Northern Regional Correspondent,Ananpansah B Abraham,the youth described as regrettable attempts by what they call "dishonest pedestrians" to destabilize the peace they brokered with Gonjas after the 1991 conflict.

Whilst maintaining that they(Kokombas) constitute 70% of the population in Kpandai,they expressed their strong desire to be part of the proposed Savannah Region.

"It is an undeniable fact that,they Konkonbas constitute about Seventy percent(70%) of the population in Kpandai....The desire of the Konkonba Community in Kpandai to be part of the proposed Savannah Region was demonstrated during the Commission's public hearing...

We as Konkombas in Kpandai wish to place on record that, we smoked a peace pipe with Gonjas after the 1991 conflicts and wish to stand by the peace process as we and the Gonjas continue to interact in a peaceful, civil and a respectable manner as brothers and cousins for the development of Kpandai.

The beating of war drums now by the Nawuris and the Nchumurus in which they seek for alliances is regrettable because we the Konkombas in Kpandai see the Gonjas as our allies and intend to remain so,"the statement said.

The concerns of the Kokomba youth come on the backdrop of an earlier statement released by the Nawuris and Nchumurus of Kpandai where they declared war at any least attempt to include Kpandai District in the proposed Savannah Region.

In the said statement,they expressed readiness to fight for their tiny lands and oppose any attempt by the Gonjas to usurp their tiny God-given lands with the last drop of their blood as they did in 1991 and 1992 during the Nawuri-Nchurumu-Kokomba-Gonja conflict, adding that any attempt to include Kpandai District in the proposed Savannah Region instead of the proposed Oti region will be tantamount to declaring war between the Nawuris and Nchumurus on one hand and the Gonjas on the other hand.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo made a promise during the 2016 electioneering campaign to create new regions to enhance administrative efficiency.In fulfilling the promise upon assuming office as president,he set up a Commission of inquiry under the chairmanship of Justice Brobbey to look into and establish the need and substantial demand for the creation of new regions.

The Commission completed its work and submitted a report to the president recommending the creation of six (6) new administrative regions in Ghana.The commission recommended that two regions should be created out of the current Brong Ahafo region to have Ahafo and Brong East, two out of the current Northern Region, to have North East and Savannah.

The youth of Gonjaland(G.L.Y.A) who are advocating for the creation of Savannah Region however,resistant any attempt to create a Savannah Region without Kpandai District, adding that they can accommodate a Savannah region with Kpandai District otherwise they prefer to remain where they are.

They are proposing the creation of a Savannah Region with the following Districts in order to preserve the territorial integrity and dignity of the Gonja Kingdom:Sawla-Tuna-Kalba,Bole, West Gonja,Central Gonja,North Gonja,East Gonja and Kpandai.

Source:Ananpansah B Abraham