Mawada wins National Sanitation Challenge, crowned sanitation diplomat

Mawada wins National Sanitation Challenge, crowned sanitation diplomat

Naziru Mawada Titiaka,a form one student of the Damongo Model Girls' Junior High School in the West Gonja Municipal of the Savannah Region has been crowned the 2021 National Sanitation Diplomat following a keen contest.

The competition which has been put together by World Vision and Kings Hall Media saw a total of four student competing in the climax finale of the Triple Sanitation Challenge.

Little Mawada garnered a total of 25.3 points to beat her close contender,Annabel Ankonu of Suhum MA Experimental A. Primary School,who obtained 24.9 points.

Gladstone Yin-Naam Nachinab of Tamale Entoile Educational Centre placed third with a total of 23.2 points, whilst Emmanuella Naa Darkua Vandapuye of Methodist School finished fourth with 21.2 points.

As part of her wining package,Mawada will be supported to implement a one year sanitation project in Ghana. She also took home a cash prize of Ghc3,000.00, a laptop,branded T-shirts among other learning aids. 

The second,third and fourth runner-ups also received cash amounts, laptops and learning aids.

The various schools of the four finalist are to be supported with sanitation facilities.

Mawada's face beamed with striking happiness as she received the ultimate prize from the Minister of Sanitation and Water resources, Cecelia Abena Dapaah.

The fascinating story of Naziru Mawada Titiaka,12 year's of age, first came to the spotlight after blogger, Ananpansah,B Abraham reported that she had secured a slot to participate in the National Triple Sanitation Challenge.

She was selected among 10 qualified contestants drawn from applications received accross the country for the second round of the essay competition based on her understanding of sanitation issues in Ghana.

The first round of the open contest was the call for application,where students from the 216 districts in Ghana were ask to submit an essay on sanitation challenges in the country and how they intend to address those challenges as  young leaders serving in the capacity of the president of Ghana.

Determined Mawada emerged the winner of the second round of the Triple Sanitation Challenge (Masters Encounter). The 12-year-old girl was adjudged first  with a total of 89 points out of the four finalists selected at the Masters Encounter. A total of six out of ten contestants were eliminated at the Master's Encounter. All six excluded contestants received comfort prizes in addition to lunch and transportation support.

Teachers of Mawada, who saw her victory coming are proud of her remarkable accomplishment.

Source: Ananpansah, B Abraham

Canteen Electoral Area Neighborhood Watchdog Committee (NWC) inaugurated by Savannah Regional Police Command

Canteen Electoral Area

Official updates under the hashtag# Canteen on the gradual rise by grace!!!

Friday, September 10,2022.

Subject: Canteen Electoral Area Neighborhood Watchdog Committee (NWC) inaugurated by Savannah Regional Police Command

The rejuvenated Neighborhood Watchdog Committee (NWC) of the Canteen Electoral Area in Damongo in the West Gonja Municipal has been officially inaugurated by the Savannah Regional Police Command.

Under the leadership of the Assemblyman for the area working together with the chiefs and opinion leaders,the Neighborhood Watchdog Committee herein also referred to as Community Millitia is to partner with the police in maintaining law and order and combating crime in whatever forms in the community.

The inauguration was done by a team from the Savannah Regional Police Command led by the Deputy Regional Commander,DCOP Mr. Ebenezer Larbi and the Regional Crime Officer.

The 21-member Neighborhood Watchdog Committee made up of representatives from the four major zones in the electoral area were given formal training on their roles and the "Do's and Don'ts" of the committee.

In a brief remarks after the inauguration,DCOP Ebenezer Larbi pledged the complete support of the police in the work of the committee,whilst charging the members not to take the law into their own hands,but work closely with the police to help abate crime.

He said considering the inadequate staff strength of the police in the region,it can only be possible to effectively fight crime if the police get the maximum cooperation of the citizens.

He commended the Assemblyman and the community for the initiative, adding that, in response to the plea,three police officers will be attached to the Neighborhood Watchdog committee to support their work. He promised to work with the Assemblyman to mount a police barrier along the Canteen-to-Kotito road leading to Buipe to help combat the rising rate of armed robbery along that stretch.

The Regional Crime Officer also added his voice to the need for the watchdog Committee to be professional in discharging the voluntary mandate given them by the community.

The Assemblyman for the area, Ananpansah,B Abraham assured that the Watchdog Committee will be given the needed Independence and support to operate efficiently and effectively.

According to him,the work of the committee will be far removed from any interference from community political leaders and traditional authority to enable them discharge their assigned duties without fear or favor, noting that 'crime has no colorization.

Whilst commending the committee for the good sacrificial work so far,he admonished them to remain steadfast in embarking on intelligent led operations to enhance security consciousness and encourage community participation in crime prevention and build a strong information base to arrest perpetrators of crime in the electoral area. He pledged his full support and the support of the community for the work of the committee. 

Together with community members,a formal request was made to the police for a police barrier to be mounted at Kotito Number 3 along the Canteen-to- Buipe road to help combat the robbery cases along that stretch of road, especially on market days.

Mr. Diwura,who spoke on behalf of the chiefs expressed delight in the fact that the watchdog Committee was being revived. He said the day was memorable and will go down the history books of Canteen to have the whole entourage of the Regional Commander of Police come to the Canteen community to educate community members on security concerns.This he said has never been seen before.

Present for the occasion were chiefs and opinion leaders from the various areas of the electoral area,religious leaders and representatives from the Fulani community.

The overjoyed community members lauded and embraced the initiative, whilst pledging their support for the work of committee. 

Source: Office of the Assemblyman, Canteen Electoral Area

Damongo Youth Parliament and Canteen Youth Impound 550 Bags of Charcoal

Damongo Youth Parliament and Canteen Youth Impound 550 Bags of Charcoal

The Damongo Youth Parliament (DYP) together with the youth of Canteen in the West Gonja Municipal of the Savannah Region has seized bags of charcoal loaded in commercial quantities being smuggled out of the region.

A total of 550 bags of charcoal were impounded from a long vehicle believed to be bound from Kotito Number 2 to the southern part of Ghana.

The charcoal car was intercepted along the Canteen to Agric Offices road near the Canteen cemetery following a tip-off.

Upon a sober reflection and consultation with the key actors,the confiscated charcoal was given to the Canteen  Women at no cost. All the women around took home atleast, a bag of charcoal.

Some bags of the charcoal were taken to the Yagbonwura and his Chief linguist as exibits.

The action of the aggrieved youth became necessary after the driver of the said long vehicle failed to own up for the fear that the car would be led to the Yagbonwura's palace and its content off-loaded.

The initial demand of the youth was for the driver of the long charcoal vehicle to unmask him/herself and move the vehicle to the Yagbonwura's palace were the charcoal will be unloaded for further decision and action.

The evasive mate to the driver provoked the hell out of the youth when he failed to disclosed the whereabout of his boss compelling the youth to unladen the charcoal out of the truck.

Whilst the charcoal was being off-loaded,the buyer and the owner of the said charcoal appeared from the "blue sky's" and pleaded profusely and emotionally with the youth to give him a last chance.It was drama reincarnated at last!

He said he was ready to pay the youth any amount of money to be allowed to go,but the steady youth resisted any offer of money and carried through with their action of off-loading the entire content of the long vehicle.

The desperate charcoal buyer who used the name of God and money to plead with the youth, disclosed that he had already spent a lot on middle men among others, adding that, his life will be ruined if the charcoal is confiscated.

It can be recalled that at a 'Regional Consultative Forum with the youth' on the Environment and Sustainable Development held on August 28,2021, the chiefs and youth adopted a resolution to clamp down on the activities of loggers and commercial charcoal burners in the various districts of the Savannah Region in an attempt to restore the fragile vegetative cover.

The stakeholders' dialogue was called at the instance of the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs and chaired by Buipewura Jinapor II, who is the chairman of the Yagbonwura's committee of Five Eminent Chiefs.

The youth groups in various areas were handed the power by the Committee of Eminent Chiefs and tasked to lead the enforcement of the ban, with the Buipewura charging them to confiscate any charcoal that attempts to leave the soils of the region effective 29th August, 2021.

Source: Ananpansah, B Abraham (AB)

(0241129910/0200704844)

Mawada emerges first, qualifies for grand finale of National Triple S Challenge

Mawada emerges first, qualifies for grand finale of National Triple S Challenge

Naziru Mawada Titiaka,a form one student of the Damongo Model Girls'Junior High school in the West Gonja Municipal of the Savannah Region has emerged the ultimate winner of the Round Two( Masters Encounter) of the Triple Sanitation Challenge.

Little Mawada,12 years of age, was adjudged first out of the four selected finalist at the Master's Encounter with a total of 89 points. She was followed closely by Annabel Ankonu from Suhum MA Experimental A Primary School, who garnered 85.3 points to place second;Gladstone Yinnaam Nachinab from Entoile Educational Centre in Tamale obtained 83 points to occupy the third position; with Emanuella from Methodist School grabbing the fourth position with a total of 80.3 points.

A total of six(6) out of the ten(4) contestants were eliminated by a 3-member panel of experts at the Master's Encounter stage of the Triple Sanitation Challenge being organized by World Vision and Kings Hall Media. All six eliminated contestants took home consolation prizes in addition to lunch and transportation support.

The remaining four contestants will now proceed to the climactic finale of the sanitation challenge scheduled for 18th September,2021, where one of them will eventually emerge the ultimate winner of the competition.

The Genesis(Round one) of the Triple Sanitation open contest was the call for application,where students from the 216 districts in Ghana were ask to submit an essay on sanitation challenges in the country and how they intend to address those challenges as  young leaders serving in the capacity of the president of Ghana.

Naziru Mawada Titiaka was assisted by her teachers to submit her application and got selected among 10 qualified contestants drawn from applications received accross the country for the second round of the essay competition based on her understanding of sanitation issues in Ghana.

In the Round Two (Master's Encounter) of the Sanitation Challenge,young determined Mawada competently defended her essay verbally and demonstrated deep understanding of issues of sanitation, especially in Ghana before a 3-member panel of experts with an audience.

Smart Mawada has since being flawn back to Damongo to prepare for the finals of the competition scheduled to take place in Accra on September 18,2021, which will be a quiz on issues of sanitation in Ghana.

Being the only contestant from the Savannah Region and one of the two contestants from Northern Ghana now left in the competition; teachers of Mawada, who are proud of her performance thus far, are confident that she will be crowned the ultimate champion of the competition when all is said and done.

She intends to implement the Polluter Pay Principle and CLTS concept, construct Solar Powered Urine Diversion Toilets and Substeranian Drains,ban single used plastic materials inter alia to drive solutions to sanitation challenges in Ghana.

Our collective supplications are to determined Mawada to make Savannah Region proud.

Source: Ananpansah, B Abraham

Student of Damongo Model Girls' wins slot to Participate in national Triple S Challenge

Student of Damongo Model Girls' wins slot to Participate in national Triple S Challenge

A form one student of the Damongo Model Girls' Junior High school in the West Gonja Municipal of the Savannah Region has been selected to participate in the Round Two( Masters Encounter) of the Triple Sanitation Challenge being organized by World Vision and Kings Hall Media.

Naziru Mawada Titiaka,12 years of age, was selected among 10 qualifed contestants drawn from applications received accross the country for the second round of the essay competition based on her understanding of sanitation issues in Ghana.

The first round of the open contest was the call for application,where students from the 216 districts in Ghana were ask to submit an essay on sanitation challenges in the country and how they intend to address those challenges as  young leaders serving in the capacity of the president of Ghana.

Mawada's invitation letter read, "World Vision Ghana and Kings Hall Media,the organizers of the School Sanitation Solution(Triple S) challenge,are pleased to inform you that one of your students(list attached) has qualifed to participate in Round Two (Masters Encounter) of the Triple S Challenge. He/she is therefore being invited to participate in a contest,where all qualifed contestants will defend their essays verbally and demonstrate understanding of issues of sanitation, especially in Ghana before a 3-member panel of experts with an audience".

At the Master's Encounter,six contestants are expected to be eliminated with the remaining four proceeding to the grand finale of the essay competition. The six eliminated contestants will however, receive consolation prizes in addition to lunch and transport support.

Little Mawada has since been flawn to Accra,Alisa Hotel where the competition will be taking place.

Being the only contestant from Savannah Region and among the only three from the five regions of the north, teachers of little Mawada who are proud of her selection are confident that she will make it to the finals and ultimately emerge the winner of the sanitation challenge.

Smart Mawada intends to implement the polluter pay principle;one household,one toilet initiative; recycle and reuse of plastic products, use of technology among others to drive solutions to the Sanitation challenges in Ghana.

Our collective supplications are to determined and brilliant Mawada to make Savannah Region proud.

Source: Ananpansah B. Abraham

We're declaring war on logging and commercial charcoal burning-Chiefs and youth of Savannah Region

We're declaring war on logging and commercial charcoal burning-Chiefs and youth of Savannah Region

The battle to bring to an end the twin destructive activities of logging and commercial charcoal burning in the Savannah Region has just been drawn.

At a 'Regional Consultative Forum with the youth' on the Environment and Sustainable Development,the chiefs and youth adopted a resolution to clampdown on the activities of loggers and commercial charcoal burners in the various districts of the Savannah Region in an attempt to restore the fragile vegetative cover.

The regional stakeholders dialogue was called at the instance of the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs and chaired by Buipewura Jinapor II,who is the chairman of the Yagbonwura's committee of Five Eminent Chiefs.

The Buipewura intimated that banning of logging and commercial charcoal burning was a done done and that from 29th August,2021,the youth have been given the mandate to seize the content of any charcoal car or logs leaving the shores of the Savannah Region for aunction to the public.

"We are(today) declaring war on commercial charcoal burning and logging and you(the youth) are hereby recruited as soldiers. We will be in our rooms as commanders giving you instructions and the needed support. No vehicle should be allowed to carry logs or charcoal more than five bags out of the Savannah Region,"he directed.

He declared that the Bolewura led committee on environment was dissolved with immediate effect,stating that the Five Member Committee of Eminent Chiefs chaired by him has now been tasked by the Yagbonwura to take over and spearhead the implementation of the ban on commercial charcoal burning and logging.

The other members of the committee are: Bolewura Kutwe Feso 1, Paramount Chief of the Bole Traditional Area;Kpembiwura Ndefeso Banbange IV, Paramount Chief of the Kpembi Traditional Area;Kongwura Jinkurige I, Paramount Chief of the Kong Traditional Area and Mankpanwura Jakpa Acho-Ade II, Paramount Chief of the Mankpan Traditional Area. Jeremiah Seidu was introduced as the newly appointed environmental consultant to the committee.

The Buipewura also announced that all receipts that were hitherto issued on charcoal and logs in the name of any association or individual or institution henceforth, have been banned and withdrawn with immediate effect, adding that, sanctions would be meted out to any individual who issues any of such receipts.

The youth groups in various areas were handed the power by the committee and tasked to lead the enforcement of the ban,with the Buipewura charging them to confiscate any charcoal that attempts to leave the soils of the region effective 29th August,2021, without commiting any excesses.

The now defunct Bolewura led committee on environment in a speech delivered on its behalf by the secretary, Abutu Kapori, before its dissolution reiterated the need to continue to place a permanent ban on illegal logging, commerical charcoal burning, commercial fuel wood harvesting in the region and to continue to stage press conferences to inform the public on progress of work. He said the twin activities of logging and commercial charcoal burning remain banned in the region.

Leadership of the Gonjaland Youth Association,the Damongo Youth Parliament and the various ethnic groups unanimously pledged their support for the decision arrived at and pledged their full commitment to working as directed to sustain the ban and restore the depleted environment.

The youth groups were also tasked to come out with modalities aimed at regaining the lost forest cover and how to convey the abondoned charcoal and logs still in the bush as well as what do to with the pieces of wood at the Yipala Wood Factory.

Source : Ananpansah B. Abraham

Assemblyman takes steps to end "No Desk Syndrome,"secures 218 mono desks for schools in Electoral Area

Assemblyman takes steps to end "No Desk Syndrome,"secures 218 mono desks for schools in Electoral Area

The Assembly Member for the Canteen Electoral Area in the West Gonja Municipal of the Savannah Region,Ananpansah Bartholomew Abraham,has secured Mono Desks for schools in the Electoral Area.

This he said forms part of measures taken by his office working in close collaboration with duty bearers to eradicate the agelong "No Desk Syndrome" in schools within the electoral area.

In all,Two Hundred and Eighteen (218) Mono Desk were secured from the Municipal Assembly and distributed among all the nine (9) Primary and Junior High schools in the Canteen Electoral Area.

The beneficiary schools include: Canteen Primary School Block A and Block B,St. Anne's Primary School Block A and Block B, Canteen Junior High school Block A and Block B,Agric Settlement School,St. Theresa Primary School and Frafra Resettlement School.

At a brief ceremony to hand over the furniture,the Assemblyman disclosed that the intervention forms part of ongoing efforts by his office to liase with stakeholders to enhance effective teaching and learning across the various schools in the electoral area by closing the logistical gap.

He reiterated his commitment to making Canteen Electoral Area a model and shinning example, whilst appealing to the beneficiary schools to put the desk into good use.

"I'm particularly happy that following our routine visits to the schools,the worrying challenge we identified,were students sit on the floor and broken chairs to learn is being addressed today.

Let's together continue to contribute our little quota towards the development of education in the Electoral Area. I am committed and I know you're committed as well,"he said.

He thanked the Savannah Regional Minister and Ag. Municipal Chief Executive for West Gonja,Saeed Muhazu Jibreal and the District Coordinating Director,Petro Philimon Ankorley for responding to his appeal, praying them for more support for the electoral area.

The heads of the various schools and their representatives expressed gratitude for the intervention, describing the gesture as timely and a huge sigh of relief. They said the support would go a long way to ameliorate the hitherto situation of students pairing a desk and sitting on the floor or broken chairs to learn, which was impeding effective teaching and learning.

Like Oliver Twist,they appealed to the Assemblyman to continue the good work of lobbying with the necessary stakeholders for more of such logistical support for the schools.

The elated students present at the occasion expressed gratitude, since they were going to be direct beneficiaries of the intervention.

Source: Office of Assemblyman- Canteen