We intend to take technology to grassroots - Co-founder of iValley Ghana

We intend to take technology to grassroots - Co-founder of iValley Ghana

The Co-founder of iValley Ghana,Prince Nabil Mahama has said his outfit intends to take technology and innovation to the doorsteps of the people of the Savannah Region.

Addressing a crop of young leaders at the first ever Startup Summit for young entrepreneurs in the Savannah Region held at Damongo,the regional capital, he said there was the need for young people to identify problems confronting their communities and devise solutions to address those challenges with the help of technology.

According to him,the goal is to reduce business failures in the Savannah Region and equip the youth with capacity building and entrepreneural skills towards reducing youth unemployment in the region and Ghana at large.

He said the summit was in partnership with the GhanaTechLab after six weeks of intensive training in Mobile Application Development for 13 young people in the Savannah Region,adding that," we started this program with 23 people,10 dropped out because of numerous reasons leaving these 13".

The trainees after the six weeks were given the opportunity to identify problems within their communities and develop a mobile application to address the identified problems. Four groups namely: Smart Farms,Gyeeda, Savannah tours and delivery hub came up with various solutions to challenges surrounding farming, culture, tourism and food delivery in the Savannah Region for pitching. At the end,Gyeeda was adjudged winners and selected alongside Savannah tours and delivery hub for the incubation stage of the competition. A seed capital of Ghc200.00 was given to each of the winning groups to assist register their businesses.

Dr. Abdul Fatahi Kambala, a lecturer at the University for Development Studies and a Business Development Consultant commended iValley and its partners for the initiative.

He said despite the enthusiasm of the youth of today, there was currently a gap in knowledge between their frustrations and solutions available to address those frustrations.

According to him,the youth of society in this modern era need to change their attitude towards progress and be agents of change instead of victims of this change.

"We have to do something to change our attitude here and now. We all have to come together to make that change. The world is changing on a daily basis. We should be agents of change,but not victims of this change that is happening.We have moved from green revolution to industrial revolution. Now, information is what is bringing us the needed change and if we do not look for information and knowledge,we will be where we are. Progress is at the corner,"the good old lecturer stressed.

The headmistress of the Damongo Senior High School,madam Aluguba Mercy, who was recognized with a citation for her outstanding contribution towards women empowerment in the Savannah Region expressed joy that she was being recognized for the change she effected in society thus far.

She said looking round, she sees many of her products through the Campaign for Female Education and School For Life doing marvelously well in various fields of endeavors in society to the glory of God.

The gender advocate was however, not happy with the inferiority complex,lack of self confidence and stage fright exibited by most young girls of today and launched a passionate appeal for change.

Madam Amida Sibenlira,the CEO of Gyeeda and winners of the pitch competition was grateful to the Almighty God for the victory bestowed. 

She thanked her other team members for the collaborative effort that led to the victory,whilst pledging that her team will double up efforts to connect to more investors to support grow their idea to reality.

Some groups of investors also expressed interest in partnering with Smart Farms in realizing their innovative idea of changing the face of farming in the Savannah Region.

Source : Ananpansah, B Abraham

Gifts program is golden opportunity to eradicate anemia from Ghana- GHS

Gifts program is golden opportunity to eradicate anemia from Ghana- GHS

The Ghana Health Service in the Savannah Region is calling on the general public to embrace the Girls' Iron Folic Tablets Supplementation (Gifts) program as an important step to eradicating anemia among adolescent girls in Ghana.

At a media/stakeholder engagement on Girls' Iron Folic Tablets Supplementation (GIFTS) program held at Damongo,the Savannah Regional capital,the Regional Nutrition Officer, Brian Kamara noted that anemia remains a problem of public health significance in Ghana with a prevalence rate of 26% among young adults aged 15-19 years in 2017.  

He said the GIFTS program was being implemented as an inter-sectorial intervention between the Ghana Health Service and the Ghana Education Service with their partners to promote health and nutrition education and enhance behavior change to control and prevent anemia.

According to him,due to the inadequate cross-sectorial communication and poor institutional commitment, there were a lot of misconceptions around the GIFTs program with some misconceiving the IFA Supplements as family planning pills, adding that," we need the strong partnership and support of the media to correct some of these misconceptions".

The Savannah Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Chrystantus Kubio,used the opportunity to dispel rumors of meningitis outbreak in the region, whilst calling for a collaborative effort to address issues of anemia among adolescent girls.

He said there was the need to incorporate health and nutrition education among adolescent girls both in school and out of school to promote healthy behaviors and eradicate misconceptions surrounding the Iron Folic Acid Supplementation.

On Covid-19,he said there were gaps in the vaccination as we enter the fourth wave of the pandemic with a lot of people resisting the jab.

According to him,the service has received enough stock of the Covid-19 vaccines for the region.

He called on the media to help address the public misconceptions and hesitancy to the Covid-19 jab in order to reduce the risk of spread of the virus.

Source: Ananpansah,B Abraham

Damongo police intercepts bus carrying suspected foreigners

Damongo police intercepts bus carrying suspected foreigners

The Damongo Police Command in the West Gonja Municipal of the Savannah Region has intercepted a Sprinter Bus carrying suspected foreigners from neighbouring Togo.

The bus with registration number AS-9399-12 was interdicted at the Busunu barrier in the evening hours of Monday January 10, carrying about 30 passengers believed to be citizens of Togo and subsequently referred to the Divisional Police Headquarters for further interrogation.

DSP Johnson Hessey, the Divisional Police Commander for Damongo,who disclosed the information to this source said the suspects were restrained from entering the town after the driver of the bus failed to furnish the police with accurate information regarding the destination of the bus.

Preliminary investigations reveal that, six (6) of the passengers on board the vehicle were minors, with 24 adults comprising two (2) women.

What was gravely frightening was the fact that,all the passengers on board the vehicle could not speak any of the native Ghanaian languages when queried except french, which gave a signal that the were not Ghanaians.

Police interrogations further revealed that, most of the passengers when probed admitted to be hailing from Togo with some claiming to be of Baasari and Kokomba tribes, who are believed to have migrated into the country.

The leader of the migrating group,Jawien Tien Tinakpatien however explained that, they were heading towards Sawla in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District to engage in some hired labour activities, including farming.

He disclosed that he has been a regular visitor to Sawla almost every year.

The suspects are currently at the Damongo Police Command to assist with investigations.

Details soon...

Source: Ananpansah,B Abraham

We'll ensure Babato farms is connected to national grid to boost production-Savannah regional minister

We'll ensure Babato farms is connected to national grid to boost production-Savannah regional minister

The Savannah Regional Minister,Saaed Muhazu Jibreal has hinted of plans to extend electricity to the Babato Farms Company Limited in the Bole-Bamboi District of the Savannah Region in order to help cut cost and boost production.

He made this remarks when he paid a working visit to the Babato farms in the company of all the MMDCEs in the region and the various security heads as part of activities marking their annual retreat.

According to the minister,the farm has the ability to provide employment to the teaming youth in the Savannah Region and the Bono East Region when supported with the needed logistics.

"We are in the Bole District as Savannah Regional Coordinating Council. We actually came for a retreat to talk about government policies for the past year and what is ahead of us for 2022. Today was designed to see investments by private people and government projects within the Savannah Region...

"And as can be seen, Babato Farms is one of the biggest agricultural investment we have in the Savannah Region with employment potentials for the youth. One of the major problems of the farms is electricity. As can be seen,they have giant machines generating power for the irrigation plants, which in a day takes up to 1500 littres to 1800 littres of Diesel within 30 hours to irrigate this land. 

"And so,there is the need for us to cut cost and by cutting cost means that government in its power will have to make sure that we bring the national grid to this facility here...So as I speak now, myself and my DCE for Bole are going to put our heads together to make sure that we go to see the minister of energy to speed up electricity connection to the farm. We intend to link the ongoing electricity extension work between Babato village and the next Village where the farm is located so that they get access to electricity. We will make sure that the electricity is provided so that they are able to develop 50% of their under utilized land,"he said.

Whilst encouraging other investors to take advantage of the many investment potentials in the region,the minister said the region was poised to reclaim its lost glory as the biggest maize producing region in Northern Ghana.

The manager of Babato Farms,Mahabaleshwar Hegde disclosed that the Babato farm was established in 2016 by a UK based African Agricultural Company,AgDevCo to lease 10,000 hectors of land from the people of Babato to setup a commercial farming hub. The farm in his narration is now being fully owned by Obaapack Ghana,a fruit and vegetable agribusiness conglomerate located at Techiman in the Bono East Region.

According to him,the Babato Farms Company Limited currently has about 353 hectors of land in utilization with 9,000 hectors of under utilized land,adding that,they intend to fill the shortage in maize production in Ghana.

He said they rotate four crops cycles in a year to reduce pest and disease build up in the soil,thus Maize, Soyabeans,onion and Banana with a major focus now on Onion and Soyabeans, which is the main focus of Obaapack.

Recounting the challenges of the farm,he said the high production cost from diesel for the plants is their major challenge and sometime, the weather conditions which affect their output and profit margins. 

The District Chief Executive for Bole-Bamboi, Veronica Alele Heming commended the management of Babato farms for the good work they were doing for the region and pledged the full support of government. 

The Babato Farms located in the Bole-Bamboi District draws water from the Black Volta through floating pipes to irrigate at present about 2 hectors of Banana field,2.4 hectors of onion nursery among others.

Source: Ananpansah,B Abraham

We want to be hub for maize production in Ghana-Savannah based Babato farms

We want to be hub for maize production in Ghana-Savannah based Babato farms

Management of Babato Farms Company Limited, a Commercial Farming Hub located in the Bole-Bamboi District of the Savannah Region has said they were positioning themselves as the biggest maize production centre in Ghana

Disclosing this during a working visit by a team of stakeholders from the region led by the Savannah Regional Minister,Eric Abeku Cudjoe, the Northern Sales Manager for new Agric solution and Superviser for Babato Maize field said to the hub currently has the potential to become the biggest maize producer in Ghana.

He said there was currently over 9,000 hectors of unutilized land on the project that can be explored for large scale maize production with the necessary investment in electricity,since power generation was their major challenge.

He appealed to the minister and his entourage to help them address the power challenge in order to enable them achieve this vision and more.

The Savannah Regional Minister,Saaed Muhazu Jibreal hinted of plans to extend electricity to the farm in order to help them cut cost and boost production.

The minister,who was in the company of all the MMDCEs in the region and the various security heads as part of activities marking their annual retreat said government support was very necessary to help the company operate efficiently and profitably.

According to the minister,the farm has the ability to provide employment to the teaming youth in the Savannah Region and the Bono East Region when supported with the needed logistics.

"We are in the Bole District as Savannah Regional Coordinating Council. We actually came for a retreat to talk about government policies for the past year and what is ahead of us for 2022. Today was designed to see investments by private people and government projects within the Savannah Region...

"And as can be seen, Babato Farms is one of the biggest agricultural investment we have in the Savannah Region with employment potentials for the youth. One of the major problems of the farms is electricity. As can be seen,they have giant machines generating power for the irrigation plants, which in a day takes up to 1500 littres to 1800 littres of Diesel within 30 hours to irrigate this land. 

"And so,there is the need for us to cut cost and by cutting cost means that government in its power will have to make sure that we bring the national grid to this facility here...So as I speak now, myself and my DCE for Bole are going to put our heads together to make sure that we go to see the minister of energy to speed up electricity connection to the farm. We intend to link the ongoing electricity extension work between Babato village and the next Village where the farm is located so that they get access to electricity. We will make sure that the electricity is provided so that they are able to develop 50% of their under utilized land,"he said.

He encouraged investors to take advantage of the many investment potentials in the region, adding that, Savannah Region was poised to reclaim its lost glory as the biggest maize producing region in Northern Ghana.

The manager of Babato Farms,Mahabaleshwar Hegde disclosed that the Babato farm was established in 2016 by a UK based African Agricultural Company,AgDevCo to lease 10,000 hectors of land from the people of Babato to setup a commercial farming hub. The farm in his narration is now being fully owned by Obaapack Ghana,a fruit and vegetable agribusiness conglomerate located at Techiman in the Bono East Region.

According to him,the Babato Farms Company Limited currently has about 353 hectors of land in utilization with 9,000 hectors of under utilized land,adding that,they intend to fill the shortage in maize production in Ghana.

He said they rotate four crops cycles in a year to reduce pest and disease build up in the soil,thus Maize, Soyabeans,onion and Banana with a major focus now on Onion and Soyabeans, which is the main focus of Obaapack.

Recounting the challenges of the farm,he said the high production cost from diesel for the plants is their major challenge and sometime, the weather conditions which affect their output and profit margins. 

The District Chief Executive for Bole-Bamboi, Veronica Alele Heming commended the management of Babato farms for the good work they were doing for the region and pledged the full support of government. 

The Babato Farms located in the Bole-Bamboi District draws water from the Black Volta through floating pipes to irrigate at present about 2 hectors of Banana field,2.4 hectors of onion nursery among others.

Source: Ananpansah,B Abraham

Hands on skills training- Fresh Yogurt production in Canteen etal

Hands on skills training- Fresh Yogurt production in Canteen etal

Give-Back Component of MasterCard Foundation 

(Target: Yogurt production,soap making,beads making,tye and dye,etcetera).

There couldn't have been a better way to begin the year 2022. Happy to say that through our humble brother,Salifu Abdul Hamid (MasterCard Foundation Scholar), we secured an intensive Yogurt production skills training program for the smart and dedicated young girls and women of the Canteen Electoral Area.

Through a collaborative effort,over 60 young girls and women drawn from various women groups in Canteen benefited from the free skills training/Self Help Project. Participants were drawn from Savannah Ladies, Surviving Ladies,Kanyiti Wale Group, Asezele Women group of no.5 and Number 6 Frafra Women Group.

After two days of intensive training,our galant women were able to produce fresh Yogurt of different flavors ( Fan Yogurt,Fanice,Fanchoko,apple yogurt, mango yogurt,nut yogurt,banana yogurt,just mention them).

Infact,after learning with our young girls,I am also able to confidently produce yogurt of any Flavor.😘

All you need is your milk source,raw liquid or pasteurized form,starter culture and addictions (flavors or sweeteners). You then get your equipment and run the process from Standardization, homogenization,heat treatment, cooling,innoculation,fermentation, mixing & smoothening, mixing & homogenization,cold storage and drinking yogurt. Sounds simple, right?

If His grace continue to remain sufficient in our lives,our next phase will focus on soap making among others.

I committed to buy the first bottle from any of the women or groups that will start production of the yogurt for commercial purposes at a cost of Ghc50.00 plus an undisclosed surprise package for further production.

Mind you,under the project,there is a window to solicit for support for those that would implement the outcome of the training seriously in order to put body and soul together!!!

Whilst commending our women for responding massively to our invitation, even at a very short notice,I wish to say that given the necessary support, Canteen can produce fresh and delicious yogurt to feed the entire Savannah Region. All we crave for now is the packaging machine, equipment and some little push and we'll become the world bank of fresh Yogurt production. Most of the raw materials can be produced locally.

If you believe in this vision,kindly come to the aid of our trainees in whatever way you can and you'll never regret investing in this worthy course. Kindly get in touch and let's together empower our communities and young women! Employable skills with the necessary support leads to empowerment that reduce the unemployment gap!

I want to thank my big brother, Abdul Hamid for remembering home and making time for us to impart this life changing skills on our community. We use God to bless you.

I am looking forward to working more with you and other like minded individuals for the larger benefit of the people of the Canteen Electoral Area. 

The big vision is on!

May God bless Canteen Electoral Area and make her people bold and strong.

A productive 2022 to you and your family.

Shalom!

........................................

Ananpansah Bartholomew Abraham (AB)

(Assemblyman, Canteen Electoral Area)

0241129910/0200704844)

Baafira are 2021 champions of Canteen Gala Matches as Okocha grabs draft bragging rights

Baafira are 2021 champions of Canteen Gala Matches as Okocha grabs draft bragging rights

•Assemblyman for the Canteen Electoral Area, Ananpansah,B Abraham calls on stakeholders to explore sports as avenue to promote unity and community development.

•Baafira Young Starlets topple Digo Base FC to lift ultimate trophy.

•Bragging rights conferred on Abudu Iddrisu (Okocha) as winner of 2021 draft competition.

•Chairman of sports committee,Dabo Shaibu Ewuntomah lauds gala games initiative and calls for more support. 

The honourable Assemblyman for the Canteen Electoral Area in the West Gonja Municipal of the Savannah Region, Ananpansah, B Abraham has reiterated the important role sports plays in uniting the youth and promoting community development.

Addressing a gathering of youth and community members at the just ended 2021 3rd Edition of the Annual Gala Matches and related activities of the Canteen Electoral Area to mark the end of the year,the honourable Assemblyman said he was committed to promoting sports in the area as an avenue to unearthing young talents and growing a healthy community.

According to him,there was an expansion and improvement in this year's tournament to include Indoor games(Ludu,draft and quiz competition), and an intended edutainment street carnival program.  

He said Canteen Electoral Area will always continue to set the pace and be a shinning example to the world,while commending the Sports and Youth Management Committee for the zeal and commitment exhibited throughout the period of the competition.

The young leader indicated that his vision was to ensure the formation and registration of a division team in Canteen, known as Canteen FC, with the players that were being selected from the tournament, adding that,all the zones that participated in the games will be supported with the needed logistics(footballs, whistles, etal) to continue with their training after the tournament.

The Assemblyman specially mentioned and acknowledged all the sponsors for the invaluable and unflinching support that saw to the success of this year's activities,while praying for more collaboration for future endeavors.

The Annual Gala competition and related activities initiated by the current Assemblyman two year's ago, saw Baafira Young Starlets beating Digo Base FC in the finals on penalties to lift the 2021 trophy. Defending Champions, Central Canteen FC, who lifted the trophy in 2020 despite their zeal, were eliminated at the group stages. Baafira Young Starlets,winners of the maiden edition of the tournament in 2019 made efforts to return the glory home once again.

The Assemblyman commended all the teams for the zealous participation and prayed for more years ahead for a better and unified Canteen and sports,whilst wishing all electorates a productive 2022. He hints of efforts to get the Canteen Park fenced.

"It is the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes. Today will go down history as a very great day in the administrative and political history of the Canteen Electoral Area that we've been able to successfully organize the 3rd edition of the annual gala games and related activities.And as can be seen,the jubilant youth wish this could be an everyday and all year round activity. But my joy is that we've seen true display of talents and you can tell that given the opportunity our younger folks can do better. They can grow in sports and they can come back to help the community.I can only thank the Almighty God that today has been a success and to thank our sponsors, whose names I have already mentioned for their invaluable contributions towards the massive success of this years activities

"I want to assure that as pacesetters and given life,we will continue to sustain this activity into the future with the proud support of our sponsors and stakeholders. Sports in the community will never be the same again,"He said.

The chairman of the Sports and Youth Management Committee,Dabo Shaibu Ewuntomah said the whole essence of annual gala is to develop talents and this year is no exception. He said during their time, Canteen Electoral Area use to be very active in sports,but the euphoria suddenly came down and so the brilliant initiative by the Assemblyman came at the right time and worth supporting.

"When the Assemblyman decided to organize a non partisan committee to see how we will support him to achieve the common goal of developing sports in the area,I and my colleagues gladly agreed to serve on the committee knowing very well what sports means to the development of the community,

"I want to use this opportunity to thank all our sponsors as already acknowledged by the Assemblyman for their unflinching support. Infact,they didn't disappoint us,and I pray that they should never leave us,but continue to Support us,"he said.

The top goal scorer,Mumuni Jalil shared joy and excitement for winning the golden boot and prayed for more support towards the gala matches initiative to enable them sell their talents to the world.

The Annual Gala Matches initiated by the Assemblyman three years ago,aims at uniting the youth and community members, unearthing young talents, promoting a sense of belonging and providing a common platform to discuss and champion the development course of the community.

The 2021 third edition of the tournament had a total of seven teams drawn accross the various zones in the electoral area taking part and competing for the ultimate trophy. The teams were:Baafira Young Starlets, Central Canteen FC,Digo Base FC,Ayarihene Palace Stars,St. Anne's FC,Agric Settlement Young stars and Agric Offices All Stars.

Baafira Young Starlets,who lifted the ultimate 2021 trophy (Gold place) went home with a cash amount of Ghc500.00.

2nd runners up (Silver place winners),Digo Base FC received a cash amount of Ghc300.00, whilst Ayarihene Palace Stars placed third (3rd)(Bronze place winners) and grabbed a cash amount of Ghc200.00.

The rest of the four participating teams took home a consolation prize of ghc50.00. Logistical support is to be extended to the teams as well for further training.

2021 Bragging rights was also conferred on the winner of the 2021 Draft Competition,Abudu Iddrisu (Okocha). He was rewarded with a cash amount of Ghc100.00 plus a draft for his base.

Awal Mushie (Drogba) came second in the draft competition and received a cash amount of Ghc60.00,whilst Nsor Clement, a nurse at the West Gonja Hospital placed third and took home a cash amount of Ghc40.00.

Next year promises to be bigger and better!

Source: Office of the Assemblyman, Canteen E/Aw