Derby as teachers lock horns with health workers in friendly football match to commemorate world teachers day

Derby as teachers lock horns with health workers in friendly football match to commemorate world teachers day

It was a pure derby at the Damongo Astro Turf where workers in the inky fraternity - teachers, locked horns with their counterparts in the health sector in a Corporate Friendly Football Match to mark this year's International World Teachers Day Celebration.

The football match which was treated like a European Cup final by supporters of both sides was organized by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Northern Region in collaboration with the West Gonja GNAT District to celebrate teachers on the occasion of this year's International World Teachers Day Celebration under the theme, "The Teachers We Need for the Education We Want: The Global Imperative to Reverse the Teacher Shortage".

At the end of regulation time, it was a 1:1 draw though, the teachers protested for a win following a somewhat last minute overruled penalty decision, but referee Faiza Jakpa says, 'This is not the classroom. This is the field of play and I have the final say'.

Special Guest of honor, who doubles as the father of education (Municipal Director of Education) in the West Gonja Municipal, Mr. Akey Ferguson used the occasion to commend all teachers for the invaluable contributions they were making towards shaping the future and the human resource base of the country.

He said teaching was the mother of all professions, urging the teachers to take pride in the fact that they were playing an essential role in nurturing the social, moral and intellectual domains of pupils towards building an equitable society.

Touching on the theme for this year's celebration, he said efforts were being made through the Director General of Education to address the teacher gap across all the levels and that, teachers in this noble profession must be encouraged to stay and contribute their quota to the development of this great nation of ours.

He urged all teachers in the Municipality and beyond to remain disciplined and committed in service and put up their best in improving learning outcomes in our schools for the nation demands more of them.

Supporting the Special Guest of honor and providing moral support to her side was Madam Gertrude Yentumi, Municipal Director of Ghana Health Service.

The Northern Regional GNAT Secretary, Mr. Le Roy Mac Nara, said on this occasion of International World Teachers Day, the biggest teacher union, GNAT appreciates all teachers for the unwavering commitment to the service of mother Ghana.

He said the Ghana National Association of Teachers recognizes the important role teachers play in shaping the future, urging government and all stakeholders to take concrete steps to prevent the migration of teachers from Ghana to other higher income countries.

According to him, the GNAT offers several welfare services to teachers, including the Credit Mall initiative, which will soon be available to the other professions.

Present for this all important occasion also were the Credit Mall Manager, Mr. Fusheini; National Executive Member of GNAT, Mama Joyce; front liners of education in the host Municipality, several chiefs, teachers and opinion leaders.

World Teachers’ Day also known as International Teachers Day, was established by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation in 1994.

It is observed on October 5 each year, to acknowledge the essential role teachers play in nurturing the intellectual, moral and social development of students, in building a better and more equitable world.

Source: Ananpansah Bartholomew Abraham

Salaga South MP supports celebration of 'International Day of the Girl Child' with call on gov't to scrap 15% Sanitary pad tax

Salaga South MP supports celebration of 'International Day of the Girl Child' with call on gov't to scrap 15% Sanitary pad tax

The Member of Parliament for the Salaga South Constituency in the Savannah Region, Hajia Zuwera Mohammed Ibrahima has extended logistical support to the East Gonja Municipal Education Directorate to aid the directorate celebrate this year's edition of the International Day of the Girl Child.

Celebrated annually on the 11th of October, the International Day of the Girl Child focuses attention on highlighting the needs and challenges of the girl child and finding ways to promote girls empowerment and fulfilment of their human rights. 

The only female legislator in the Savannah Region in responding to an appeal from the Municipal Girls' Education Unit of the GES supported the sensitization exercise for selected female pupils organized by the Municipal Education Directorate with Seven boxes of Sanitary pads, water and other osorted items to aid this year's celebration. 

Donating the items on behalf of the MP, the NDC Constituency Executives led by the Constituency Chairman, Haruna Abdul Aziz pledged the commitment of the Member of Parliament towards empowering, inspiring and uplifting the education of girls in the Municipality.

He disclosed that about 64% of the MP's annual bursary for tertiary students had always been channeled towards female students with an advanced intention by the MP to explore more avenues to continue to support the education of the girl child in pursuit of higher education.

The Member of Parliament used the occasion to launch a passionate appeal on government to heed to the many calls from the public to remove the 15 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on menstrual hygiene products(Sanitary pads and Tampons) to make them more affordable to the girl child and help eliminate some of barriers hindering the education of many girls across the country.

The Municipal Girl Child Education Officer, Madam Wecheng Amanda who led the celebration under the theme, "Our time is now, our rights, our future", expressed profound gratitude to the Member of Parliament for the continuous and timely support.

She said as part of activities marking the 2023 celebration, the directorate earlier on organized a float along the principal streets of Salaga aimed at creating awareness on girls' right and gender equality, alongside a role play on the dangers of earlier marriages and to cap it all, a debate on why parents must invest in the education of the girl child.

The compassionate female educator called on all stakeholders to continue to play their roles in securing the future of the girl child through accessible and quality education.

Source: Ananpansah Bartholomew Abraham

NDC must win all seven parliamentary seats in Savannah Region - John Jinapor

NDC must win all seven parliamentary seats in Savannah Region - John Jinapor

The Member of Parliament for the Yapei-Kusawgu Constituency and Ranking Member on Parliament's Mines and Energy Committee, John Abdulai Jinapor has charged members of the opposition National Democratic Congress across the various constituencies in the Savannah Region to work tirelessly to enable the party secure all the seven parliamentary seats in the infant region. 

This he said, was very necessary to consolidate  the much anticipated victory of the NDC in 2024 and enable the incoming president of the Republic, John Dramani Mahama to run a smooth and effective administration.

Addressing participants at the maiden meeting of the Savannah Regional Communications Committee of the NDC under his chairmanship, the astute legislator indicated his readiness to support the work of the committee and by extension the communication wing of the party with the needed resources and logistics to function effectively.

He graciously congratulated members of the committee on their well deserved appointment and successful swearing in and used the occasion to commend the communications bureau of the party in the region for their many years of dedicated and loyal service in branding the party. 

The chairman cum legislator called on all members of the party in the region to remain united and rally all energies and synergies towards delivering a resounding victory for the party in 2024.

The Savannah Regional Chairman of the party, Alhaji Imoro Seidu, affectionately known as 'Man Blessing' commended the Regional Communications Team for the good works so far and emphasized the importance of research in modern day communication.

He was deeply thankful to the Yapei-Kusawgu Member of Parliament, who doubles as the Savannah Regional Communications committee Chairman for all the support he has been rendering to the party in region and beyond.

He called on all party members in the region to remain united in order to write down the failed Akufo-Addo-Bawumiah government as the worst ever in the history of the fourth Republic come 2024.

The 1st Deputy National Communications Officer of the party, Malik Basintale added his voice to the need for a stronger coordination and synergy among the various wings of the party to achieve the collective goal of rescuing Ghana from the shackles of mismanagement and corruption experienced under the current regime.

He said national was committed to effectively resourcing the communications wing and indeed, all the structures of the party towards the execution of their mandate in 2024.

The Savannah Regional Communications Officer, R.A Jalil thanked all participants for availing themselves for the dialogue session and making useful inputs towards the execution of the communications strategy for the region.

On behalf of members of the Communications Committee, he expressed profound gratitude to the chairman of Regional Communications committee for facilitating the stakeholder dialogue and expanding the meeting to include Constituency Communications Officers and their deputies.

The dialogue series, which took place at the John Abdulai Jinapor Conference Hall in the Central Gonja District of the Savannah Region, saw members of the Communications Committee in the region and Constituency Communication Officers and their deputies coming together to contribute rich ideas and experiences towards shaping and positioning the communications wing of the party as a necessary tool for the task ahead of 2024. 

Source: Ananpansah Bartholomew Abraham

Buipe is in serious crisis following recent floods, efforts underway to relocate victims - Buipewura Jinapor

Buipe is in serious crisis following recent floods, efforts underway to relocate victims - Buipewura Jinapor

Buipewura Abdulai Jinapor 11, the Paramount Chief of the Buipe Traditional Area in the Central Gonja District and president of the Buipe Traditional Council has bemoaned the sorry economic and social conditions of the people of Buipe following the recent flood that displaced many residents and caused substantial damage to properties.

According to him, the people of Buipe are helpless now and life can simply be described as 'unbearable' for affected residents, since economic activities have come to a standstill. This he said, has left the town in serious crisis with residents in urgent need of food aid among other forms of support.

Addressing the media during a tour to the flood affected areas, the Paramount Chief disclosed that plans were far advanced to relocate people living in flood prone areas in the district to a yet-to-be cleared site, adding that, "those who already have accomodation permits will not pay anything, aside the cost of clearing the field". 

The Buipewura used the occasion to admonish residents to desist from using the flood water as a source of drinking water since it could be contaminated and full of reptiles.

He launched a passionate appeal to government, NGO's, civil society organizations, the clergy, mosques and the international community to hear the cry of the people of Buipe for survival in this trying times and come to their urgent attention.

The District Chief Executive for Central Gonja, Iddrisu Salia Kamara, revealed that this was not the first time Buipe was witnessing such floods, even though, this years incident was very intensive and deeply worrying.

He said there were ongoing discussions between government and the traditional authority to permanently relocate the affected victims.

According to him, even though, the cause of the recent flooding which has wrecked a lot of havock was not immediately known, it is suspected that the recent heavy downpours and overflow of neighboring river banks could be attributing factors.

He called on the people of Buipe to remain calm and be wary of reptiles in this difficult times, whilst government take steps to address the challenges.

The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) had already reported that the recent flood has affected approximately 1,500 residents in Buipe with at least 800 individuals forcefully displaced.

A total of 300 houses, numerous educational institutions, shops and other businesses have been submerged in water completely, posing severe economic challenges to the people.

Source: Ananpansah Bartholomew Abraham

NPP cannot claim undue credit for John Mahama's projects in Savannah Region - NDC

NPP cannot claim undue credit for John Mahama's projects in Savannah Region - NDC

The Savannah Regional wing of the National Democratic Congress has called out the ruling New Patriotic Party and the Nana Addo - Bawumiah government for what they describe as the penchant to always claim undue credit for projects initiated and completed by former president John Dramani Mahama in the region.

In a news release copied to blogger, Ananpansah Bartholomew Abraham, the Regional Communications Officer of the party, R.A Jalil said the recent attempt by the failed NPP led administration to accuse president John Dramani Mahama of turning the Damba festivals organized across the Savannah Region in recent times to political platforms falls flat in the face of logic.

According to him, projects such as the Mpaha Community Day S.H.S,Buipe Accident and Emergency Centre, Ntereso Water Plant, Buipe Savacem among others have been made possible through the effort of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama.

He said John Dramani Mahama is a royal son of the Savannah Region with a very solid track record in the areas of health, education, infrastructural development, livelihood empowerment among others and reserve the right to any social event in Gonjaland.

Read full statement below:

For Immediate Release.

10th October, 2023.

RE-JOHN MAHAMA’s CONTINUES POLARIZATION OF GONJA CULTURE: A RECIPE FOR BAD PRECEDENCE AND A SIGN OF DESPERATION.

My attention has been drawn to a statement authored by the regional secretary of the NPP S/R, lamenting on why H.E John Dramani Mahama the incoming President of the Republic of Ghana honoured the invitations to the 2023 Damba festival organised across the entire Gonja kingdom.

The regional secretary of the NPP S/R accused the NDC of turning the events into political platforms. The secretary did not specify how the NDC politicized the festival, raising questions about the criticism.

Excitedly, the reignited show of support and love for Mahama in his home region has caused unease within the NPP, but the question remains: why does honoring festival invitations lead to discomfort for others?

Mr. Issah Mohammed should focus on reconciling with his chairman instead of making unnecessary and unfounded statements.

Regarding their "tramadol" induced statement:

Firstly, the NDC and John Mahama attended all major Damba invitations without violating any agreed terms with political parties. Vice President Bawumia was also invited to the Yagbon Damba but declined due to 10 questions posed by the NDC that required his response.

Furthermore, H.E. Mahama was invited as a respected Prince in Gonjaland, and during his speech, He addressed national issues as a statesman. Similarly, if Bawumia had attended, he wouldn't have sung his childhood methodist hymns but discussed national concerns. Why then criticize Mahama for speaking responsibly?

Without reservation, if any political party owes Gonjalanders an apology for disrespecting our chiefs, it is the NPP. They shamelessly branded calabashes used in the 2019 Damba at the Jakpa palace with NPP-branded apparel, a clear sign of disrespect and desperation. Have they issued an apology for this? It seems the NPP conveniently forgets their actions.

Let me dive into the raised issues! It's astonishing that despite increasing our public debt from 120 million to nearly 600 million in just seven years, the NPP has little to show for it. Instead, they seize every chance to claim credit for projects initiated by H.E John Mahama.

MPAHA MAHAMA E-BLOCK

The Mpaha community day SHS affectionately called Mahama E-block will continue to be one of Mahama’s legacies across the breadth and length of this country and the NPP cannot take that away from him. This facility after its completion was left at the mercy of the weather and a breeding habitat for grass cutters and squirrels. It took same Mahama to move to the premises of the school and called on government to operationalized the abandoned facility.

E-blocks were promised by John Mahama and delivered by him. Facts are sacred and sacrosanct!

BUIPE ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY CENTER 

On 1st January 2017, President John Mahama cut sod for the construction of five new ultra-modern district hospitals and a Polyclinic in Ghana. The loan facility was secured on March, 2016. The sod-cutting ceremony took place at Weta in the Ketu North District of the Volta Region.

Report of the finance committee on the export credit facility agreement between the government of the Republic of Ghana and Raiffeiseeen Bank international AG of Austria for an amount of up to Seventy Seven Million, Nine hundred and Thirty Five Thousand Euros (77,935,000.00 Euros) for the design, construction, equipping and furnishing of five new district/ general hospital in Somanya, Buipe, Sawla-Tuna-Kalba, Weta, Toulon and one Polyclinic at Bamboi.

The apostles of reading can’t just goggle for this simple information. Mr Issah should tell us when the NPP government secured a loan for those facilities.

NTERESO WATER PLANT CLAIMS:

Mr. Issah admitted in his statement that the facility was actually constructed by John Mahama but it took the irresponsible attitude  of the NPP when they allowed floods to destroy the facility. On 17th August 2015, H.E John Mahama commissioned 4 water plant communities which includes Ntereso, Nyawuripe, Fufulso Junction and Yapei-Yapala.

This plant pumps 100,000 gallons of water daily to the communities.

This was part of the Peri-urban rural and small town water and sanitation project being implemented across the country at a cost of 21 million euros. The propaganda to claim the Ntereso water project has fallen flat!

THE SO CALL MPAHA-SALAGA ROAD:

John Mahama in his statement chastised government for neglecting the Mpaha junction to Mpaha road and that of the Salaga-Makango road. These are roads that were under construction under his regime till Nana Addo took over power and abandoned them completely. The claim that NPP is tarring roads in the district capitals is a figment of his imagination, absolutely nothing is happening in the district capitals of Savannah. It’s a fallacious statement from the secretary.

I dare him to mention a single district that is seeing such tarring.

THE BUIPE SAVACEM

The Savannah cement enjoyed a number of tax waivers during the importation of some equipments of the factory under the leadership of the NDC and has every right to be part of the establishment of the factory. Has the NPP not included in their list of none existing factories companies that were built in the 70s?

Issah Mohammed and his party should apologize unreservedly to Jirah Buipewura Jinapor II for the embarrassment caused his person when the NPP connived with the Dj of the occasion to turn off one of the microphones during the presentation of H.E John Mahama's speech. 

The NPP is by this reminded that HE John Mahama will continue to be the greatest asset and human resource the Gonja Kingdom and all people of Northern extract has ever had in recent times, and as such, no amount of name calling and character assassination will take that away from him.

I want to conclude with a warning to the NPP in Savannah: we are prepared to confront them whenever they resort to their usual verbal attacks against our incoming President.

Signed;

R.A. Jalil

Communication Officer

NDC- Savannah Region

0240998279/0249808911

Source: Ananpansah Bartholomew Abraham

CRIS trains 120 rural farmers in sustainable land use and livelihood empowerment

CRIS trains 120 rural farmers in sustainable land use and livelihood empowerment

As a part of effort to empower rural farmers, especially women, in sustainable land management practices and livelihood empowerment, the Centre for Rural Improvement Services (CRIS) has provided empowerment training for 120 farmers in agroforestry.

The farmers, consisting largely of 80% women, were drawn from Dakompilayiri and Kunkuya in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region and taken through series of sustainable land use and livelihood interventions.

With full funding from UNDP GEF SGP, the project, launched on 4th August, 2023, has an overall goal of providing sustainable livelihood empowerment opportunities to the rural farmers, whilst making effort to conserve the fast fragile environment within the Savannah ecological zone.

The Executive Director of the Centre for Rural Improvement Services (CRIS), Amos Mahama Seidu, emphasized the importance of sustainable land management towards the future prospects of rural farmers, especially women, since a depletion of the land means these groups of vulnerable people will be totally cut off from possible sources of livelihood - farming, hunting and gathering.

He stressed on the need to sustain the project beyond the implementation window.

The farmers were registered into groups of 20 members during the inception training of the project, comprising six women VSLAs, two Widow's VSLAs,two men groups and six existing VSLAs cooperatives.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to this reporter on the sidelines of the training program expressed profound gratitude to the donors UNDP GEF SGP)for the intervention.

They believe it will go a long way to empower them to be self relient whilst adopting measures to conserve the common environment for future farming and other purposes.

Source: Ananpansah Bartholomew Abraham

CRIS organises farmer field schools and trains 90 farmers in climate smart cashew Plantation in Dakompilayiri & Kunkuya

CRIS organises farmer field schools and trains 90 farmers in climate smart cashew Plantation in Dakompilayiri & Kunkuya

Centre for Rural Improvement Services(CRIS), a Non-Governmental Organization based in Damongo in the West Gonja Municipal of the Savannah Region has trained 90 farmers in Climate smart Cashew Plantation Strategies under its Farmer Field schools( FFS) program.

The beneficiary farmers who were drawn from the two communities in Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region also received support under the project to invest in Integrated Climate Smart Cashew Plantation.

Under the Farmer Field School which is a farmer-centered and participatory approach to learning various farming practices, farmers are organized into groups to meet regularly with their facilitators to observe, talk, ask questions and learn together.

It is sometimes called, "School without Walls" geared towards equipping the farmers with a lot of practical experiences and also used in Non Farm Income Generation activities such as handicraft.

A total of 1600 cashew seedlings were supplied to the farmers with full ploughing cost for 15 hectors of farm land under the project to empower the farmers into more production.

The Zonal Agric Extension Officer, Mr. Hakim Seidu who led the training took the farmers through various stages of Climate Resilient Strategies and good Agroforestry practices and encouraged them to take advantage of the support package provided under the project to increase their production and promote climate resilience.

The Executive Director for the Centre for Rural Improvement Services (CRIS), Mr.Amos Mahama said the farmers must be smart in exploring the various climatic conditions towards sustainable cashew production and livelihood enhancement.

He stressed the importance of Cashew production in enhancing the economic livelihood of the people of the area, adding that, Cashew production has become a viable alternative for climate conservation and livelihood improvement in rural areas. 

The enthusiastic farmers, who were elated about the intervention thanked CRIS and its partners(UNDP), Small Grants Global Environmental Facility  (SGP GEF) for coming to their aid with such a timely project.

They said the project in the long run, was going to change the economic and livelihood fortunes of farmers in the beneficiary communities, whilst conserving the climate for sustainable future use

Source: Ananpansah Bartholomew Abraham