Story: Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Sunyani
Construction work on 13 water systems to serve about 175,000 people has been completed in the Brong Ahafo Region at a total cost of GH¢5,540,000 under the World Bank’s Small Towns Water and Sanitation Project.
The successful completion of the project has thus increased water coverage in rural communities and small towns to 55.1 per cent from the previous percentage of 46.
The beneficiary towns are Suma Ahenkro, Sampa, Dwenem, Mim, Akrodie, Sankore, Kukuom, Jinjini, Koraso, Kantaka, Yeji/Kokrompe, Amantin and Bomaa.
Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, who disclosed this in Sunyani at an Ordinary Meeting of the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC), said the World Bank had also approved $10 million under the same project for the provision of small piped systems for five other communities.
He named the towns as Nkyiraa/Nwoase in the Wenchi District; Goka in the Jaman South District; Aworowa in the Techiman Municipality and Katakyiekrom in the Jaman North District.
Furthermore, the regional minister indicated that the government in collaboration with the Agence Francaise de Development, was to implement a $20 million Rural and Peri-Urban Water and Sanitation Project in the region, beginning this year.
According to him, about 17 small water supply schemes and 621 boreholes would be constructed under the project, which would benefit all the 19 districts in the region.
For the previous year, Mr Baffour-Awuah noted that the region achieved between two to three per cent increase in production levels in all the major staples, namely, maize, cassava, yam, plantain, rice and cocoyam.
In that case, he said, the region did not anticipate food shortages, especially when it enjoyed favourable rainfall and weather conditions during the minor season, stressing that comparative marked prices indicate fairly stable prices in major staples, compared to the same period in 2006.
Mr Baffour-Awuah emphasised that the Wenchi Research Station in collaboration with the Crop Research Institute (CRI), the Plant Genetic Resource and the Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Programme, were undertaking studies in plant material multiplication in cassava, yam, soybean and maize, to ensure regular supply of planting materials for farmers in the region.
He added that the International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC) had tasked the station to produce certified seeds and grains for distribution to farmers and use the plots as good practice centres for training farmers.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
ARSENAL DENY FANS' ATTACK ON TEMA YOUTH (Page 47)
Story: Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Sunyani
The management of Berekum Arsenal Football Club has denied media reports that fans of the club attacked Tema Youth and destroyed the rear windscreen of their bus after their Onetouch Premier League encounter at the Golden City Park in Berekum last Sunday.
The club explained that while the driver of the club’s bus was driving out of the park, part of the rear windscreen came into contact with a sharp edge of the narrow gate, and that resulted in the whole system dropping off to the ground.
In a rejoinder to a publication in the Daily Graphic on Monday, the Public Relations Officer, Mr Daniel Anim-Larbi, indicated that the chairman of Arsenal, Alhaji Yakubu, and police personnel escorted the team to their bus and as the driver drove off, the unfortunate accident happened.
The club insisted that at no point did the fans of Arsenal attack the players, neither did they throw stones and other missiles at the bus with the aim of vandalising it.
According to the rejoinder, Arsenal’s own bus suffered a similar fate at the same gate sometime past as their driver was leaving the park due to the narrow nature of that particular gate.
The club argued that if indeed the fans threw stones at the bus, there would rather have been cracks on the glasses and not the whole frame dropping off to the ground as it happened.
“The driver could not drive carefully through the main gates leading to the park and that apparently resulted in the destruction of the rear windscreen”, the statement stressed.
According to the club, the Daily Graphic headline, “Arsenal fans attack Tema Youth”, therefore had no basis or any concrete evidence and rather sought to paint the name of the club black.
The management of Berekum Arsenal Football Club has denied media reports that fans of the club attacked Tema Youth and destroyed the rear windscreen of their bus after their Onetouch Premier League encounter at the Golden City Park in Berekum last Sunday.
The club explained that while the driver of the club’s bus was driving out of the park, part of the rear windscreen came into contact with a sharp edge of the narrow gate, and that resulted in the whole system dropping off to the ground.
In a rejoinder to a publication in the Daily Graphic on Monday, the Public Relations Officer, Mr Daniel Anim-Larbi, indicated that the chairman of Arsenal, Alhaji Yakubu, and police personnel escorted the team to their bus and as the driver drove off, the unfortunate accident happened.
The club insisted that at no point did the fans of Arsenal attack the players, neither did they throw stones and other missiles at the bus with the aim of vandalising it.
According to the rejoinder, Arsenal’s own bus suffered a similar fate at the same gate sometime past as their driver was leaving the park due to the narrow nature of that particular gate.
The club argued that if indeed the fans threw stones at the bus, there would rather have been cracks on the glasses and not the whole frame dropping off to the ground as it happened.
“The driver could not drive carefully through the main gates leading to the park and that apparently resulted in the destruction of the rear windscreen”, the statement stressed.
According to the club, the Daily Graphic headline, “Arsenal fans attack Tema Youth”, therefore had no basis or any concrete evidence and rather sought to paint the name of the club black.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
NEW CATHOLIC DIOCESE FOR TECHIMAN (Page 14)
Story: Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Techiman
HIS Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, has created a new Catholic Diocese for Techiman.
The new diocese was carved out of Sunyani and Konogo-Mampong, and Very Reverend Father Dominic Yeboah Nyarko has been appointed its first Bishop.
A press release from the office of the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop George Kocherry, indicated that the new bishop was currently in New York pursuing a Master’s degree programme in family counselling at the Fordham University.
According to the release, the new Techiman diocese will include seven civil districts, namely Techiman, Kintampo North, Kintampo South, Nkoranza, Atebubu, Sene and Pru.
The Very Reverend Father Nyarko was born in December 1953 at Nsuta in the Techiman parish in the diocese of Sunyani.
After his basic education in his hometown, Nsuta, he entered St Hubert Minor Seminary in Kumasi and obtained GCE O-Level and GCE A-Level certificates. In 1984, he entered St. Peter’s Regional Seminary at Amisano in Cape Coast and completed successfully his Philosophy and Theology courses. He was ordained a priest on July 21, 1990 by the late Bishop James Owusu.
After the priestly ordination, Fr Nyarko served as Assistant Priest in the Dormaa Parish (1990-199), Spiritual Director, St James Minor Seminary, Sunyani ( 1991-1998), Diocesan Vocations Director (1992-1993), Associate Priest, Berekum Parish (1998-1999) and Parish Priest, Sampa Parish (1999-2004).
HIS Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, has created a new Catholic Diocese for Techiman.
The new diocese was carved out of Sunyani and Konogo-Mampong, and Very Reverend Father Dominic Yeboah Nyarko has been appointed its first Bishop.
A press release from the office of the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop George Kocherry, indicated that the new bishop was currently in New York pursuing a Master’s degree programme in family counselling at the Fordham University.
According to the release, the new Techiman diocese will include seven civil districts, namely Techiman, Kintampo North, Kintampo South, Nkoranza, Atebubu, Sene and Pru.
The Very Reverend Father Nyarko was born in December 1953 at Nsuta in the Techiman parish in the diocese of Sunyani.
After his basic education in his hometown, Nsuta, he entered St Hubert Minor Seminary in Kumasi and obtained GCE O-Level and GCE A-Level certificates. In 1984, he entered St. Peter’s Regional Seminary at Amisano in Cape Coast and completed successfully his Philosophy and Theology courses. He was ordained a priest on July 21, 1990 by the late Bishop James Owusu.
After the priestly ordination, Fr Nyarko served as Assistant Priest in the Dormaa Parish (1990-199), Spiritual Director, St James Minor Seminary, Sunyani ( 1991-1998), Diocesan Vocations Director (1992-1993), Associate Priest, Berekum Parish (1998-1999) and Parish Priest, Sampa Parish (1999-2004).
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
GOVT TO HONOUR PHILANTHROPIST (Back Page)
Story: Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Ntotroso
A Ghanaian philanthropist and contractor who spent over ¢11.3 billion from his own resources to modernise roads in the town of Antwikrom, on the Ntotroso-Acherensua road in the Brong Ahafo Region, has been listed for state honour.
The promise of a state honour was made by President J.A. Kufuor to Mr Joseph Adom, Managing Director of J. Adom Limited, a Sunyani-based construction company, which has also completed a first-class road project from Sunyani through Ntotroso to Acherensua.
The President was full of commendation for the patriotism shown by the contractor, who spent the amount of ¢11.3 billion to repair the roads in Antwikrom, although it was not part of his contract.
“The government is highly grateful for this unusual show of patriotism and at the appropriate time, will show its appreciation with a state honour,” President Kufuor assured Mr Adom.
President Kufuor made the promise when he addressed a well-attended ceremony at Antwikrom, near Sunyani, that preceded the official inauguration of the 48.3-kilometre Sunyani-Ntotroso-Acherensua road which was constructed at a cost of about ¢100 billion.
During the ceremony, it came to light that before the modification, about 17 accidents had occurred at a sharp curve of the road which claimed a total of 20 lives but since the modification, which involved road safety signs and crash-barriers, no death had been recorded in the area.
The project took 36 months to complete and was jointly financed by the German Government and the Government of Ghana.
The President noted with concern that there were many contractors in the country who after collecting their mobilisation money, used it to buy luxury cars and then abandoned the project awarded them, thereby causing hardship to residents in the project area and financial loss to the state.
He indicated that the inauguration of the Sunyani-Ntotroso-Acherensua road was a tacit demonstration by the government that good and safe roads were sine qua non for the speedy socio-economic development of the country.
He said since the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was given the mandate to direct the affairs of the country in 2001, the government had simply demonstrated that, given the relative peace and the resolve of Ghanaians to put their shoulder to the wheel in development, Ghana would gradually become a structurally beautiful country with modern road infrastructure to enhance socio-economic development.
“We are proud to be associated with these road developments, which include Abuakwa-Bibiani, Mallam-Kasoa-Ankamu, Ankamu-Yamoransa, Konongo-Kumasi, Kpando-Worawora-Dambai Phase II, the dualisation of Pantang-Peduase Lodge, Tema-Sogakope and Bole-Tinga,” he said.
The President further expressed the gratitude of the government and people of Ghana to all the development partners and hard-working contractors and consultants for their support, dedication and contribution towards the development of the road sector.
However, “I will wish to caution the Ministry of Transportation to ensure the need to strengthen the maintenance of its road infrastructure in order to obtain the full benefits of the huge investments made in them”.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, in his welcoming address, noted that farmers along the road had experienced a lot of inconveniences travelling on the road with their farm produce before the construction of the road, adding that “the road was virtually a death trap with its numerous dangerous hills”.
Besides, he said, since the creation of the Brong Ahafo Region in 1959, there had not been any direct link between the Brong and Ahafo parts of the region as travellers had to go to Goaso, Mim and beyond, through Tepa.
The Omanhene of the Sunyani Traditional Area, Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawire II, who chaired the function, expressed his gratitude to the government for the project.
A Ghanaian philanthropist and contractor who spent over ¢11.3 billion from his own resources to modernise roads in the town of Antwikrom, on the Ntotroso-Acherensua road in the Brong Ahafo Region, has been listed for state honour.
The promise of a state honour was made by President J.A. Kufuor to Mr Joseph Adom, Managing Director of J. Adom Limited, a Sunyani-based construction company, which has also completed a first-class road project from Sunyani through Ntotroso to Acherensua.
The President was full of commendation for the patriotism shown by the contractor, who spent the amount of ¢11.3 billion to repair the roads in Antwikrom, although it was not part of his contract.
“The government is highly grateful for this unusual show of patriotism and at the appropriate time, will show its appreciation with a state honour,” President Kufuor assured Mr Adom.
President Kufuor made the promise when he addressed a well-attended ceremony at Antwikrom, near Sunyani, that preceded the official inauguration of the 48.3-kilometre Sunyani-Ntotroso-Acherensua road which was constructed at a cost of about ¢100 billion.
During the ceremony, it came to light that before the modification, about 17 accidents had occurred at a sharp curve of the road which claimed a total of 20 lives but since the modification, which involved road safety signs and crash-barriers, no death had been recorded in the area.
The project took 36 months to complete and was jointly financed by the German Government and the Government of Ghana.
The President noted with concern that there were many contractors in the country who after collecting their mobilisation money, used it to buy luxury cars and then abandoned the project awarded them, thereby causing hardship to residents in the project area and financial loss to the state.
He indicated that the inauguration of the Sunyani-Ntotroso-Acherensua road was a tacit demonstration by the government that good and safe roads were sine qua non for the speedy socio-economic development of the country.
He said since the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was given the mandate to direct the affairs of the country in 2001, the government had simply demonstrated that, given the relative peace and the resolve of Ghanaians to put their shoulder to the wheel in development, Ghana would gradually become a structurally beautiful country with modern road infrastructure to enhance socio-economic development.
“We are proud to be associated with these road developments, which include Abuakwa-Bibiani, Mallam-Kasoa-Ankamu, Ankamu-Yamoransa, Konongo-Kumasi, Kpando-Worawora-Dambai Phase II, the dualisation of Pantang-Peduase Lodge, Tema-Sogakope and Bole-Tinga,” he said.
The President further expressed the gratitude of the government and people of Ghana to all the development partners and hard-working contractors and consultants for their support, dedication and contribution towards the development of the road sector.
However, “I will wish to caution the Ministry of Transportation to ensure the need to strengthen the maintenance of its road infrastructure in order to obtain the full benefits of the huge investments made in them”.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, in his welcoming address, noted that farmers along the road had experienced a lot of inconveniences travelling on the road with their farm produce before the construction of the road, adding that “the road was virtually a death trap with its numerous dangerous hills”.
Besides, he said, since the creation of the Brong Ahafo Region in 1959, there had not been any direct link between the Brong and Ahafo parts of the region as travellers had to go to Goaso, Mim and beyond, through Tepa.
The Omanhene of the Sunyani Traditional Area, Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawire II, who chaired the function, expressed his gratitude to the government for the project.
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