By Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Sunyani
The joint Parliamentary Committee of Mines and Energy and Finance, superintended over a stakeholders’ forum, aimed at reaching out to the people to seek suggestions, contributions and their views on the Petroleum Revenue Management and the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Bills, 2010 before they are passed into law.
The Consultative forum has become necessary because parliament is desirous of fashioning out a good law that would regulate the oil find in the country, in terms of exploration and production as well as the sale of the products.
Among the participants at the forum held at the Eusbett Hotel in Sunyani, the capital of the Brong Ahafo Region were Municipal/District Chief Executives, (MDCE’s) heads of decentralised departments, students, presiding members, representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGO,s) paramount chiefs and other identifiable groups, drawn from the Northern sector of the country.
Mr James Kluste Avedzi, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Finance and Mr Joseph Kofi Addah, the Ranking Member of the Committee on Mines and Energy, gave overviews on the two bills respectively, with both stressing the importance of the bills in respect of the oil find.
They again emphasised the need for all Ghanaians to depoliticise the oil find in the country and rather make meaningful suggestions regarding the prudent management of the oil revenue, pointing out that, the oil find was not for any one person or a group of individuals.
All the contributors at the forum, with one voice, called on the government and indeed all those who would be directly or indirectly responsible for the management of the natural resource to do so with a high sense of nationalism instead of being parochial.
They suggested that, part of the oil money should be used to strengthen the chieftaincy institution and also to solve the massive unemployment problem facing the country, while others also were of the opinion that, a special tribunal be set up to prosecute whoever attempted to ‘‘Squander’’ the oil money, adding that, those so convicted should not have any option of an appeal.
The Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr. Eric Opoku, in his welcoming address noted that, there had been several platforms for consultation and technical discussion on petroleum exploration, production and revenue management.
He however, pointed out that, the Sunyani forum was very important, in view of the influx of companies into the country for the exploration of more fields, and the fact that the country would soon start the production of the resource.
‘‘There is, therefore, the need for such a broad consultation and national consensus, especially before the finalisation of the 2011 national budget for all citizens to be clear in their minds that, revenue from oil, would be put to prudent and efficient use for the benefit of all Ghanaians’’.
The consultation, he said, should serve as the forum to collate all shades of opinions so that all Ghanaians would own the final legislations on the exploration, production and use of oil resources so that some of the negative experiences of some countries would be avoided.
Monday, September 27, 2010
2000 SETTLER FARMERS DISPLACED (GRAPHIC NSEMPA, PAGE 10, SEPT 27, 2010)
By Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Kintampo.
About 2,000 settler farmers in seven communities in the Kintampo Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region, have been displaced after their buildings and other properties were destroyed as a result of three days of persistent torrential rainfall, which occurred in those areas.
The communities are, Tahiru Akuraa, Bawa Akuraa, Mahama Akuraa, Jato Akuraa, Chiranda Dawadawa and Atta Akuraa.]
Currently, the municipal assembly is housing the displaced families, including women and children, at the Kintampo Senior High School.
According to the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the area, Mr Alhassan Seidu Harrison, as soon as he received reports about the incident, he mobilised a number of buses to convey the people to the school for their safety.
Mr Harrison and the Municipal Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Abudu Issahaku, conducted newsmen round to inspect the extent of the damage caused to the affected communities and where the people were putting up at the moment.
They indicated that, the assembly was feeding the people at a great cost, pointing out however that, reports had been sent to both the regional office and national headquarters of NADMO for immediate assistance, and expressed the hope that there would be a quick response to their distress call.
The Municipal NADMO Co-ordinator indicated that, the people were finding it difficult to cross a stream to their farms to access food, adding that, their stock of food had been swept away by the resultant floods.
About 2,000 settler farmers in seven communities in the Kintampo Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region, have been displaced after their buildings and other properties were destroyed as a result of three days of persistent torrential rainfall, which occurred in those areas.
The communities are, Tahiru Akuraa, Bawa Akuraa, Mahama Akuraa, Jato Akuraa, Chiranda Dawadawa and Atta Akuraa.]
Currently, the municipal assembly is housing the displaced families, including women and children, at the Kintampo Senior High School.
According to the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the area, Mr Alhassan Seidu Harrison, as soon as he received reports about the incident, he mobilised a number of buses to convey the people to the school for their safety.
Mr Harrison and the Municipal Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Abudu Issahaku, conducted newsmen round to inspect the extent of the damage caused to the affected communities and where the people were putting up at the moment.
They indicated that, the assembly was feeding the people at a great cost, pointing out however that, reports had been sent to both the regional office and national headquarters of NADMO for immediate assistance, and expressed the hope that there would be a quick response to their distress call.
The Municipal NADMO Co-ordinator indicated that, the people were finding it difficult to cross a stream to their farms to access food, adding that, their stock of food had been swept away by the resultant floods.
FORUM ON PETROLEUM BILLS END (PAGE 12, SEPT 25, 2010)
A CONSULTATIVE forum to solicit views on the Petroleum Revenue Management and Petroleum Exploration and Production Bills, 2010, has been held in Sunyani, the capital of the Brong Ahafo Region for stakeholders in the northern sector of the country.
The forum, which was under the auspices of the joint Parliamentary Committee of Mines and Energy and Finance, was attended by Paramount Chiefs, Municipal/District Chief Executives Presiding Members, Religious Leaders, Assembly Members, Representatives of Non-governmental organisations, Youth groups, Civil Society Organisations, Students, Heads of Decentralised Departments and Agencies as well as Development Partners.
With the support of the German Development Co-operation (GTZ), the forum was organised to tap ideas from the people to enable Parliament to fashion out a law that would ensure the judicious, prudent and efficient use and management of revenue that would accrue from the oil find in the country.
Mr James Avedzi, the Chairman of the Finance Committee, who gave an overview of the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, pointed out that Ghana was blessed to learn lessons, both positive and negative ones, from countries which had also found oil.
That, he said, would provide the opportunity for the country to adopt sound, sustainable and efficient management of the oil revenue, saying that, the bill primarily seeks to distinguish between oil and traditional revenue sources of revenue.
According to Mr Avedzi, the bill also seeks to prohibit the petroleum account being used as collateral for the development of a particular region, adding that it was only Parliament that could determine the use of the petroleum account to support the budget for any particular year.
Under the bill, he indicated, two separate funds would be established, namely Stabilisation and Heritage Funds, which would respectively ensure that the economy was always stabilised and the future generation also taken care of.
The Ranking Member of the Committee on Mines and Energy, Mr Joseph Kofi Adda, called on all Ghanaians to come together as one people to find the best out of the exploration and production as well as the revenue that would accrue from the oil find, stressing that the oil belonged to the entire Ghanaian populace and not one single individual.
He declared: ‘‘This oil business cannot be handled by one agency. The oil does not belong to President Mills; neither does it belong to former President Kufuor or Kofi Adda; it is the property of all Ghanaians. The ownership matter is very important and so we should bear in mind.’’
Mr Adda, however, explained that even though the oil belonged to all Ghanaians, it was vested in the President of the country in trust and on behalf of the people.
During an open forum, the President of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs, Naa S. D. Gore II, suggested the setting up of a special court to deal with officials who might embezzle money from the oil find, adding that those found guilty should have no option of an appeal when convicted.
He also appealed that part of the money should be channelled to the chieftaincy institution since, according to him, the current money made available to the various Houses of Chiefs was woefully inadequate, adding, ‘‘Let part of the money come to us.’’
The Presiding Member of the Sunyani West District Assembly, Mr Kwame Agyenim Boateng, observed that there was a massive unemployment level in the country and therefore suggested that a portion of the oil money should be set aside to deal with the problem just as the various assemblies enjoyed the Common Fund.
In a welcoming address, the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Eric Opoku, underscored the importance of the forum, noting that there had been antecedents of oil producing countries, where oil revenue, instead of helping to accelerate their national development, had rather become a curse engendering civil and community strife that cost such countries a lot of resources.
The forum, which was under the auspices of the joint Parliamentary Committee of Mines and Energy and Finance, was attended by Paramount Chiefs, Municipal/District Chief Executives Presiding Members, Religious Leaders, Assembly Members, Representatives of Non-governmental organisations, Youth groups, Civil Society Organisations, Students, Heads of Decentralised Departments and Agencies as well as Development Partners.
With the support of the German Development Co-operation (GTZ), the forum was organised to tap ideas from the people to enable Parliament to fashion out a law that would ensure the judicious, prudent and efficient use and management of revenue that would accrue from the oil find in the country.
Mr James Avedzi, the Chairman of the Finance Committee, who gave an overview of the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, pointed out that Ghana was blessed to learn lessons, both positive and negative ones, from countries which had also found oil.
That, he said, would provide the opportunity for the country to adopt sound, sustainable and efficient management of the oil revenue, saying that, the bill primarily seeks to distinguish between oil and traditional revenue sources of revenue.
According to Mr Avedzi, the bill also seeks to prohibit the petroleum account being used as collateral for the development of a particular region, adding that it was only Parliament that could determine the use of the petroleum account to support the budget for any particular year.
Under the bill, he indicated, two separate funds would be established, namely Stabilisation and Heritage Funds, which would respectively ensure that the economy was always stabilised and the future generation also taken care of.
The Ranking Member of the Committee on Mines and Energy, Mr Joseph Kofi Adda, called on all Ghanaians to come together as one people to find the best out of the exploration and production as well as the revenue that would accrue from the oil find, stressing that the oil belonged to the entire Ghanaian populace and not one single individual.
He declared: ‘‘This oil business cannot be handled by one agency. The oil does not belong to President Mills; neither does it belong to former President Kufuor or Kofi Adda; it is the property of all Ghanaians. The ownership matter is very important and so we should bear in mind.’’
Mr Adda, however, explained that even though the oil belonged to all Ghanaians, it was vested in the President of the country in trust and on behalf of the people.
During an open forum, the President of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs, Naa S. D. Gore II, suggested the setting up of a special court to deal with officials who might embezzle money from the oil find, adding that those found guilty should have no option of an appeal when convicted.
He also appealed that part of the money should be channelled to the chieftaincy institution since, according to him, the current money made available to the various Houses of Chiefs was woefully inadequate, adding, ‘‘Let part of the money come to us.’’
The Presiding Member of the Sunyani West District Assembly, Mr Kwame Agyenim Boateng, observed that there was a massive unemployment level in the country and therefore suggested that a portion of the oil money should be set aside to deal with the problem just as the various assemblies enjoyed the Common Fund.
In a welcoming address, the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Eric Opoku, underscored the importance of the forum, noting that there had been antecedents of oil producing countries, where oil revenue, instead of helping to accelerate their national development, had rather become a curse engendering civil and community strife that cost such countries a lot of resources.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
NEW TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FOR NKORANZA (PAGE 42, SEPT 23, 2010)
THE government has decided to establish a new technical institute at Nkoranza in the Brong Ahafo Region to cater for technical education in the region in particular and the country as a whole.
Since the conversion of the then Sunyani Technical Institute into a polytechnic in the 1980s, the region has not benefited from a purely technical institute, and the new Nkoranza Technical Institute as it is to be called, is being carved out of the present Nkoranza Secondary/Technical School.
Currently, constructional work on the project is underway on a 12-unit storey classroom block and another separate six-unit classroom building on 107 acres released by the Nkoranza Traditional Council for the project.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo and Okatakyie Agyeman Kudom IV, the Omanhene of the Nkoranza Traditional Area, have jointly cut the sod to commence the construction of boys and girls dormitory blocks at the site.
Construction work is also to begin on a modern computer science laboratory block.
All the projects are to be financed by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
Before breaking the ground, Okatakyie Kudom described the project as a long dream come true, adding that Nananom, in their wisdom, gave out the land for such a laudable educational project and promised that they would not hesitate to release more land for future educational purposes.
He expressed the hope that the project when successfully completed, would equip students who graduated with technical skills and jobs in advance.
Okatakyie commended the government for the bold initiative to establish the new technical institute in the region.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo, who was in the area as part of his two-day working visit to the Nkoranza North District, underscored the importance of education and the government’s commitment to make education a priority on its agenda.
He expressed the hope that since the region had long existed without a technical institute, the people would lend their fullest support towards the successful completion of the project.
The regional minister, who was accompanied by the District Chief Executive (DCE )for the area, Mr Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum and the District Co-ordinating Director (DCD), Alhaji Haruna Abdul Salam, said the developed countries attained such status because they put premium on education in general, hence the need for Ghana and other African nations to follow suit.
Since the conversion of the then Sunyani Technical Institute into a polytechnic in the 1980s, the region has not benefited from a purely technical institute, and the new Nkoranza Technical Institute as it is to be called, is being carved out of the present Nkoranza Secondary/Technical School.
Currently, constructional work on the project is underway on a 12-unit storey classroom block and another separate six-unit classroom building on 107 acres released by the Nkoranza Traditional Council for the project.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo and Okatakyie Agyeman Kudom IV, the Omanhene of the Nkoranza Traditional Area, have jointly cut the sod to commence the construction of boys and girls dormitory blocks at the site.
Construction work is also to begin on a modern computer science laboratory block.
All the projects are to be financed by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
Before breaking the ground, Okatakyie Kudom described the project as a long dream come true, adding that Nananom, in their wisdom, gave out the land for such a laudable educational project and promised that they would not hesitate to release more land for future educational purposes.
He expressed the hope that the project when successfully completed, would equip students who graduated with technical skills and jobs in advance.
Okatakyie commended the government for the bold initiative to establish the new technical institute in the region.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo, who was in the area as part of his two-day working visit to the Nkoranza North District, underscored the importance of education and the government’s commitment to make education a priority on its agenda.
He expressed the hope that since the region had long existed without a technical institute, the people would lend their fullest support towards the successful completion of the project.
The regional minister, who was accompanied by the District Chief Executive (DCE )for the area, Mr Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum and the District Co-ordinating Director (DCD), Alhaji Haruna Abdul Salam, said the developed countries attained such status because they put premium on education in general, hence the need for Ghana and other African nations to follow suit.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
YOUTH FOR LEADERSHIP TO PROJECT NDC LEGACIES (PAGE 12, SEPT 21, 2010)
Story: Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Sunyani.
YOUTH for Leadership, a movement in the Brong Ahafo Region, that has the mission to uphold, project and perpetuate the legacies of former President J.J. Rawlings, has said the group has neither formed a new political party nor has the intention to join any other political grouping in the region or elsewhere in the country.
The movement stated clearly that, apart from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party, which the former President was still the father and founder, they had no intention to form or join any political party.
‘‘We still remain as Youth for Leadership in the region and still project the legacies of the Rawlingses. We are saying that, we have not formed any political party as we are projecting the legacies of the Rawlingses’’, the group stressed in a press statement signed by its Regional Secretary, Mr Chester Oppong.
According to them, they were upholding, projecting and perpetuating the enduring legacies of the former President of Ghana and founding father of the ruling NDC, by inculcating the spirit, ideals, values and principles of Flt Lt. Rawlings in children.
They declared: ‘‘May the nobility of the principles and values of our struggle always lead us through the right path to attain liberation and a high level of human life for our people,’’ adding, ‘‘Long live our noble principles and values! Long live our struggle and our historical project! Long live the fore bearer of our struggle, J.J.Rawlings and NDC.’’
The statement wished President J.E.A. Mills and the Better Ghana agenda well.
YOUTH for Leadership, a movement in the Brong Ahafo Region, that has the mission to uphold, project and perpetuate the legacies of former President J.J. Rawlings, has said the group has neither formed a new political party nor has the intention to join any other political grouping in the region or elsewhere in the country.
The movement stated clearly that, apart from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party, which the former President was still the father and founder, they had no intention to form or join any political party.
‘‘We still remain as Youth for Leadership in the region and still project the legacies of the Rawlingses. We are saying that, we have not formed any political party as we are projecting the legacies of the Rawlingses’’, the group stressed in a press statement signed by its Regional Secretary, Mr Chester Oppong.
According to them, they were upholding, projecting and perpetuating the enduring legacies of the former President of Ghana and founding father of the ruling NDC, by inculcating the spirit, ideals, values and principles of Flt Lt. Rawlings in children.
They declared: ‘‘May the nobility of the principles and values of our struggle always lead us through the right path to attain liberation and a high level of human life for our people,’’ adding, ‘‘Long live our noble principles and values! Long live our struggle and our historical project! Long live the fore bearer of our struggle, J.J.Rawlings and NDC.’’
The statement wished President J.E.A. Mills and the Better Ghana agenda well.
Monday, September 20, 2010
EC NOT AWARE OF FORMATION OF NEW PARTY — GYABAAH (PAGE 12, SEPT 18, 2010)
The Brong Ahafo Regional Office of the Electoral Commission (EC) has said it is not aware of the formation of a new political party in the region, since no such party has registered with it in the region.
‘‘Legally, no new party has been formed in the region as of now and even if it is in the process, it has not been completed. We do not know anything about it and we have not as yet been informed about such a process from the EC Head Office in Accra”, the EC Regional Office has stated.
Mr George Gyabaah, the Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the EC who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic, said that the formation of a political party was a long process and so if any group of persons were contemplating forming a party, his office was not in the position to say so.
Mr Gyabaah explained that to register a political party, at least a list which has two-thirds of its founder members throughout the country must be sent to the EC Head Office in Accra for scrutiny.
The regional director indicated that after that, the head office would send copies of the list to its offices in the regions for verification and added that the founder members should be representatives from the various districts.
He further explained that after the verification, if the EC was satisfied with the list that the said members really existed then it would provide a provisional certificate to the founders of the new party to meet the other requirements.
According to Mr Gyabaah, one critical requirement was for the new party to ensure that it had offices in all the regions and at least two-thirds of such offices were also in the districts.
The EC Regional Director declared, ‘‘Indeed, it is a long process and so if this new party has begun, we do not know of it in the region officially and if they have done anything at the national level, we have not been notified of the formation of any party’’
‘‘As far as the commission is concerned we have not been informed and so we do not recognise any party and not until the time that Accra informs us, we are not aware. And we do not normally take what is on air as official position and when we hear, we do not comment’’, Mr Gyabaah emphasised.
The Daily Graphic reported in its Wednesday, September 15, 2010 edition that the new party had the camel as its symbol and its motto, ‘‘Together we build, together we enjoy’’.
According to the report, the RDPP colours were red, white, green, black and blue, which represented anger, happiness, freshness, frustration, love and believed in the ideologies and principles of former President Jerry John Rawlings. He added that one Mr Raphael Cubagee aka Shamo Quaye was the National Co-ordinator of the RDPP, and he announced the formation of the party at a press conference at Fiapre, near Sunyani, the Brong Ahafo Regional capital, which is also the headquarters of the new party.
‘‘Legally, no new party has been formed in the region as of now and even if it is in the process, it has not been completed. We do not know anything about it and we have not as yet been informed about such a process from the EC Head Office in Accra”, the EC Regional Office has stated.
Mr George Gyabaah, the Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the EC who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic, said that the formation of a political party was a long process and so if any group of persons were contemplating forming a party, his office was not in the position to say so.
Mr Gyabaah explained that to register a political party, at least a list which has two-thirds of its founder members throughout the country must be sent to the EC Head Office in Accra for scrutiny.
The regional director indicated that after that, the head office would send copies of the list to its offices in the regions for verification and added that the founder members should be representatives from the various districts.
He further explained that after the verification, if the EC was satisfied with the list that the said members really existed then it would provide a provisional certificate to the founders of the new party to meet the other requirements.
According to Mr Gyabaah, one critical requirement was for the new party to ensure that it had offices in all the regions and at least two-thirds of such offices were also in the districts.
The EC Regional Director declared, ‘‘Indeed, it is a long process and so if this new party has begun, we do not know of it in the region officially and if they have done anything at the national level, we have not been notified of the formation of any party’’
‘‘As far as the commission is concerned we have not been informed and so we do not recognise any party and not until the time that Accra informs us, we are not aware. And we do not normally take what is on air as official position and when we hear, we do not comment’’, Mr Gyabaah emphasised.
The Daily Graphic reported in its Wednesday, September 15, 2010 edition that the new party had the camel as its symbol and its motto, ‘‘Together we build, together we enjoy’’.
According to the report, the RDPP colours were red, white, green, black and blue, which represented anger, happiness, freshness, frustration, love and believed in the ideologies and principles of former President Jerry John Rawlings. He added that one Mr Raphael Cubagee aka Shamo Quaye was the National Co-ordinator of the RDPP, and he announced the formation of the party at a press conference at Fiapre, near Sunyani, the Brong Ahafo Regional capital, which is also the headquarters of the new party.
Friday, September 17, 2010
NDC REACTS TO FORMATION OF NEW PARTY IN BA (PAGE 13, SEPT 17, 2010)
THE Brong Ahafo Regional Secretariat of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has berated the founder of a new political party, Mr Raphael Cubagee, for capitalising on challenges facing the NDC to seek attention for his personal interest.
The Regional NDC Secretariat described the purported founding of the Real Democratic Patriot Party (RDPP) by Mr Cubagee as, ‘‘Simply a mischief’’.
The secretariat was reacting to the purported formation of the new political party, from the NDC in the region.
A press release signed by the Brong Ahafo Regional Secretary of the NDC, Mr Justice Samuel Adjei, recalled that the said Cubagee went on air about a month ago, announcing his resignation from the NDC.
The release explained that, ‘‘As we in the NDC did not take radio announcement as an official position, we invited him formally to present his problems to us for redress. It was followed up with a reminder but all these things were to no avail’’.
According to the Regional Secretary of the NDC, every political organisation, including the NDC, was there to solve problems, adding that, ‘‘The founders of our party foresaw this and created avenues from constituency level to the highest echelons of the party, to deal with problems as they emerge’’.
The release emphasised that, it would be ‘‘hypocritical and naïve’’ if the party pretended that there were no challenges in the NDC, but noted that, because of the respect for each member, ‘‘We use the structures as stipulated by the party constitution’’
It declared, ‘‘We wish to ask our party supporters that the structures are capable of meeting the challenges.
Mr Adjei further appealed to members of the NDC to be focussed, stressing, ‘‘We refuse to be distracted because we know the track record of Raphael Cubagee and soon we shall expose his plans in detail’’.
Already, the National Co-ordinator of the RDPP, Mr Cubagee, aka Shamo Quaye, had insisted that, the newly formed political movement would make an impact on the country’s political landscape.
He said plans were far advanced to get the party, whose founding members were people who believed in the ideologies of former President J.J. Rawlings, registered at the Electoral Commission.
The Regional NDC Secretariat described the purported founding of the Real Democratic Patriot Party (RDPP) by Mr Cubagee as, ‘‘Simply a mischief’’.
The secretariat was reacting to the purported formation of the new political party, from the NDC in the region.
A press release signed by the Brong Ahafo Regional Secretary of the NDC, Mr Justice Samuel Adjei, recalled that the said Cubagee went on air about a month ago, announcing his resignation from the NDC.
The release explained that, ‘‘As we in the NDC did not take radio announcement as an official position, we invited him formally to present his problems to us for redress. It was followed up with a reminder but all these things were to no avail’’.
According to the Regional Secretary of the NDC, every political organisation, including the NDC, was there to solve problems, adding that, ‘‘The founders of our party foresaw this and created avenues from constituency level to the highest echelons of the party, to deal with problems as they emerge’’.
The release emphasised that, it would be ‘‘hypocritical and naïve’’ if the party pretended that there were no challenges in the NDC, but noted that, because of the respect for each member, ‘‘We use the structures as stipulated by the party constitution’’
It declared, ‘‘We wish to ask our party supporters that the structures are capable of meeting the challenges.
Mr Adjei further appealed to members of the NDC to be focussed, stressing, ‘‘We refuse to be distracted because we know the track record of Raphael Cubagee and soon we shall expose his plans in detail’’.
Already, the National Co-ordinator of the RDPP, Mr Cubagee, aka Shamo Quaye, had insisted that, the newly formed political movement would make an impact on the country’s political landscape.
He said plans were far advanced to get the party, whose founding members were people who believed in the ideologies of former President J.J. Rawlings, registered at the Electoral Commission.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
CIVIL SERVANTS MUST NOT CAMPAIGN FOR POLITICAL PARTIES (PAGE 13, SEPT 16, 2010)
THE Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo has called on Civil and Public servants who are desirous to openly mount political platforms to stop the practice.
He declared, “I do not want any civil/public servant to stand on a platform and campaign for the National Democratic congress (NDC) party during elections”.
“That is not the rule of the game and so those who wish to do so should resign their positions and behave as politicians. My advice is that, you remain as neutral as possible in the performance of your duties as Civil/Public servants,” Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo stated.
The regional minister, who was interacting with heads of department and other staff of the Kintampo North Municipal and the Kintampo South District Assemblies at Kintampo and Jema respectively, further cautioned civil/public servants not to use state resources to engage in politics.
He maintained that, it was incumbent for them to continue to show their commitment and dedication to duty, no matter which government was in place, adding that, “Do not allow your personal interests to overshadow the generality of the people you serve”.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo, who was on a two-day working visit to the two administrative areas, admonished the heads of department to set good examples for their subordinates to emulate, saying that, they should eschew lateness to work and ensure environmental cleanliness, and make sure that, furniture, curtains and other office appliances were decent.
He emphasised that, it was only when the heads were disciplined that they could compel their junior members of staff to live above reproach, pointing out that, their decent appearances ought to reflect what pertained in their respective offices.
Apart from the meeting with the heads of department, the regional minister, led by the respective Municipal and District Chief Executives for those areas, Messrs Alhassan Seidu Harrison and Kojo Nyamekye Datiakwa, inspected ongoing and completed development projects, including educational, health, water and sanitation structures and facilities, which were financed at huge costs.
The regional minister, also paid courtesy calls on a number of chiefs, including Nana Yusif Fanyinama III, President of the Council of Wangara Chiefs in Ghana at Kintampo, who in an address, appealed to Mr Nyamekye-Marfo to use his good office to ensure that, Kintampo township roads and drains were put in good shape.
Nana Fanyinama, again appealed to Ghanaians to exercise restraint and rally solidly behind President, J.E.A. Mills in his bid to share the national cake equitably, saying that, the assertion by a section of Ghanaians that President Mills was slow in his administration did not hold .
From the Palace of Nana Fanyinama, the regional minister also called on Nana Effa Guakuro, Nana Asare Baffoe, Nana Awiti Koffour and Nana Minka Banawa, all traditional authorities at Kintampo, who in their respective addresses, called on the government to improve conditions at Kintampo and its environs.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo gave the assurance that, the government would not renege on its promises to develop all sectors of the economy, saying that, the President recognised and appreciated the confidence the people reposed in him by voting the NDC to power.
He declared, “I do not want any civil/public servant to stand on a platform and campaign for the National Democratic congress (NDC) party during elections”.
“That is not the rule of the game and so those who wish to do so should resign their positions and behave as politicians. My advice is that, you remain as neutral as possible in the performance of your duties as Civil/Public servants,” Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo stated.
The regional minister, who was interacting with heads of department and other staff of the Kintampo North Municipal and the Kintampo South District Assemblies at Kintampo and Jema respectively, further cautioned civil/public servants not to use state resources to engage in politics.
He maintained that, it was incumbent for them to continue to show their commitment and dedication to duty, no matter which government was in place, adding that, “Do not allow your personal interests to overshadow the generality of the people you serve”.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo, who was on a two-day working visit to the two administrative areas, admonished the heads of department to set good examples for their subordinates to emulate, saying that, they should eschew lateness to work and ensure environmental cleanliness, and make sure that, furniture, curtains and other office appliances were decent.
He emphasised that, it was only when the heads were disciplined that they could compel their junior members of staff to live above reproach, pointing out that, their decent appearances ought to reflect what pertained in their respective offices.
Apart from the meeting with the heads of department, the regional minister, led by the respective Municipal and District Chief Executives for those areas, Messrs Alhassan Seidu Harrison and Kojo Nyamekye Datiakwa, inspected ongoing and completed development projects, including educational, health, water and sanitation structures and facilities, which were financed at huge costs.
The regional minister, also paid courtesy calls on a number of chiefs, including Nana Yusif Fanyinama III, President of the Council of Wangara Chiefs in Ghana at Kintampo, who in an address, appealed to Mr Nyamekye-Marfo to use his good office to ensure that, Kintampo township roads and drains were put in good shape.
Nana Fanyinama, again appealed to Ghanaians to exercise restraint and rally solidly behind President, J.E.A. Mills in his bid to share the national cake equitably, saying that, the assertion by a section of Ghanaians that President Mills was slow in his administration did not hold .
From the Palace of Nana Fanyinama, the regional minister also called on Nana Effa Guakuro, Nana Asare Baffoe, Nana Awiti Koffour and Nana Minka Banawa, all traditional authorities at Kintampo, who in their respective addresses, called on the government to improve conditions at Kintampo and its environs.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo gave the assurance that, the government would not renege on its promises to develop all sectors of the economy, saying that, the President recognised and appreciated the confidence the people reposed in him by voting the NDC to power.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
H1N1 SCARE AT KINTAMPO SHS (JUNIOR GRAPHIC, PAGE 3, SEPT 15, 2010)
Twelve out of 16 students of the Kintampo Senior High School (SHS), suspected to have contracted the H1N1 virus, have tested positive after undergoing screening at the Kintampo Municipal Health Directorate.
Blood samples of all the 16 students were taken to Accra for analysis, according to the Kintampo Municipal Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Abdu Issahaku.
Mr Issahaku, who disclosed this to Newsmen in Kintampo, however, gave the assurance that, there was no cause for alarm as the Municipal office of the Ministry of Health (MOH), had managed the situation.
The condition of the students were detected just before schools vacated.
He disclosed that, all the students were vaccinated before they left for holidays, adding that about 9,000 residents of Kintampo had also been vaccinated
According to the Municipal NADMO Co-ordinator, his outfit and the MOH were in close collaboration to educate the people on the local FM Radio Stations as well as the holding of public programmes on the symptoms of the disease.
In that connection, he advised residents to immediately report to the nearest health facility, whenever they felt any of the symptoms, for prompt medical attention.
Blood samples of all the 16 students were taken to Accra for analysis, according to the Kintampo Municipal Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Abdu Issahaku.
Mr Issahaku, who disclosed this to Newsmen in Kintampo, however, gave the assurance that, there was no cause for alarm as the Municipal office of the Ministry of Health (MOH), had managed the situation.
The condition of the students were detected just before schools vacated.
He disclosed that, all the students were vaccinated before they left for holidays, adding that about 9,000 residents of Kintampo had also been vaccinated
According to the Municipal NADMO Co-ordinator, his outfit and the MOH were in close collaboration to educate the people on the local FM Radio Stations as well as the holding of public programmes on the symptoms of the disease.
In that connection, he advised residents to immediately report to the nearest health facility, whenever they felt any of the symptoms, for prompt medical attention.
Friday, September 10, 2010
KINTAMPO ASSEMBLY PAYS DAMAGES, COST (PAGE 13, SEPT 10, 2010)
The Sunyani High Court in the Brong Ahafo Region has ordered the Kintampo Municipal Assembly to pay a total of GH¢121, 250.00 to Mr Agyapong Adu-Baah as damages and cost, in view of the assembly’s failure to compensate him in respect of his parcel of land which the assembly acquired to construct a market complex for the area.
Consequently, the assembly has made an initial payment of GH¢50,000.00 and is obliged to clear the balance in installments.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the area, Mr Alhassan Seidu Harrison, who disclosed this at the Third Ordinary Meeting of the Fourth Session of the assembly at Kintampo noted that, before the court’s judgment on May 27, 2010, the case had dragged on for 13 years.
He explained that at a meeting of the assembly in 2005, the members decided that GH¢20, 000.00 should be paid to Mr Adu-Baah as compensation, but said the decision did not go through.
The MCE said records available indicated that after the man sued the assembly, the court issued summons on many occasions to the assembly to appear before it but the assembly refused to honour those summons.
Mr Harrison indicated that the court, therefore, considered the action of the assembly not to appear before it as a contempt of the court, adding that on November 19, 2009, the court impounded a Farmtrac 70 tractor with registration number, G.E. 5231, belonging to the assembly at the Kintampo Municipal Magistrate court.
“Thereafter, the assembly continued to appear before the Sunyani High Court and vigorously pursued the case until May 27, 2010, when the Sunyani High Court passed a final judgment on the case in favour of Agyapong Adu-Baah and requested the assembly to pay the sum of GH121,250.00 to him”, the MCE told the meeting.
Mr Harrison announced that the assembly intended to establish a police barracks within the municipality but there were challenges in the acquisition of land, and therefore, appealed to the chiefs and landowners in the area to co-operate with the assembly towards its development agenda.
Again, he indicated that, in July this year, the Ghana Armed Forces called on the assembly to request for a piece of land for the purpose of establishing an Engineering Regiment for the Northern Belt, which includes, Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and the three Northern regions.
He said the team visited some areas in the Kintampo Municipality and finally recommended a stretch of land near the final waste disposal site for the project.
On education, Alhaji Harrison disclosed that a six-unit classroom block with ancillary facilities to be funded by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), under the Schools Under Trees Programme, had been awarded to the Kunsu Methodist L/A Primary, Saeed Islamic Primary and Miawani L/A Primary Schools at Kunsu, Gulumpe and Miawani respectively.
The MCE also informed the house that a number of roads had been reshaped in the municipality, and the Kintampo lorry park has been regravelled, adding that the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Kintampo North Constituency, Mr Stephen Kunsu, had rehabilitated the Kintampo-Kunsu road which was hitherto immotorable.
Consequently, the assembly has made an initial payment of GH¢50,000.00 and is obliged to clear the balance in installments.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the area, Mr Alhassan Seidu Harrison, who disclosed this at the Third Ordinary Meeting of the Fourth Session of the assembly at Kintampo noted that, before the court’s judgment on May 27, 2010, the case had dragged on for 13 years.
He explained that at a meeting of the assembly in 2005, the members decided that GH¢20, 000.00 should be paid to Mr Adu-Baah as compensation, but said the decision did not go through.
The MCE said records available indicated that after the man sued the assembly, the court issued summons on many occasions to the assembly to appear before it but the assembly refused to honour those summons.
Mr Harrison indicated that the court, therefore, considered the action of the assembly not to appear before it as a contempt of the court, adding that on November 19, 2009, the court impounded a Farmtrac 70 tractor with registration number, G.E. 5231, belonging to the assembly at the Kintampo Municipal Magistrate court.
“Thereafter, the assembly continued to appear before the Sunyani High Court and vigorously pursued the case until May 27, 2010, when the Sunyani High Court passed a final judgment on the case in favour of Agyapong Adu-Baah and requested the assembly to pay the sum of GH121,250.00 to him”, the MCE told the meeting.
Mr Harrison announced that the assembly intended to establish a police barracks within the municipality but there were challenges in the acquisition of land, and therefore, appealed to the chiefs and landowners in the area to co-operate with the assembly towards its development agenda.
Again, he indicated that, in July this year, the Ghana Armed Forces called on the assembly to request for a piece of land for the purpose of establishing an Engineering Regiment for the Northern Belt, which includes, Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and the three Northern regions.
He said the team visited some areas in the Kintampo Municipality and finally recommended a stretch of land near the final waste disposal site for the project.
On education, Alhaji Harrison disclosed that a six-unit classroom block with ancillary facilities to be funded by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), under the Schools Under Trees Programme, had been awarded to the Kunsu Methodist L/A Primary, Saeed Islamic Primary and Miawani L/A Primary Schools at Kunsu, Gulumpe and Miawani respectively.
The MCE also informed the house that a number of roads had been reshaped in the municipality, and the Kintampo lorry park has been regravelled, adding that the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Kintampo North Constituency, Mr Stephen Kunsu, had rehabilitated the Kintampo-Kunsu road which was hitherto immotorable.
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