The consistent, positive performance of the Kintampo Rural Bank in the Brong Ahafo Region since it started business in 1980, has been recognised and appreciated by the government. The bank has, therefore, received a number of accolades, including the current best and number one bank in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The Apex Bank Monitoring and Evaluation Unit also ranked it third among five strong banks, out of the 127 rural/community banks in the country as of December 31, 2008. Recently it was adjudged the best managed rural and community bank in the northern sector of Ghana.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank, Dr Samuel Donyina-Ameyaw, announced this in a report presented on his behalf at the 24th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of the bank. He said the “Net profit of the bank increased to GH¢239,497 in 2008 from GH¢142,009 the previous year.
He said the operating profit of the bank went up by 68.74 per cent from GH¢157,492 in 2007 to GH¢265,754 in 2008, while the returns on the bank’s assets had consistently remained above the benchmark level of five per cent.
During the year under review, Dr Donyina-Ameyaw further said, returns on the bank’s net worth went beyond GH¢888,237; from 20.9 per cent to 26.9 per cent at the end of December, 2008.
Its consistent growth in profits has resulted in an upward movement in the bank’s shareholder value.
On the other key financial indicators, the board chairman said the capital adequacy ratio of the bank stood at 31.9 per cent by December 31, 2008 as against 31.0 per cent as of December 31, 2007, and well above the Bank of Ghana’s (BOG’s) minimum requirement of 10 per cent.
According to Dr Donyina-Ameyaw, while growth in business and profits were the driving force of the bank, the emphasis was always on asset quality in the course of pursuing business expansion, which had resulted in improvement on non-performing loans (MPL) from 11.1 per cent in 2007 to 7.8 per cent in 2008.
“You will be pleased to learn that your bank, as in the past, surpassed all stipulated targets set and as you are aware, it has always been forward-looking and strategised to meet future challenges,” he told the shareholders.
The total business of the bank registered a 33.3 per cent growth, reaching the level of GH¢4,749,690, while total deposits rose to GH¢3,358,182 with gross advances of GH¢2,291,040, representing 41.4 per cent and 28.6 per cent respectively.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
FORMULATE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY — PROF FRIMPONG-BOATENG (PAGE 17, JAN 8, 2010)
PROFESSOR Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, the Director of the National Cardiothoracic Centre, has called on the government to formulate a comprehensive and coherent national science and technology policy, designed to contribute to the achievement of the country’s development objectives.
“This policy is necessary for the effective application of science and technology for development, because for many decades now, the government has not shown any serious commitment to the development of science and technology, even in areas where institutional and legal framework exists”, he stressed.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng made the call when he presented a paper at the 5th lecture series instituted by the Sunyani Polytechnic (S-Poly) in the Brong Ahafo Region. His topic was, “Science and Technology for Accelerated Development”.
He declared, “Science and Technology have the historic record of solving problems and any country that is serious about development has to promote science and technology”.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, who is also the President of the Ghana Heart Foundation, explained that the categorisation of nations into poor and rich, developed and backward, was based on the level of their scientific and technological development.
“We need to recognise that we are in a fight for survival and there is the need for us to be determined, aggressive, ambitious and passionate about our affairs. As a people, we should not be afraid of breaking new,” he emphasised.
The renowned heart surgeon pointed out that, “The world may want to intimate us that we are so far behind that we cannot catch up. No! we don’t have to run after them. However, we can learn from the achievements and mistakes of others whilst charting our own path and preserving our cultural heritage and our time tested value systems”.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng noted that the advanced and the newly advancing nations had been investing newly in science and technology, and that, doing so paid off.
He said economic data showed that contribution of science and technology to economic growth among the industrial countries was 70 per cent, among newly industrial countries it was 45-55 per cent and among the under-developed countries, such as Ghana, less than 30 per cent.
He further explained that in Ghana, just about 0.3 per cent- 0.5 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was set aside for research and development, saying that consequently, all the indicators of the level of development of science and technology in Ghana were not favourable.
The President observed that the number of scientists and technologists who were involved in science and technology in the country were woefully inadequate and not only that, they had little opportunity to update their skills and knowledge.
He noted that among researchers in the various institutions, including the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) scientific publications and research conferences, were few and far in between, and that in industry, the state of science and technology could be seen in the quality of locally manufactured or processed products, when they were available.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said in agriculture, science and technology inputs gave rise to increased, more effective and high quality production as well as minimising pre and post-harvest losses, adding however that the state of agriculture in the country was still primitive and “We have not been able to mechanise production of any of the local food stuffs, such as cocoyam, yam, cassava and even the sweet potato”.
The prof pointed out that the filth in Ghana testified the hopeless nature of the country’s technological development and added that, “I have not seen any country that has developed in filth, and countries that are legendary in environmental cleanliness are invariably those that also have a high level of technological development”.
In the 1960s, he noted that both Ghana and South Korea had per capita Gross National Product (GNP) of $250, but said today the per capita income of South Korea was $1,500 per annum, and explained that Ghana was colonised by the British and South Korea by the Japanese and while 20 per cent of the total area in South Korea was arable, in Ghana close to 100 per cent of the total land was arable.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng explained that the reason for the success story of South Korea included application of science and technology in all sectors of the economy, effective science and technology policies and effective management of it as well as adequate funding for research and development activities by research institutions.
The Rector of the S-Poly, Prof. Kwasi Nsiah-Gyabaah, disclosed that the lecture series by the institution had received commendation from both local and external institutional collaborators, who had encouraged the authorities at the polytechnic to continue to organise the programme and publish every volume of the presentations.
That, he said, would create a forum for experts to showcase their research and contribute to the knowledge generation and sharing, as well as to build up teaching and research expertise in polytechnics in Ghana.
He explained that the 5th lecture series was focused on applied science and technology, because that area had proved a major challenge to the government and the people of Ghana.
The Chairman of the S-Poly Council, Nana (Dr) Justice Owusu-Ansah, said for any country that sought to develop it was important that the higher institutions of learning that charted the path for development, got a platform such as the S-Poly lecture series to discuss issues that affected the lives of the people and the country as a whole.
“This policy is necessary for the effective application of science and technology for development, because for many decades now, the government has not shown any serious commitment to the development of science and technology, even in areas where institutional and legal framework exists”, he stressed.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng made the call when he presented a paper at the 5th lecture series instituted by the Sunyani Polytechnic (S-Poly) in the Brong Ahafo Region. His topic was, “Science and Technology for Accelerated Development”.
He declared, “Science and Technology have the historic record of solving problems and any country that is serious about development has to promote science and technology”.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, who is also the President of the Ghana Heart Foundation, explained that the categorisation of nations into poor and rich, developed and backward, was based on the level of their scientific and technological development.
“We need to recognise that we are in a fight for survival and there is the need for us to be determined, aggressive, ambitious and passionate about our affairs. As a people, we should not be afraid of breaking new,” he emphasised.
The renowned heart surgeon pointed out that, “The world may want to intimate us that we are so far behind that we cannot catch up. No! we don’t have to run after them. However, we can learn from the achievements and mistakes of others whilst charting our own path and preserving our cultural heritage and our time tested value systems”.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng noted that the advanced and the newly advancing nations had been investing newly in science and technology, and that, doing so paid off.
He said economic data showed that contribution of science and technology to economic growth among the industrial countries was 70 per cent, among newly industrial countries it was 45-55 per cent and among the under-developed countries, such as Ghana, less than 30 per cent.
He further explained that in Ghana, just about 0.3 per cent- 0.5 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was set aside for research and development, saying that consequently, all the indicators of the level of development of science and technology in Ghana were not favourable.
The President observed that the number of scientists and technologists who were involved in science and technology in the country were woefully inadequate and not only that, they had little opportunity to update their skills and knowledge.
He noted that among researchers in the various institutions, including the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) scientific publications and research conferences, were few and far in between, and that in industry, the state of science and technology could be seen in the quality of locally manufactured or processed products, when they were available.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said in agriculture, science and technology inputs gave rise to increased, more effective and high quality production as well as minimising pre and post-harvest losses, adding however that the state of agriculture in the country was still primitive and “We have not been able to mechanise production of any of the local food stuffs, such as cocoyam, yam, cassava and even the sweet potato”.
The prof pointed out that the filth in Ghana testified the hopeless nature of the country’s technological development and added that, “I have not seen any country that has developed in filth, and countries that are legendary in environmental cleanliness are invariably those that also have a high level of technological development”.
In the 1960s, he noted that both Ghana and South Korea had per capita Gross National Product (GNP) of $250, but said today the per capita income of South Korea was $1,500 per annum, and explained that Ghana was colonised by the British and South Korea by the Japanese and while 20 per cent of the total area in South Korea was arable, in Ghana close to 100 per cent of the total land was arable.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng explained that the reason for the success story of South Korea included application of science and technology in all sectors of the economy, effective science and technology policies and effective management of it as well as adequate funding for research and development activities by research institutions.
The Rector of the S-Poly, Prof. Kwasi Nsiah-Gyabaah, disclosed that the lecture series by the institution had received commendation from both local and external institutional collaborators, who had encouraged the authorities at the polytechnic to continue to organise the programme and publish every volume of the presentations.
That, he said, would create a forum for experts to showcase their research and contribute to the knowledge generation and sharing, as well as to build up teaching and research expertise in polytechnics in Ghana.
He explained that the 5th lecture series was focused on applied science and technology, because that area had proved a major challenge to the government and the people of Ghana.
The Chairman of the S-Poly Council, Nana (Dr) Justice Owusu-Ansah, said for any country that sought to develop it was important that the higher institutions of learning that charted the path for development, got a platform such as the S-Poly lecture series to discuss issues that affected the lives of the people and the country as a whole.
NEWMOUNT SETS UP COMMUNITY CONSULTATIVE C'TTEE (PAGE 28, JAN 8, 2010)
THE management of the Ahafo Mine Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGLL), has a Community Consultative Committee (CCC), to provide a forum for the company and the community to deliberate on matters of common interest.
The membership of the committee cuts across several societal groupings, from chiefs, the clergy, various identifiable groups, representatives of the youth, and students as well as the villages which are affected by the operations of Newmont.
The company sees the CCC as a useful democratic and participatory mechanism for managing expectations while it will also help open up dialogue, build trust between the company and its community partners and improve relationships.
The Communities Relations Manager of NGLL, Mr Emmanuel Ato Aubynn. explained that in constituting the CCC, those members representing the Government, non-governmental organisations and chiefs were appointed from among their respective groups while others from the local communities were elected in an election supervised by the Asutifi District Office of the Electoral Commission..
According to Mr Aubynn, the processes the company went through to assemble members of the committee were cumbersome but “we endured because Newmont believes that free, fair and transparent election is the surest way the electorate will trust and listen to their representatives”.
The General Manager, Environment and Social Responsibility (ESR), Mr Dan. V. Michaelsen, said in a speech read on his behalf that the CCC would eventually be transformed into an advisory body for the company and for community interaction.
He said the deliberations of the committee would go beyond issues of social responsibility. Some of the deliberations will touch on matters such as informing Newmont of key community perspectives related to the company’s operations, exploration, working to develop constructive and mutually beneficial relationships between the company and affected communities.
One of the company’s values, he said, was to “insist on and demonstrate teamwork, as well as honest communications”, adding, “we know that our performance as a business entity will not be measured solely by how many tons of gold we mine but it will also be based on how well we are as a good corporate citizen in Ahafo,”.
The ERS General Manager expressed confidence in the CCC and gave the assurance that the NGGL would do its best at ensuring that the work of the committee started in earnest and progressed smoothly.
Mr Michaelson recalled a similar inauguration event in May 2008, in respect of signing of the Ahafo Social Responsibility Agreement (ASRA), which has by far, been the most bold and perhaps audacious move any mining company in Ghana had made to demonstrate its commitment to develop communities and to ensure that when mines closed, the communities became better of.
The membership of the committee cuts across several societal groupings, from chiefs, the clergy, various identifiable groups, representatives of the youth, and students as well as the villages which are affected by the operations of Newmont.
The company sees the CCC as a useful democratic and participatory mechanism for managing expectations while it will also help open up dialogue, build trust between the company and its community partners and improve relationships.
The Communities Relations Manager of NGLL, Mr Emmanuel Ato Aubynn. explained that in constituting the CCC, those members representing the Government, non-governmental organisations and chiefs were appointed from among their respective groups while others from the local communities were elected in an election supervised by the Asutifi District Office of the Electoral Commission..
According to Mr Aubynn, the processes the company went through to assemble members of the committee were cumbersome but “we endured because Newmont believes that free, fair and transparent election is the surest way the electorate will trust and listen to their representatives”.
The General Manager, Environment and Social Responsibility (ESR), Mr Dan. V. Michaelsen, said in a speech read on his behalf that the CCC would eventually be transformed into an advisory body for the company and for community interaction.
He said the deliberations of the committee would go beyond issues of social responsibility. Some of the deliberations will touch on matters such as informing Newmont of key community perspectives related to the company’s operations, exploration, working to develop constructive and mutually beneficial relationships between the company and affected communities.
One of the company’s values, he said, was to “insist on and demonstrate teamwork, as well as honest communications”, adding, “we know that our performance as a business entity will not be measured solely by how many tons of gold we mine but it will also be based on how well we are as a good corporate citizen in Ahafo,”.
The ERS General Manager expressed confidence in the CCC and gave the assurance that the NGGL would do its best at ensuring that the work of the committee started in earnest and progressed smoothly.
Mr Michaelson recalled a similar inauguration event in May 2008, in respect of signing of the Ahafo Social Responsibility Agreement (ASRA), which has by far, been the most bold and perhaps audacious move any mining company in Ghana had made to demonstrate its commitment to develop communities and to ensure that when mines closed, the communities became better of.
FIRST NATIONAL SAVINGS OPENS BRANCH IN SUNYANI (PAGE 20, JAN 07, 2010)
One of the greatest challenges facing the Government is how to reduce poverty, increase employment and reduce the drift of the youth from the rural areas to the urban centres.
Professor Kwasi Nsiah-Gyabaah, Rector of the Sunyani Polytechnic (S-Poly), who made the observation pointed out that availability and access to credit was one of the surest ways and means of addressing those challenges.
“In the Brong Ahafo Region in particular, where small-scale farming and agriculture-related activities are the main sources of income and employment, the need for credit is most crucial during the farming season to enable farmers expand their farms and increase productivity”, he noted.
Prof. Nsiah-Gyabaah was speaking at the inuaguration of the Sunyani branch of the First National Savings and Loans (FNSL) company at Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The First National Savings and Loans company is a wholly-owned Ghanaian financial institution, licensed by the Bank of Ghana.
Prof. Nsiah-Gyabaah further observed that at a time when armed robbery was on the increase, the culture of savings needed to be promoted so that people would not keep their money at home or carry large amounts on them to transact business.
According to him, fraud could also affect the fortunes of a financial institution, since sometimes, banks also failed in their duty to provide sound business advice to their customers, while some customers also refused advice from bank officials and misapplied funds on activities which were not profitable.
The S-Poly rector also advised the financial institution to keep its interest rates low and give more loans to women, especially single parents who shouldered huge responsibilities of taking care of their children and family.
The Financial Manager of the institution, Mr Samuel Addo-Nortey, said within the short period of three years that the bank started its operations, it had been able to attract 42,677 customers and disbursed GH¢23.97million to its clients.
The financial manager further said the FNSL had assisted farmers in the Akuapem South and Gomoa districts in the Eastern and Central regions with loans totalling Gh¢2.87million, to boost food production. He said the bank was prepared to extend similar assistance to farmers in the Brong Ahafo Region to expand their farms and yield, thereby, improving their earnings and reducing their poverty level.
He said the FNSL had a network of 20 branches located in all the 10 regions of the country, and that plans were far advanced to open five more branches next year, to bring the total to 25 in 2010. “This is in fulfilment of our vision to be the ‘People’s Bank’,” he said.
Professor Kwasi Nsiah-Gyabaah, Rector of the Sunyani Polytechnic (S-Poly), who made the observation pointed out that availability and access to credit was one of the surest ways and means of addressing those challenges.
“In the Brong Ahafo Region in particular, where small-scale farming and agriculture-related activities are the main sources of income and employment, the need for credit is most crucial during the farming season to enable farmers expand their farms and increase productivity”, he noted.
Prof. Nsiah-Gyabaah was speaking at the inuaguration of the Sunyani branch of the First National Savings and Loans (FNSL) company at Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The First National Savings and Loans company is a wholly-owned Ghanaian financial institution, licensed by the Bank of Ghana.
Prof. Nsiah-Gyabaah further observed that at a time when armed robbery was on the increase, the culture of savings needed to be promoted so that people would not keep their money at home or carry large amounts on them to transact business.
According to him, fraud could also affect the fortunes of a financial institution, since sometimes, banks also failed in their duty to provide sound business advice to their customers, while some customers also refused advice from bank officials and misapplied funds on activities which were not profitable.
The S-Poly rector also advised the financial institution to keep its interest rates low and give more loans to women, especially single parents who shouldered huge responsibilities of taking care of their children and family.
The Financial Manager of the institution, Mr Samuel Addo-Nortey, said within the short period of three years that the bank started its operations, it had been able to attract 42,677 customers and disbursed GH¢23.97million to its clients.
The financial manager further said the FNSL had assisted farmers in the Akuapem South and Gomoa districts in the Eastern and Central regions with loans totalling Gh¢2.87million, to boost food production. He said the bank was prepared to extend similar assistance to farmers in the Brong Ahafo Region to expand their farms and yield, thereby, improving their earnings and reducing their poverty level.
He said the FNSL had a network of 20 branches located in all the 10 regions of the country, and that plans were far advanced to open five more branches next year, to bring the total to 25 in 2010. “This is in fulfilment of our vision to be the ‘People’s Bank’,” he said.
Sale of Sunyani lands...DORMAA CHIEF REACTS (PAGE 23, JAN 6, 2010)
Barely two weeks after the Omanhene of the Sunyani Traditional Area, Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri II, had warned the Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, against the sale of Sunyani lands, the Dormaa Traditional Council has rebutted, calling the claim by the Sunyanihene a bluff.
The council said it considered the utterances, accusations and threats by the Sunyanihene as not only unfortunate but total falsehood, calculated to distort historical facts to attract undue public sympathy to the detriment of the long-existing peace-loving and law- abiding Dormaa State.
At a press conference in Sunyani, Nana Nkrawiri had also called on the Dormaahene to close down the office of the Dormaa Stool Land Secretariat in Sunyani, since it was creating tension between the two traditional areas.
Addressing a similar press conference at the Abranpediase Palace at Dormaa Ahenkro in the Brong Ahafo Region, Osagyefo Agyeman Badu, who is the President of the traditional council, said he and the entire membership of the council expressed ‘‘shock and dismay at the utterances, claims and even threats’’ by the Sunyanihene, as was carried by the December 17, 2009 issue of the Daily Graphic”.
Flanked by his sub and divisional chiefs, who wore mourning cloths, the Omanhene of the Dormaa Traditional Area said, ’’We vehemently refute the Sunyanihene’s allegation that the Dormaahene has been selling Sunyani lands.”
He stressed that, ‘‘Indeed and in fact, the Dormaahene does not share any common boundary with Sunyanihene but rather with Domasehene, since time immemorial.’’
The Omanhene, who showed some documentary proof, explained that the boundary with the Domase Stool was marked by the Gubre stream, which he said flowed into the Bisi stream and far beyond, pointing out that important land marks, buildings and institutions such as the Sunyani Municipal Hospital, the Regional Hospital, the Nurses’ Quarters and the Pastoral Centre, were all located within Dormaa Stool Lands.
He further indicated that indeed, the sub-urban settlement of Penkwase, a suburb of Sunyani, was also part of Dormaa Stool Lands.
Again, the Dormaahene explained that the Sunyanihene’s allegation that the Dormaahene had trespassed beyond the Tyco Filling Station at Abisim to as far as the Police Barrier, near the Sunyani Senior High School, was also totally unfounded.
He declared, ‘‘The Dormaahene has indeed been in an effective and absolute control of all his traditional environs, including Abesim, Bomaa and Chiraa as far back as the 17th Century.”
Osagyefo Agyeman Badu, himself a member of the Bench, emphasised that the Sunyanihene’s ultimatum to him for the immediate closure of the Dormaa Stool Land Secretariat in Sunyani was most unfortunate, saying even granted that the office was located on Sunyani Stool Land, there was hardly any restriction that prevented the operations of a lawfully established office in any part of the country from providing legitimate services to the general public, Sunyani being no exception.
‘‘We deem the Sunyanihene’s ultimatum to close down the office a mere rhetoric and that the Dormaa Traditional Council at its end-of-year meeting has unanimously decided to rename the building which houses the Dormaa Stool Land Secretariat in Sunyani as ‘‘Aduana House’’ with effect from January 1, 2010,” he again declared.
He emphasised that the Dormaahene and members of the traditional council would be the last traditional authority in the country to condone and connive in the activities of ‘‘land guards’’ in any part of the country, and therefore the Sunyanihene’s allegation in that regard was once again totally false and unfounded.
According to him, as a fellow custodian of treasured customs and tradition, ‘‘One would have expected the Sunyanihene in the first instance to have acted with decorum by resorting to our traditional means of seeking redress in matters of this nature involving two traditional areas.”
‘‘In the unfortunate circumstances, therefore, the Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeyo Agyeman Badu II, and his chiefs have no other alternative than resorting to this same medium to set the records straight for the benefit of the general public.’’
The council said it considered the utterances, accusations and threats by the Sunyanihene as not only unfortunate but total falsehood, calculated to distort historical facts to attract undue public sympathy to the detriment of the long-existing peace-loving and law- abiding Dormaa State.
At a press conference in Sunyani, Nana Nkrawiri had also called on the Dormaahene to close down the office of the Dormaa Stool Land Secretariat in Sunyani, since it was creating tension between the two traditional areas.
Addressing a similar press conference at the Abranpediase Palace at Dormaa Ahenkro in the Brong Ahafo Region, Osagyefo Agyeman Badu, who is the President of the traditional council, said he and the entire membership of the council expressed ‘‘shock and dismay at the utterances, claims and even threats’’ by the Sunyanihene, as was carried by the December 17, 2009 issue of the Daily Graphic”.
Flanked by his sub and divisional chiefs, who wore mourning cloths, the Omanhene of the Dormaa Traditional Area said, ’’We vehemently refute the Sunyanihene’s allegation that the Dormaahene has been selling Sunyani lands.”
He stressed that, ‘‘Indeed and in fact, the Dormaahene does not share any common boundary with Sunyanihene but rather with Domasehene, since time immemorial.’’
The Omanhene, who showed some documentary proof, explained that the boundary with the Domase Stool was marked by the Gubre stream, which he said flowed into the Bisi stream and far beyond, pointing out that important land marks, buildings and institutions such as the Sunyani Municipal Hospital, the Regional Hospital, the Nurses’ Quarters and the Pastoral Centre, were all located within Dormaa Stool Lands.
He further indicated that indeed, the sub-urban settlement of Penkwase, a suburb of Sunyani, was also part of Dormaa Stool Lands.
Again, the Dormaahene explained that the Sunyanihene’s allegation that the Dormaahene had trespassed beyond the Tyco Filling Station at Abisim to as far as the Police Barrier, near the Sunyani Senior High School, was also totally unfounded.
He declared, ‘‘The Dormaahene has indeed been in an effective and absolute control of all his traditional environs, including Abesim, Bomaa and Chiraa as far back as the 17th Century.”
Osagyefo Agyeman Badu, himself a member of the Bench, emphasised that the Sunyanihene’s ultimatum to him for the immediate closure of the Dormaa Stool Land Secretariat in Sunyani was most unfortunate, saying even granted that the office was located on Sunyani Stool Land, there was hardly any restriction that prevented the operations of a lawfully established office in any part of the country from providing legitimate services to the general public, Sunyani being no exception.
‘‘We deem the Sunyanihene’s ultimatum to close down the office a mere rhetoric and that the Dormaa Traditional Council at its end-of-year meeting has unanimously decided to rename the building which houses the Dormaa Stool Land Secretariat in Sunyani as ‘‘Aduana House’’ with effect from January 1, 2010,” he again declared.
He emphasised that the Dormaahene and members of the traditional council would be the last traditional authority in the country to condone and connive in the activities of ‘‘land guards’’ in any part of the country, and therefore the Sunyanihene’s allegation in that regard was once again totally false and unfounded.
According to him, as a fellow custodian of treasured customs and tradition, ‘‘One would have expected the Sunyanihene in the first instance to have acted with decorum by resorting to our traditional means of seeking redress in matters of this nature involving two traditional areas.”
‘‘In the unfortunate circumstances, therefore, the Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeyo Agyeman Badu II, and his chiefs have no other alternative than resorting to this same medium to set the records straight for the benefit of the general public.’’
DORMAAMAN EDUCATIONAL FUND SUPPORTS 71 STUDENTS (PAGE 17, JAN 6, 2010)
SEVENTY-ONE students have been presented with scholarships totalling GH¢10,500 by the Dormaaman Educational Endowment Fund (DORMEEF) to enable them to undertake various courses.
The beneficiaries are made up of 41 second cycle and 30 tertiary students.
So far, 1,006 brilliant, needy students from the Dormaa Traditional Area and its environs in the Brong Ahafo Region, have benefited from a similar package at the total cost of GH¢44,749 since the establishment of the scheme about nine years ago.
The traditional council presents scholarships to students from various categories at the end of every year.
Speaking at this year’s function which was well attended, the Omanhene of the Dormaa Traditional Area, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, called on the people to examine themselves based on their individual contributions towards the development of the Dormaa West Municipality in particular and the Brong Ahafo Region as a whole, adding that those who knew they had faulted should rekindle themselves.
He said the endowment fund was established to assist children in the area to take their studies seriously, since education was the key to development, saying that talking about the world being a global village meant talking about effective education.
Osagyefo Agyeman Badu said, ‘‘I want to urge beneficiaries of the fund to make good use of it by studying hard so that at the end of the day you will put money in your own pockets and earn a decent living, and I can assure you that plans are underway to expand the fund to cover more children who are willing to study”.
The Omanhene used the occasion to solicit support for the Dormaa-based Aduana Stars Football Club which is currently featuring in the Glo Premier League competition and is performing very well.
He paid tribute to the Head Coach of the club, Mr Herbert Addo, for his sterling performance so far, and expressed hope that even if Aduana did not win the premiership, they would qualify to play in the Top Four Competition, adding that, ‘‘We shall do everything possible to make the club a force to reckon with in the country’’.
The beneficiaries are made up of 41 second cycle and 30 tertiary students.
So far, 1,006 brilliant, needy students from the Dormaa Traditional Area and its environs in the Brong Ahafo Region, have benefited from a similar package at the total cost of GH¢44,749 since the establishment of the scheme about nine years ago.
The traditional council presents scholarships to students from various categories at the end of every year.
Speaking at this year’s function which was well attended, the Omanhene of the Dormaa Traditional Area, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, called on the people to examine themselves based on their individual contributions towards the development of the Dormaa West Municipality in particular and the Brong Ahafo Region as a whole, adding that those who knew they had faulted should rekindle themselves.
He said the endowment fund was established to assist children in the area to take their studies seriously, since education was the key to development, saying that talking about the world being a global village meant talking about effective education.
Osagyefo Agyeman Badu said, ‘‘I want to urge beneficiaries of the fund to make good use of it by studying hard so that at the end of the day you will put money in your own pockets and earn a decent living, and I can assure you that plans are underway to expand the fund to cover more children who are willing to study”.
The Omanhene used the occasion to solicit support for the Dormaa-based Aduana Stars Football Club which is currently featuring in the Glo Premier League competition and is performing very well.
He paid tribute to the Head Coach of the club, Mr Herbert Addo, for his sterling performance so far, and expressed hope that even if Aduana did not win the premiership, they would qualify to play in the Top Four Competition, adding that, ‘‘We shall do everything possible to make the club a force to reckon with in the country’’.
Monday, January 4, 2010
KOTOKO WIN AT SUNYANI (BACK PAGE, JAN 4)
Bechem Chelsea failed to halt rejuvenated Kumasi Asante Kotoko at their Sunyani Coronation Park backyard when they succumbed 0-1 to Kotoko in their Glo-Premier League match yesterday.
A sluggish-looking Kotoko side, as against the resilient Chelsea players, however collected the much-needed maximum three away points, courtesy of a 29th goal by striker Kabiru Imoro.
Kotoko’s Oppong Samed collected a pass from the rear, paced forward before menancingly laying on another pass to Imoro who had strategically positioned himself in Chelsea’s goal area. He made no mistake about the chance and hit the roof with a powerful right footer to end the first half.
Chelsea revived their game in the second half of the game and succeeded in pinning the visitors to their own area, but try as they did, they could not cancel the deficit.
A sluggish-looking Kotoko side, as against the resilient Chelsea players, however collected the much-needed maximum three away points, courtesy of a 29th goal by striker Kabiru Imoro.
Kotoko’s Oppong Samed collected a pass from the rear, paced forward before menancingly laying on another pass to Imoro who had strategically positioned himself in Chelsea’s goal area. He made no mistake about the chance and hit the roof with a powerful right footer to end the first half.
Chelsea revived their game in the second half of the game and succeeded in pinning the visitors to their own area, but try as they did, they could not cancel the deficit.
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