THE Ministry of Health (MoH) is working closely with health training institutions and the Nurses and Midwives Council to train middle-level healthcare providers, including nurses and midwives, who far outnumber doctors and are also more accessible to most women to offer abortion-related services.
The ministry will also work with other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to address the special needs of the youth for comprehensive reproductive health information and services and to improve family services, including those available to women who have undergone abortion.
The Minister of Health, Dr George Sipa-Adjah Yankey, disclosed this at the just ended sixth national delegates conference of the General Nurses Group (GNG) in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region.
It was on the theme: “The role of the clinical nurse in comprehensive abortion care”.
“We need to educate women about the existing provision for legal abortion so that they can avail themselves of safe legal abortion to the full extent permitted by law,” he advised.
The minister stated that the basic technologies for safe abortion care and contraception that had been available in rich countries for decades ought to reach every village in the country, adding “As a Minister of Health, I am ready to work with you to achieve this objective”.
He, however, said as professionals on the ground, “we will engage women everywhere to demand the sexual and reproductive healthcare they need and the compassionate treatment and respect they deserve and together, let us engage other stakeholders to work with women’s groups to ensure that all women know their legal rights and reproductive options”.
Dr Yankey said the theme for the conference was significant since in the first place, it fell in line with the current direction of the health sector.
The minister observed, “We are also aware that, an estimated, 20,000 women are hospitalised with abortion-related complications in the public health system alone each year, but some of us believe that this number can be higher, considering the number of abortions that occur in the country every year”.
Dr Yankey insisted that the statistics were difficult to compile due to the nature of the problem, adding that the vast majority of cases were done privately and sometimes criminally.
He also observed that nearly half of all those cases occurred among women aged between 14 and 24.
He said the problem had received inadequate attention and that, the pervasive denial of the reality of unsafe abortion was taking a huge toll on the health and lives of women and girls all over the country as well as on the public health system.
The National Chairperson of the GNG-Ghana, Mrs Georgina Nortey stated that about 4.5 million women undergo unsafe abortion world-wide every year, adding that the age bracket of those prone to abortion was between 15 and 25 years.
She said most unwanted pregnancies ended up as unsafe abortion because the primitive methods which were used in terminating those pregnancies, were dangerous.
To reduce unsafe abortion, Mrs Nortey suggested that women should be educated on family planning and availability of comprehensive abortion care services, adding that there should be liberalisation of abortion law.
The Deputy Registrar of the Nurses and Midwives Council in charge of Indexing and Registration, Mrs Cecilia Kalitsi said in recent times there had been public outcry about the way patients and clients were treated by some nurses and midwives when they called at the hospitals and clinics for treatment.
She cited some of the concerns as the impolite way the clients were welcomed to the health facilities, the insults rained on them when they were unable to provide certain vital information and the impatient manner in which prescriptions were explained to them.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
LACK OF OFFICES HAMPERS COMPLIANCE WITH PROCUREMENT ACT (PAGE 34)
Compliance with the provisions of the Procurement Act is being hampered in a number of district assemblies in the Brong Ahafo Region because of lack of procurement officers.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, who made this known, therefore, appealed to the appropriate authorities to post procurement officers to affected district assemblies for them to comply with the law.
He was speaking at the regional financial management workshop organised by the Audit Service in Sunyani last Tuesday.
The workshop was attended by accountants of the various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and district assemblies.
Other participants were district finance officers, district co-ordinating directors and staff of the Audit Service.
It was organised to address the findings of an audit conducted nationwide last year by Messrs Ernest and Young Chartered Accountants to bring a third party review to the handling of the various transactions underlying receipts and disbursements of the Consolidate Fund.
The audit also focused on transactions relating to the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing and selected departments under it, as well as 20 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), drawn from each region in the country.
The workshop centred on Budget Preparation and Reporting Cycle, Consolidated Fund inflows, Budget and Public Expenditure Management Systems, Financial Reporting Formats, Receipts and Payments Concerns, Consolidated Fund Reporting issues, Internal Audit issues and Internal Controls.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo stressed the need for the assemblies to register all their fixed assets so that at any given time they could account for them without any difficulty, pointing out that the accurate preparation of trial balances of the assemblies would also provide the basis for their income and expenditure accounts.
According to the Regional Minister, the startling revelations at the ongoing Ghana@50 probe in Accra, should be an eye-opener to all those in positions of trust, since one day, they could be called to account for their stewardship.
He said following what was currently going on at the probe, it was not far-fetched to conclude that, “some of the politicians did not listen to the bureaucrats during the Ghana@50 celebration, regarding procurement and other activities”, adding that politicians should listen to the bureaucrats to learn a lot from them as to what to do.
In his welcoming address, the Brong Ahafo Regional Auditor, Mr Charles Segre, noted that the findings of the audit required additional attention alongside the immediate requirement to submit the findings for the attention of Parliament.
According to him, the objectives of the audit were to provide an independent opinion on the financial statements and to review and report on the effectiveness of the system of internal controls of the audited organisations.
He pointed out that recommendations had been made, where appropriate, on how systems could be improved but the key task was to examine whether existing systems were being followed and where necessary, “we have made practical recommendations on how enforcement could be tightened”.
Mr Segre noted that financial management in government agencies was largely decentralised and that in order to keep the work within reasonable limits and to ensure a timely completion, “we were required within each of the organisations, to undertake a detailed audit of a proportion of the spending units or budget management centres”.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, who made this known, therefore, appealed to the appropriate authorities to post procurement officers to affected district assemblies for them to comply with the law.
He was speaking at the regional financial management workshop organised by the Audit Service in Sunyani last Tuesday.
The workshop was attended by accountants of the various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and district assemblies.
Other participants were district finance officers, district co-ordinating directors and staff of the Audit Service.
It was organised to address the findings of an audit conducted nationwide last year by Messrs Ernest and Young Chartered Accountants to bring a third party review to the handling of the various transactions underlying receipts and disbursements of the Consolidate Fund.
The audit also focused on transactions relating to the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing and selected departments under it, as well as 20 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), drawn from each region in the country.
The workshop centred on Budget Preparation and Reporting Cycle, Consolidated Fund inflows, Budget and Public Expenditure Management Systems, Financial Reporting Formats, Receipts and Payments Concerns, Consolidated Fund Reporting issues, Internal Audit issues and Internal Controls.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo stressed the need for the assemblies to register all their fixed assets so that at any given time they could account for them without any difficulty, pointing out that the accurate preparation of trial balances of the assemblies would also provide the basis for their income and expenditure accounts.
According to the Regional Minister, the startling revelations at the ongoing Ghana@50 probe in Accra, should be an eye-opener to all those in positions of trust, since one day, they could be called to account for their stewardship.
He said following what was currently going on at the probe, it was not far-fetched to conclude that, “some of the politicians did not listen to the bureaucrats during the Ghana@50 celebration, regarding procurement and other activities”, adding that politicians should listen to the bureaucrats to learn a lot from them as to what to do.
In his welcoming address, the Brong Ahafo Regional Auditor, Mr Charles Segre, noted that the findings of the audit required additional attention alongside the immediate requirement to submit the findings for the attention of Parliament.
According to him, the objectives of the audit were to provide an independent opinion on the financial statements and to review and report on the effectiveness of the system of internal controls of the audited organisations.
He pointed out that recommendations had been made, where appropriate, on how systems could be improved but the key task was to examine whether existing systems were being followed and where necessary, “we have made practical recommendations on how enforcement could be tightened”.
Mr Segre noted that financial management in government agencies was largely decentralised and that in order to keep the work within reasonable limits and to ensure a timely completion, “we were required within each of the organisations, to undertake a detailed audit of a proportion of the spending units or budget management centres”.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
BUI AUTHORITY TASKED TO PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTAL RESETTLEMENT PLANS (BACK PAGE)
THE Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) has directed the management of the Bui Power Authority (BPA) to submit a well prepared Environmental Management Plan and a Resettlement Action Plan to the ministry by the close of the year for study.
The directive is to enable the ministry to assess environmental practices being adopted by the BPA in the execution of the Bui Dam project. It is also to determine the strategies being followed towards the payment of a long-term compensation to the communities affected by the implementation of the project.
Additionally, the MEST has requested the management of BPA to make available to it a copy of the whole contract agreement document for perusal by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), since the activity at the project site basically involved environmental issues.
This was the outcome of a closed-door meeting between the sector minister, Ms Sherry Ayittey, and other officials of the ministry and the management of the BPA, during a day’s familiarisation visit to the Bui Dam site.
The minister and her entourage were conducted round the site by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the BPA, Mr Jabesh Amissah-Arthur.
Briefing the press on the meeting at the camp of the Birim Goldfields Limited at Nsawkaw, Ms Ayittey admitted that the BPA had already submitted a copy of an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Plan to the ministry, which, she said, was being studied.
The minister indicated that the BPA had agreed to establish a community information centre at a suitable location within the Banda Traditional Area to be manned by a local person, who would receive all complaints, suggestions and concerns for onward submission to the authority for action.
According to the minister, the meeting agreed that the BPA ought to apply for a permit and certification before it could go ahead with a quarrying activity which it was undertaking for its construction work at the project site, since it was a different venture all together.
She noted that the rock was the bona fide property of the state and as such, whoever was exploiting it should put in the necessary application before doing so and subsequently pay the appropriate royalties to the state, the district assembly and the traditional authorities.
Ms Ayittey pointed out that the ministry had received complaints from La Cote d’Iviore expressing the fear that the construction of the dam would adversely affect some communities along the border as a result of spillage.
Based on that, she said the meeting agreed that the BPA should submit to the ministry documents that pointed to the fact that spillage would not cause any havoc, in order to allay the fears of their neighbours.
She also indicated that there had been complaints about the quality of rock being used to build the dam, and that to curtail the lingering worry, the meeting agreed that the Geological Department and the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) should move to Bui to do independent tests of the rock.
That, she noted, would finally make the communities feel relaxed, once they were convinced that the future of the dam was secured and that their lives were not in danger in any way.
The minister further disclosed that the EPA had been mandated to carry out checks on chemicals and other materials imported to be used for the project, adding that “any bulk importation will be subjected to testing before certification and so the BPA should co-operate with the EPA to go to the port to conduct test on materials brought in and later sit together on the issue of permit”.
The minister said based on a request by the traditional authorities, the BPA had agreed to establish a vocational training centre at Banda Ahenkro, to provide middle level manpower to the youth so that they could be employable, and that agreement had also been reached towards the upgrading of the Banda Ahenkro Clinic to a health centre to see to the quality health care for the people.
Earlier, in a presentation, the CEO disclosed that under phase two of the project, river bed excavation and concrete foundation would start in November, 2009, while commencement of the main dam was to start in December, this year, and that the start of reservoir filling was scheduled for February 2011.
Mr Amissah-Arthur indicated that the first power generation was expected in October 2012. The project is expected to be completed and inaugurated in 2013.
Under phase one of the Bui Hydroelectric Power Project, being undertaken by the Sinohydro Company Limited, a Chinese firm, under a joint People’s Republic of China and the Government of Ghana agreement, commencement of field investigations was in October, 2007, commencement of preparatory works began in January, 2008 while the river diversion was completed in December, 2008.
The directive is to enable the ministry to assess environmental practices being adopted by the BPA in the execution of the Bui Dam project. It is also to determine the strategies being followed towards the payment of a long-term compensation to the communities affected by the implementation of the project.
Additionally, the MEST has requested the management of BPA to make available to it a copy of the whole contract agreement document for perusal by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), since the activity at the project site basically involved environmental issues.
This was the outcome of a closed-door meeting between the sector minister, Ms Sherry Ayittey, and other officials of the ministry and the management of the BPA, during a day’s familiarisation visit to the Bui Dam site.
The minister and her entourage were conducted round the site by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the BPA, Mr Jabesh Amissah-Arthur.
Briefing the press on the meeting at the camp of the Birim Goldfields Limited at Nsawkaw, Ms Ayittey admitted that the BPA had already submitted a copy of an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Plan to the ministry, which, she said, was being studied.
The minister indicated that the BPA had agreed to establish a community information centre at a suitable location within the Banda Traditional Area to be manned by a local person, who would receive all complaints, suggestions and concerns for onward submission to the authority for action.
According to the minister, the meeting agreed that the BPA ought to apply for a permit and certification before it could go ahead with a quarrying activity which it was undertaking for its construction work at the project site, since it was a different venture all together.
She noted that the rock was the bona fide property of the state and as such, whoever was exploiting it should put in the necessary application before doing so and subsequently pay the appropriate royalties to the state, the district assembly and the traditional authorities.
Ms Ayittey pointed out that the ministry had received complaints from La Cote d’Iviore expressing the fear that the construction of the dam would adversely affect some communities along the border as a result of spillage.
Based on that, she said the meeting agreed that the BPA should submit to the ministry documents that pointed to the fact that spillage would not cause any havoc, in order to allay the fears of their neighbours.
She also indicated that there had been complaints about the quality of rock being used to build the dam, and that to curtail the lingering worry, the meeting agreed that the Geological Department and the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) should move to Bui to do independent tests of the rock.
That, she noted, would finally make the communities feel relaxed, once they were convinced that the future of the dam was secured and that their lives were not in danger in any way.
The minister further disclosed that the EPA had been mandated to carry out checks on chemicals and other materials imported to be used for the project, adding that “any bulk importation will be subjected to testing before certification and so the BPA should co-operate with the EPA to go to the port to conduct test on materials brought in and later sit together on the issue of permit”.
The minister said based on a request by the traditional authorities, the BPA had agreed to establish a vocational training centre at Banda Ahenkro, to provide middle level manpower to the youth so that they could be employable, and that agreement had also been reached towards the upgrading of the Banda Ahenkro Clinic to a health centre to see to the quality health care for the people.
Earlier, in a presentation, the CEO disclosed that under phase two of the project, river bed excavation and concrete foundation would start in November, 2009, while commencement of the main dam was to start in December, this year, and that the start of reservoir filling was scheduled for February 2011.
Mr Amissah-Arthur indicated that the first power generation was expected in October 2012. The project is expected to be completed and inaugurated in 2013.
Under phase one of the Bui Hydroelectric Power Project, being undertaken by the Sinohydro Company Limited, a Chinese firm, under a joint People’s Republic of China and the Government of Ghana agreement, commencement of field investigations was in October, 2007, commencement of preparatory works began in January, 2008 while the river diversion was completed in December, 2008.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
COCOA FARMERS DEMAND BONUS FROM WIENCO (BACK PAGE)
Cocoa farmers in the Sefwi Kaase Cocoa District in the Western Region have expressed grave concern about the refusal of Wienco Company Limited, a licensed buying company (LBC), to pay them their 2006/07 bonus, totalling GH¢30,667.14, for the main crop season.
The amount is in respect of 8,967 bags of cocoa purchased by purchasing clerks from farmers of 16 societies in the area.
The farmers pointed out that despite persistent appeals to Nana Agyeman, the Managing Director of the company, there had not been any response from the company.
Representatives of the farmers, led by the District Chief Farmer from Esem-Debiso in Bia District, Nana Allen Emmanuel Nkuah, who called at the Daily Graphic office in Sunyani to express the sentiment, also indicated that the farmers had made a report to the management of the COCOBOD but again no action had been taken. The chief farmer stressed that on several occasions that he and other farmers met Nana Agyeman, he had made promises to settle his company’s indebtedness to them but he had reneged on those assurances and rather travelled to the United States without any regard for the plight of the farmers.
Nana Nkuah alleged that a finger-printed list of the farmers who belong to the 16 societies in the area had already been prepared by the various purchasing clerks in the area and submitted to the company as had always been the case but no favourable response had come out of it.
“We are appealing to the government to come to our aid to ensure that Wienco Company Limited pays whatever bonus is due the farmers since the farmers are suffering,” the chief farmer pleaded.
The farmers also called on the management of the COCOBOD to ensure that anytime they released money in respect of bonuses and other cheques meant for payment to farmers, they should make follow-ups to verify if payment had been made.
The amount is in respect of 8,967 bags of cocoa purchased by purchasing clerks from farmers of 16 societies in the area.
The farmers pointed out that despite persistent appeals to Nana Agyeman, the Managing Director of the company, there had not been any response from the company.
Representatives of the farmers, led by the District Chief Farmer from Esem-Debiso in Bia District, Nana Allen Emmanuel Nkuah, who called at the Daily Graphic office in Sunyani to express the sentiment, also indicated that the farmers had made a report to the management of the COCOBOD but again no action had been taken. The chief farmer stressed that on several occasions that he and other farmers met Nana Agyeman, he had made promises to settle his company’s indebtedness to them but he had reneged on those assurances and rather travelled to the United States without any regard for the plight of the farmers.
Nana Nkuah alleged that a finger-printed list of the farmers who belong to the 16 societies in the area had already been prepared by the various purchasing clerks in the area and submitted to the company as had always been the case but no favourable response had come out of it.
“We are appealing to the government to come to our aid to ensure that Wienco Company Limited pays whatever bonus is due the farmers since the farmers are suffering,” the chief farmer pleaded.
The farmers also called on the management of the COCOBOD to ensure that anytime they released money in respect of bonuses and other cheques meant for payment to farmers, they should make follow-ups to verify if payment had been made.
Friday, August 14, 2009
MORE CHURCHES, MORE IMMORAL YOUTH (MIRROR, PAGE 40)
From Akwasi
Ampratwum-Mensah, Sunyani
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, has observed that despite the springing up of many Churches in the country, there is still a high level of moral degeneration, particularly among the youth.
That, he noted, could be seen in the increasing rate of crime such as robbery, rape, suicide, drug peddling, the rapid and continued spread of HIV AIDS and general indiscipline.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo made the observation in a speech read on his behalf at the just-ended 27th Annual National Conference of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) Men’s Fellowship at the Ebenezer Presby Church in Sunyani.
It was on the theme: “Put on the Whole Amour of God — Men, as Soldiers of God”.
The regional minister appealed to the church to play an increasing role in the fight against the HIV AIDS pandemic, saying, it was a well known fact that about 99 per cent of the sexually active population of the country had some knowledge of the menace but sadly, majority of the people were not ready to change their sexual behaviours.
That unfortunate attitude he said, had exacerbated the spread of the disease which according to him, was now responsible for several deaths annually in the country, adding that, the number of orphans was also increasing fast due to the epidemic, thereby placing a great strain on social systems to provide the needed care, support and supervision.
The regional minister noted that the church had come to realise that, it did not exist just for the spiritual development of its congregation but also for their physical, emotional and social needs as well, and had taken steps to take care of those needs.
The National President of the PCG Men’s Fellowship, Bro. Lt Col J. Y. Asamoah (Retd) said, the fellowship would this year review its five-year strategic development plan to enhance its vision and growth.
Ampratwum-Mensah, Sunyani
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, has observed that despite the springing up of many Churches in the country, there is still a high level of moral degeneration, particularly among the youth.
That, he noted, could be seen in the increasing rate of crime such as robbery, rape, suicide, drug peddling, the rapid and continued spread of HIV AIDS and general indiscipline.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo made the observation in a speech read on his behalf at the just-ended 27th Annual National Conference of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) Men’s Fellowship at the Ebenezer Presby Church in Sunyani.
It was on the theme: “Put on the Whole Amour of God — Men, as Soldiers of God”.
The regional minister appealed to the church to play an increasing role in the fight against the HIV AIDS pandemic, saying, it was a well known fact that about 99 per cent of the sexually active population of the country had some knowledge of the menace but sadly, majority of the people were not ready to change their sexual behaviours.
That unfortunate attitude he said, had exacerbated the spread of the disease which according to him, was now responsible for several deaths annually in the country, adding that, the number of orphans was also increasing fast due to the epidemic, thereby placing a great strain on social systems to provide the needed care, support and supervision.
The regional minister noted that the church had come to realise that, it did not exist just for the spiritual development of its congregation but also for their physical, emotional and social needs as well, and had taken steps to take care of those needs.
The National President of the PCG Men’s Fellowship, Bro. Lt Col J. Y. Asamoah (Retd) said, the fellowship would this year review its five-year strategic development plan to enhance its vision and growth.
NEWMOUNT HOLDS WORKSHOP ON COMMUNITY HEALTH (PAGE 39)
From Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Fiapre
Sixteen participants, including chiefs and other selected stakeholders of health from the Asutifi and Tano North districts in the Brong Ahafo Region, have attended a five-day Community Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (C-IMCI) trainer of trainers workshop on the theme: “Improving the Health of our Communities through Partnership”.
The programme sought to focus on diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections, micro nutrient deficiency, measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases, excluding breast feeding, growth monitoring, helminthic infections as well as personal hygiene and other practices important for child health and development.
Newmont Gold Ghana Limited (NGGL), operating the Ahafo Mine, organised the workshop in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Department of Community Health of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi at a cost of US$110,000.
Mr Joseph Danso, the Community Development Superintendent of NGGL, in an address said, the workshop was to help build the capacity of the two district health directorates and the communities in preventing child morbidity and mortality. He said the workshop demonstrated the company’s commitment to contributing to the healthy development of the people in the community that it operated.
He disclosed that the company sponsored the training of 26 service providers to be able to effectively manage cases of sexually transmitted infections (STI), while another 52 community-based volunteers were also trained in STIs, including HIV AIDS and tuberculosis last year.
Dr Emmanuel Tenkorang, the Deputy Regional Public Health Director, pointed out that progress in child health in the region was very slow, stressing that 80 children per 1000 live births died before they attained age five every year.
“We need to drastically reduce child mortality by half before 2015, which is set in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)”, he noted.
The Head of the Department of Community Health of KNUST, Dr Easmon Otupiri also disclosed that 160 Children per 1000 live births died in Central and West Africa before they reached five years saying, that was the reason why the World Health Organisation (WHO) had designed the C-IMCI programme for Africa.
Sixteen participants, including chiefs and other selected stakeholders of health from the Asutifi and Tano North districts in the Brong Ahafo Region, have attended a five-day Community Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (C-IMCI) trainer of trainers workshop on the theme: “Improving the Health of our Communities through Partnership”.
The programme sought to focus on diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections, micro nutrient deficiency, measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases, excluding breast feeding, growth monitoring, helminthic infections as well as personal hygiene and other practices important for child health and development.
Newmont Gold Ghana Limited (NGGL), operating the Ahafo Mine, organised the workshop in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Department of Community Health of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi at a cost of US$110,000.
Mr Joseph Danso, the Community Development Superintendent of NGGL, in an address said, the workshop was to help build the capacity of the two district health directorates and the communities in preventing child morbidity and mortality. He said the workshop demonstrated the company’s commitment to contributing to the healthy development of the people in the community that it operated.
He disclosed that the company sponsored the training of 26 service providers to be able to effectively manage cases of sexually transmitted infections (STI), while another 52 community-based volunteers were also trained in STIs, including HIV AIDS and tuberculosis last year.
Dr Emmanuel Tenkorang, the Deputy Regional Public Health Director, pointed out that progress in child health in the region was very slow, stressing that 80 children per 1000 live births died before they attained age five every year.
“We need to drastically reduce child mortality by half before 2015, which is set in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)”, he noted.
The Head of the Department of Community Health of KNUST, Dr Easmon Otupiri also disclosed that 160 Children per 1000 live births died in Central and West Africa before they reached five years saying, that was the reason why the World Health Organisation (WHO) had designed the C-IMCI programme for Africa.
NEWMONT ASSISTS KENYASI POLICE (PAGE 14)
Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL), operators of the Ahafo mine, have constructed a 14-room transit quarters for the Kenyasi Police at Kenyasi in the Brong Ahafo Region at a cost of US$ 140,000. The facility has been handed over to the Asutifi District Police Command.
At the handover ceremony, the Communication Manager of NGGL, Mr Agbeko Kwame Azumah, said the company decided to put up the facility because it realised that if the district police were to step up security in the area, they would need more accommodation facilities to cater for additional personnel that would be required to undertake effective policing in the area.
Already, the company had assisted in addressing the accommodation challenges that confronted police personnel in the district by renting a house for them at Kenyasi.
The rented premises had been in use for the past four years and the company was in the process of renewing the tenancy agreement.
Mr Azumah said over the years, Newmont Ghana had supported the police in the area, largely because “we consider their role as very important and our continued support is also in recognition of their relentless efforts at combating crime and keeping Asutifi safe. We also feel the police here are doing a great job and deserve all the support we can give them”.
The Director-General in charge of Research and Planning of Ghana Police Service, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Mr Ofosu-Mensah Gyeabour, said modern policing had become a shared responsibility and required the involvement and participation of all members of the society through the provision of logistics and infrastructure.
He said the construction and opening of the 14-room transit quarters for the police by NGGL had therefore come as a welcome relief to personnel in the area, adding that it would accommodate more police personnel.
DCOP Gyeabour said active gold mining by Newmont since July 2006 had attracted thousands of people from various parts of the country to the area and its environs in search of employment.
The increasing population and industrial activities demand a corresponding increase in the number of police personnel at Kenyasi, Ntotroso, Acherensua and Hwidiem to combat crime within the district.
At the handover ceremony, the Communication Manager of NGGL, Mr Agbeko Kwame Azumah, said the company decided to put up the facility because it realised that if the district police were to step up security in the area, they would need more accommodation facilities to cater for additional personnel that would be required to undertake effective policing in the area.
Already, the company had assisted in addressing the accommodation challenges that confronted police personnel in the district by renting a house for them at Kenyasi.
The rented premises had been in use for the past four years and the company was in the process of renewing the tenancy agreement.
Mr Azumah said over the years, Newmont Ghana had supported the police in the area, largely because “we consider their role as very important and our continued support is also in recognition of their relentless efforts at combating crime and keeping Asutifi safe. We also feel the police here are doing a great job and deserve all the support we can give them”.
The Director-General in charge of Research and Planning of Ghana Police Service, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Mr Ofosu-Mensah Gyeabour, said modern policing had become a shared responsibility and required the involvement and participation of all members of the society through the provision of logistics and infrastructure.
He said the construction and opening of the 14-room transit quarters for the police by NGGL had therefore come as a welcome relief to personnel in the area, adding that it would accommodate more police personnel.
DCOP Gyeabour said active gold mining by Newmont since July 2006 had attracted thousands of people from various parts of the country to the area and its environs in search of employment.
The increasing population and industrial activities demand a corresponding increase in the number of police personnel at Kenyasi, Ntotroso, Acherensua and Hwidiem to combat crime within the district.
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