President, EU Ambassador inaugurate Pepesu-Nkwanta road

President Mahama and other dignitaries cutting tape to officially open the road

President John Mahama together with the European Union Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. William Hanna have inaugurated the Dodo-Pepesu to Nkwanta section of the eastern corridor road project in the Volta region on Tuesday.

The 46.4km road project was funded by the European Union (EU) at the cost of 32.5 million Euros, and executed by a Burkinabe construction firm, Kanazoe Ferres  between December 2012 and September, 2015.

Addressing  a durbar  to inaugurate the road as part of his Accounting to the People tour,President Mahama underscored the economic importance of the road, which he noted will facilitate the  carting of food stuff from the northern part of the region to market centers, which hitherto was a night for most farmers and truck drivers.

Section of the road

Man found dead in front of shop in Ho

The lifeless body 

The  lifeless body of a man was found lying in front of a shop around  the Ho timber market, close to the former NDC park on the Central market (Asigame) road, Thursday morning.

The man believed to be in his  70s, has been  seen  in the last few days, roaming in the vicinity, according to eyewitnesses.  A shop keeper in the area, told Volta Online that, the old man looked quite sane and has interacted with persons who get close to him. 

He however disclosed that, the deceased fell down during his usual rounds last Monday and was carried to the front  of the closed shop by some bystanders, one of whom has since been feeding the old man daily.

“The Good Samaritan  changed clothes for the old man and bought him food every morning and evening. But yesterday, the man told us, the old man refused to  eat and we came this morning only see his lifeless body,” the witness narrated.

Pope Francis confirm resignation of Keta-Akatsi Bishop

Bishop Emeritus Anthony Adanuty 

The Head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Most Rev. Anthony Adanuty, the Bishop of the Keta-Akatsi Catholic diocese in the Volta region of Ghana.

Bishop Adanuty who was said to have tendered in his resignation a year ago, after  attaining  the ‘ canonical’ age of 75 years, had his resignation confirmed by the Pope on Thursday, April 7, 2016.

A brief statement from the Vatican to the church in Ghana stated, "the Holy Father, on 7th April 2016, accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Keta-Akatsi (Ghana), presented by His Excellency Most Rev. Anthony Kwami Adanuty, in accordance with Canon 401 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law."

The statement also  announced the Bishop of the Ho Catholic diocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu  as interim head of the Keta-Akatsi diocese. “The  Holy Father has accordingly appointed His Excellency Most Rev. Emmanuel Fianu, S.V.D., Bishop of Ho (Ghana) as Apostolic Administrator for the sede vacant et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the same Diocese.”

VGMA: Ho to come alive with Nominees Jamz on Saturday

The Ho Jubilee Park is set to  come alive this weekend, as  the 2016 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) nominees jamz train makes a stop over at the Volta regional capital. 

The event, which is the first of its kind to hit the capital will parade the  hit makers in the Ghanaian Music industry on one stage to  treat  patrons with electrifying performances come Saturday night.

Top on the bill for the night are  ‘sons of the soil’, Edem, EL and Stonebouy, the 2015  VGMA reigning Artiste. Gospel greats S.P. Kofi Sarpong and Patience Nyarko, Wisa of ‘ekiki me’ fame, ‘Ye wo krom’ hit maker, Atom, Jupiter, and ‘King of the Street’ Kwaw Kesse.

An array of budding artistes from region, including  Hecta, Enamily, Keeny Ice, Kula, Agbeshie, Belce, as well as the Dorttyard ‘commandos’, Kush Elikem, Woyram, Mystro, and Kweku BiZkiT will also mount stage to showcase their lyrical prowess to the nation at the official Pre VGMA Party of the year, which will be cohosted by Sizzla One, of Kekeli Radio in Ho.

Man, 56 killed, others injured in renewed Sovie chieftaincy dispute

Library photo

A 56 year old man has been killed with at least three other persons sustaining gunshot wounds in what is said to be a renewed chieftaincy dispute at Sovie near Kpando in the North Dayi district.

The incident which took place during a funeral last Sunday night, according an eyewitness,  saw the sporadic firing  of live bullets by alleged  supporters of one of the two  feuding factions in the dispute. This, has led to chaos at the funeral ground as people ran for their precious lives.

The district Police commander for North Dayi, ASP Twumasi Ankrah, who confirmed the incident to  Volta online   said the decease who has been identified as one Fabian Mensah Vidzro was shot in the neck and shoulder. Two other persons who sustained injuries, were also  treated and discharged at the Anfoega Catholic hospital, he noted. 

However, a third victim who has been identified as a  suspect in the latest clash, is still  on admission at  hospital  under police guard as investigations continue,  the ASP Ankrah noted.

A source at the hospital also disclosed to Volta online that some victims who were brought to the facility for treatment were taken away by their relatives over fears of a possible  reprisal attacks.

The Police commander further revealed that several empty cartridges believed to have been fired from sophisticated riffles including a  bazooka were retrieved from  the  scene.

He however noted a team of police personnel have been detailed in area since Monday to forestall any  reprisal attacks, as tension heightens in the area.

Southern Volta Basin Dev’t Authority in the Offing-President

President Mahama in a handshake with Torgbui Sri

President John Mahama has hinted of plans to establish  the Southern Volta Basin Development Authority  to drive the needed development in that part of the country. According to the President, the southern part of the Volta region holds a lots of investment potentials in tourism, aquaculture and other sectors, which needed to be harness through the coordination of such an agency.   

The President who was addressing   at a durbar at Keta, after a meeting with the   chiefs and elders of Anlo   on Saturday,  indicated that the National Development Planning Commission, (NDPC) has already begun preliminary works on the proposed Volta Basin Development Authority and the government will soon set up an implementation committee to spearhead the establishment of the authority. 

The meeting was at the behest of the Awomefia of Anlo, Torgbui Sri III, for the President to update  the traditional authorities  about  government’s projects and programmes in the area. Traditional authorities in the area at various events called for the setting up of an authority to spearhead the  holistic development of the area in order to tame the growing levels of unemployment.

Seven year old girl electrocuted in Ho

Deceased Daniela Akorfa Okai

A seven-year old girl last Monday met her untimely death, during a downpour in Ho, the Volta regional capital. Daniela Akorfa Okai, a primary one pupil of the Mawuli EP Basic school was electrocuted in her home during the rains that lasted over an hour.

According to witnesses, the late Daniela was found stuck to a metallic television pole outside their home located in a Ho-Ahoe suburb of  SOWETO by her mother who had left the seven -year old in the porch earlier, to attend nature's call. 

Mourners at the burial service

Upon her return, however, Daniela's mother tried to rescue her daughter but experienced a shock and called for help. It was later revealed that the pole was exposed to a naked electric wire on the building.  Daniela died few hours later after being rushed to the Ho municipal hospital for treatment.

Zoomlion equips Volta MMDAs

The new fleets

Zoomlion Volta, a subsidiary of indigenous  waste management company, Zoomlion Ghana Ltd has presented new fleet of trucks and equipment to 20 Municipal and district assemblies in the  region.

The equipment consisting of  20 trucks, 104 motor tricycles and 90 communal waste containers, is augment  the  ones already being used by the assemblies to effectively manage waste in their jurisdictions. 

Speaking  after a brief handing over  ceremony in Ho last Wednesday , Mr. Evans Ewudzie Arthur, General manager of Zoomlion Volta said the retooling is part of an existing waste management arrangement  between the company and the assemblies. He said though, each of the 25 assemblies in the region presently has 2 trucks and 11 communal containers in addition to tricycles, some of the equipment are aging, hence the new ones. 

Torrential rain causes flooding in Ho (Photos)

A flooded home at Poly

A heavy  downpour in the  Ho, Monday afternoon has left  parts of the regional capital flooded, with dozens of  shops and homes inundated with flood waters. 

The rain which started at about 5:00 PM and lasted for almost  an hour, left  major storm drains and culverts overflowing with running  waters. 

This, also resulted in the flooding of  sections of  some  roads within the capital, such as the Dome-Barracks, YMCA-Civic Centre-Asanyame, OLA-Market and Poly  roads among others. 

Shops and homes along these stretches at Bankoe, Anlokordzi, Poly, Dome and other places also had their fair share of the flood.

Barracks road

A visit to some of the suburbs  after the downpour, saw affected residents scooping water and sand debris out of their shops and homes. 

“These flood is more than what we experienced last year,” an affected hairdresser on the Poly road, exclaimed.  

A lot of debris have also piled up at mouth of some culverts, with some scattered on the street at the time of this report. No casualty was however reported.

High court orders arrest of Water Resources Minister (Details)

Dr. Agyemang-Mensah

The Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Dr. Kweku Agyemang-Mesah has found himself on the wrong side of the law, as  the High court in Ho has issued a bench  warrant  for his arrest.

The court issued the warrant after the minister failed to appear before it on several occasions to answer to contempt charges brought against him and two other directors of ministry over destructions caused to some communities in the Keta municipality as a result of the Ada sea defense project.

Two persons, Marshall Koblah Fenu   and Zikpuitor Benjamin Atsu Fenu in early 2015, filed a writ in court seeking an interlocutory injunction on the Ada sea defense project being undertaken by  Dredging  International  Company from Netherlands, due to its adverse impact on the Gamenu, Fuveme and Kporkopor-Kedzi communities along the estuary. 

They also asked the court to order the ministry and the contractor to take immediate remedial steps to safeguard the communities. An order the court presided over by his Lordship Patrick Bayerh granted, giving the ministry 40 days to carry out the remedy. This was however not heeded to by  the ministry,  prompting  the plaintiffs to return to court with contempt charges against the minister, the chief director and the director of hydrological service.

However, since the start of the  contempt hearing in December 2015, the minister Dr. Agyemang-Mensah has never appeared in court, though the chief director, Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu and director of hydrological services, Mr Owusu Ansah were present on most occasions.

Fidelity bank held 5th draw of 'Save for gold' Promo in Ho

Fidelity MD presenting a gold coin to Togbe Howusu

Seventeen customers of Fidelity Bank Ghana Limited have won gold coins in the latest draw of the bank’s ongoing ‘Save for gold’ promotion held at the Volta Serene hotel in Ho.

The draw which is the fifth in the series, saw  the first fifteen winners taking a gold coin each, with the 16th and 17th winners taking home two and three gold coins respectively. A gold coin is valued at about GHc 2000. 

Two customers with the Ho post branch, Togbe Howusu, chief of Ho Dome and one Divine Jacobs also won a gold coin each in a special draw held for patrons at the event on Wednesday night. Madam Magaret Nutsugah, was also honored with a gold coin as the most loyal customer of the  Ho branch.

Dozens displaced by Rainstorm in Krachi-East

One of the ripped of buildings

A rainstorm which hit  Dormabin,  a community in the Krachi East district has ripped off at least 20 houses, on Tuesday night. The storm is said to have also  broke an electricity transmission pole in the area.  

The disaster, according to the Assemblyman for the area, Cornelius Kofi Ampeh has rendered over one hundred person  homeless, with  properties worth thousands of cedis destroyed.

He said “ most of the people have their buildings and other belongings destroyed. As we speak now, even food for them to eat is a problem, not to talk of where they will lay their heads.”

The victims, the assemblyman noted are putting up with other relatives, as they await relief items from the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO).

Rolider hands over Ho-Fume road

Dzolokpuita section of Ho-Fume road

Contractors of the Ho-Fume road, Rolider Ltd has handed over the 17.4km highway to government after almost 5 years of construction.

The road which starts from the foot of the Galenkui mountain near Ho, traverses through the Weto hills and  the Avatime mountain to Fume. This connects the regional capital, Ho to Hohoe and Kpando through, Taviefe, Dzolokpuita, Avatime-Vane and Fume.

Briefing the deputy Volta regional minister, Francis Ganyaglo and officials of the Ghana Highways Authority at a short  handing over ceremony on Thursday, Mr Anthony Lansana, Project Manager of Rolider Limited attributed the 3 years delay in the completion of the road to changes in the original design resulting from the mountainous nature of the area as well as delays in mobilization.

He explained the estimated GHc 45million  project was divided into two lots,  with lot one being the 10.4km Ho-Teviefe section and 7 km Vane- Fume section  for effective and easy execution.

Mr. Lansana also noted that, the road has opened up the Ho West district and the Avatime area in particular, for commercial and Eco-tourism activities. 

Mr Charles Baah, resident  Engineer at the Ghana Highways Authority said enough road safety furniture,  such as New Jersey Barriers, Road Signs and Markings as well as  speed calming measures have put in place to enhance the safety of motorists on the road.

Teenager in court for killing 19yr old Apprentice

The deceased

A Junior High school student has been arraigned before a Ho magistrate court in the Volta region for allegedly stabbing to death one Wisdom Amu, a 19 years old tailor-apprentice on Sunday, March 6, 2016.

The suspect (name withheld) who is in his teen ages was among three other friends who engaged the deceased in a fight around the Ho sports stadium, when he (the deceased) was returning home from the 59th Independence Day celebrations at Jubilee park in Ho.

During the scuffle however, the suspect reportedly pulled a knife and stabbed Amu on his left breast and was later pronounced dead at the regional hospital. 

Confirming the incident to Voltaonline, the Ho municipal Police crime officer, ASP Adobo Apeatu said  the suspect who was arrested on Monday March 7, confessed to stabbing the deceased with a nail cutter during interrogation. He  was subsequently  remanded into police custody by the court  last Thursday and to reappear today, Thursday March 17.

ASP Apeatu however noted that, the three other suspects who were initially arrested by witnesses at the scene of the incident have been released after investigations revealed they had no hand in the crime. 

Source: Voltaonlinegh/LA

First Sky to commence asphalting of Ho town roads

Test run of asphalt on 150metres stretch of road

Work is  set to the start on the asphalting of some roads within the Volta regional,Ho.

This follows the successful installation and test run of the asphalting plant and equipment by the contractor, First Sky constructions Ltd.
A 150 metre stretch of the road linking SSNIT flats and Goshen city was also asphalted as part of the test run over weekend.

The project, which forms part of the government's urban roads improvement project, is aimed at giving facelift to roads networks in all regional capitals and selected major towns in the country.

The minister of roads and highways, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini who witnessed the test run of the plant and equipment, said 25 kilometers of roads in Ho will be asphalted with Keta and Hohoe roads also receiving similar facelift of ten and five kilometres respectively. 

He however appealed to both motorists and residents to cooperate with the contractor since  the project will create some inconveniences on the roads.

Project engineer (L) briefing the roads minister

“These are existing roads that we are working on, so we should expect some inconveniences. Sections of the roads will have to be blocked at various points in time for the asphalts to be laid. So I urge residents to cooperate with the contractor.”

Nigerian truck impounded with smuggled goods

Some of the items impounded

Custom officers at the Aflao Sector command have impounded a Nigerian registered truck transporting  smuggled goods towards Accra.

The officers who were  on  their routine patrol Tuesday evening, intercepted the articulated truck with Lagos registration number MUS-139-XQ between Akatsi and Dabala junction on the Aflao-Accra highway.

Mr. Confidence Nyadzi, Aflao sector commander of  Customs revealed that, though the bucket of the truck was empty, a critical examination revealed that, metallic compartments were created beneath the vehicle in which the smuggled goods were hidden.

The impounded truck 

Items found on the vehicle, according to him are mostly bales fabrics  and assorted drinks. These include 320yards of poly cotton materials, 335 pieces wax prints, 78 cartons of Hollandia yogurt, 100 crates of Maltina drink and five crates of assorted soft drinks. Seven cartons of cooking oil and 15 pieces of mosquito net were also part of the consignment.

Mr. Nyadzi also noted that, the driver, Razak Osman  and his conductor, Salam Nuhu have been detained with truck and are assisting with investigations. 

Source: Voltaonlinegh/LA

NDC chairman blames officials for misleading President on Hohoe roads

One of the abandoned town roads

The Volta regional chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kwadwo Gyapon Kudjoe has blamed officials of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) and Urban roads Department for misleading the president on state of road works in the Hohoe municipality.

President Mahama in his recent state of the nation address in parliament, listed several road projects, he said are progressing steadily  in the Volta region, including the Ve-Golokwati to Hohoe and the Hohoe township roads.

An assertion, which angered some  residents, ostensibly because  the contractors have abandoned the projects many months ago with very little work done. 

The roads and highways minister, Inusah Fuseini who also defended the president's assertion, quoting 68 percent of work done, had  to virtually eat humble pie, when he visited area last Wednesday and realized the reality on the grounds is far different from what is on paper.

Teenager stabbed to death in Ho

Deceased Wisdom Amu

A nineteen year old boy  has met his untimely death Sunday afternoon, after he was stabbed by some youngmen  in Ho, the Volta regional capital.

The incident  is said to have occurred around the Ho sports stadium at about 5:00pm,  when the victim, Wisdom Amu, was returning from the 59th Independence Day celebration at the  Jubilee park.

According to an uncle of the deceased, Dr. Winfred Naccortsey, his nephew, who is a tailor-apprentice was stabbed on  the left  breast by one of the four young men who were said to have accosted him, which resulted in a scuffle. 

He said bystanders who went to scene to separate the  fight, found Amu unconscious with the knife stab and rushed him to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead and  the incident has since  been reported at the Ho central police station.

Meanwhile, the four suspects have been arrested and are assisting in police investigations.

According to a  source, three of the suspects were arrested immediately at the incident scene by some bystanders  and handed over to the police  while  the fourth person who absconded was  later arrested by the police on Monday.

The body of the deceased is currently at the morgue for autopsy.

Source: voltaonlinegh/LA

'Stray’ ship washed ashore at Aflao

Photos from Facebook 

A strong tidal storm which hit the coast of Aflao in the Ketu South municipality has washed ashore a ‘stray’ ship, on Tuesday.

The ship with the inscription  'Barca Lome', is believed to have been abandoned on the high seas with no crew on board.

Some residents who trooped to the scene to catch a glimpse of the ship, expressed varied opinions about how the ship made its way to he area, with some putting a political twist to it.

“This ship here, is probably telling our government that, we need a mini habour in Aflao,” one resident retorted.

Meanwhile, a combine Togolese and Ghanaian naval team have successfully towed the ship  back onto the high seas.

A security source at the Aflao border who disclosed this, said the ship which was anchored on the sea between the Togolese capital Lomé and Aflao, had its anchors broken by strong tidal winds, which drifted it onto the shores of Aflao.

'A Combine team of Ghanaian and Togolese naval officers however manage to tow the stray ship back using another vessel later in the day,' the source stated.

Rainstorm destroys transmission masts in Ho

Collapsed mast

A strong wind which accompanied a downpour in the Volta  regional capital of Ho, on Monday afternoon has colapsed some transmission masts belonging to some radio stations and a telecom company  in the area.

The rainstorm which started at about 4:00pm and lasted barely 40 minutes brought down the masts of Ho based KuulFM and ToshFM as well that of  telecom operator  Glo Ghana, which were  all situated on top of the Galenkui mountain near Ho.

The situation has compelled the stations to go off air for the mean time, while they assess the extent of damage. An electricity transmission pole located within the same vicinity was also affected,  leading  to cut in power supply to some parts of the municipality. 

Checks in  other parts of the municipality revealed  that, the rainstorm also ripped of portions of the roofings of the Vodafone Ghana regional office,  while some bill boards have also been pulled down. No casualty was however reported in the disaster.