Nana Tops NPP Super delegates congress in Volta Region

E.C Officials collating the ballots

Despite predictions that Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten one of the seven flagbearer aspirants of the NPP might pull a surprise in the Volta region at the party’s super delegate congress on Sunday, because of the relatively massive support he enjoys in the region, the poll ended with Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo sweeping majority votes.

He polled 28 votes, as against Allan’s 14 votes from a total of 51 votes cast, with Joe Ghartey, Asamoah Boateng and Addai Nimo polling one vote each; whiles Dr. Konadu Apraku and Kofi Osei Ameyaw secured 2 and 4 votes respectively.

Mr. Anthony Oppong deputy Volta regional director of the Electoral Commission, who presided over the elections said, in all, 56 delegates were expected to cast their votes but due a court injunction placed on the executives of both the Ho central and South Tongu constituencies prevented their chairmen from participating in the exercise, while two other delegates have also transferred their votes to Accra, with one absentee delegate.

Voting which started around 9:17am ended by midday, leaving delegates and party supporters to anxiously await the outcome of the polls, which was finally announced by the E.C officials at the stipulated 3:00pm. The announcement of results sent majority of the delegates into wild jubilation, though they claim it was expected.

Confusion

‘It will take miracle for me not to Win’- Abodakpi

The former Ghana Ambassador to Malaysia and a contender for the national chairmanship position of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Dan Abodakpi has stated that, he is optimistic of annexing the chair from incumbent Dr. Kwabena Adjei at the party’s upcoming delegate congress.

The congress scheduled for October 24, 2014 also has the current first vice national chairman and national coordinator of NADMO, Mr. Kofi Portuphy vying for the chairmanship slot.

But Mr. Abodakpi, who took his campaign to the Volta region over the weekend, told journalists in Ho that, his chances in the contest are ‘extremely’ bright, and “it will take miracle for me not to win”.

According to him, his message of reconnecting the party to its grassroots through a transformational leadership is permeating the hearts of the party’s delegates, who he believes will give him the nod on the day of congress.

The NDC is expected to go to congress on October 24, 2014 to elect new national executives and persons have declared their intention to contest various

Mr. Abodakpi who was also a one time Member of Parliament for the Keta and a former Minister for Trade and Industry in the NDC Rawlings government, said his transformational leadership agenda will ensure the revival of the party structures especially at the branch level, to make it vibrant and attractive for every member feel part of. This, he said would engender members to contribute towards the running of the NDC, instead of only relying on political appointees to finance the party.

Minister unhappy with Assemblies Delay over Street Naming Project

Helen Ntoso

The Volta Regional Minister, Helen Adzoa Ntoso has expressed disappointment at the slow pace of work by the various Municipal and District Assemblies in the region towards the Street Naming and Property Addressing System, a project President John Mahama in March 2013 directed all MMDAs in the country to execute within 18 months.

With two months to the President’s deadline, some Assemblies in the Volta region are yet collate the needed information on the ground including the proposed names for the street naming exercise.

Expressing her disappointment during a 5day training workshop in Ho for Planning officers and other core staff of the 25 MMDAs in the region, Madam Ntoso issued a one week ultimatum to the Assemblies to furnish her office the list of names and also organize stakeholder meetings to come out with a comprehensive roadmap for the implementation of the project.

The workshop organised by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development with support from the German Development Corporation (GIZ) was to enhance staff knowledge and skills on 'Land Use, Planning and Management Information System (LUPMIS) for effective implementation of Street Naming and Property Addressing System (SNPAS).

The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Emmanuel Agyekum said the ministry has provided technical support to the MMDAs by setting up a Geographic Information System (GIS) laboratories for both Regional and district offices of the Town and Country Planning Department nationwide for the collation special data for efficient and effective land use and planning.

He was optimistic that the training will serve as catalyst to propel the MMDAs to successfully execute the Street Naming project on schedule.

Workers snub Nationwide Demo in Ho

The nationwide demonstration declared by Organised Labour on Thursday was virtually boycotted by workers in the Volta region capital of Ho, as only a handful of them turnout for the event.

The demonstration organised for workers in both the formal and informal sectors to protest against “harsh economic conditions and poor governance” was delayed for almost an hour due to the poor turnout.

Interestingly, the protesters who converged at the Ho Civic Centre STC yard, were virtually outnumbered by the about 200 police personnel deployed to provide security, as they marched through some principal streets of the regional capital amidst brass band music.

They carried placards, with inscriptions “John Mahama, we are suffering”, “We dey die keke, John Mahama”  “Middle Income Country, Low Income Workers” “Oh Mahama, Never Again”, “Reduce the Tax Burden,” “Motivate the Ghanaian Worker for a Healthier Economy”, among others.

However scores of workers who did not join the protest were seen loitering around their offices at the ministries, while those in the informal sector also went about their normal businesses.

Court Remands Man for beheading Son

The Ho District court on Tuesday remanded Gideon Abotsi, a 37 year old farmer for allegedly beheading his three year old son on Friday, July 18, 2014 over his wife’s decision to starve him of sex.

Residents of Kpeyiborme in the South Dayi district of the Volta Region on the fateful day went to bed with the shock of their life after Gideon, popularly known as ‘Jarah’ butchered his third born and only boy out of four kids till his head almost severed off.

The court presided over by Magistrate Robert Addo, remanded the suspect into prison custody to reappear on Wednesday August 6, 2014 to allow the Police continue with their investigations.

Presenting the case, Police Prosecutor Sheila Odai told the court that Last Friday, a complainant, John Ahiable who happens to be the father of the suspect reported the horrific incident to the Peki Police in the South Dayi district of the Volta Region.

She said the complainant in his statement noted that he was in the farm when some neighbours rushed to inform him that his son, Gideon has killed his own son, three year old Sitsofe Abotsi.

He rushed to the son’s house to realise that his grandson is dead and lying in a pool of blood as his son has been tied up by neighbours to prevent him from escaping.

Some minutes later the Police came to pick up Gideon to the Peki Police station.

Vodafone ‘Healthfest’ train hit Ho with massive turnouts

 Dozens of residents in the Ho municipality of the Volta region thronged the forecourts of the Asogli State palace at Ho Bankoe, where the Vodafone Ghana ‘healthfest’ train made a stopover at the weekend to provide free health care.

The initiative put together by the Vodafone Ghana foundation, saw mostly local paramedics screened hundreds of persons including the aged, some of whom reported to the venue as early as 5am.

The screenings were done for ailments such as Diabetes, Hepatitis B, Tuberculosis and HIV in a virtual health post setup, which has sections for registration, Body Mass Index, Blood Pressure Checks, Laboratory, Consultation and Pharmacy as well as a gymnasium and kids play corner.

The almost 800 patrons were also taking through health education on various lifestyle diseases and HIV.

Mr Courage Botchway the regional Data Officer at the National HIV Control Programme, spoke about importance of knowing ones HIV status, so that carriers, including pregnant women could be put on routine lifesaving treatment.

Mr Daniel Asiedu, Corporate Communications Manager of Vodafone, described the massive turnout as ‘very impressive and overwhelming’ and said the Healthfest is another indication of the telecom giant’s commitment to bringing quality health care to the door step of underprivileged Ghanaians.

According to him Vodafone’s health programmes including the popular television series ‘Healthline’ is aimed at bridging distance and cost between the people and health care delivery.

Muslims asked to pray for ‘troubled’ economy during Ramadan

The Deputy Volta regional minister, Mr. Francis Ganyaglo has called on Ghanaian Muslims to use the holy month of Ramadan to seek Allah’s intervention to help abate the current economic challenges confronting for the country.   

He reiterated government’s commitment to fixing the challenges facing the nation and called on citizens to support government to restore the economy back on track.

Mr. Francis Ganyaglo made the called last Friday when he led a government delegation to present fifty (50) bags each of sugar and rice to the Muslim community at the Ho new Zongo.

The donation according to the Deputy Minister was on behalf of President Mahama to support the annual Ramadan fasting of Muslims across the country.

He urged them to continue to coexist peaceful and pray for peace and tranquillity across the country to drive national development.

The Acting regeant of the Ho new Zongo, Jabril Adamu received the items on behalf of the Muslim community after a brief prayer was said for the president and his government, by a spiritual leader from Senegal, sheik Sham.

Ali Baaba, a Zongo youth leader thank government for its support to the Islamic community and assured of their prayers for the country.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. For a 30-dy period, Muslims all over the world abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs during the daylight hours. It is a season to purify the soul, refocus attention on Allah and practice self-sacrifice.

The Deputy Regional Minister was accompanied by the regional coordinating director, alhaji Ibrahim Alhassan, Ho Municipal Chief Executive, Fafa Adinyira, Mr. Kofi Attoh, former MP for Ho central and Mr. Kwesi Aboagye, NDC regional chairman.

Book and Research allowance brouhaha; ‘We won’t be pushovers’- UTAG tells Gov’t

Dr. Bekoe swearing inn UHAS-UTAG

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) have sent yet a strong signal to government that, the association will not back down in the “fight” against the scrapping-off of the book and research allowance for its members.

Dr Samuel Ofori Bekoe National President of UTAG said on Wednesday that members of the Association are professionals who are committed to their work and know the tools needed for the job and “would not be pushovers to allow people who do not know anything about tertiary education to dictate to them”.

Government in the 2013 budget announced the cancellation of the book and research allowance and replacing it with a national research fund. This decision however did not go down well with the two tertiary education teachers associations, with the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana declaring an indefinite strike for the past 8-weeks.

But speaking at the inauguration of the 10^th UTAG branch at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho, Dr. Bekoe said the book and research allowance were part of the condition of service of members of the association and government has no right to unilaterally take away the allowances, noting that, it was against international labour laws.

“Government must listen to us because anything short of this will not auger well for all of us and if government cannot do it, it must move out for the one who can do it” he stated.

Advocacy Group calls on Volta Chiefs to lead region’s renaissance

Voice of Volta Executives

A Volta Region interest advocacy group, ‘Voice of Volta’ has called for the reawakening of traditional authorities and indigenes of the Volta region to push for the total development of the region.

According the group, despite the region is endowed with both natural and human resources; it is still slugging behind in almost every facet of development, hence the need for a renaissance, which would propel everyone into action to uplift the region unto a better developmental pedestal. 

Addressing journalists at a press briefing in Ho last Friday, the group’s Secretary, Mr Charles Siayor stated that, the renaissance should be culturally driven by traditional authorities in the region, who “in contemporary times, lead the way in fighting underdevelopment”.

He further stated that “No nation or people could move forward if its body-politics is incoherent” and called for a strong bonding between chiefs and their people as a precursor to creating the atmosphere, for the take-off everybody was asking for.

This, according to Mr. Siayor could be the only way to “raise a formidable front as a people to dialogue with governments and local authorities to influence the development agenda of the region”.

Chinese ambassador toured UHAS permanent campus

Ambassador Buohong, (2nd right) being briefed by site officials

The Chinese ambassador to Ghana madam Sun Baohong last week inspected construction work on the permanent campus of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) at Sokode-Lokoe near Ho, in the Volta region.

The project which is been executed by a Chinese Technical team, Yanjian Group, includes the construction of lecture halls, auditorium, multi-purpose science laboratory, administration block and residential facilities for both staff and students and it is expected to be ready for occupation by 2015.

Ambassador Baohong who was impressed with the progress of construction work, said the project is the ‘first large-scale’ China aid construction in the Volta region and expressed confidence in the Yanjian Group to do a good job, as it has done with previous ones including the Foreign Affairs Ministry office complex in Accra.

She urged the workers to exert work hard to ensure smooth and early completion of the project, which according to her is ‘distinct’, because of its propensity to drive the development of new communities in the area.

China-Ghana ICT laboratory commissioned in Ho

An ultra-modern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) laboratory has been inaugurated at the Ho Bankoe Philip-Akpo Memorial Junior High School (JHS) in the Volta Region.

The laboratory, which can accommodate 25 people and valued at GH¢1 million, was funded by the Chinese Embassy and equipped with computers and a projector with full internet connection.

At a brief and colourful ceremony on Tuesday to officially handover the facility to the school, the new Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Sun Baohong, said the facility showed that China would continue to invest in projects to develop Ghana and expressed the hope that the gesture would further deepen the cordial relationship between the two countries.

She said, “China’s foreign aid and cooperation projects place more emphasis on improving the livelihood of people.”

She further disclosed that the ICT laboratory is the first project in Ghana to be implemented under the ‘China-Africa People-to-people Friendly Action’, a programme adopted at the 5^th Ministerial Conference of China-Africa cooperation forum in 2012.

The Chinese ambassador also presented 10 footballs and 30 schoolbags to the school for deprived children and pledged China’s continuous commitment to the development of the Volta Region and Ghana.

Ho chiefs to lead demo over gov't neglect

deplorable portions of the Ho-Adidome trunk road

Chiefs in the Asogli traditional area have threatened to lead the youth of Ho to demonstrate against the government if work do not immediately resume on the Ho-Adidome-Sogakope trunk road.

Togbi Anikpi III, divisional chief of Ho-Heve disclosed this categorically at a meeting with President John Mahama on Sunday at the Asogli state palace in Ho, after the president inspected the road, which started in March 2010 and was scheduled to be completed in ten months but have since delayed with work currently at a standstill for lack of funds.

‘Are we not part of the country or is it because the region is considered as ‘World Bank’ that come what may whether our needs are catered for or not you are sure of our votes and therefore no serious attention is given to our development projects… the youth of the town are determined and come Wednesday the demonstration is coming on if we do not see any sign that work has resumed on the roads..’  Togbe Anikpi stated without mincing words.

The road has become the preferred route for most drivers from the Central and Northern sectors of the Volta Region to Accra instead of the ferry crossing at Senchi following the closure of the Adomi Bridge at Atimpoku for major repair works.

Heavy rains have however rendered much of the uncompleted portions of the road especially between Adaklu and Mafi non-motorable as a result of uncompleted bridges, culverts and lack of warning signs.

Bizzare! Man Hanged himself in Ho

Residents of Ho ‘Kablekordzi’ near PWD, in the Volta region last Saturday woke up to a bizarre news of a young man who hanged himself in a nearby forest plantation.

The unidentified man who is believed to be in his late twenties, body was found hanging on a tree in the plantation in a decomposing state by a young man from the community.

Narrating the story, the young man said he saw a strange object hanging on a tree a few meters away from where he was in the forest.

Frightened by the sight, the young man reported the incident to some residents living in the area who later reported the issue to the Police.

According to the eye-witness, the police officers were able to locate the body in the forest, but with no indication of a self-inflicted injury on the body.

The corpse has since been deposited at the morgue while the Police continue with their investigations.

Credit: Apkablie King-Nobert/Volta Premier FM