Work begins on GRA Customs academy hostels at Kpetoe

Graphical Impression of the Hostel

Work has begun for the construction of male and female hostels at the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Customs Academy at Kpetoe in the Agotime-Ziope district.

The academy, which is the only customs training school in the country, has not seen any major facelift since its establishment many decades ago.

This situation has inconvenient trainees of the academy, who have been sleeping a material warehouse for the past forty years.

But, cutting the sod for the 10 million Ghana cedis project,   the Acting Commissioner of the Customs Division, Mr Wallace Kofi Akondor expressed optimism that, the 82 and 102 beds female and male hostel facility, when completed  would boost the training of more personnel and also reduce the cost of personnel training for the Division.

Deputy Minister Tour Flood affected Areas

Mr. Ganyaglo (M) with Madaam Azumah-Mensah inspecting the Kpetoe Bridge

The Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Francis Komla Ganyaglo, in the company officials of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and the Feeder Roads Department, on visited areas hit by recent flooding in five districts of the region to commiserate with victims and assess the impact of the devastated disaster.

The flooding which was as a result of the overflow of River Todze following heavy downpours submerged farmlands, houses and displaced thousands of persons in the Agortime-Ziope, Akatsi South, Adaklu, South Tongu, and Central Tongu districts.

The Deputy Minister and his entourage first stop was at Kpetoe, capital of Agortime-Ziope district, where he was joined by Member of Parliament, Juliana Azumah Mensah and DCE Michael Adjaho to commiserated with the chiefs and family of the middle aged man who lost his life as a result of the collapse of a building by flood waters.

They also inspected the submerged bridge on the Ho-Aflao road and the flooded maternity ward of the Kpetoe health centre.

Flood kills one Person at Kpetoe

Flood waters inside the maternity ward

Residents of Kpetoe the capital of Agortime-Ziope district of the Volta region are still counting their losses as part of the town was submerged by flood waters after River Todze overflowed its banks in the area Wednesday night.

The flooding which occurred at midnight collapsed about 100 buildings, killing one person and injuring several others, according to NADMO officials.

The injured persons, including the pregnant wife the deceased are currently receiving treatment at the regional hospital in Ho.

The only health center in the area has also been taken over by the floodwaters, thereby halting health care delivery. While the bridge connecting the Ho-Aflao road has also been submerged, causing inconvenient to motorists plying the road.

The situation has brought lots of socio-economic activities to a halt with many victims trying to relocate as NADMO officials assess the situation.

Teachers locked out GES Boss; demands his interdiction

Outgoing Regional GES boss, Emmanuel Keteku, (L) with Successor (R)

Teachers and staff of Agortime-Ziope district directorate of the Ghana Education Service in the Volta region last Tuesday demonstrated against what they describe as the sordid state of affairs in the directorate under the directorship of Gershon Kofi Agyeman.

The about 400 aggrieved educations workers, clad in red armbands defy an early morning rain to besieged the premises of the directorate at Kpetoe, on the first day of reopening of schools to locked up the director’s office and demanded his interdiction.

They accused the director of financial mismanagement, autocracy and intimidation as well neglect of his official duties, a situation they claim has stalled progress of education delivery in the district since he took over three years ago.

A press release, read by the Public Relations Officer of directorate, Patrick Tekpor, on behalf of the protestors, stated that Mr Agyeman has been an absentee director who once a while, spends an hour or two in the office whenever he deemed it fit.

‘He has never scheduled any staff meeting since his arrival to discuss challenges confronting the directorate and education in the district and efforts to get the right things done prove futile.’

They also claim the director has sidestepped procurement procedures and unilaterally collect and spend budgetary allocations meant for schedule officers.