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Government supports more than 600 victims of Koffekrom rainstorm disaster

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More than 600 people displaced by a recent rainstorm at Koffekrom, a community in the Obuasi Municipality of the Ashanti Region, have received support from the government through the Municipal Assembly.


They received relief items and cash to the tune of GHC 270,000.00 to assuage their pains in the interim.
The devastating storm affected about 60 houses on March 28, with scores of people injured in the process.


Mr Elijah Adansi-Bonah, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), at a ceremony to present the items, commiserated with the victims for their loss and the unpleasant experience.


He said after series of engagements with the chief and the Disaster Management Committee, a road map was developed on how to compensate the affected people.


“After the disaster struck, I had to liaise with relevant agencies including NADMO, the Chief and the Disaster Management Committee of Koffekrom and the Member of Parliament for Obuasi West, Mr Kwaku Kwarteng, to arrive at a more befitting compensation for the victims,” he explained.


The MCE presented 60 packets of roofing sheets, 450 wood and 50 bags of cement to those who were yet to reroof their buildings.


A cash amount of GH 150,000 was presented to individuals who had already reroofed their buildings to make up for their losses.


In addition, Mr Adansi-Bonah said the Government, through the Assembly, would settle medical bills of those who got injured and that plans were underway to procure 88 bags of rice for some of the victims.


He commended efforts by the Chief of Abadwum, Professor Amoako Tuffour, Edubiasehene Oguahyia Oduropanin Birikorang I, and other individuals who had made donations towards supporting the victims.


He appealed to individuals, groups and corporate bodies to also support.


The beneficiaries commended the Municipal Chief Executive and the government for the swift intervention.
Mr Solomon Fordjour, who received GHc 10, 000.00 cash, said the donation was a welcome relief to him as he had a tough time reroofing his house.


“I lost hope, I thought it was all over for me after the disaster.


“I had to borrow so much from the bank to reroof my house.


“This money will help me pay off my debt,” he added.


Madam Regina Asiamah, on her part, recounted the psychological trauma she went through after losing all her belongings to the disaster.

Citi FM Foundation, Ghana Chamber of Mines commission health Centre in Mepe

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Citi FM Foundation, in collaboration with the Ghana Chamber of Mines, have inaugurated a state-of-the-art health centre for the people of Mepe within the North Tongu Constituency of the Volta Region.

 
This formed part of the Foundation’s effort to give relief to communities affected by the spillage of the Akosombo Dam.

 
The health facility had both male and female wards, laboratory, delivery room, consulting rooms, maternity ward, children’s ward, washrooms and staff’s bungalow.

 
Mr Samuel Attah-Mensah, the Managing Director of Citi TV/Citi FM, said that the health facility was a testament of their unwavering support for the people of Mepe, who suffered the flood situations.

 
He mentioned that they were poised to promote quality health services in the enclave after the floods ravaged the community. 


He indicated the foundation would try to offer the needed support to the community when deemed necessary.

 
Mr. Attah-Mensah lauded the management of the Ghana Chamber of Mines for their collaboration to put up the health facility.

  
He also expressed gratitude to the traditional authorities for releasing land for the project.

 
Mr. Joshua Mortoti, the President of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, disclosed that a sum of GHC 1.5 million was injected into the construction of the health centre.

 
He assured them that they would work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the facility was equipped with the necessary medical supplies.

 
Mr Mortoti also mentioned that they had allocated GHC 400,000 to local contractors to erect a 10-unit toilet facility for the people of Mepe.

 
This toilet facility is also about 80 per cent complete.

 
Togbe Kwasi Nego VI, the Mankralo of Mepe, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that he was happy to participate and witness the commissioning of the first health centre in his community.

 
He stated that the facility would provide closer access to primary healthcare to his people and reduce the mobility cost of patients who hitherto had to travel to hospitals in other towns for medical attention.

 
Togbe, on behalf of the Chiefs and the people of Mepe Traditional Area, thanked Citi FM Foundation and the Ghana Chamber of Mines for their swift intervention.

 
Dr Chrysantus Kubio, the Volta Regional Director of Health, also expressed gratitude to the donors and assured that a Physician Assistant would be posted to the facility.

 
He appealed to corporate Ghana to help provide medical equipment for the facility.

 
The Health Director also called on Togbe Nego and His elders to maintain the good working relation and atmosphere for the health workers in the area.

 
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament of North Tongu Constituency and Mr Osborne Fenu, the Chief Executive of North Tongu District unanimously pledged to ensure that the facility was not poorly maintained.

 
They said that they would endeavour to offer the necessary support to promote quality health services in the area. 

Don’t lose cultural identity to power struggle, English language – Prof. Edu-Buandoh

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Professor Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh, a former Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), has challenged leadership to leverage power to shape society through decorous language.

 
She said the age-old Ghanaian values of respect, tolerance and hospitality, and its identity should not be lost to power struggle and the use of English as official language.

  
Prof. Edu-Buandoh, a Professor of English Language, was delivering her inaugural lecture on the theme, “Discourse of our time: Power, Norms of Language Us, Identity Formation.

  
The lecture focused on understanding that discourse involved analysing the language, narratives, symbols, and the ideologies present in communication to uncover underlying meanings and power dynamics.

 
It also highlighted various ways in which discourse could be used to influence society through power dynamics, social norms, historical contexts, and institutional structures.

   
The lecture was graced by many distinguished personalities, including stalwarts of the opposition National Democratic Congress led by Mr Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, MP for Odododiodioo, traditional leaders, as well as prominent members of academia.

  
 Prof Edu-Buandoh observed that politics was a major field that evoked passion and the use of indecent language, particularly on the floor of Parliament denounced the use of politeness.

 
She cautioned that such acts of impoliteness marred the integrity and credibility of Members of Parliament (MPs) and misshaped society.

  
She pointed out that a strong relationship between power dynamics, language norms and the construction of identity in contemporary society must be given serious attention.

 
She, therefore, insisted that leaders must be deliberate and mindful of the Ghanaian culture of respect and tolerance in their discourse to promote an inclusive society where everyone felt valued and respected.

  
“Whenever we use language as a people, we are constructing our national identity,” she said.

  
Citing research she conducted on the UCC campus, the English Professor bemoaned the inability of some Ghanaians to speak their local dialects, a situation she said was injurious to the quest to preserve and promote a national identity.

  
The English Professor said power structures influenced and shaped language use and subsequently impacted individuals’ formation of identity.

  
Prof Edu-Buandoh, one of Ghana’s champions in English Language, was appointed as an Assistant Lecturer in 2000 and became a Lecturer in 2001.

 
She was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2008 to Associate Professor in 2012 and rose through the ranks to become Professor of English in 2021.

  
Prof. Edu-Buandoh climbed the academic ladder from being the first female provost of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies to the first PRO Vice -Chancellor at the UCC.

  
Her areas of research included critical discourse studies, multilingualism, ideology, identity, and culture.

  
She has supervised numerous MPhil and PHDs and was committed to promoting excellence among students, especially young ladies and women.

  
She has many awards, certificates both national and international and articles to her credit.  

Newmont Foundation constructs Police Training School in Ahafo

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The Newmont Development Foundation has constructed a Police Training School to the Ghana Police Service in the Ahafo Region to bolster enforcement capabilities of officers to engender development.


The investment of about GHS5.8 million was spent on an administration block, a single-story classroom block, 200 bed-capacity dormitory, kitchen changing rooms and lavatories.


It is the first police training school to be established in the Ahafo and Bono regions.


The establishment of the school was through the collaborative efforts of Nana Osei Kofi Abiri, Omanhene of Kenyasi Number One and former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ernest Owusu Poku, and community leaders.


Its curriculum covers criminal law, service instructions, criminal investigation, criminal procedure, law of evidence, human rights and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).


Others are, child-friendly policing, acts, Legal Instruments (L.I.) and Constitutional Instruments (C.1.76), community policing, client care, professional police ethics, and report writing.


Field activities of the school include drills, weapon training, driving, riding, swimming, public order management, radio communication, and physical training.


Already, the Regional Training School has trained and graduated two batches of recruits, under the command of Chief Superintendent Samuel Omari-Anim – comprising 395 male recruits, including seven under cadet officers.


On 21st February 2024, the second batch of 187 male recruits, made up of one 152 general recruits and 35 under cadets graduated at a ceremony in Kenyase Number One.


The school has also trained 1,222 Community Protection Assistants in batches as well as a number of private security personnel for external organisations.


Newmont’s Foundation in Ahafo was established in May 2008 following two years of extensive engagement with traditional leaders and the Ahafo Social Responsibility Forum (ASRF).


This initiative was a mechanism for the mining company to manage its sustainable community development commitment to its ten host communities.


The forum is made up of representatives of traditional authorities, local government, Newmont, youth groups and other interest groups in the communities.


Newmont contributes US$1 per ounce of gold sold and one per cent of its net profit to the foundation annually.


The Fund has so far accrued more than GHS178.9 million, out of which 190 infrastructural projects have been completed and handed over to the communities, in addition to other non-infrastructural projects and educational benefits to the people in Ahafo.

John Mahama extends greetings to Muslims

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Former President John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has extended greetings to Muslims on the occasion of the Eid Al Fitr festival.


The former President, in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, said, “Eid Mubarak to all our Muslim brothers and sisters, both in Ghana and all around the world.”


“My sincere wish is that the enduring lessons of patience, discipline, and empathy that were learnt during Ramadan will continue to inspire and guide us as a people.”


He noted that may the special occasion bring peace, happiness, and prosperity to them and their loved ones.


“Let us also take this opportunity to extend our compassion and generosity to those who are less fortunate,” he stated.


“Eid Mubarak to all and may the spirit of Ramadan stay with you throughout the year. Salaam Alaikum”.

Child Rights releases welfare update on victim of alleged child marriage

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The Child Rights International (CRI), a creative human rights organisation with a focus on children’s rights, has issued a release concerning the welfare of the child allegedly involved in a child marriage, following a thorough investigation.

  
The release, which was copied to the Ghana News Agency, said as part of the rehabilitation and maintenance programme, the CRI’s investigation showed that the Social Welfare had engaged a clinical psychologist to have a thorough discussion with the child in question.

 
It said the investigation, which was being done with the collaborative effort of two case managers and a care giver, indicated that certain outcomes had been reached in that regard, that, “the child is in good health and of sound mind.”

  
Secondly, their investigation shows that the Department of Social Welfare under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, based on the conclusion, had decided to possibly release the child to her biological parents by Friday, 12 April, with the state having exclusive right for visit and guidance.

  
It said this presented an opportunity for her to receive love, care, and support from the family, facilitating her smooth transition back into the community and school.

  
“Our investigation also points to the fact that, based on the conclusions, the child will be in a boarding facility to enable the state to still have control over the protection of the child,” the release stated.

 
“We believe that the boarding facility will offer a stable environment for the child, allowing for proper monitoring and supervision by the state and the family.”

 
It noted that furthermore, based on the social inquiry report, it had been established that the biological family’s status was above average, ensuring a conducive environment for the child’s well-being.

  
“Therefore, we acknowledge the measures taken by social welfare to ensure the safety and welfare of the child, and we fully support any decision arrived at by the department of social welfare with respect to the protection and care of the child.”

 
It recommended that more attention and investment must go into building the social structure of the child to make integration more effective and efficient.

  
The release said CRI remained committed to providing support and would continue working closely with the social welfare authorities to ensure the best possible outcome for the child’s welfare.

Imam urges Government to sign the LGBTQ bill into law

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He stated that the Moslem community did not support such acts and called on the government to explore all avenues to keep it from infiltrating into the nation.

Sheikh Seidu made the plea during the Eid Al-Fitr prayer, at the Sunyani Jubilee Park, to mark the end of the 30-day Ramadan fasting and urged other stakeholders to denounce these acts.

He said if Ghana were to condone such behaviour, the country would face the wrath of God and all the citizens could suffer.

Sheikh Seidu, touching on the election, emphasised the importance of peace before, during and after polls and encouraged citizens to be together as one people striving towards a shared destiny.

Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sunyani East, urged the Moslem community to rally behind Dr Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party Flagbearer in the upcoming 2024 presidential election to complement the support already received from the Christian community.

He encouraged the Moslem community to continue praying for harmony in the country and stressed that with the support of all Ghanaians, peace could be maintained for the achievement of a successful election.

Mr Seid Mubarak, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate for the Sunyani East Constituency, advised the youth, particularly those in the Muslim communities, to be cautious with political parties and politicians who may manipulate and incite them for violence because of their personal gain.

Mr Mubarak asked party members to be vigilant to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process towards the protection of the votes of the citizens. 

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) both contributed bags of rice and undisclosed sums of money to support the festivities.

GIZ, Pension Authority educate informal sector workers on Tier Three pension

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Bono Regional Office of the National Pensions Authority in collaboration with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) has sensitized informal sector workers in the Techiman Municipality of the Bono East Region on the relevant of the Tier Three (personal) Pension Scheme.


More than 500 workers in the Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) sector attended the sensitization on the tier three pensions and the need for them to join the scheme.

The Authority also organised similar sensitization for the workers in the Sunyani Municipality and motivated some traditional authorities and opinion leaders who participated on the essence of saving towards their old age.  

Mr William Ohene-Adjei, the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regional Manager of the NPRA, highlighted the relevance of the tier three pension, saying the scheme was designed to provide sound stability and future financial security for informal sector workers.

 He said it was untrue that pension schemes were designed and reserved only for workers in the formal sector, saying it was imperative for everybody to join pension schemes and contribute to their future.

The tier three pension, Mr Ohene-Adjei added remained prerequisite and had therefore provided opportunities for all artisanal workers, including hairdressers, dressmakers, tailors, seamstress and mechanics as well as petty traders and head potters and truck pushers to join and contribute.

He called on the workers in the informal sector to manage their finances well, reserve some money and contribute to the tier three, saying though the NPRA did not encourage partial withdrawal, contributors could be withdrawn partially if they needed some resources.

Under tier three, Mr Ohene-Adjei indicated contributors could contribute as low as GHC5, and reminded that old age was always associated with several life challenges, saying with the tier three pension, contributors could well manage themselves during old age.

He said some people who failed to plan during their days of active service had regretted it now because it was difficult for many of them to cope with life challenges.

Madam Fatima Gberbie, Junior Communications Officer, GIZ, reiterated the Cooperation’s commitment towards human development in the country, saying the Cooperation would deepen its collaboration with the Authority.
 

Piracy, illicit trafficking can be countered through cooperation – President Mattarella

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On a visit to the Italian naval ship Commandant Bettica, which has docked at the Tema Port, President Mattarella said naval diplomacy was also extremely important in supporting the freedom of the sea through the freedom of navigation.


“This operation is extremely important to ensure peaceful coexistence and to include and support the freedom of the sea through the freedom of navigation. This can also be achieved once again through cooperation, thanks to which piracy can be countered as well as illicit trafficking,” he said.


President Mattarella, on a three-day working visit to Ghana, praised the collaboration between the Italian Navy and the Ghanaian Navy in their pursuit to fight piracy in the Gulf of Guinea and also in efforts of other countries to make the sea a conducive place for maritime business to thrive.


He commended the Ghana Navy for welcoming the Italian Navy vessel for the common goal of security and freedom for maritime transport and communication.


Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul thanked the Italian President for the visit, saying countries along the Gulf of Guinea would benefit immensely from the three months that the Italian Navy would spend in the country.


Mr. Nitiwul noted that there were many things the countries could do together, stating that, “we in the Gulf of Guinea, whether it is Zone F, which stretches from Ghana to Guinea, will greatly benefit from your visit.”


A simulation exercise was done to demonstrate the skillfulness and collaborative power of the Italian and Ghanaian Navies to combat piracy.

I am committed to promoting Ghanaian business – CILT Global President

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Chief Teete Owusu-Nortey, the Global President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), has underscored his commitment to promoting business from Ghana globally.


Chief Owusu-Nortey, who is the first African to occupy the highest office in CILT, said this when he paid a courtesy call on Mr. Michael Luguje, the Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours (GPHA), to discuss mutually beneficial issues related to logistics and transport.


He stated that his core interest was to promote business primarily from his home country, Ghana, adding that he needed to strengthen his home base to be able to use Ghana as a case study on the global platform.


“So I will say that I always whip my country members in line because if I don’t streamline and whip Ghana in line and there are issues that go wrong, I will feel a bit guilty when I am using such an example or I go on a global platform and I am being referred to negative things that are happening to Ghana,” he stated.


He commended the director general of the GPHA for continuously supporting the institute in its mission and vision.


Mr. Luguje, on his part, underscored the importance of logistics in the global supply chain, stating that the GPHA contributed to the membership of CILT and always extended assistance to the Institute whenever required.

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