GDCA/PARTNERS IMPLEMENTS FOUR YEAR DEV’T PROGRAMME

GDCA/PARTNERS IMPLEMENTS FOUR YEAR DEV’T PROGRAMME

The Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA) and the Youth Empowerment for Life (YEfL) in partnership with its Danish partners, have started the implementation of a four year development programme in the Northern Region of Ghana dubbed: “Empowerment for Life (EfL) worth UDS$3,832,298.14 (GH¢5, 554,055.28).

The programme which spans from 1^st January, 2010 and ends in 31^st December, 2014 is aimed at empowering the poor, vulnerable and marginalised target groups in the region to have the capacity and ability to improve their quality of life through education, employment, local organisation as well as better access to and management of food and water resources on the basis of a rights-based approach.

The Programme Advocacy and Communications Officer of GDCA, Rosemond Somaya Kumah in an address at a media orientation workshop, said the multimillion dollar programme would among other things target a primary group of 66,545 people and a secondary group consisting of 64,815 in fourteen Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Northern Region.

Thus, the media orientation workshop, according to her, was intended to introduce the programme to the media and as well build relations for effective collaboration in the implementation of the project.

She explained that the project which has been grouped in two phases would be implemented in the Tamale Metropolis, Yendi, Tolon-Kumbungu, Savelugu-Nanton, Karaga, Gushiegu, Saboba, Chereponi, Nanumba North, Nanumba South, Zabzugu, West Mamprusi, East Gonja and Kpandai.

“The first phase covers the period from 1^st January 2010 to 31^st December 2011 whilst the second phase covers the period from 1^st January 2012 to 31^st December 2014”, she pointed out.

Mrs. Kumah further expatiated that the programme would rely on strategies that would focus more on advocacy as compared to service delivery saying, “the EfL programme would focus on tracking all root causes of inequalities and making them known to those who should fulfil those rights”.

Whilst supporting the right holders to demand their rights, giving voice to voiceless, she also mentioned that capacity building would be organised to help duty-bearers and right-holders with the needed capacity to carry out their roles and responsibilities.

The GDCA Programme Advocacy and Communications Officer therefore, implored the media to help the NGO and its partners to succeed with the aforementioned strategies.

The Local Organisation and Mobilisation (LOM) Sub-Component Coordinator, Gmabi Alaika Philip, explained that the programme will seek to strengthen and empower 2,500 individuals in Community Based Organisations (CBOs), women and youth groups to lead their communities to determine their priorities and to pursue these priorities.

According to him, the implementers would further reinforce the CBO network structures and enhance networking of CBOs in the 14 districts to form a strong pressure group and also influence the design and proper implementation of pro-poor policies at regional and national levels in the most effective way.

He stated that key focal areas such as gender and youth issues, good governance issues, environmental problems and peace building initiatives will be looked at during the implementation at the various levels.

Mr. Alaika cited the MMDAs, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, traditional authorities, NGOs and local NGOs, the Security Agencies and the media as active collaborators in every stage of the programme.

Under the Local Organization and Mobilization component in the first phase of the project, the project seeks to enhance the District Assembly concept of inclusiveness by increasing the number of women in MMDAs from 8% to at least 20% by September 2010.

It would also seek to have provision of law in the constitution that require Chief Executives to be elected by December 2010 and also make sure that roads in Northern Region with focus on Tamale-Nawuni and Eastern corridor roads awarded to contract by December 2010.

Besides, 60% of roads will by December 2010 be engineered, constructed and asphalted while put in place on the agenda of relevant stakeholders the issue of managing the activities of the Fulani Herdsmen in Northern Region by December 2011.

BASIC SCH. PUPILS IN TAMALE GET THEIR SHARE OF GOV’T FREE EXERCISE BOOKS

BASIC SCH. PUPILS IN TAMALE GET THEIR SHARE OF GOV’T FREE EXERCISE BOOKS

Government has released 511,463 exercise books to the Tamale Metropolitan Directorate of the Ghana Education Service in the Northern Region of Ghana, to be distributed to pupils in 257 Primary and 91 Junior High Schools.

The donation was in fulfillment of President John Evans Atta Mills’ pledge to donate free exercise books and uniforms to basic school pupils nationwide to enhance teaching and learning and also ensure that it achieve the goal set by the UN Millennium Development Goal by 2015.

Alhaji Abdulai Harunah Friday, the Mayor of Tamale announced this at Dahinsheli Primary School in Tamale where the school’s share of the package was released to the management of the school.

He urged the school authorities to put the books to good use and warned that his office will not hesitate to deal with persons who might attempt to sell the books in the open or black market.

He also advised traders to desist from engaging in such trade with school authorities.

The Tamale Mayor commended the Dahinsheli School authorities for its sterling performance at the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and encouraged the pupils to embrace discipline as their trademark.

Miss Aisha Wunizooya on behalf of her colleagues commended government for the kind gesture and affirmed their commitment to be of good behavior both in school and at home.

Madam Beatrice Iddi, Headmistress of the School expressed her profound gratitude to the Mayor of Tamale for choosing Dahinsheli Primary School to be among the first batch of beneficiary schools in the Metropolis.

GOV’T SUPPORTS BAGABAGA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

GOV’T SUPPORTS BAGABAGA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

Government as part of its plans to boost teacher training education in Ghana has supported the oldest Teacher Training College in the Northern Region, the Bagabaga College of Education, with vehicles, a lecture hall and a modern library complex to improve upon academic work.

This forms part of government’s policy direction to train more qualified teachers to correspond with the high enrolment in schools due to the introduction of the School Feeding Programme and the introduction of Capitation Grant.

The Principal of the Bagabaga College of Education, Alhaji Adam Zakaria, disclosed this at the 1st congregation of the college where about 243 graduants were awarded Diploma Certificates in Basic Education by the University of Cape Coast.

The College was established in 1944 with only 16 students but today can boast of a student population of 843 with a percentage of 21.9% female intake.

Alhaji Zakariah underscored the need for government to revise the quota for admission into the country’s teacher training colleges by increasing the current 9,000 to 15,000 to enable the institutions train enough teachers for postings to less endowed communities.

The Principal pleaded with government to tar the campus roads particularly the road leading to the ladies hostel and also assist the authority to build security fence to avoid encroachers.

A representative of the Minister for Education, Mr. E.O Asare who is also the Deputy Director in charge of Teacher Education at the Ministry of Education, announced a GH¢300,000.00 package for all the Teacher Training Colleges to complete ongoing projects.

The ministry would make available 20 computers to each of the training institutions to enhance the study of Information Communication Technology, he added.

The Minister for Education however cautioned teachers against using students as labourers particularly on their farmlands and urged the graduants to move away from that practice.

Professor James Adu Opare, Chairman of the Board of the Bagabaga College of Education complained that some professional teachers of Northern extraction were not committed to their job.

He said majority of such teachers were habitual absentees in their various schools which was hampering academic progression in the Tamale Metropolis and beyond.

The 66 year old Bagabaga College of Education has trained high profile personalities including current sitting Vice President’s father, E.A Mahama, Dr. Hilla Liman, Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, Abayifa Karbo , S.D. Dombo, Ishague Wemah and Issifu Ali.

GOV’T LAUNCHES GH¢5M COTTON SUPPORT PROGRAMME IN N/R

GOV’T LAUNCHES GH¢5M COTTON SUPPORT PROGRAMME IN N/R

Government has launched a GH¢5 million cedis Cotton Support Programme in the Northern Region, promising it would not shirk its responsibility of turning Ghana into the net exporter of farm produce to the rest of the world.

The Vice President of the Republic of Ghana who launched the project on Friday 26^th June, 2010 in Tamale, said government had sourced funding to support farmers and enable them boost their farm yields in order to enhance the nation’s food security. Adding, “this initiative will boost Ghana’s image in the international community as a major exporter of food communities to support the United Nations World Food Programme”.

John Dramani Mahama therefore urged farmers to adopt modern or best farming practices that would make them shift from small to large scale or commercial farming.

“You should begin to cultivate large quantities of food not just to feed your families alone but also expert some for foreign exchange”, he maintained.

The Vice President stated categorically that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government was committed to reviving the defunct cotton industry in the three Northern Regions to improve the economic and living standards of poor farmers.

According to him, this would reduce the high increase in hunger and poverty that had engulfed most communities in Northern Ghana.

Mr. John Mahama, noted that the collapsed cotton ginneries in the three Northern Regions under the Cotton Support Programme, would be revamped to provide jobs to the youth, noting that government also believes such a measure could reduce the “Kayaaye” syndrome that has plague the North.

Under the project, government has projected 20,000 hectares of cultivated land for cotton production in 2010, with the supply of more farm machinery like tractors and combine harvesters to be imported to support the initiative.

Deputy Minister for Trades and Industry, Mahama Ayariga, disclosed that plans were far advanced by the sector ministry to assist Ghanaian cotton farmers meet their high expectations. “The Ministry of Trade and Industry has met all the stakeholders in the cotton industry and the necessary steps have been taken to improve cotton production in the country”, he stated.

The Northern Regional Minister, Moses Bukari Mabengba implored the management of the Ghana Cotton Company Limited and leadership of the farmer based organizations to map out strategies that would prompt government to give them more support.

GHS TO ABSORB ZOOM NURSES INTO MAIN STREAM NURSING

GHS TO ABSORB "ZOOM NURSES" INTO MAIN STREAM NURSING

The Ghana Health Services (GHS) will soon absorb beneficiaries of the Health Assistants Module of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) into mainstream nursing.

Adam Mohammed Aminu Abio, Northern Regional NYEP Coordinator disclosed this at this year’s Northern Regional mid-year review meeting of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, the leading waste management experts in Tamale.

He said the NYEP has concluded negotiations and forwarded a list of over 7,000 beneficiaries covering 60% of the total membership of the module to the GHS to have these beneficiaries professionally trained and put in mainstream nursing.

He explained that this would help reduce the woefully inadequate nurse/patient ratio at the country’s health facilities and provide permanent employment for the youth.

Mr. Mohammed Amin, however made it clear that, this percentage does not include those who were academically qualified and were already leaving for further studies.

The NYEP Coordinator was happy about the existence of the spirit of collaboration between the NYEP and Zoomlion Ghana saying “I must state that our relationship is beyond imagination and that is why my outfit and yours keep making the progress in our area of operations”.

He however called for greater collaborations, cooperation and dedication to work as well as respect for one another in their quest to enhancing a cleaner environment for the Northern Region and for that matter Ghana.

Engineer G. K. Atieku Gzandu, Head of Research and Development of Zoomlion, said it was prudent for staff to follow rules of protocol and abide by laid down procedures to be able to excel and achieve better results for the company.

He directed that all Zoomlion property in the ten administrative regions of the country should be labeled and numbered for inventory purposes.

Eng. Gzandu was happy that staff of the company all over the country were putting up their best to have the company moved forward and however, warned that any worker found to be incompetent and non productive would not be entertained in the company.

The Northern Regional Operations Supervisor, Daniel Martey, said the company has given the various regional branches the status of autonomy and so therefore urged staff to give off their best to be able to achieve the company’s aim and objectives.

He commended all staff for a good work done during the first two quarters of the year and stated that, what was left is more of worry to the company and would therefore not tolerate laziness at all.

“WITCHES” ANGRY WITH JOURNALISTS

“WITCHES” ANGRY WITH JOURNALISTS

Alleged Witches in the six witches camps in the Northern Region have poured their venom on the Ghanaian Journalists for causing with impunity what they termed dehumanized, degrading and false media publication that sought to portray them as prostitutes.

The aggrieved witches between the ages of 45 and 80 years lamented that one of the Ghana’s finest newspapers in somewhere last two weeks carried a front page story indicating that the survival or livelihoods of the witches largely depended on prostitution, where they sleep with men for fifty Ghana pesewas and one Ghana cedis or sometimes in exchange for food.

The alleged witches expressed these concerns at the Nabuli Witches Camp in Gushegu when the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Alhassan Fuseini visited them and made some donations to the inmates.

The witches who felt embarrassed about the publication and had apparently vowed not to allow any Journalist to visit their camps asked the DCE to send back the team of journalists who had followed him to the camp before they would accept the donation.

It took Hon Fuseini almost an hour to calm their nerves and assured them of a damage repaired story to redeem their image or correct the bad impression created out there. The Majazia of the Nabuli Witches Camp, Nandjoo Sakpam, 62 years, complained that the publication had caused them a great misfortune as some religious organizations and their relatives who used to take care of their needs periodically had all withdrawn their gestures.

She indicated that even though their communities had rejected them and most Ghanaians now see them as outcasts, they still try to maintain their God given integrity and respect since majority of them used to hold enviable positions in their communities before they were proclaimed witches.

“Some of us have children who are doctors, teachers, nurses, bankers and even in the universities. We also have husbands who are in good standing in the society who still have faith in us and cherish us the way we are. People should not forget that we have found ourselves in these camps simply because of our bad and dehumanized cultural practices, because when you are to talk about witchcraft, I can tell you that it is found in every home in Ghana and even some of you Journalists are also witches and wizards,” Majazia Sakpam remarked.

However, the DCE for Gushegu, Hon Alhassan Fuseini and the District Gender Desk Officer, Madam Raby Osman apologized on behalf of the Ghanaian media and equally appealed to them to always be circumspect in their reportage.

Credit: Edmond Gyebi

FDB DESTROYS UNREGISTERED AND EXPIRED GOODS

FDB DESTROYS UNREGISTERED AND EXPIRED GOODS

The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) in the Northern Region of Ghana has seized and destroyed unregistered and expired consumable and non-consumable products worth thousands of Ghanaian Cedis.

The goods which included edible oil, medicine, soft drinks and cosmetic products among others were seized from shop owners and some retailers in Tamale, the regional capital during an operation by officials of the FDB to ensure that retailers and traders run their businesses according to the laid down rules and regulations of the board to ensure the safety of consumers.

According to officials of the FDB, retailers in the Tamale Metropolis have consistently been advised not to trade in unregistered and expired food and drugs but some have deliberately refused to heed to the advice, hence the need to get into the open market and seized some Chinese products which are mostly unregistered.

The Northern Zonal acting FDB Boss, Gordon Akurugu told savannahnews during an interview that his outfit for sometime now has been on the alert to ensure that traders and retailers in the city and across the region do the right thing by complying with all the laid down regulations to ensure consumer safety.

He later called on the media to join the crusade to help educate traders and retailers including the general public on the activities of the board.

In a related development, the FDB has also organized a one day orientation workshop on the activities and operations of the board for journalists and selected stakeholders including pharmacists and herbalists across the Northern Region.

The one day workshop among other things was to give orientation to key stakeholders concerning the operations and regulations of the board for effective collaboration in their work.

In his welcome address, the Northern Zonal acting Officer of the FDB, said the board was fully committed to its mandate to ensuring the safety of food, cosmetics and medical devices among others.

He stressed that in achieving this, the board was strengthening its existence system or mechanisms by supporting manufacturing and industrial companies to adopt good management practices.