DUTCH VOLUNTEERS DONATE FURNITURE TO KOBILMAGU SCH.

Following Chronicle’s earlier publication about the high deprivation and poor conditions of the Kobilmagu Sobriya Islamic School, one of the government schools in the Tamale Metropolis, three expatriate volunteers have donated 60 pieces of dual study desks to the pupils at the nursery class of the school.

Before the donation, over 330 children at the Kindergarten were crowded in two classrooms, without study chairs.

The alarming situation of the children was the fact that they sit on their eating bowls to study each day, and use the same bowls for their School Feeding meals.

Some of the children sometimes urinate in their bowls when classes are in progress, and most of them use the bowls unwashed for their meals.

At a short durbar to present the furniture, the Volunteers from Royal Netherlands, Yvonne Brusse, Denise Van Wijnen and Arian De-nijs their decision to support the children was influenced by their dissatisfaction about the harsh conditions under which the children especially those at the KG were studying during their first visit to the school.

They believed the children ought to be given the best of treatment to enhance their studies, since they represent the future of Ghana. According to them, the good or bad treatment that would be given to a child in or out of school would determine the quality of his or her adulthood.

The Headteacher of the Kobilmagu Sobriya Islamic KG, Madam Baba Fati, said the children in the school were willing to study, but they are being turned away by the lack of classroom accommodation.

She noted that as a result of the School Feeding Programme most children in the community voluntarily come to the school for enrollment but there are no classrooms.

Madam Fati therefore, called on the government to provide the requisite support to the school in order to change the poor conditions of the pupils.

The Kobilmagu Sobriya Islamic School was established in 1988 by one Alhaji Alhassan Sulemana with 87 children, but it was taken over by the government in 1992, and now has a student population of almost 900.

It also has 35 teaching staff, from the Kindergarten to Junior High School, but unfortunately, the school lacks the necessary infrastructure, especially, at the lower primary level.

This is because government, the Ghana Education Service, and for that matter the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, have since 1992, failed to support the school with even a single structure.

The Headmistress of the School, Hajia Salamatu Mahama, also complained about the general conditions, which she said, were making teaching and learning very difficult.

According to her, even though the school was one of the best performing in the Tamale Metropolis, it lacked so many facilities, including classrooms, furniture, library and computers.

651 ENGAGED BY NYEP IN NANUMBA SOUTH DISTRICT

About 651 youth in the Nanumba South District of the Northern Region have so far been engaged under the various modules of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).

The Programme Coordinator for the District, Alhassan Abukari Alabani who announced this at Wulensi, gave the break down as 98 for the Community Education Teaching Assistants, 73 for Health Extension Workers, 61 posted to the various departments and agencies, 25 for Youth in Agriculture Programme, 181 for Waste Management Programme, 5 for Community Protection Assistants, 67 Tailors and Dressmakers, 100 for the Afforestation Programme and 3 for Information and Communications Technology.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a two month training course for 73 Health Extension Workers in Wulensi, Mr. Alhassan Abukari urged the beneficiaries of the Health Extension Workers to work hard wherever they would be posted after the training to justify their participation in the programme.

He said the beneficiaries had been engaged for a two-year period, after which they would exit to make way for fresh people to be recruited.

Mr. Alhassan Abukari, therefore, advised the participants to adopt the right attitude and be role models in the communities where they would be posted to serve.

PUT YOUR NATION FIRST- HON. KWAME ASANTE TELLS ASSEMBLY MEMBERS

The Chairman of the National Pension Regulatory Authourity (NPRA), Kwame Asante has asked Assembly Members to relegate their personal parochial and partisan interest to the background and put the interest of the nation first.

He said the success of every Distract Assembly largely depends on the level of cooperation between Assembly Members, Chief Executives as well as other management staff in the discharge of their duties.

Mr. Asante made the call when he inaugurated and swore in members of the Nanumba South District Assembly on behalf of the President John Evans Mills at Wulensi, the district capital.

He appealed to the Assembly Members to look for more avenues to generate funds to increase their revenue to supplement the Common Fund for accelerated development.

The 28 elected and 12 appointed members were sworn in by the Bimbilla Magistrate Court Judge, Mr. F. M. Nibi.

Mr. John Sadan was re-elected for the second time as the Presiding Member of the Nanumba South District Assembly. He polled thirty-eight (38) votes out of the total valid votes cast as the only contender for the position.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Sadan called on his colleague’s Assembly Members to make meaningful decisions that would help the growth and development of their localities.

He said he believed that when members put aside their political sentiments and allow the interest of their areas to prevail, they could work as a team towards the growth of the district.

In his welcome address, the District Chief Executive Alhaji Seidu Amidu called for concerted efforts from Chiefs, opinion leaders, Political leaders and Unit Committees to eschew all forms of indiscipline and maintain the peaceful co-existence that the district had enjoyed for some time now to facilitate the development of the district which lacks social amenities.

HEAD TEACHERS SCHOOLED ON CAPITATION GRANT

A sensitization workshop to address the challenges and outstanding issues militating against the effective and efficient management and utilization of the Capitation Grant has ended at Wulensi, the Nanumba South District capital.

The workshop, organized by the Nanumba South District Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) on the theme: “Distribution, Management and Utilization of the Capitation Grant”, and attended by head teachers and other stakeholders, were not only sensitized, but also taken through disbursement, management control, record keeping, monitoring and evaluation as well as auditing process.

The Northern Regional Chief Accountant of GES, Charles Adama who facilitated the workshop, in a presentation stated, that government is committed to the course of empowering and supporting teachers in their quest to promoting quality education in the country.

This he noted, had necessitated the increment in the Capitation Grant to take care of the abolished school levies and fees so as to cater for school repairs, cultural and sporting activities as well as reduce financial burden on parents.

Mr. Adama stated that the purpose of the Capitation Grant is to increase enrolment and maintain retention and therefore, it behoove on District Directors of GES and head teachers of basic schools to effectively play their respective roles to ensure its implementation to enhance quality education for all.

He called on District Directors and Assistant Directors of GES to provide the oversight support towards the implementation of School Improvement Plan (SPIP) for all schools in the district based on compliance and requirements.

The Regional Chief Accountant, therefore, appealed to head teachers to keep accurate financial records of all monies received and disbursed with appropriate receipts for effective review and auditing.

In his remarks, the Nanumba South District Director of Education, Paul Kunde commended Mr. Charles Adama for facilitating in this entire important workshop, which he believed would help change things for the better.

He, therefore, advised the participants to translate whatever they have acquired and turn it into productive use.

NGO URGES MEDIA TO REPORT MORE ON DEV’T ISSUES

Media Practitioners in the Northern Region have been encouraged to limit their political reportage and rather partner with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to champion the course of deprived people in society.

Even though about 85 percent of the people in the north live in the rural communities, the concentration of the Media and other advocacy groups are always centered on the urban centres. This has therefore deprived most of the communities the opportunity to air their views appropriately on issues that affect their lives.

At a day’s media review meeting in Tamale organized by the Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA) aimed at strengthening the relationship and partnership between the media and other CSOs in the north, it was discovered that political issues always take dominance over developmental issues in the Ghanaian media.

As a result, the Media Practitioners at the meeting resolved to redirect their attention largely on development and other social issues that would transform the lives of the deprived people rather than reporting on the “usual lies” of the Politicians.

Majority of them openly admitted not doing much in highlighting or reporting on the poor road network, lack of potable water, inadequate educational and health facilities and the abject poverty confronting the people in the region.

The Media is said to be the pace setters and represents the voice of the voiceless in society, but in Ghana for instance, the media seems to dwell much on political issues or follow politicians than the vulnerable in society.

As a result, most pressing issues confronting the rural dwellers are often left unattended to by the duty bearers.

It is in this light that the Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA) is wooing the media to commit itself to the CSOs that are working in the interest of the poor in society.

But are the media practitioners ready to sacrifice or go extra mile to promote the interest of the rural people considering the poor road networks, and the lack of resources that also pose serious challenge to them?

The Programme Officer of GDCA, Mrs. Rosemond Kumah was of the view that the lives of the people in the Northern Regions would be better of if the media collaborates with the CSOs.

She said the GDCA was highly focused on promoting development among the rural folks, especially women groups. The Association is also support good initiatives of government geared towards the development of the rural people.

One of the participants, Salifu Nurudeen Mohammed a reporter of Daily Graphic was particularly impressed about the steps being taken by the GDCA to strengthen its relationship with the media in the interest of the ordinary and underprivileged people in society.

He however, blamed the inability of most journalists to shy away from reporting from the rural areas on the fact that most of the media organizations were highly under-resourced and could not therefore support their reporters to carry out such reports.

Mr. Nurudeen therefore appealed to the NGOs and CSOs like GDCA to also find ways of assisting journalists who had interest in rural reporting in order to bring mutual benefits.

However, the Northern Regional Correspondent of the Enquirer newspaper, Francis Npong was awarded by the GDCA for distinguishing himself so well in rural and development reporting especially on the activities of the GDCA.

PR PRACTITIONERS IN THE NORTH CHALLENGED TO WORK HARD

The Northern Regional Minister, Moses Bukari Mabengba, says the practice of Public Relations as a profession in Northern Ghana leaves much to be desired due to the fact that most people in the area do not really see the significant role the profession plays towards the overall growth and development of institutions and the people.

According to him, most PR task within most organizations is either relegated to the background or completely abandoned. Adding that, even in situations where PR officers are appointed in some institutions, such officers are not usually properly placed within the set-ups of those institutions.

Mr. Moses Mabengba who was addressing the first Northern Public Relations Conference and Training Workshop in Tamale, was however hopeful that with the presence of Institute of Public Relations now in the Northern Region, the PR officers would take advantage of it to upgrade themselves to maximize the fortunes of their organizations and the region at large.

The conference called on Public Relations Practitioners to rise up and work to achieve the goals and aspirations of their institutions and organizations towards the development of the North.

The practitioners have also been advised that for any development agenda to succeed in the North, people outside the area must first be counseled to change their bad perceptions about the place and its institutions, organizations and people.

The two-day conference was organized by NU IMAGE Communications, an event management company that exist to purposely to use the power of the media to positively project the potentials that abound in the three Northern Regions of Ghana in collaboration with the Institute of Public Relations (IPR).

In his welcoming address, Mr. David Babayara, Director of NU IMAGE Communications Company said the conference was aimed at creating opportunities for the practitioners living in the North to also showcase to the rest of the country what they are capable of doing.

He hinted that his outfit was coming out with new programmes which would be showing on the national Television, adding “it will be the first ever TV magazine programme dubbed Northern TV which aims at highlighting life and lifestyle of the people in the three Northern Regions. It would also help bring to light some of the hidden treasures that are left unattended to.

Renowned communication experts like Mr. Joseph Emmanuel Allotey Papoe, Major (Rtd) Albert Don-Chebe, Mr. Ibrahim Awal, and Dr. Margret Amoakohene facilitated the workshop.

GAF BEGINS COMMERCIAL FARMING THIS YEAR

A policy that sought to give a boost to mass farming activities within all garrisons of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) some years ago, is being revived for the second time by officers of GAF which will from now on, remain a special feature on the armed forces’ calendar of activities.

Many would wonder why the GAF is turning attention to a non-core activity like farming since the agency is noted for security related operations where it has performed creditably over decades.

But at a brief ceremony to re-launch the GAF farming unit activities for garrisons in the Northern Region including 6th Infantry Battalion and Airborne Force, Air-Vice Marshall Michael Sampson-Oje, Commander of the Airborne Force, reminded Ghanaians that some decades ago, the GAF was in the forefront of national food production, evacuation and distribution in this country under the code-name ‘Operation Feed Yourself’.

According to him, the result of that programme saw the GAF and its units/stations running a number of food crop farms, animal husbandry, poultry, fish ponds and among others, as their contribution to the national food basket generally. Adding, “During those days, the military had a special unit devoted to agricultural production called Ghana Armed Forces Farms (GAFF) whose operations spread across the garrisons where high commercial agricultural turnovers were achieved”.

Air-Vice Marshall Sampson-Oje, explained that the GAF high command being aware of the security challenges that come in the wake of any food shortage, has therefore, decided in the 2011 cropping season to revive unit farming and the promotion and development of agriculture in all military garrisons nationwide.

The objective of the policy, he stated, is to support food production in the country, to complement the efforts of the country’s subsistence farmers. “It is also an alternate means of providing food and meat, as extra messing for service personnel as well as a way of generating additional income for the military units”, he added.

The military commander further expatiated that, the effort is deemed as the military’s modest attempt in helping to achieve the UN’s Millennium Development Goal (MDG 1); that is “eradicating or at least halving poverty and hunger by the year 2015”.

The focus of the policy is to engage in practical agriculture with the view to increasing production in local staples, commercial crops/plants, and breeding of animals, birds and fish in commercial quantities.

For instance, the farming activities would cover areas such as cassava, plantain, yams, maize, sorghum, millet, rice, beans, potatoes, groundnuts, mushroom and vegetables.
Others are oil palm, coconuts, pineapples, cashew, mangoes, oranges and animal rearing in such areas as cattle ranches, goats and sheep, poultry, piggery, rabbits, grass-cutters, snails and bee-keeping.

The rest include fish farming, food processing, aqua culture in general and afforestation programmes on vacant armed forces’ lands.

Meanwhile, it is expected that, the revival of the GAF unit farming activities would provide practical lessons/training to prepare troops for their future engagement as commercial farmers or backyard gardeners during their retirement. Besides, the programme also stands to offer technology transfer and entrepreneurial development skills in rural agro-business to retirees.

Air-Vice Marshall Sampson-Oje thus, charged all unit commanders take charge of all farms on its premises and seek technical advice from agricultural extension officers, soil and weather scientists, veterinary officers and practitioners already in the field of production, marketing and other areas, to determine the most feasible options.

He said the projects are to be viewed as enterprises that the units have initiated and they are to show determination in ensuring success at all cost by putting in place management committees to oversee and account for farms/projects.

WULUGU NAA’S LINGUIST ALMOST KILLED BY SPEEDING CAR

The failure by authourities of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) to provide photocopy services to clients or patients who visit the facility for medical attention, almost send a 72 year old man, Tarana Tidow to his early grave last Tuesday morning in the hours between 10am and 11am.

Tarana Tidow who is one the chief linguists of the Paramount chief of the Kpasenkpe Traditional Area and President of National House of Chiefs, Wulugu Naa Pugansia Professor John Nabila, was earlier reported dead by some eyewitnesses.

However, checks by this blogger at the TTH revealed that he was still alive as the nurse in-charge (name withheld) confirmed he had a fracture on his upper left arm and a deep laceration on his head.

Preliminary checks at the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service in Tamale also confirmed that, the driver of the vehicle with registration number ER 6946 X, Bakari E. Mahama alias Jomo, an Assemblyman for Sakasaka Quarters in Tamale and IT Manager for Alzulfa Company Limited (sales and marketing agent of MTN-Ghana), had since failed to report the incident to the police.

Meanwhile, he has also sent the Vehicle into hiding just to prevent the police from seeing or apprehending it. He has also decided to settle the matter without the police after he and other family relations of the man reached a consensus.

The nurse at the Tamale Teaching Hospital hinted this reporter that the 72 year old man also a hypertension patient came to the hospital for his monthly medical check ups and was asked by the doctors to go and make a photocopy of his National Health Insurance card.

However, in an attempt to cross the main Yendi-Tamale dual road on his return to the Hospital, the already sick man was suddenly hit by the Toyota Hilux belonging to the Alzulfa Company Ltd.

The Chief Linguist was put inside the vehicle and rushed to the hospital, where he has since been admitted and receiving treatment at the Surgical Ward. Some relatives of patients at the TTH hinted that “this is the third time since January this year that they had personally witnessed sick persons who are asked to do photo copies and got involved accidents”.

Some eye witnesses who spoke to this blogger affirmed that the driver was on top speed and could not therefore save the man who had already entered the road after seeing the pickup from afar.

Some of them blamed the incidence on the Hospital authorities for their inability to procure a photocopier machine to render such services to patients and also preventing private individuals who express interest in running such business ventures on the TTH premises.

When contacted however, the Driver of the Vehicle, Bakari Mahama alleged that he rather reported the matter to the President of the National House of Chiefs, Naa Prof. Nabila who then asked him to hold on until he returns from Kumasi where he was purportedly holding a meeting with some chiefs.

Prof Nabila in stead of allowing the law to deal with the criminal aspect of the matter has rather compromised with the driver to settle the case amicably in the house without the involvement of the police.

A nephew of the accident victim Sabiyam Johnson is admitted to this blogger on a phone interview that, he and other relatives asked the driver to cater for his uncle instead of involving the police in the matter.

Meanwhile, Mr. Jomo told this blogger that he does not see the accident to be anything serious but he was surprised as to how it had attracted serious public attention. He debunked the eyewitnesses’ account that he was over speeding.

However, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Gabriel Nii Otu Ankrah when contacted by this blogger described the incident as very unfortunate. He explained that even though the hospital had photocopier machines in some of the offices, they were not for use for other activities either than administrative purposes.

He pledged to discuss with the management of the hospital to either purchase one of the machines or encourage private investors to establish a centre within the premises of the hospital.

CCD-GHANA LAUNCHES NEW PROGRAMME ...To Promote Good Governance in the North

The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has assumed the leading role in empowering Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) engaged in the promotion of good governance and democracy in the Northern Region to intensify their public education campaign on grass-root participation, democracy and demand for accountability from duty bearers.

CDD-Ghana is of the view that most of the good civil society support programmes and other government development initiatives like the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) and Northern Rural Growth Project (NRGP) could only succeed, if the CSOs and the general public who are supposed to be direct beneficiaries were empowered to effectively monitor the projects and also demand for accountability.

At the official launch of the newly introduced “Civil Society Support Programme” being run jointly by CDD-Ghana and its partner, GIZ Cooperation in Tamale, the Northern Regional Programme Manager of CDD-Ghana, Mr. Paul Osei-Kuffour said the programme aimed at supporting the CSOs to effectively carry out their activities in the promotion of good governance and democracy in the three Northern Regions.

According to him, the Northern Sector had constantly benefited from so many government interventions geared towards the development of the people and the area at large, yet very little was being felt with the north still seen as the most deprived in the whole of Ghana .

Undoubtedly, the Northern Sector of Ghana has also become the major centre for Non-governmental Organisations seeking to fight poverty, diseases and promoting development, but the lack of monitoring and demand for accountability from the people continues to worsen their plights.

However, Mr. Osei-Kuffour challenged the CSOs to be transparent in their operations and always ensure that they achieve positive results in whatever activities they implement, before they drive away their donors.

He was optimistic that, with the presence of CDD-Ghana in Northern Region, the people would begin to feel the impact of the various interventions of government and the district assemblies.

CDD-Ghana is a research-oriented and policy-based think thank working to promote good governance, democracy and economic openness in Ghana and Africa . The Centre contributed immensely to the peaceful 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections in Ghana , as it spent a chunk of its human and other resources to stage series of peace education in almost all the trouble spots including Bawku, Tamale, Yendi, Zebila and Tongo among others.

Technical Advisor, GIZ/CDD-Ghana Civil Society Support Programme, Sandra Jensen, in a power point presentation, said the main focus of the programme would be geared towards building the capacity of CSOs in Northern Ghana in order to strengthen coalitions and links with the citizenry.

CSOs would also be encouraged to participate in development dialogues at different levels of governance, monitor delivery of public goods and hold government accountable, she stressed.

Ms Jensen mentioned the target groups under the programme as including CSOs, youth groups, media, traditional authorities and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the North. Adding that, intervention areas in 2011 will include youth empowerment, women empowerment, participation in local governance and peace building.

She explained that, interested CSOs and other institutions would have to present proposals which will be vetted or scrutinised to make sure request for financial and technical advise falls within the objective of the programme.

Meanwhile, Ibis Ghana, ActionAid-Ghana and CIDA-PSU also made brief presentations on their activities and areas that they work, so as to give CDD-Ghana an insight perspective of them and how they could collaborate in future to work towards a common purpose of promoting good governance and democracy in the North and Ghana as a whole.

CENTRAL GONJA DCE CHARGED ON ASSEMBLY MEMBERS

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Central Gonja, Sualisu Be-Awuribe has challenged the newly inaugurated assembly members to adopt pragmatic ways of consolidating the Internal Revenue Mobilization efforts of the assembly to ensure massive infrastructural development in their electoral areas and the district at large.

According to the DCE, the only surest way an accelerated development could be recorded in the District was for all stakeholders especially the assembly members to bury their political sentiments and massively woo their communities to honour their tax obligations.

Addressing the 44 government appointees and elected assembly members at an inaugural ceremony in Buipe, Hon Be-Awuribe emphasized that the development aspirations of the people in the district could smoothly be met, only if concerted efforts were made to support the District Assembly Common Fund from the Central Government with other internally generated revenues.

Even though the Central Gonja District is the 2^nd leading industrial hub in the whole of the Northern Region after the capital, Tamale, there seems to be some lapses in its revenue mobilization. The DCE was optimistic that with collective efforts, the assembly could increase its revenue collection target by 150%.

Between January to June 2010, the Central Gonja District Assembly bagged over GH¢90,000 but Hon Be-Awuribe believed that the assembly could do better if the people were encouraged and the assembly members desist from playing politics with the development of the area.

However, the DCE congratulated the new assembly members on their elections and also for accepting to serve the people and the district as a whole. He remained them of the responsibilities ahead of them and entreated them to be selfless, committed and responsive to the needs of the people.

He indicated that, the Central Gonja District which is one of the youngest districts in the country was challenged with inadequate educational and health infrastructures, lack of water, access roads and other amenities needed to make life more comfortable for the people.

That notwithstanding, the assembly he said had been able to construct a number of classroom blocks to eliminate schools under trees in the district, health centres, assisted farmers and also created jobs for majority of the youth under the National Youth Employment Programme among others.

The DCE disclosed that the ruling government had secured funds for the construction of district hospital at Buipe as part of efforts to enhancing quality health care delivery.

Hon Be-Awuribe also cautioned them against the abuse of their powers/position since such conducts could undermine the purpose for which they were elected to serve in the assembly.

On the other hand, Mr. Frankie Kwesi Agbozo was re-elected as the Presiding Member for the Central Gonja for the second term. He defeated Mr. Abubakari I. Yussif by 33 votes as against 11 votes out of the 44 votes cast. The Election of the Presiding Members which was conducted by the District Electoral Officer, Gariba D. Jacob, was earlier between four contestants, but two candidates; Iddrisu Zakaria and Iddrisu Ibrahim voluntarily stepped down.

The Security Personnel deployed to the elections grounds were virtually on holiday, as the people conducted themselves peacefully and made the exercise a successful one.

However, the Minister for Transport, Collins Dauda who represented President John Evans Atta Mills also commended the assembly members for resolving to serve the district. He reminded them that their election and appointment was a mark of confidence the people had had in them, hence they must live up to expectations.

The Minister added his voice to the call by the DCE for the new assembly members to come out with new strategies in collaboration with the management of the assembly to generate adequate revenue to complement the efforts of the central government.

Hon Collins Dauda entreated the assembly members to prioritize the sanitation management of their areas to free the people from contracting diseases and to also reduce the huge spending on waste management by the assembly.

CCD-GHANA & GIZ COOPERATION TO BOOST GOOD GOVERNANCE IN NORTHERN GHANA

Governance think-thank, CDD-Ghana and its partner, GIZ Cooperation have begun the implementation of a Civil Society Support Programme in Northern Ghana, aimed at providing financial and technical assistance to Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) engaged in the promotion of good governance and democracy in the area.

The programme is also intended to strengthen the capacity of human resource improving democracy in the North as well as seeking to support ongoing efforts such as the Savannah Accelerated Development Authourity (SADA) to enhance the capacity of CSOs to participate effectively and enhance their monitoring and advocacy role.

In his welcome statement, Programs Manager of Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) in charge of the Tamale Office, Paul Osei-Kuffuor, observed that empowering civil society to demand public accountability from civil servants and politicians were an important component of Ghana’s democratization process.

Mr. Osei-Kuffuor explained that, CDD-Ghana as an active CSO thus felt compelled to partner with GIZ Cooperation to contribute to this democratic course by extending its longstanding support to assist CSOs in Northern Ghana.

Technical Advisor, GIZ/CDD-Ghana Civil Society Support Programme, Sandra Jensen, in a power point presentation, said the main focus of the programme would be geared towards building the capacity of CSOs in Northern Ghana in order to strengthen coalitions and links with the citizenry.

CSOs would also be encouraged to participate in development dialogues at different levels of governance, monitor delivery of public goods and hold government accountable, she stressed.

Ms Jensen mentioned the target groups under the programme as including CSOs, youth groups, media, traditional authorities and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the North. Adding that, intervention areas in 2011 will include youth empowerment, women empowerment, participation in local governance and peace building.

She explained that, interested CSOs and other institutions would have to present proposals which will be vetted or scrutinised to make sure request for financial and technical advise falls within the objective of the programme.

Meanwhile, Ibis Ghana, ActionAid-Ghana and CIDA-PSU also made brief presentations on their activities and areas that they work, so as to give CDD-Ghana an insight perspective of them and how they could collaborate in future to work towards a common purpose of promoting good governance and democracy in the North and Ghana as a whole.

Fallout from the 2010 District Level Elections, EC CHARGED TO DECENTRALIZE PRINTING OF MATERIALS

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the Northern Region have suggested to the Electoral Commission (EC) to endeavour to decentralize the printing of ballot papers for the District Level and Unit Committee Elections.

This followed the series of reports of insufficient and unnecessary delay in the printing of ballot papers in the 2010 district level elections.

At a day’s forum in Tamale to disseminate their findings on the 2010 District Level and Unit Committee Elections, the Election Observers from the NGOs, CBOs and other organizations said even though the 2010 Assembly Elections ended peacefully, there were so many problems that characterized the exercise.

The forum was organized by the Northern Sector Action on Awareness Centre (NORSAAC) in collaboration with the Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA) and sponsored by Ibis West Africa.

Apart from the postponement of voting dates, low public awareness campaign and delay in the supply of voting materials, there was a clear incidence of inadequate supply of security personnel especially to some of the “hot spots” in the Northern Region.

The total number of people who contested the 2010 elections in the region was 1,817. Out of the number, 1,672 were males and 145 females.

This means, the men, as usual, dominated the election with about 81 percent representation as against 19 percent of women.

Mr. Mohammed Alhassan Awal, Executive Director of NORSAAC was unhappy about the postponement of the elections by the EC which he indicated discouraged a lot of aspirants especially women who were mostly under-resourced.

He also blamed the EC, National Commission for Civic Education, Information Service Department and the media for failing to find a common ground to effectively create public awareness on the elections.

Mr. Awal bemoaned that, platforms mounted by the EC in some of the communities did not favour most of the women aspirants who did not have the resources to convey people to the grounds.

He therefore, recommended that printing of electoral materials be decentralized at the regional levels to avoid unnecessary delays and shortages of ballot papers.

The Eecutive Director of NORSAAC also appealed to chiefs, opinion leaders, NGOs and the media to encourage more women to participate in subsequent District level elections and also ensure that equal opportunities are created for both the men and women.

One critical area that was intensively emphasized by the election observers/CSOs was the inadequate supply of security personnel especially to the trouble spots. It was discovered that some of the electoral areas were without a single security personnel to police the ballot boxes which therefore brought about some minor threat of violence.

However, the Programmes Director of GDCA, Madam Rosemond Kuma was happy about how women are now being regarded by their communities as an integral part of society.

But one issue disturbing most Ghanaians about the district assembly elections is the active involvement of political parties. One of the Elections Observer Mr. William Abdullai says the political parties are marring the beauty of the elections.

DON’T SEEK FAVOURS, CONTRACTS FROM MMDCEs-PREZ TELLS ASSEMBLY MEMBERS

Ninety-seven (97) Assembly Members consisting of 64 elected members, 29 government appointees, 3 Members of Parliament and the Metropolitan Chief Executive have been sworn-in to serve a four year turner of office at the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly of the Northern Region of Ghana.

This exercise was in fulfillment of the 1992 Constitution which requires that in every four years, elections be conducted in all Electoral Areas of the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) across the country to elect new officers or renew the mandate of old officers in the Assembly to support the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executive (MMDCE) execute development plans on behalf of the people as representatives.

For instance, Section 16 (1) of the Local Government Act 1993, Act 462 clearly outlines some of the duties of Assembly Members which include (a) maintaining close contact with his electoral area, consult his people on issues to be discussed in the district assembly and collate their views, opinions and proposals; (b) present the views, opinions and proposals to the district assembly; © attend meetings of the district assembly and meetings of the sub-committees of which he is a member; (d) meet his electorate before each meeting of the assembly and among others.

In a speech read for him, President John Evans Atta Mills advised Assembly Members not to seek favours from the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) and management as this undermines their authourity to demand accountability from management. Adding, “Any member who will use his or her position to gain contracts or undue favours from the Assembly will be committing a serious offence of conflict of interest and would be liable to sanction”.

He continued that “As representatives of the president and first servants of the state at the District level, MMDCEs must comport themselves in the administration of the MMDAs to demonstrate to the people that they are indeed available as chief servants of the Districts”.

President Mills emphasized that MMDCEs were expected to be diligent, accountable and responsive to their individual assemblies and the people.

The President however observed that most MMDAs were not doing enough to generate more funds internally and thus depend wholly on the Common Fund, saying “As new Assembly Members you must come out with new strategies in collaboration with management to generate adequate revenue to complement the efforts of Central Government”.

He urged the officers to ensure that funds provided by Central Government as well as that which is internally generated, are prudently managed.

The President mentioned poor sanitary conditions as another problem confronting the MMDAs, adding that, government had indeed invested huge sums of money, yet not much has been achieved in that regard, and charged the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly to put premium on sanitation and waste management activities to rid the city of filth and health problems associated with insanitary conditions.

The Tamale MCE Alhaji Abdulai Haruna Friday, made a passionate appeal to members of the house to see themselves as agents of change not only for their respective communities but as well as any other community of the Metropolis. Adding “ I wish to implore you to see yourselves as partners in development, devoid of political, ethnic, religious or traditional biases”.

He also urged new members to learn from old Assembly members, both past and present and promised to continue to operate an open administration.

Meanwhile, Honourable Prince A.A Mohammed alias ‘Senior Minister’ was elected the new Presiding Member of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly as he polled 81 votes to beat two other contenders, Honourble Rashid and Honourable Abdulai Zakaria Wumbei.

GOVT COMMISSIONS FIVE HEALTH FACILITIES IN N/R

An estimated five hundred thousand (500,000) people from all over the Northern Region of Ghana would benefit from five (5) ultramodern polyclinics situated in Karaga, Kpandai, Janga (West Mamprusi), Tatale and Chereponi Districts. 

The five health facilities executed with a loan facility from the Government of Austria (through Bank Austria Creditanstalt AG) estimated at EUR 7,650,000.00 which has a grant component of 41.3 percent, would provide quality healthcare to the people of these districts and their environs to ensure they are healthy to enhance productivity.

The Vice President of the republic, John Dramani Mahama who officially inaugurated these health centres simultaneously recently, reiterated government’s commitment in providing more health facilities in the rural areas. 

The Northern Region is one of the deprived areas in the country where there is evidence that physical access to healthcare poses a great challenge. There are huge service provisions gaps due to the absence of health facilities at the proposed sites. This situation poses a greater danger since people would have to travel long distances to access healthcare.

For instance, in the last ten years health status indicators including maternal health, child health, nutrition, coverage of clinical services, public health and reproductive health services have all been soaring. Non-communicable diseases including road traffic accidents, hypertension, diabetes and cancers are also becoming major causes of morbidity and mortality in the area.   

But commendably, the health sector has made some progress in meeting clients’ expectations and promoting effective clinical service delivery. One of the cardinal areas of emphasis in Government’s 5-year Programme of work (2007-2011) focuses on increasing access to healthcare. The National Health Insurance Scheme has been set up to provide access to health services for all citizens, especially the poor and vulnerable. This has therefore increased the Out-patients cases countrywide.

Thus, the five polyclinics built in the Northern Region and equipped with state-of-the-art facilities comprising of 15 beds (male, female, paediatric and delivery), laboratory, sterilization, dirty and clean utility, pharmacy and dispensary, administration, store, janitor, staff rooms, consulting rooms, hall and waiting area, among other facilities, would significantly strengthen many key intervention areas aimed at achieving the Millennium Development Goal 4.

Minister for Health, Mr. Joseph Yiele Chireh who was also at the commissioning of the polyclinics, announced to the people that doctors have been put at post to serve the people and urged other health workers to accept postings to the rural areas.

He commended those who had been there already promising them of equal opportunities as their colleagues in the towns and cities.

Mr. Yiele Chireh appealed to the people to coexist peacefully in order to attract more developmental projects to their respective communities.

Meanwhile, the Vice President John Mahama later donated a box of solar rechargeable lamps to the Janga Naa to be distributed to nurses and teachers, and promised that the government would see to it that the road to Janga which was in a bad shape would be constructed in due course.

BUSH FIRES A MAJOR CHALLENGE TO OPERATIONS OF VRA/NED

The Director of the Northern Electricity Department of the Volta River Authourity (VRA/NED), Engineer John Nuworklu, has appealed to residents of the three Northern Regions where rampant bush fires exist during the dry season, to desist from the act since it thwarts the effort of the company in its attempt to supply power to every Ghanaian.

According to him, the indiscriminate bush burning during the dry season by hunters, fulani herdsmen and other people, was causing the company to loose huge sums of money through the destruction of electricity poles which were very costly to procure for expansion activities.

Addressing staff of the company who gathered in Tamale to mark the VRA/NED's 50^th anniversary celebration, Mr. Nuworklu therefore, called on concerned citizens in the Upper West, Upper East and Northern Regions most especially traditional authourities and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to support the agency to deal with the bush fires situation in the area so as to enable it extend electricity to those who have not benefited from it yet.

He also disclosed that, plans were afoot to introduce solar energy to complement the other sources of power supply, urging the public to make judicious use of electricity available to them.

The Director of VRA/NED however said that, he considered the constant supply of electricity to Ghanaians over the past 50 years as a major achievement despite serious challenges it faced.

The Golden Jubilee celebration of the VRA/NED was marked with fun games for staff drawn from Tamale, Bolgatanga, Wa, Techiman and Sunyani as well as the head office in Accra.

They competed in games such as football, volleyball, tug-of-peace, ludo, draft, cards among others.

The anniversary was aimed at taking stock of activities of the company in the past five decades and to launch into the future by mapping out a clear direction for the years ahead.

VEEP URGED GHANAIANS TO ACQUIRE ICT SKILLS AS HE COMMISSIONS TAMALE NIIT CENTRE

The Vice President of the republic, John Dramani Mahama, has said that Ghana has a huge potential to become an ICT hub in the sub-region if only the citizenry could take advantage of opportunities offered by Information Technology giant, NIIT, to acquire some special skills in ICT.

Commissioning the Tamale Centre of NIIT which is the seventh branch nationwide, Mr. Mahama, said most countries in the world today are developing very faster because they were making good use of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) skills they have acquired to develop other sectors of their economy citing an African country like Zambia which has incorporated ICT training at all levels of her educational system.

The Vice President thus encouraged the Ghanaian youth to take the study of ICT very seriously and use the skills acquired appropriately to benefit themselves and the nation as a whole.

He also appealed to NIIT Ghana to consider opening two more campuses, one in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region and another in Wa in the Upper West Region respectively, to enable the youth of those areas benefit from quality ICT training.

Mr. John Mahama further impressed upon the authourities of NIIT Ghana to consider reducing their fees in order to make it affordable for many people to enroll and acquire knowledge in ICT.

The Minister for Communications, Haruna Iddrisu, in a brief remark observed that, Tamale and for that matter the Northern Region, has a high rate of unemployed youth, adding “if there is anything that can solve this problem, one of it is ICT training”.

He urged the youth of the area to grab the opportunities that would be offered by NIIT to learn some skills in ICT in order to better their lot in future.

Mr. Haruna Iddrisu who is also Member of Parliament for Tamale South Constituency,  announced that government plans to set up state-of-the-art ICT centres in each region in Ghana this year saying “five major regions would be begun with and later the remaining five also benefiting by the end of the year”.

NIIT is a leading Global Talent Development Corporation, focused on building skilled manpower pool for global industry requirements. The company which was set up in 1981, to help the nascent Information Technology (IT) industry overcome its human resource challenges, had now grown to be amongst world's leading talent development companies offering learning solutions to individuals, Enterprises and Institutions across 40 countries.

According to the Managing Director of NIIT Ghana, Kapil Gupta, for over 10 years, NIIT had been at the forefront of ICT training in Ghana and had been the preferred choice of young IT aspirants and professionals alike. Adding that, the institution has trained more than 40,000 ICT experts in Ghana and more than 5 million worldwide.

Mr. Gupta attributed this success to the strong commitment of NIIT management and stafff, and the progressive attitude of people and their strong conviction and belief in the highest standard of ICT education that NIIT has come to represent.

The MD mentioned a number of prestigious awards that NIIT had won over the years which include best ICT School in Ghana in 2010, best ICT School in Ashanti Region since 2004 and 1^st ICT training centre to be in the top ten of the prestigious Ghana Club 100 award. 

Currently, NIIT has been chosen by the Ministry of Communication to develop course curriculum for Business Process Outsourcing under the ongoing World Bank sponsored eGhana project, he added.

Meanwhile, the Tamale Campus of NIIT has been equipped with ultramodern facility with over 70 computers with LCD monitors that can train nearly 650 students in various software, networking and multimedia courses for the IT and ITES industry.