Agriculture Development Credit Facility Launched In Tamale

Hannah Tetteh, Min. Trade and Industry

The Ghana Export Development and Agriculture Investment Fund (EDAIF), a funding agency under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, has launched an Agricultural and Agro-processing Development and Credit Facility and inaugurated its long awaited Northern Zonal Office in Tamale, the Northern Regional Capital.

The Export Development and Investment Fund established in October 2000 by Act 582 to provide financial resources for the development and promotion of export trade was amended in October 2011 under Act 823 to include the provision of financial resources for the development and promotion of agriculture relating to agro-processing and the agro-processing industry. In view of the amendment, the Fund is now known as the Export Development and Agricultural Investment Fund (EDAIF).

According to Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of EDAIF, Dr. Abdul Nashiru-Issahaku, under the old mandate, the Fund operated two facilities, namely: the Export Credit and Projects Facility and Export Development and Promotion Facility. 

With the amendment, he said a third facility known as the Agricultural and Agro-processing Development and Credit Facility had been created, and that would support agricultural production relating to agro-processing and the agro-processing industry.

Dr. Nashiru-Issahaku explained that the primary objective for creating the credit facility was to help increase the primary raw material base for the agro-processing industry as well as help reduce the endemic challenge of high post-harvest losses.

The Acting CEO of EDAIF admonished players in the agriculture and agro-processing sector to take time to study the guidelines for accessing the facility and subsequently make appropriate request for consideration by the Fund.    

Francis Dodoo, Board Chair, EDAIF

In his remarks, Board Chairman of EDAIF, Professor Francis Dodoo, said between 2001, when the Fund started operations, and June 2012, 765 export oriented projects had been supported by EDAIF to the tune of GH¢293.52 million: a total of GH¢206.72 million had been used to fund interventions under the Export Credit and Projects Facility, where 286 projects had been supported; and under the Export Development and Promotion Facility, GH¢86.80 million had gone to fund 479 projects.

He observed that since its establishment in 2001, the Fund had undoubtedly contributed to the development of Ghana’s Non-Traditional Export sector, saying “data obtained from the Ghana Export Promotion Authourity (GEPA) indicate that, non-traditional export earnings rose from US$459.60 million to US$2.43 billion in 2011.”   

Meanwhile, the EDAIF since 2009 had been funding the establishment of mango plantations in the Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Brong Ahafo and Northern Volta Regions. So far, 110 companies and associations had been supported under the project. 

Besides the mango, EDAIF had also supported the production of other crops such as groundnut, soyabeans, pineapple, chilli, pepper and cashew among others in the Northern sector of the country.

The decision to open the Northern Zonal Office thus, was informed by four main reasons including; the need to improve the Fund’s accessibility to prospective beneficiaries in the Northern Sector of the country; the high concentration of EDAIF funded projects in the Northern Sector, especially in respect of the ongoing mango project; the cost and risk associated with clients having to travel to-and-fro its Secretariat in Accra; and to improve turnaround time for applications received from the Northern Sector of the country.

Anglican Bishop Calls on Politicians to Desist From Negative Compaigning

Bishop Kofi Ayeebo

The Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Tamale, Right Rev. Dr. Jacob Kofi Ayeebo has called on leaders of the various political parties to avoid the use of provocative language in their political campaigns and rather concentrate on holding credible, peaceful, free and fair elections in December 2012.

 

According to the Bishop also a Council of State member, the December election was another testing point in the democratic development of Ghana, and thus political support and mandate should be gained only through the power of persuasion but not insults.

 

Speaking at the opening session of the 7^th Synod of the Tamale Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. Ayeebo maintained that courage, determination, patience, tolerance, unity and peace were the only ingredients necessary for nation building and appealed to the political parties and their candidates to uphold those intrinsic worth.

 

The 7^th Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Tamale which was under the theme: “Arise and let us build” (Nehemiah 2:18), was meant to deliberate on the spiritual and physical development of the Church, its past and present achievements or failures and fashion out plans for the forward march of the Anglican Church. The Synod which is also the highest decision-making body of the Diocese brought together leaders and selected members of the various groupings in the Church from the three Northern Regions.

 

However, the Anglican Bishop admonished the youth especially in Tamale and the three Northern Regions to be vigilant in dealing with politicians who would attempt to exploit them for their political gains.

 

He advised the youth including the Christian youth to concentrate on educating themselves or acquiring employable skills for the sustenance of their lives, rather than accepting arms and other weapons under the influence of alcohol and money to cause destructive violence.

 

Rt. Rev. Dr. Ayeebo encouraged the youth to maintain positive attitudes and thoughts and must continually say “NO” to all sinful words and behaviours. He further encouraged them to move from their present state of hopelessness and despair to that of courage and willingness to build and overcome every challenge in life.

 

The Anglican Bishop also an inspirational speaker and counselor even though did not specifically apportion blames- he was emphatic about the negative role some parents including Christians play in the upbringing of their children. He urged the parents to guide their children into the way they were supposed to go, and how to dedicate their lives to Christ Jesus.

“Today, we repeatedly see the increasing weakening and collapse of the family system and less biblical principles to govern our homes. The consequences of which include the disregard for authority, armed robbery, prostitution, use of dangerous drugs and killing of innocent women and children. In this regard, and more than ever before, we need homes where God is recognized as the Head and where biblical principles are being observed. To this, God is calling us to guide, nurture and train our children in the way of the Lord (Proverbs 22:6)”.

Conversely, Rt. Rev. Dr. Ayeebo outlined some of the contributions of the Anglican Church in promoting quality education, healthcare delivery, providing water and sanitation facilities and other social service in Ghana.

The Anglican Bishop who vehemently condemned the emerging act of insincerity where some members of the Church he revealed attend services only on Sundays and become loyal to other churches on other days of the week, called for the rebuilding of the liturgical walls of the Church where their worship was relevant and attractive to members.

Rt. Rev. Dr. Ayeebo on the other hand, unveiled his plans to grow the Church in every part of the three Northern Regions leading to the creation of three diocese, raise a generation of church workers who are spirit-filled, dedicated to teaching the gospel message and the mission of the church and to also increase the financial base of the Diocese where every member is taught how to give or feel responsible for the church.

However, the Northern Regional Minister, Moses Bukari Mabengba in a speech read for him by his Deputy, San Nasamu Asabigi commended the Anglican Church for always complementing successive governments’ efforts in developing the nation.

He appealed to the Clergy to use the pulpit to preach peace and also continue to be neutral in their position so that their words would guiding light of the lives of the people.

Member of Jinapor Gate in Buipe Gone Missing

Bawa Issah

ONE OF the famous members of the Royal Jinapor Gate of the Buipe Chieftaincy divide, C.O. Bawa Issah who became one of the targets for elimination by the Royal Lebu Gate in 2008 has since gone missing.

He is suspected by his mother, Madam Salamatu Jinapor and two other cousins (Mohammed Awal and Aminu Mohammed) to have been either killed or probably crossed the borders of Ghana to an unknown destination for the safety of his life. 

The 32 year old C.O. Bawa Issah who allegedly escaped several mob attacks on his life during the peak of the Buipe Chieftaincy Conflict because his role in protecting other members of the family and also serving as an aide or errand boy alongside one of his uncles, Dramani Abdulai Jinapor a.k.a “Afro” to the Paramount Chief, Abdulai Jinapor II.

According to the family of C.O. Bawa Issah who stormed the Northern Regional Offices of Savannahnews on Saturday 15th September 2012 with so much grief on their faces, Bawa Issah “fled” the Buipe town immediately his closest uncle Dramani Abdulai Jinapor (Afro) was murdered at the Buipe market square. Afro who is a direct brother to the Chief was assigned to lead a team of revenue collectors to collect market tolls when he was ambushed and killed. His death sparked reprisal attacks and tension in the Buipe town forcing women and children to flee the area.

“After they have killed my brother Afro, as if that was not enough, the assailants furiously armed themselves with machetes, stones and guns and came to our house and demanded for the head of my son, C.O. Bawa Issah. Fortunately, he was not in the house at that moment but they did not believe what we were telling them so they broke into the various rooms but when they could not find him they ended up destroying almost everything that they sighted in the house especially in his room. I think some of his friends phoned him and told him about the attack, and he quickly rushed home but I told him it was not safe for him to stay in Buipe for even a second since the mob was all over the place looking for him. So he disguised himself and left the town without knowing where he was going. It is four years now and Buipe is still not calm. I know my son is not safe to come back to Buipe but I just want to hear from him wherever he is, so that I can be certain that he is not dead”, the depressed mother of the missing Bawa Issah narrated in tears.  

She further said that the father of the missing boy, Mr. Bawa Adam was seriously assaulted by the angry mob from the Lebu Gate for not being able to tell the whereabouts of the son, C.O. Bawa Issah. He was rushed to the hospital and was later pronounced dead after the news had gotten to him at the hospital that the son was missing.

The mother pleaded that, if indeed her son (Issah) whom she described as an “active member of the family” was not killed, then he must stay at wherever he was now. She quickly appealed to C.O. Bawa Issah to phone any of the family members or his trusted friends to enable them know about his present condition.

According to Madam Salamatu Jinapor, Buipe was still not safe for her son’s come back. Saying, “The Lebu people will do everything to kill him if they find out that he is in Ghana”. So I don’t think it is safe for him to come home but he should let some of us hear from him”. 

However, one of his cousins, Mohammed Awal told Savannahnews that about a month ago, they received conflicting reports indicating that their brother was in Libya or Italy. Up till now, they are yet to confirm that rumour.

The family therefore appealed to both the Libyan and Italian authorities to assist C.O. Bawa Issah in any way they could (if indeed he is in any of the two countries) since it was not safe for him to stay in Ghana for now. They on the other hand reechoed their plea on Issah to establish immediate contact with them, if indeed he is still alive.

Meanwhile, the Buipe Chieftaincy conflict has been one of the infamous conflicts in Ghana in recent times. Majority of the people especially women and children fled the area to some unknown destinations.  Several houses, stores, vehicles, farms and animals were destroyed by the supporters of both the Jinapor and Lebu gates.

Currently, Buipe is still experiencing some uneasy calm, with armed military cum police team patrolling the town and its surrounding communities day and night to ensure law and order.

But in spite of the heavy security presence, another bloody clash was recorded in Buipe on the 9th of February 2012 during the fire festival between the supporters of Jinapor and Awushie gates which led to the firing of severing guns.

Several people from both sides sustained various degrees of injuries with five of them including the Chief Linguist to Buipewura Jinapor, Malam Seidu, Sulemana Daari, Sampson Deen-Musah, Sayibu Fuseni and one Sulemana, who were in critical conditions and were hospitalized at the Tamale Teaching Hospital.

The two rival gates, the Jinapor Gate and the Lebu Gate in the Buipe traditional area have since 2006 been battling each other in court over the rightful successor to the Buipe skin following the death of the late Buipe-wura Chichanko on 17th October 2005.

In September 2006, Abdulai Mahama Jinapor was selected by the late King of Gonjaland, Yagbon-wura Bawa Doshi and his elders, to succeed the late Buipe-wura.

However, the Lebu Gate sought an injunction at the Tamale High Court preventing the Jinapor gate from being enskinned.

According to the Lebu Gate, the selection of Jinapor was illegitimate, because they (Lebu Gate) had the right to occupy the Buipe skin.

But a committee chaired by the Kunbumgu Chief Naa Abu Iddrisu ruled in favour of the Yagbon-wura's nominee, Jinapor Abdulai Mahama as the chief of Buipe traditional area.

The Current King of Gonjaland, Yagbonwura Tuntumba Bore Essa I on 13th May 2010, deskinned Abdulai Jinapor as Chief of Buipe for an alleged gross insubordination and ordered one Bawa Jewu Awushie to replace him as the new chief of the area.

In September 2011, the Tamale High Court Two (2) presided over by Justice Kwame Ansu Gyeabour declared as null and void the de-enskinment of the Buipe Chief, Abdulai Jinapor by the Yagbonwura, the Gonja Traditional Council and the Registrar of the Council. The ruling was subsequently upheld by the judicial Committee of the National House of Chiefs.

But the Yagbonwura and the Gonja Traditional Council have since disregarded the court verdict and still maintaining Bawa Jewu Awushie as Chief of Buipe.

Currently, the area is now being ruled by the two parallel Chiefs, Buipewura Abdulai Jinapor II and Buipewura Bawa Jewu Awushie, which continues to threaten the peace in the area.

Bagbin Turns Heat on Nursing Students, School Heads

Mr. Alban Bagbin

IN LESS THAN 48 hours after descending heavily on some health personnel for being major contributors to the high prevalence of maternal deaths at the various health facilities in Ghana, the Minister of Health, Alban Sumani Kingsford Bagbin has moved down to students and authorities of the various Health Training Institutions to admonish them to reexamine their behavior towards the profession right from the classroom.

According to the Minister, it was better for the current crop of students to realize the difficulties or otherwise involved in their chosen profession rather than parading themselves as health personnel after their studies without demonstrating the virtues of the noble profession.

Addressing students and management of the Damango Health Assistants Training School at Damango in the West Gonja District of the Northern Region, Mr. Bagbin entreated the students to uphold the core values of the health profession including being disciplined, caring, passionate and above all respectful and loving to all manner of patients. “I think it is better for you to look elsewhere or choose a different profession where you can contribute meaningfully to the development of this nation rather than flooding the health sector, taking tax payers’ money and at the end of the day you provide nothing but disservice to our women or the nation”.

He said that the government had invested so much in the health sector and motivated the personnel and even the students enough, and that he equally expected them to translate the good treatment they were receiving into caring for their patients. At the Gushegu Post-Basic Midwifery Training School, the Minister’s comment was not different.

Meanwhile, the Health Minister on Tuesday September 11, 2011 warned that it was becoming increasingly unacceptable for Ghana to continue to lose more women during child birth owing to the rude and unprofessional conduct of some health personnel.

Mr. Bagbin thus passionately threatened to lead a crusade against the personnel where he would encourage Ghanaians to begin to institute legal actions against reckless health personnel and institutions whose behavior contribute to the death of women in Ghana.

He was alarmed by records that were showed to him during a meeting with health players in Tamale where he discovered that the Northern Region alone between 2011 and the first half of 2012 (January to June) recorded as high as 200 maternal deaths. A total number of 130 women died in 2011 and 70 deaths in the first half of 2012, which is an indication that the region is fast losing the fight against the maternal mortality. Sadly enough, 65 out of the 70 women who died in 2012 representing 96.2% were recorded at the health facilities.

 

The Principal of the Damango Health Assistants Training School, Ms. Annie Adeodata Appoh called for adequate supply of water, additional infrastructure and proper lighting system to avoid snake bites.

 

After paying a courtesy call on the Overlord of the Gonja Traditional Area, Yagbonwura Tuntumba Bore Essa I, the Health Minister in the company of the Northern Regional Director of Health, Dr. Akwasi Twumasi and the West Gonja District Coordinating Director, Mr. Sayibu Inusah also met with the health personnel and officials at the West Gonja District Assembly to discuss issues affecting health service delivery.

 

Mr. Bagbin almost wept after inspecting the completely dilapidated Damango Government Hospital and sympathized with the health personnel and patients patronizing the facility.

 

He immediately ordered for a completely new ultra-modern (state of the arts) hospital for the West Gonja District for commissioning by the President, John Dramani Mahama who is a native of the area. The hospital is where the President’s umbilical cord was cut but it is so far one of the decrepit health facilities in Ghana now.

But the Minister is positive the government would begin the reconstruction of the facility before the close of the year, 2012 and encouraged the people to retain the ruling government in order to enable them complete and commission the project.

“My heart is completely down and I wish I could cry because I have never seen a dilapidated hospital like this before especially in a middle income nation like ours. The facilities here are below the status of the people in this district and it is dangerous for you (the personnel) and our patients”.