Disabled Pregnant Women in Upper East Forced to Deliver By Surgery

It has emerged that health officials in the Upper East Region of Ghana seemed to have deliberately adopted a perceived “unkind strategy” by always resorting very quickly to surgery procedures to be performed on disabled pregnant women who visit the hospital to be delivered of their babies.         

           

At an accountability fora organized by RISE-Ghana in the Bolgatanga and Bawku Municipalities for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) recently, Madam Josephine Koumkugri, Bolgatanga Municipal Chairperson of the Ghana Federation for the Disabled, called on the Ghana Health Service to ensure that its staff stopped violating the rights of pregnant women with disabilities.

 According to her, health officials at the various hospitals often assumed that PWDs could not deliver on their own whenever they were brought to their facilities in labour, and thereby forced them to undergo operation, citing herself as an example.

Madam Gladys Waadi, the Upper East Regional Women’s President of the Ghana Blind Union, also urged health workers to stop the attitude of mocking and calling disabled pregnant women derogatory names.  

She remarked, “It is common to hear nurses and other health workers say, you blind or cripple woman too, you are pregnant.” Don’t they know that we have rights to found a family? She queried, stressing that that attitude must stop. 

The Rural Initiatives for Self Empowerment (RISE-Ghana) fora in the Bolgatanga and Bawku Municipalities were part of the implementation of the German Centre for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) Civil Society Support Program (CSSP) dubbed: “Creating an enabling environment and strengthening organizations of People with disability to engage power.” 

The overall goal of the project was to strengthen the capacities of organizations of PWD to enable them demand transparency, accountability and responsiveness from duty-bearers and advocate for the implementation of the PWD Act.

Both Madam Gladys and Madam Joseph expressed gratitude to RISE-Ghana, GIZ and CDD-Ghana for the platform created for PWDs to voice their concerns and frustrations and hoped that the media would also help monitor and address them by way of constant reportage.

The two women urged all duty bearers to treat PWDs with dignity, adopt an inclusive approach towards development and put necessary measures in place to make their office premises accessible as spelt out under the PWD Act, (Act, 715 of 2006) of the 1992 Constitution. 

Awal Ahmed, Project Manager, RISE-Ghana

Awal Ahmed, Project Manager of RISE-Ghana said, the purpose of the engagement meetings in the two municipalities was to provide a platform and voice for PWDs to interact and demand accountability from duty bearers such as the Ghana Education Service, Ghana Health Service, Members of Parliament, Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as Private Institutions on the progress they had made or the commitment they had towards implementing the provisions of the PWD Act, the 3 percent District Assembly Common Fund disbursement guidelines and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of PWDs.

As part of the implementation of the project, he noted that an audit of public office buildings, schools and sporting facilities had been conducted in the two municipalities, with a very sad and disturbing revelation of 95% of buildings classified as being disability unfriendly. 

Whiles commending GIZ and CDD-Ghana for supporting the project, Mr. Awal also appealed to the media to take the fight of inclusive development further, especially in this electioneering year.

Participants tasked the Electoral Commission to ensure that the upcoming December 2012 election was made disability friendly so that PWDs could have a real vote.

The Ghana Highways Authority and Department of Urban Roads were also tasked to ensure that the roads were disability friendly by installing alert sounds on traffic signals to aid the blind. These request, according to the participants were a sound bases for promoting inclusion and disability rights.  

Meanwhile, the monthly meetings by RISE-Ghana has resulted in the timely release of the 3 percent District Assembly Common Fund to PWDs in for instance, the Bawku Municipality and created a forum for PWDs in the Bolgatanga Municipality and Talensi-Nabdam District to demand accountability on the administration of the Fund.

Be Careful of Private SHS In Tamale - Metro GES Dir. Cautions

Mayor of Tamale

The Tamale Metropolitan Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has cautioned parents and guardians in and outside the Northern Region to be careful of their quest to enroll their wards into mushrooming private Senior High Schools in the area.

According to Alhaji Abdul-Rahaman Saani, he could not guarantee the quality of tuition offered by most of the private SHS in the Tamale Metropolis due to their persistent refusal to register their activities with his outfit.

Speaking to Savannahnews in an interview recently, following reports of refusal by most private SHS operators in the metropolis to follow the GES guidelines governing the establishment of private schools, Alhaji Saani said he was afraid he could not vouch for their credibility and the quality of standard of academic work in these schools. “Most of these schools are relying on non-professional teachers coupled with the lack of basic learning materials and unconducive environment in which they are operating in”, he stressed.

He estimated that about forty private SHSs were currently operating in the city, but unfortunately his outfit did not even know the location of most of these schools. Some of the private SHSs in the Tamale Metropolis include Tamale Girls International Senior High School (TAGISS), Tamale Boys International Senior High School (TABOYS), Strategic Senior High School (STRASEC), ICODEHS Senior High School, City Senior High School, Fathul-Mubien SHS, Al Salaam Excellent Academy, Classical Oriental College, Ibn Abass SHS and Success College.

Others are Zion Senior High School, Tamale School of Management Studies, Royal Senior High School, GIFAM Senior High School, General Arts SHS, A-Plus SHS, Business College International, Napasheini SHS, Al-Maktoum SHS, Standard Promotion SHS, Adventist SHS, Tamaha SHS, K.C. SHS, Frontiers College, among others.

Most of the aforementioned schools in the last few weeks had been blaring out so loud on various radio stations in Tamale through advertisement, basically calling on students who could not make it at the 2012 Basic Education Certificate Examination to enroll to read courses such as General Arts, Business, Visual Arts and Home Science.   

Alhaji Saani also told this reporter that, most of the true proprietors or owners of the private SHSs in Tamale were unknown, adding that they were often represented by school heads or people who managed the schools on their behalf.

Although the GES has the mandate to close down any private SHS that flouted its regulations, it seemed officers at the Tamale Metro Education office lacked the courage to do so when probed further by this reporter. 

Alhaji Saani, said even though they (officials of the GES) were aware that most of the private SHSs were seriously flouting the regulations guiding their operations with impunity, they simply could not take any action because they were afraid the owners of the schools or communities in which the schools operated would rise up against them if they made any attempt to close them down.

The GES Director confirmed that there were certain basic requirements that were supposed to be met by any private individual or group of persons and organizations that wanted to establish a school, be it boarding or day. “You must provide library facilities/appropriate textbooks, appropriate classroom furniture, appropriate chalk/marker board, teaching syllabus/curricular, classrooms, places of convenience and at least one-third of teachers must be trained teachers”, he stated.

Alhaji Abdul-Rahaman Saani however hinted that most of these schools undoubtedly fall below the requisite standards or criteria set by the GES considering the physical structures that some of them were being housed and the lack of basic facilities to provide comprehensive second cycle education.

Thus, he cautioned parents and guardians to endeavour to cross-check and double cross-check again to be sure that the schools they wanted their wards to enroll in for a better future had what to provide that life providence they sought for their wards. Adding, “You need to know whether the school is a recognized institution with the requisite learning materials and teachers for academic work before seeking admission for your child or paying any money.” 

The Tamale Metropolitan Director of the GES also charged parents to make it a point to follow their wards to the schools they applied for when they are reporting so that they could be sure of their security and safety.

Appalling Conditions Exposed At TAGISS

Lee Ocran, Min. for Education

Nowhere in Ghana is quality education needed most than any part of the three Regions of the North; Upper West, Upper East and Northern. For many people, it will require the genuine and selfless contributions of residents themselves in order to make things better or catch-up with the rest of the country aside what successive governments were doing.

But whilst some private individuals were making giant strides to complement the efforts of governments to improve upon the appalling conditions in the educational sector, others were also riding on the backs of most ignorant parents and guardians to hoodwink and charge them huge sums of money with the promise of brightening the future of their wards.  

For instance, in the Northern Regional capital Tamale, there were a number of private senior high schools (SHS) which were established with the ultimate objective of bringing hope to students who did not perform well at the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) or were rejected by the computerised school selection placement system (CSSPS) although they passed. 

Some of the private SHSs in the Tamale Metropolis include Tamale Girls International Senior High School (TAGISS), Tamale Boys International Senior High School (TABOYS), Strategic Senior High School (STRASEC), ICODEHS Senior High School, City Senior High School, Fathul-Mubien SHS, Al Salaam Excellent Academy, Classical Oriental College, Ibn Abass SHS and Success College.

Others are Zion Senior High School, Tamale School of Management Studies, Royal Senior High School, GIFAM Senior High School, General Arts Senior High School, A-Plus Senior High School, Business College International, Napasheini SHS, Al-Maktoum SHS, Standard Promotion SHS, Adventist SHS, Presbyterian SHS, Tamaha SHS, K.C. SHS  and Tamale Institute of Business Studies (TIBS), among others.

Although some of the aforementioned institutions might be doing quite well, some were doing a great disservice to students and their parents by charging them exorbitant fees but offering poor academic tuition in return, the result of which could only dim their brighter future.

Tamale Mayor, Alhaji Harruna Friday

A case in point was the Tamale Girls International Senior High School which Savannahnews had been investigating into its administration, academic activities and general standard of living of its students. 

Established in 1997 by educationist, businessman and politician Albert Atutiga, TAGISS with a student population of about 600, lacked certain important basic facilities that were needed in order to ensure a complete accomplishment of second cycle education. 

Some students and teachers, who confided with this reporter, disclosed that the school had no library, no textbooks, no lesson timetable, no heads of department, no housemistress, no permanent tutors, no syllabus/curricular, no toilet facilities, no staff common room and none of the teachers was on salary except National Service Personnel and NYEP teachers who were engaged and paid allowances by government.

The school which is located at Datoyili along the Tamale-Buipe Highway and about five miles away from the centre of Tamale, could best be cited as one with poor infrastructure, congested dormitories and lacked portable water, insufficient and unsuitable classroom furniture as well as an unconducive environment for studies. Besides, the school could boast of only a volleyball pitch and nothing more than that to promote extracurricular activities. 

Savannahnews can state that the young girls of this school were living in the most awful conditions and any first time visitor to the school could easily predict a gloomy future for them by the mere sight of the unfriendly and insecure environment they lived in. 

With proper monitoring and supervision, and the provision of the aforementioned tangible facilities, TAGISS according to some teachers of the school could excel if Mr. Atutigah attached some level of seriousness to the running of the institution. 

The Tamale Metropolitan Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) estimated that about forty private SHSs were currently operating in the Metropolis, but unfortunately it did not even know the location of most of these schools, thus monitoring and supervision was a problem.

The Tamale Metropolitan Director of GES, Alhaji Abdul-Rahaman Saani admitted in an exclusive interview with Savannahnews that, most of the true proprietors or owners of the private SHSs were unknown, adding that they were often represented by school heads or people who managed the schools on their behalf.

Although the GES has the mandate to close down any private SHS that flouted its regulations, it seemed officers at the Tamale Metro Education office lacked the courage to do so.

According to Alhaji Saani, they (officials of the GES) were aware that most of the private SHSs were seriously flouting the regulations guiding their operations with impunity, but they were afraid the owners of the schools or communities in which the schools operated could rise up against them if they made any attempt to close them down.

The Metropolitan Director of GES confirmed that there were certain basic requirements that were supposed to be met by any private individual or group of persons and organizations that wanted to establish a school, be it boarding or day. “You must provide library facilities/appropriate textbooks, appropriate classroom furniture, appropriate chalk/marker board, teaching syllabus/curricular, classrooms, places of convenience and at least one-third of teachers must be trained teachers”, he stated. 

When contacted, Mr. Albert Atutigah confessed to Savannahnews that he was not paying his staff, but braggingly asked this reporter whether that was his concern. 

Although he would not comment further on other issues mentioned to him, Mr. Atutigah threatened to sue this reporter in court if he dared publish anything negative about his school.

Meanwhile, a recent inquest into the poor management of TAGISS by the BNI and Education Sub-committee of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, following the outbreak of an epidemic in the school which nearly killed several students has corroborated Savannahnews findings. Detail soon.  

Secret Rirual Murder By Politicians To Be Exposed

Mallam Jata

THE SECRET Dealings of some prominent politicians who specialize in using human parts and blood for ritual sacrifices during electioneering periods to secure power, are likely to be exposed in the run up to this year’s December 7, 2012 polls, if religious leaders in Ghana would rise to intercede for the nation. 

Mallam Jata, one of the famous spiritualists in the Northern Region has raised the red flag urging parents and guardians alike to cautiously keep eagle eyes on their children to protect them from being used for ritual sacrifices by some desperate and hungry-for-power politicians especially in this electioneering period.

According to Mallam Jata, the December 2012 general elections would see an uncompromising political and spiritual warfare which would result in an unprecedented human and blood sacrifices by some prominent politicians in their quest to maintain power or emerge as winners.

Addressing a section of the media in Tamale, Mallam Jata who claimed to have received this revelation after his two weeks special prayers for a peaceful election for Ghana, hinted that it was revealed to him that one presidential candidate who was chosen or ordained by God to lead the people of Ghana, was defeated by one of the candidates who resorted to the use of human parts and blood for sacrifices. “Some politicians are going to kill human beings, use their parts and their blood or bury them alive in order to overturn the results of the December 2012 polls in their favour”.

He stressed that majority of the people who would be used for those human sacrifices would be pregnant women and young virgin girl and boys between the ages of 5 and 15 years. He said some Ministers of state who are Members of Parliament (MP) would also loose their seats, notwithstanding the blood and human sacrifices they would make.

Mallam Jata who predicted a second round contest in the 2008 presidential election, the assassination of the former Libyan President, Muhammed Al-Quadafi and the recent plane clash in Ghana said “because of the use of innocent blood by our political leaders, the divine grace, peace and favour of God will leave this country to witness pockets of violence and disasters unless all the religious leaders come together to intervene for the nation”.

Emphasizing, “All the pastors and imams must come together to fast and pray because what is coming is not a joke- it is a very dangerous thing. If we sit unconcerned, we shall all be taken by surprise”.

According to the famous spiritualist, school children and pregnant women would continue to get missing during the electioneering period and the nation would as well witness so much road accidents during the same period.

Mallam Jata who failed to specifically mention which of the presidential candidates was chosen by God to lead this country or the one to resort to human sacrifices, maintained that the December 2012 election would not go for a second round and would also end peacefully with just a few violence incidence.

However, the spiritualist re-emphasized his call for national prayer intercessions to revert what he termed as “grand plan” by the devil to hand Ghana with an “undeserving President” in the December 2012 Ghana’s general elections.

Meanwhile, Mallam Jata is specialized in helping people to becoming rich (money rituals), businesses to flourish, healing people with strange diseases and helping traders to get good sales.