Wednesday, May 28, 2008

PHILANTROPIST DONATES BICYCLES TO SCHOOLCHILDREN (PAGE 21)

Story: Joe Okyere, Ateiku

A philanthropist and founder of the Church of Christ Primary School at Ateiku in the Western Region, Evangelist Lawrence Oduro, has presented 350 bicycles to the pupils of the school to help them commute to school.
Evangelist Oduro, who is also the Director of the Rural Evangelism Development Project, also donated 25 computers and accessories, textbooks and other learning materials to pupils of the school.
Making the presentation, Evangelist Oduro said the items were a token from the Dallas Christian School in Texas, USA as its contribution towards the development of education in the area.
He said the school was being expanded to include junior and senior high schools by September this year.
Evangelist Oduro said through his efforts and collaboration with other partners, some communities and institutions within the area had benefited from water and electricity supplies.
He mentioned some of the beneficiary communities as Huni-Valley, Bogoso and Ateiku.
The evangelist stated that his vision was to use education as a means of reducing poverty.
He commended the directors of the school in Dallas for the gesture.
Evangelist Oduro advised the students to take advantage of the items to study hard, stressing that parents must provide the educational needs of their children.
He said he had also secured a 75-seater bus for the school and appealed to the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports to assist in wavering tax on the vehicle.
The Chairman of the Parent-Teacher Association of the school, Mr K. Owusu, who received the items, commended Evangelist Oduro and the other partners for supporting pupils of the school.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

EDUMADZE ASSAULTS GRAPHIC REPORTER (PAGE 17)

Story: Shirley Asiedu-Addo, Cape Coast

THE former Central Regional Minister and Member of Parliament for the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam Constituency, Mr Isaac Edumadze, went berserk after losing the NPP primary on Sunday and assaulted the Graphic’s Central Regional correspondent, Mr Joe Okyere.
Mr Edumadze, who has been in the news several times for his aggressive nature and bullying tactics, together with his macho men, held two reporters — Mr Philip Baidoo, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) correspondent for the Central Region, and Mr Okyere — in his residence at Ajumako for over an hour, most of which time he assaulted Mr Okyere.
Mr Okyere was in a vehicle with Mr Baidoo when Mr Baidoo decided to go to the defeated MP’s house to say hello to him as the former Central Regional minister.
According to Mr Baidoo, when they got to the house, Mr Edumadze was not around and so they decided to leave.
He said as they were leaving, they saw Mr Edumadze entering his compound and so he got down from his car to say hello.
He said after talking with Edumadze for a while, he told him that he was with Mr Okyere.
He said all this while Mr Okyere was in the car, which was parked in the compound.
He said immediately he heard that Mr Okyere was in the car, Mr Edumadze went haywire, opened it, dragged Mr Okyere out of it and started assaulting him, accusing him of writing false stories about him (Edumadze), which, he said, contributed to his losing the election.
He said Mr Okyere managed to free himself from the furious Edumadze but he ordered his macho men, who were then in the yard, to lock the gate. Mr Edumadze at this point asked the macho men to strip Mr Okyere naked, drag him to one of the rooms and beat him to death.
Mr Baidoo said he had to intervene by holding Mr Edumadze at bay, to stop him from persistently assaulting Mr Okyere.
He said at a point the two of them fell to the ground but he managed to pin Mr Edumadze down, maintaining that he was the one who had brought Mr Okyere to the compound and so if Edumadze wanted to kill Mr Okyere he should kill him (Mr Baidoo) first.
According to Mr Baidoo, Mr Edumadze then said Mr Okyere was an intruder and so was going to report him and Baidoo to the police.
The “macho men then bundled Mr Okyere into Edumadze’s car to the police station, where Mr Baidoo, Mr Okyere and another person, one of Edumadze’s boys, all made statements.
Mr Okyere, who had parts of his body swollen, told this reporter at his residence at Elmina yesterday morning that while in Edumadze’s car, Edumadze kept hitting his chest with his elbow.
The police are investigating the case.
Mr Ekow Arthur Baiden of the Town and Country Planning Department polled 67 votes against Edumadze’s 45 votes at the primary held on Sunday at Ajumako Ochiso.
Daily Graphic made several efforts to get in touch with Mr Edumadze for his version of the story on his telephone but he did not pick his phone.

Monday, May 26, 2008

KUSASI STUDENTS DEPLORE BAWKU CRISIS (PAGE 22)

Story: Joe Okyere, Cape Coast

THE University of Cape Coast (UCC) branch of the National Union of Kusasi Students has deplored the recent escalation of violent clashes at Bawku, and called for an end to the wanton destruction of lives and property.
The union also called on the government to come out with the truth about the Afare Commission's findings and the two rulings on the case and issue a White Paper to ensure a lasting peace in the area.
At a press conference at the UCC, the union noted that such a declaration by the government would be a hallmark of good governance and the rule of law, and that it was only speaking the truth that the government would be seen to be protecting its citizens in the area.
The union urged politicians to desist from exploiting the situation for their parochial interest.
It reminded politicians that there was only one Paramount chief of Bawku in the name of Naba Abugrago Azoka II, who should be recognised as such and desist from the adoration of the so-called Mamprusi regent.
The union called on the committee set up to investigate the recent crisis to look at the due process and advise the government on a lasting solution to the crisis.
A former Organiser of the Upper East Students Union of the UCC, Mr Michael Adobiri Asabiri, expressed regret at the crisis, and appealed to all and sundry to bury their differences for peace to prevail towards the rapid development of the area.
The President of the Upper East Students Union, Mr Solomon Atenga, urged the feuding factions to take the development of the area into consideration and reconcile, stressing that they must channel all their energies rather into useful ventures instead of attacking one other.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

9-YEAR-OLD DROWNS IN KAKUM RIVER (PAGE 54)

Story: Joe Okyere, Cape Coast

A nine-year-old pupil of the Tuwnhafo Preparatory School at Akotokyir, near Cape Coast got drowned in the Kakum River on Monday while crossing the stream after school.
The deceased, Mustapha Abass, who was in the company of two others was swept away by currents when he attempted to retrieve his sandals which fell into the river while crossing.
According to his sister Adisa, 13, of the same school who was in the company of Mustapha, his brother fell into the river on their way back from school at Akotokyi to Ankaful where they reside.
She said she screamed for help but no one came to his rescue and had to rushed home to inform their parents.
She said her parents also informed the chief for a gong gong to be beaten and a search party was mobilised.
She said the search party could not retrieve the body until yesterday morning.
The body has since been deposited at the Central Regional Hospital at Cape Coast.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Emmanuel Teye Okoso, confirmed the story and said no foul play was suspected and that further investigations were being carried out.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

3 COPS PERISH (1c)

Story: Joe Okyere, Cape Coast

THREE policemen from the Komenda Police Station died on the spot when the taxi they were using for duty ran into a Nissan Patrol at Dominase on the Komenda Junction-Takoradi Road on Monday.
The deceased are Sergeant Richard Amoakwa, Lance Corporal Sampson Impraim and Constable Kwesi Kaakyire.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on telephone, the Central Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Emmanuel Teye Okoso, said the accident occurred when the taxi, which was being driven by one of the policemen, in an attempt to avoid a tree that had fallen and blocked part of the road, ran into the oncoming Nissan Patrol.
Inspector Okoso said three of the occupants of the Nissan Patrol were also injured, adding that two of them were treated and discharged from the Kissi Health Centre, while the third person, Mr Stanley Apelepey, was rushed to the Central Regional Hospital in Cape Coast and was now on admission.
Inspector Okoso said the Deputy Central Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Obodai, and the Regional Commander of Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police Rose Bio Atenga, had visited the bereaved families and expressed their sympathies to them.
He said the bodies of the policemen had been deposited at the Police Hospital in Accra.

Friday, May 16, 2008

TB IS CURABLE — ALICE KURANCHIE (PAGE 21)

Story: Joe Okyere, Assin Jakai

THE District Chief Executive (DCE) for Assin South, Ms Millicent Alice Koranche, has asked Ghanaians to disabuse their minds of the fact that tuberculosis is a spiritual disease and a curse to victims.
Ms Koranche also advised the people against the belief that victims of the disease would surely die once infected.
In an address at the launch of World Stop Tuberculosis (TB) Day at Assin Jakai, she asked people not to stigmatise those with the disease, since that would compel them to keep it to themselves and deliberately spread it.
She reminded the people that the disease was curable, and that its treatment was also free, as the government, with support from donors such as the Global Fund, provided funds for patients.
The DCE said the treatment was also supported with some monies to patients for transportation to and from healing facilities, and some food items, with motivation for relatives who took upon themselves to care for the patients at home.
She advised mothers to vaccinate their new-born babies against the disease, and also appealed to all to send their infected relatives to health facilities for treatment.
The District Director of the Ghana Health Service, Mr Mends K. Quaning, advised people infected with the disease to seek early treatment at health facilities, instead of going to prayer camps or keeping the infection secret.
He said statistics at the district indicated that many patients did not report at the health facilities.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

GH¢795,000 CLASSROOM BLOCK FOR ASSIN MANSO SHS (PAGE 39)

Story: Joe Okyere, Assin Manso

THE Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Professor Dominic K. Fobih, has cut the sod to mark the commencement of work on a GH¢795,600 18-unit three-storey classroom block for the Assin Manso Senior High School (SHS) at Assin Manso in the Assin South District in the Central Region.
Work on the project, to be undertaken by SP Construction Company, is expected to be completed within 18 months.
In an address, Professor Fobih said the project attested to the NPP government’s commitment to human resource development through the provision of quality education.
Professor Fobih said although the school was not selected as a model school during the first phase, it had benefited from some physical infrastructure such as an administration block and a library complex thorough his efforts.
He said renovation works had also been carried out at the Nsuta Agricultural SHS, Nyankumasi Ahenkro SHS and Adankwaman SHS through his initiative.
He, therefore, urged parents to pay special attention to the educational needs of their children to encourage them to study hard.
Prof Fobih also advised students to be disciplined and study hard to justify the investment in their education made by both parents and the government.
The Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur, advised the students to take advantage of the facilities at the school and compete with their colleagues in the well-endowed schools.
Nana Arthur also urged people who had attained 18 years to register when the voters’ registration exercise re-opened next month and vote wisely.
The headmaster of the school, Mr Garth Oppong-Kwakye, said the school, which was established as a teacher training college in 1965, was converted into a secondary school in 1971 but lacked the relevant infrastructure.
He said currently the school, with a student population of 1,600, had 29 classrooms out of which 13 were permanent structures.
Mr Oppong-Kwakye commended the government for the facility to solve the problem of lack of classroom accommodation to facilitate academic work.
The Managing Director of SP Construction Company, Mr Patrick B. Koomson, promised to do quality work and execute the project on schedule.
The Omanhene of the Assin Apimanim Traditional Area, Barima Kwame Nkyi XII, who chaired the function, commended Professor Fobih and the government for providing the facility for the school to enhance academic work.

22 BENEFIT FROM RURAL ENERPRISE PROJECT (PAGE 47)

Story: Joe Okyere, Twifo Praso

Twenty-two graduate apprentices in the Twifo-Heman-Lower Denkyira District (THLD) of the Central Region have benefited from a GH¢9,000 worth of tools under a rural enterprises project to enable them to set up their own businesses and train others.
They are made up of tailors and dressmakers, hair dressers, leather workers, carpenters, masons and bicycle repairers who have completed their apprenticeship but are unable to set up their own businesses due to lack of access to finance from the banks and end up undertaking different work or getting under-employed.
The rural enterprises project was set up to provide support for small groups with fund from the government of Ghana, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the African Development Bank and participating District Assemblies as part of government’s programme towards rural poverty reduction.
At the presentation ceremony, the co-ordinator of the Koforidua Zone of the Rural enterprises project, Mr Kwasi Amankwaah, said currently, the zone, comprising Central, Greater Accra, Eastern and Western regions, was implementing projects in 19 districts of the zone.
He said each district was entitled to access fund each year for at least 30 graduate apprentices.
Mr Amankwaah said this depended on the ability of the district to pay its counterpart fund of 20 per cent (GH¢2,000).
He said the beneficiary graduates were requested among others to sign an undertaking in respect of the support and pay mandatory five per cent of the total support either in cash or in kind.
He said 19 business advisory centres had been established in the participating districts for the promotion of micro and small scale enterprises and that as of December 2007, it had reached out to about 29,400 enterprises.
The District Chief Executive for the THLD, Mr Samuel Yaw Agyebi-Kessie, pledged the Assembly’s support for the recipients and reminded them of their responsibility to use the tools to expand their businesses and train others to create job and reduce poverty in their areas.
He said the Assembly would also support and encourage small scale business enterprises to establish a credit union to expand their businesses.
The Zonal Co-ordinator of the Rural Enterprises Project, Mr Johnson Azar, said his outfit would monitor the beneficiaries and cautioned them not to sell the tools since offenders would not be spared.

TWIFO PRASO SHS GETS NEW FACILITIES (PAGE 55)

Story: Joe Okyere & Nehemia Owusu Achiaw, Twifo Praso

THE President, John Agyekum Kufuor, has inaugurated a GH¢2,200 facility for the Twifo Praso Senior High School under the model school project and challenged the students to build a high reputation of outstanding performance in academic and co-curricular activities.
The model school programme was initiated by the President, using HIPC funds to provide each district with at least one model senior high school of grade one status to give equal opportunity to the youth throughout the country to access high quality education in their respective districts.
Inaugurating the project at Twifo Praso in the Twifo-Hemang-Lower Denkyira District in the Central Region on Tuesday, President Kufuor said the project testified to the government’s commitment to human resource development.
The President said human resource development was one of the government’s three priority areas that were driving the national agenda towards the attainment of a middle-income status.
He said already the government had provided second-cycle institutions in the district with infrastructure, while basic schools had been given adequate teaching and learning materials, with pupils benefiting from the Capitation Grant and that the School Feeding Programme had also been introduced in schools at Agosua, Nyankomase and Abrago.
President Kufuor said to increase the number of health sector workers in the district, the government had approved the establishment of the Health Assistants Training School at the old site of the Twifo Praso Senior High School.
He entreated the authorities of the Twifo Praso Senior High School and the district assembly to ensure routine maintenance of the facilities and guard them jealously for the benefit of future generations of the district.
The President demanded from the students all-round outstanding performance in academic and co-curricular activities within the community and reminded them of the need to ensure good conduct and discipline.
President Kufuor said another batch of communities was also going to enjoy electricity supply under the self-help rural electrification project.
On the provision of a mini dam on the River Pra, he said there would be a corresponding City Project to house over 500,000 people, adding that the project would open up the district for rapid socio-economic development.
He said the district was also benefiting from the provision of 15 kilometres of town roads and that three kilometres of the Twifo Praso town roads had been included.
He reminded the people of the need to ensure free, fair and credible elections and called on all, irrespective of their political party affiliation, tribe, religion or gender, to work hard to ensure credible elections that everyone would be proud to acknowledge as meeting all the positive conditions that the nation had set.
The Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Professor Dominic K. Fobih, said since the inception of the model school programme, enrolment had increased in the beneficiary schools as a result of the tremendous improvement in their infrastructure.
He said, for instance, that in the 2005/2006 academic year, senior high school enrolment was 314,310, shooting up to 376,049 in 2006/2007.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr Mike Kojo Afadzi-Hayford, thanked the President for the facilities and said they would enhance education delivery in the district.
He also thanked the chiefs of the area for releasing 250 acres of land for the project.
The Omanhene of the Twifo-Hemang Traditional Area, Otumfuo Amoa Sasrakorie II, who chaired the function, commended the government for its commitment towards the uplift of education in the district.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

MORE ENROL FOR KINDERGARTEN IN CENTRAL REGION (PAGE 11)

Story: Joe Okyere, Cape Coast

THIS year’s gross enrolment rates for kindergarten and primary schools in the Central Region recorded more than 100 per cent for both boys and girls.
The region also recorded an improvement in the percentage of trained teachers in basic schools from 55 per cent in 2006/2007 to 56.6 per cent in 2007/2008.
The Central Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Miss Rosemond N. Blay, made these known at the opening of the second Central Regional Education Sector Annual Review at the Aggrey Memorial AME Zion Senior High School at Brafo Low, Cape Coast.
The conference offered a forum for stakeholders to discuss issues affecting education and how to meet the challenges for higher enrolment and quality education in the region.
Miss Blay said the high enrolment rates and the improvement in the percentage of trained teachers in basic schools in the region were good indications that the numerous interventions or innovations undertaken by development partners and other stakeholders in the educational sector in the region were making some impact, and should be sustained.
She said it was established at the national review last year that the region placed first in the country in enrolment rates and second only after Greater Accra in the provision of quality education.
She therefore commended all stakeholders, development partners, non-governmental organisations and the United Nations Children Emergency Fund for their collaboration and contribution towards the promotion of education in the region,
She also urged the participants to take advantage of the forum and make recommendations that would meet the challenges ahead towards achieving quality education in the region.
The Deputy Central Regional Director of the GES and the Queen of Effutu, Nana Amba Eyiaba, who chaired the function called on all stakeholders to continue to provide the necessary support and make judicious use of available resources to boost education in the region.

CAPE COAST TO GET NEW STADIUM (BACK PAGE)

Story: Joe Okyere & Nehemia Owusu Achiaw, Cape Coast

The long-cherished dream of the government to build a modern stadium for the people of Cape Coast was brought closer to its realisation when President J.A. Kufuor cut the sod for work to begin on a new stadium in Cape Coast yesterday.
The project, estimated at $25 million, is being financed by the Government of Ghana and is expected to be completed within 18 months.
When completed the stadium would seat about 20,000 spectators and would be equipped with facilities for boxing, table tennis, swimming and athletics.
Being executed by Pol-Mot, a construction firm from Poland, the project is in fulfilment of government decision to build sports stadia in all the regional capitals.
It is also in fulfilment of a promise made by President Kufuor in September last year, to the people of Cape Coast to build a stadium for them.
At the ceremony, President Kufuor said Cape Coast had nurtured many great footballers in the past and he was therefore hopeful that the new stadium would serve as an avenue to unearth many more talents when completed.
Nana Ato Arthur, the Central Regional Minister, expressed deep appreciation to the President for fulfilling his promise to the people by cutting the sod for the construction of the new stadium.
He recalled that on September 1, 2007 the President promised to elevate Cape Coast to a metropolitan status and ensure the accreditation of the medical school for the University of Cape Coast.
He also promised to ensure the construction of a new stadium and a modern market.
He said the President had delivered on almost all his promises except the construction of a new market, which he had been informed that there were plans for its construction.
Osabarima Kwesi Atta, Paramount Chief of the Oguaa Traditional Area, expressed appreciation to the government for delivering on its promise.
The President also inaugurated a roundabout at Mankesim, which has monuments of Oburmankoma, Oson and Odapagyan, the three great leaders of the people of Mankessim and surrounding towns and villages in Fanteland.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

CHIEF FISHERMENIN CR HOLD MEETING (PAGE 20)

Story: Joe Okyere, Cape Coast

FISHERMEN in the Central Region have been advised to desist from politicising problems that affect their occupation, since that will not be in their interest.
The Special Assistant to the Central Regional Minister, Mr Ken Nunoo, gave the advice at a meeting with chief fishermen from the region in Cape Coast.
He said problems affecting fishermen and farmers were so dear to the economy that any trivialities could endanger the future of the country.
Mr Nunoo reminded fishermen of the various government interventions, such as subsidy on premix fuel, credit facilities for fishing inputs and construction of landing ports, to address their problems to sustain the industry.
He deplored the attitude of some fishermen groups, who were trying to manipulate and deceive others as the 2008 elections drew near.
He cautioned them to desist from the temptation of a group describing itself as “in-shore fishermen”, who were calling for a demonstration against the sector ministry.
According to Mr Nunoo, such calls were highly unwarranted and would not serve their interest when their concerns were being addressed.
At the meeting, the chief fishermen reiterated their call on the government to regulate the operations of both small and big trawlers.
They stressed the need for trawlers to put a stop to combining trawling and other activities, which impeded the operations of canoe fishermen and the fishing industry as a whole for the sustenance of their livelihood.
Both parties agreed to send a delegation to the sector minister to discuss how best to address their concerns.

Friday, May 9, 2008

NGO PROVIDES POTABLE WATER FOR AMOANDA (PAGE 21)

Story: Joe Okyere, Amoanda

THE United Charity Endowment Fund for Africa (UCEFA), California, a US-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), has
provided potable water for the people of Amoanda in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEAA) Municipality at a cost of GH¢31,680.
The project involved the provision of 200 pieces of pipe-lines to connect water supply from Komenda to Cape Coast.
Three other communities in the municipality, namely, Abaka-Ano, Nyamebekyere and Abeyie have also benefited from the UCEFA water project between 2003 and 2007.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Amoanda facility, the Project Director of UCEFA, Mr Kojo Opoku Wood, said the KEEA Municipality was adopted by the group due to the yearly acute water shortage experienced by the community and its negative impact on the socio-economic development of the people.
He said the UCEFA had also provided four polytanks for the people of Nsadwer at a cost of GH¢18,292.
Besides, Mr Wood said the UCEFA had provided a free skills sdevelopment centre at Abaka-Ano to train the youth in gainful, employable skills.
The flag bearer of the CPP, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, commended the UCEFA for providing safe water to the communities.
The Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur, said the government was committed to make life bearable for people in rural communities as it had committed itself to rural electrification, infrastructural development in education, health, roads and housing.
Nana Ato Arthur, who is contesting the parliamentary seat of the constituency, urged the people to vote massively for him and the NPP in the upcoming general election to enable it execute its development agenda for the municipality and the region.
The Municipal Chief Executive for KEEL, Mr George Asmah, reminded the people of the promise made by the government to reduce poverty, and said the programme was on course to bring back smiles on the faces of Ghanaians.

NDC TO RECAPTURE SEATS (PAGE 15)

Story: Joe Okyere, Cape Coast

THE Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Sam Vallis Akyianu, has assured the party that it will recapture the seats it lost to the NPP in the region in the last elections.
Mr Akyianu said the NDC had restrategised and selected hardworking and formidable parliamentary candidates to contest the seats, and advised members, supporters and sympathisers to rally behind the party for total victory in the December elections.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Akyianu stated that all that was needed now was unity and co-operation within the rank and file of the party members in the region to ensure a resounding victory for the party in the region in the general election.
He said the recent mobilisation drive in the region had shown positive results that the party was regaining the confidence of the people in the region, with the retention of Professor J.E. Atta Mills as its flag bearer.

NDUOM VISITS PROJECT AT KEEA (PAGE 15)

Story: Joe Okyere, Elmina

THE flag bearer of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, has inspected a number of development projects being undertaken in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) municipality.
The projects are the three libraries being built with his share of the District Assemblies Common Fund in the three traditional areas of the municipality at a cost of GH¢60,000 each.
The beneficiary traditional areas are Abrem (Agona), Komenda and Eguafo, where the library will be located at Abreshia.
Dr Nduom told the Daily Graphic that apart from funds from the KEEA Municipal Assembly for the projects, he was also mobilising resources from other sources to support the projects.
He said he would also source for funding from those sources to stock the libraries, which would have ICT centres.
He said land for the project had been released by the respective traditional authorities, and added that he would ensure that the libraries were completed on time and stocked to enhance education in the municipality.
Dr Nduom also inspected the Komenda Junction-Komenda road and the Ankwandae road being rehabilitated under the government’s road sector rehabilitation programme.

Monday, May 5, 2008

EFFUTUS CELEBRATE ABOAKYER FESTIVAL (PAGE 49)

Story: Joe Okyere & Nehemia Owusu Achiaw, Winneba

THE people of the Effutu Traditional Area celebrated their annual Aboakyer Festival, with a call from President J.A. Kufuor to them to bury their differences and take advantage of the elevation of Winneba to a municipal status to develop the area.
Addressing a well-attended durbar of Effutu chiefs and people at Winneba on Saturday to mark the event, President Kufuor said unless there was unity among the people, no amount of expenditure on roads, water, electricity, schools or health facilities could unearth the great potential of the area.
Aboakyer, which literally means “catching a live deer”, is celebrated in remembrance of a war god of the Effutus who was said to have helped them in various ways.
The Tuafo Asafo Company was the first of the two Asafo companies to bring a live deer to the durbar grounds, amid drumming, dancing and wild jubilation, to climax the festival.
The Omanhene of the Effutu Traditional Area, Neenyi Ghartey VII, in line with tradition, stepped on the animal three times to declare the Tuafo Asafo Company the winner of the deer hunt for the year.
The festival was also used to honour President Kufuor by naming a boulevard in Winneba after him.
The durbar was attended by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, the flag bearer of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), and Mr Dan Lartey, the Leader of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP).
President Kufuor said the new status of Winneba, a municipality had come with new responsibilities which could only be carried out in an atmosphere devoid of jealousies, rivalries and disputes.
“It is, therefore, disturbing when every celebration of the Aboakyer Festival is characterised with one dispute or another,” he said
“The huge deployment of state resources in the form of police presence and a series of municipal security council and regional security council meetings held prior to the celebration of this noble festival is untenable,” he added.
The President said annual festivals had been used by people of traditional areas as occasions to take stock of events and plan together for the future progress of their respective areas.
That objective, he said, could only be achieved when the present generation of Effutus buried their differences and created a congenial atmosphere so that the festival could be used to plan for the total growth and development of Effutuland and its environs.
He, therefore, urged the people to leave the past behind them and forge unity among themselves.
President Kufuor said the Effutu Traditional Area had had its fair share of development projects from both the municipal assembly and other national agencies and mentioned the construction of the safe landing facility for fishermen in the area, the Muni Lagoon project and a hotel tourism resort as some of the projects which were either underway or in the pipeline.
On the upcoming general election, President Kufuor appealed to the people to ensure free and fair elections and further advised potential voters to take advantage of the voters registration exercise to register.
For his part, Neenyi Ghartey said in recognition of President Kufuor’s hard work and his great contribution to national development, the Effutu State had deemed it fit and proper to name a new boulevard in Winneba after him.
“May it please Your Excellency to accept this gesture as a token deep affection and high esteem for your person and appreciation of your labour of love for this nation,” he said.
Neenyi Ghartey said President Kufuor had worked so hard over the past seven years to achieve enviable economic, social and political stability for the country and had sown the seed for the future development of the resources which would ensure the country’s attainment of a middle-income status.

Friday, May 2, 2008

MUSLIMS TO START SHS AT KYEASE IN SEPT (PAGE 20)

Story: Joe Okyere, Elmina

THE Federation of Muslim Communities (FEMCO) in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipality has put up a six-unit classroom block at Kyease, near Kissi for a senior high school (SHS) to enhance the education of Muslim youth in the area.
Academic work at the school, FEMCO Islamic SHS, is expected to start by September, this year.
Speaking at a durbar to climax the first annual District Muslim Conference at the forecourt of the KEEA Municipal Assembly Hall at Elmina, the President of FEMCO-KEEA, Alhaji Ishaq Donkor, said a governing council had been established for the smooth and effective running of the school.
Alhaji Ishaq said the school's doors were open to all youth and that its academic work would be based on the normal Ghana Education Service curriculum.
He said FEMCO-KEEA decided to establish the school to educate Muslim youth, since Muslim communities in the country were the most deprived in the country.
The Municipal Chief Executive for KEEA, Mr George Frank Asmah, commended FEMCO-KEEA for its vision, and promised the assembly's support for the project.
He advised parents to educate their children, since education was a means to an end and the best legacy they could bequeath to their children.
Mr Asmah reminded the Muslim communities to desist from the temptation of being used for political violence by disgruntled politicians before, during and after the 2008 general election.
He urged them to vote massively for the NPP to enable the party to continue with its development agenda.
A representative of the flag bearer of the Convention People's Party (CPP), Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, donated GH¢200 towards the project and said Dr Nduom was putting up a junior high School for the Elmina Zongo community.
Other speakers at the function who commended FEMCO-KEEA for their vision and the Chief of Kyease, Nana Kofi Yaw V, for releasing land for the project, were Alhaji Dawuda, Chairman of the Governing Council of FEMCO; Sheikh Mustapha Ibrahim, Chairman, Islamic Council for Development and Humanitarian Services, Accra; Sheikh Yacoub Shuaib Abban, General Secretary, Al-Suna Wajamat; and Alhaji Major Mohammed Essah (retd), Chairman of the Coalition of Muslim Organisations of Ghana.
An appeal for funds in support of the school yielded GH¢1,150.

MEDICAL TEAM OFFERS MEDICAL CARE (PAGE 20)

Story: Joe Okyere, Cape Coast

ABOUT 200 people from some communities in the Twifo-Hemang-Lower Denkyira District have benefited from a free screening exercise for the early detection of diabetes and hypertension, conducted by a medical team from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
The team, led by Dr Kwame Ofori Boadu, also screened children for malaria and anaemia.
The beneficiary communities were Ati Mokwa, Kayeriku and Mampong.
At the Kayireku Health Compound, the Deputy Minister of Health, Mr Abraham Dwuma Odoom, told the Daily Graphic that cases of diabetes and hypertension had been on the increase in the area due to the unhealthy lifestyles adopted by most of the youth.
He said the exercise was organised to remind the youth of the need to maintain healthy lifestyles and educate the elderly to do regular check-ups to minimise their contraction of diseases.
Mr Dwuma Odoom advised the people to take advantage of the exercise to improve their health.
He commended the team for their sacrifices and risk in undertaking the exercise to help improve on the health of the people in the area.