A Child Day Care Center Innaugurated in Nangodi Nabdam District-UER

A one unit child day care center with a sitting capacity of about 30, has been constructed with ancillary facility at a total cost of 38 thousand Ghana cedis at Nangodi in the Nabdam district. 

This forms part of Action Aid Ghana’s five-year project on Promoting Opportunity for Women Empowerment and Rights, POWER. The project was funded by the Netherlands. 

The main objective of the project is to contribute to the economic empowerment of about 6000 rural women in Ghana by supporting them to increase their incomes and self-reliance, reduce the drudgery of unpaid work and promote credible and sustainable livelihood. 

Action Aid an NGO and a social justice organization which has been working in the district in collaboration with BONATADO for the past 10 years, aims at empowering people living in poverty and exclusion by actively organizing them into groups, network and social movements to drive the necessary change they desire. 

According to the NGO, this will ensure gender equality, poverty eradication and redistribution of power and resources. 

Speaking to radio Ghana during the inauguration, the Programme Manager of Action Aid Ghana Mr. Sulley Alhassan, indicated that Action Aid has organized 43 women groups in the Upper East Region with membership drive of 32 women each and empowered them to shift power and redistributed gender roles in their households. 

This Mr. Alhassan noted has helped 1,376 women to engage in productive resources such as petty trading, dry season farming and weaving. 

He added that Action Aid Ghana has constructed five childcare centers and renovated one structure in the Talensi and Nabdam districts. 

Mr. Alhassan emphasized that the vision of Action Aid Ghana is to attain an equitable and sustainable society in which people enjoy the right to a life of dignity and freedom from poverty and all forms of oppression. 

In a speech read on her behalf, at the inaugural ceremony the Nabdam District Chief Executive, Agnes Anamoo, expressed appreciation for the interventions of Action Aid Ghana and other development partners in the Nabdam district. 

Mrs. Anamoo was optimistic that the power project will strengthen the tiers between Ghana and the Netherlands and hope that the shared cultural heritage of the two countries remain an integral part of the prevailing bi-lateral relations that exist between Ghana and the good people of the Netherlands. 

Mrs. Anamoo therefore assured Action Aid Ghana and their partners that the structure will be used for its intended purpose. She used the occasion to appeal for the scaling up of the said project to the rest of the communities.

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Let’s explore viable economic ventures to support Political Institutions”-NPP Aspirant

The former Upper East Regional First Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party NPP, Mr. Isaac Adawele Atasige, has called on all the regional and constituency executives to explore viable economic ventures to support the growth of the party.

Mr. Atasige said the situation where individuals were made to fund the party did not only make it difficult to get funding but also discouraged collective decisions.

He said, it is high time we moved away from allowing individuals to fund the activities of the party so as to avoid the situation where one person would impose his or her decision on us as party executives and members.

He said NPP needs collective decisions to effectively run the activities of the party to make a meaningful impact.

The former Regional First Vice Chairman urged regional and constituency executives to mobilize people at the grassroots to take advantage of various Government interventions including the Planting for food and jobs and the One District One factory initiatives.

He added that the Upper East Region was noted for irrigation  and the people at the grassroots could be mobilized to undertake dry season farming as that would not only help address the unemployment and poverty levels in the area but would also help contribute some amount of resources for the party’s activities.

He said the situation where the regional and constituency executives had to task themselves for resources to attend to issues such as funerals and emergencies could be resolved if the party had its own business running at the regional and constituency levels.

  

The former Regional First Vice Chairman, who is nurturing the ambition to contest for the same position when the party re-opens election this year, expressed regret about the poor performance of the party in the region, during the last Parliamentary election where the party got only three parliamentary seats.

Mr. Atasige indicated that, when he wins the election as the Regional first Vice Chairman he would adopt a strategy to increase the number of parliamentary seats from three to nine and also increase the margin for the presidential as well.

What is needed for the party to win more seats and to win more convincingly for the presidential slot in the region is to conduct post-election audit and to develop a regional strategic plan which will bring everybody on board to chart the way forward. 

Twenty 20 Member Board Land Commissioners Inuagurated In Bolgatanga UER

Land continues to be a very important natural resources in the world. Due to its key role in the development process, land encroachment and litigation are some of the various challenges confronting the country. 

The situation is therefore not different in the Upper East region. As part of effort to tackle some of these challenges, the Upper East Regional Lands Commission has been inaugurated in Bolgatanga. 

The 20-member Commissioners as part of its mandate is to manage public lands. 

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. John Peter Amewu, indicated  that the many  challenges in the land sector when  addressed, can  help  Ghana realize her dream of becoming the gateway for business in Africa.  

Mr.   Amewu said,  meeting  the challenges in the land sector  would also pave the way for the  implementation of  many of the government flagship programmes including the One  Village, One Dam, One District , One Factory , the Planting for food and Jobs , the Coastal , Middle Belt and Northern Development Authorities and others such as road , railway and telecommunication infrastructure. 

The Sector Minister disclosed this during the inauguration of the Upper East Regional Lands Commission at the Regional Coordinating Council in Bolgatanga. 

He tasked the 20-member Commissioners to work hard to help address challenges in the sector to realize set targets. 

He mentioned the countless land litigations including different parties before courts, customary authorities engaged in multiply sale of lands, falsification of land documents in different public agencies, high cost of survey charges which discourage owners from doing proper documentation, delays in processing land documents and registration of lands as some of problems. 

He regretted that the poor inventory of lands that were acquired by the Government in the past, had made many clans and communities to lay claims to such land thereby encroaching on them. 

The Sector Minister told the commissioners that, they are expected to manage public lands and advice government, local authorities and traditional authorities on the policy framework for the development of particular areas of the country. 

This will ensure that development of individual pieces of land is coordinated with relevant development plan for the area concerned. 

He stressed that, they are also expected to formulate and submit to government recommendations on national policy with respect to land suitability and capability, advice on, and assist in execution of comprehensive programme for the registration of title to land throughout the country as well as perform other functions assigned by the sector minister. 

The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Rockson Bukari also expressed some concerns about the uncoordinated planning of the land sector agencies in the region making it difficult for most of the Assemblies to properly develop land boundaries and do proper documentation. 

Mr. Bukari therefore charge the land sector agencies to work together as a team to address the challenges confronting the Assemblies. 

The Regional Minister therefore appealed to the Commissioners to sensitize communities for the implementation of the government flagship programmes, stressing that it is becoming very difficult to acquire lands for the implementation of the programmes and for development partners who have expressed interest to invest in the region. Mr. Bukari however expressed worry about some negative activities of the land sector agencies.

The National Coordinator of the Commission, Mr. Stephen Ntim, assured the Commissioners   that government would commit resources and logistics to ensure that they work to achieve the desire set targets. He stated that he had no doubt in the calibre of personalities who had been selected to represent the Commission in the Region and entreated them not to betray the trust and confidence imposed on them.

The Chairman of the Upper East Regional Lands Commission, Mr. Jonathan Agme, on behalf of his colleagues thanked the Government for the confidence reposed in them and pledged that they would work hard to help the government accelerate development.

A workshop on Peace building and Conflict Resolution Organized –Navrongo Bolgatanga Diocese

About 105 participants have benefited from a capacity building workshop organized in the Bolgatanga municipality of the Upper East Region by the Peace and Justice directorate of the Navrongo -Bolgatanga Diocese. 

The capacity training on peace building and conflict resolution was organized separately at the Bawku, Navrongo and Bolgatanga dearies of the diocese.

According to the Acting Chairman of the Peace and Justice (P & J)committee,Mr. Dominic Abugre,the aim of the training workshop was to build the capacity of the Peace and Justice Committee members of the various parishes.

The facilitator of the workshop Rev.Father Joseph Tabase of the St Anthony Parish Bawku took participants through how to identify the various types of conflicts, handling and managing, using dialogue, negotiation and the appropriate channels to enable them report violent conflicts to the security agencies.

Participant were also taken through the encyclical of the Pope which talks about the earth as our home and how we should protect it.

Mr. Abugre stressed that issues of conflicts is on the increase in recent times and it is a course for concern for all in the diocese. 

As a result, the Peace and Justice Committee was set up by the various Parishes to look into issues of peace and conflict resolutions. 

Mr. Abugre stated that, the training workshop became relevant following his familiarization tour throughout the eighteen Parishes and a Rectorate, in the Navrongo Bolgatanga Diocese. 

He concluded that, with the training the committee members had, they are expected to go back to their various parishes to help in managing and reducing conflicts.

                                                                                                                   

Year Group of NAVASCO support Speech and Prize-Giving Day

                       A Cross section of some of the past students at the occasion

The  1977 Year Group of the Navrongo Secondary School now Navrongo Senior High School NAVASCO , as part of  activities to mark  their 40^th  year anniversary, have  co-sponsored this year’s   Speech and Prize-Giving Day of the school held in the school’s  campus in Navrongo of the Upper East Region.

The Speech and Prize-Giving Day which is usually meant to organize healthy competition in the academic cycles among students to honor hardworking students; teaching and non-teaching staff was abandoned by the school some decades ago as a result of some challenges.

 

Apart from the 1977 Year Group contributing some unspecified cash of money to organize the event which attracted large guests including old students of the school popularly called “Nabia”, the year group also contributed cash awards and Samson tablets to deserving students including teaching and non-teaching staff. In all about 19 students received various awards for their hard work.

In his inspiring speech to the students, the former Minister of Power, Dr Kwabena Donkor who is also a member of the 1977 Year Group    stated that the School which was established in the 1960’s by the first President of Ghana Dr. Kwame Nkrumah is national institution which had contributed significantly to the human resource base across the country and the globe.

The former minister who expressed worry about the fallen standards of education in the school   challenged the staff and the students to work hard to help restore the past glory of the school.

Whilst giving the assurance that the  1977 Year Group including other year groups known as “Nabias “ would continue to support the school in its development, he told the students that although masters could play  significant role  to their academic successes much would depend on them to make a mark. 

He expressed the hope that the rejuvenation of the Speech and Prize-Giving Day would help contribute to improving upon the academic standards of the school and challenged the management of the school to map out vigorous strategies to look out for past students of the school to support the growth of the school.

Dr. Donkor and the Board Chairman of the School, Professor David Miller who handed over the baton to the 1978 group to organize the Speech and Prize-Giving Day in the ensuing year,   entreated the group to ensure that it was properly organized to help keep the momentum.

Whilst commending  other past batches  of the school  and the Parents Teacher Association  for supporting  in the construction and renovation of some  projects in the school  including open bath houses, KVIPS, the girls dormitory block, the Business and the Home Economic Blocks, the MacDonald hall, kitchen and a place for drying flour, staff bungalows, laptops and tablets  and  the provision of  sports equipment and cadet uniforms  among others, the  Headmistress of the School, Ms Francisca Yizura, appealed to the Government to renovate  some of the projects that were constructed in the 1960s and had since not seen any repairs.

She mentioned for instance that the   dining hall, three blocks and twelve staff bungalows that were roofed with asbestos since the inception of the school were licking and also the only Science Laboratory at period also woefully inadequate, adding that the school had no also a bus.

The Deputy Regional Minister, Mr. Frank Fuseine Adongo, who was the Guest of honor for the occasion and spoke on the theme, Discipline Key to Academic Excellence and Social Transformation” told the students it pays to be disciplined and admonished them to cultivate the habit of respect for authority and their colleagues, punctuality and self-control and tolerance. 

He gave the assurance that government was revamping the GETFUND and would support the school with infrastructure as soon the revamping exercise was done and called on the school authority to institute early warning mechanism to help prevent students rioting and demonstrations

. 

The National President of Nabia, Mr Mohammed Haroon, said his outfit was not leaving no stone unturned to help mobilize resources from all the branches of the association in the country and beyond to help complement the government’s efforts in the development of the school, stressing the zeal of the old students to support the school is overwhelming. 

The Board Chairman of the School, Professor David Miller, emphasized that one of the best means past students could contribute to society was to support the growth of their former schools and entreated all Nabias to support the school.   

Education Is Key To Sustainable Development Of SDGs –GNAT-LAS

The Third Quadrennial Regional Conference of the Ghana National Association of Teachers Ladie GNAT_LAS has been held in Bolgatanga.

It was under theme “Transforming Societies through Education, And Women Empowerment Towards Achieving Agenda 2030”.

According to the Headmistress of the Bolgatanga Senior High School, Mrs, Rose Avonsige, education is the critical foundation for the attainment of all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Mrs. Avonsige made the observation when she delivered a public lecture organized by Upper East Regional branch of GNAT-LAS in Bolgatanga.

 

The Lecture which formed part of the activities marking the third Quadrennial Regional Roundtable Conference of the Upper East Regional branch of GNAT-LAS, was also used to take stock of activities of the Association over the years and to chart the way forward as well as to elect new regional officers into office.

Mrs. Avonsige cited for instance that without education it would be very difficult if not impossible for families and farmers to adopt new farming technologies that would improve upon agriculture and entrepreneurial endeavors to help address poverty and hunger which are among the goals   of the SDGs.

She pointed out that the  reduction of child mortality and improvement of maternal health care are improved more than 50 per cent when women have the opportunity to have improved education enabling them to understand how, why and where to obtain health services.

She stated that Goal seven of the SDGs which focuses on Environmental Sustainability could easily be achieved if people attain education and their attitudes changed, stressing this will help reduce diseases such as malaria and keep children in school and also allow people especially farmers to attend to their businesses to increase productivity.

Mrs Avonsige indicated that the Goal two which places  more emphasis on the  Universal Access to Primary  Education could also be achieved through laying the proper foundation of education and  stressed the need for  Government, Non-Governmental Organizations, Philanthropists, Corporate Organizations and parents to pay priority in the area of investing in education.

Whilst acknowledging the fact that Government and other partners’ interventions had empowered women to some appreciable level, the Guest Speaker advocated for more women to be appointed to leadership positions.

The empowerment of women leads to the overall development of society. Economic empowerment provides the opportunities for women to support in the educational development of their wards and indeed the development of society.

The Regional Coordinator of GNAT-LAS, Ms Jane Asare Dartey, explained that the Association as a national body was formed in 1985 to help address the low representation of females in GNAT union and stated this had been achieved to some appreciable level.

She indicated that her outfit at the regional level had organized series of programmes including breast and cervical cancer screening, public lecture on maternity, capacity building for female teachers among others.

 

She stated that the Association would continue to fight and to champion for the welfare of female teachers.

 

Addressing the Conference, the Regional Secretary of GNAT, Mr Adobasom Ibrahim, stated that the Women Union had contributed a lot to the overall development of GNAT and indicated that most of the activities undertaken by GNAT had become successful because of GNAT-LAS. Beauty pageant   competition was also organized as part of the activities.

Nabdam District First Ordinary Meeting

The Nabdam District Chief Executive, DCE, Mrs. Agnes Anamoo has made a passionate appeal to the chiefs and people of the area to work collectively, in the spirit of oneness to bring about the needed development of the Nabdam area. 

Mrs. Anamoo made the appeal in an address delivered during the First Ordinary Meeting of the Third Session of the Second Assembly in the Nabdam District of the Upper East Region. 

The aim of the meeting was to assess activities carried out so far within the district since the last sitting and to make recommendations for consideration by the Executive Committee of the assembly.

Mrs Anamoo announced that the 2017 District Assembly Common Fund DACF, has been approved by parliament. 

The Nabdam  Assembly she added, will benefit a share of three million one hundred and fourty-three thousand, five hundred and forty-two Ghana cedis  as against three hundred and five thousand, forty- four Ghana cedis fifty pesewas for the last quarter of 2016. 

In the area of revenue generated, she lamented that the performance was far below expectation. Mrs Anamoo however said, that security in the district has been peaceful except few schemes of armed robbery on the Bawku-Bolga road and the lynching of an alleged sixty-seven-year-old woman as a witch. 

On Agriculture, she indicated that under the government flagship programme, planting for food and Jobs, the Nabdam district has taken delivery of 4,510 bags of fertilizer and assorted seeds for farmers, adding that following the fall of the army worm invasion, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has procured 296 liters of pesticides which has been distributed to farmers to help fight the pest. 

The Nabdam DCE emphasized that in readiness for the government policy of one district one factory, a ten-member regional committee has been formed to liaise with stakeholders of the 13 Municipal and District Assemblies to help shaped the policy. 

Touching on the School Feeding Programme, SFP, one of the key social interventions programme, the DCE indicated that the Programme is currently undergoing a reshaping to get the right caterers to handle it. 

Adverts are being placed in the mass media for recruitment. Under project implementation, she stated that two CHPS Compound and a 3-Unit classroom block are under construction with two feeder roads earmarked for reshaping under the Ministry of Road and Highways. 

She recommended that as part of revenue mobilization drive, stickers should be printed for motor-bikes at a fee by the Assembly.