Training workshop held on Fall Army worm in Bazua - Bawku UER

 

About 942 farmers have been affected by the fall Army worm in the Upper East Region as at June, 30 2017.

A total area of 1,273.6 hectors of farmlands have been attacked by the Army worm. According to the Regional Director of MOFA, Reverend John Manu, about 993 hectors of crops have been sprayed, 842 hectors recovered and 178 hectors destroyed.

Rev Manu made the disclosure at a day’s training workshop at Bazua in the Bawku Municipality, dubbed “the life cycle of a fall Army worm”.

In attendance were 86 farmers drawn from Bawku and its adjoining communities.  The workshop was organized by the Savanna Agricultural research Institute SARI, in collaboration with MOFA and Ariku Farms, runner up of the 2016 National Best Farmer Awards winner.

Participants were taken through the various developmental stages of the life cycle of a fall Army worm, how to identify it from the egg, the larvae through to the destructive caterpillar stage to its fully grown butterfly adulthood.

According to the facilitator of the workshop Dr. Francis Kusi, an Entomologist, the devastating nature of the pest cannot be underestimated.

As a result, Aliens for Green Revolution in Africa AGRA and SARI together with Feed the Future Innovation for Climate Resilience Cow pea Project and legume Innovation Love Project LILP pulled resources together to acquire five Pheromone Traps, to sample the pest invasion in the affected areas in the three northern regions.

He explained that the Pheromone Traps, which contain some chemicals are placed at vantage points to trap all flying insects including the army worm for later sampling.

This, he added, forms part of their contribution to support the National Task force formed to fight the fall army worm invasion in the country.

He said the pupation stage takes between 1-2 weeks before the worm emerges, and it breeds so fast that spotting it in an area needs swift response and urged farmers to be vigilant in monitoring their farms daily in order to report to the Agriculture Extension Officers, AEA, in their areas for attention.

Dr. Kusi indicated that, at the first star larvae detection, the farmer should spray in four days interval.

He further revealed that the pest lays between 150 -200 eggs a day and it takes about 4 days to hatch.

This he added translate to about 2000 eggs during the pest productive life span of two weeks before dying.

Dr. Kusi explained that it is easy controlling the pest at early detection, than later days because at the caterpillar stage, it enters into the heart of the maize plant. 

At that stage, not even all the required chemical can easily kill the pest.  In his presentation at the workshop, the Regional Director of MOFA Reverend Manu indicated that government has provided free pesticides for farmers for onward distribution to the various districts, to help fight the fall army worm.

He added that a team of task force have been formed in the various districts to assist the agricultural Extension Agents AEAs.

He further advised the farmers to as a matter of urgency report any incident to the task force for assistance If Ghana must forged ahead in her quest to achieve food security, then all of us must learn our support to the laudable policy of the government to bring about the needed results.

GBC                                                                 END

Two Kindergarten Classroom Block Inaugurated in Sakoti- Nabdam District in UER

A two classroom Kindergarten block valued at the cost of 150 thousand Ghana Cedes had been inaugurated at Sakoti in the Nabdam District of the Upper East Region.

The 70 seated capacity block fully fenced and furnished with ancillary facilities, a mechanized Borehole, office and store was constructed by Action Aid Ghana in partnership with the local community.

Speaking to Radio Ghana, the Country Director of Action Aid Ghana, Smaila Abdul-Rahaman said, the key motivation of Action Aid is to identity the hard to reach areas and support people living in poverty.

Mr. Abdul-Rahaman indicated that Action Aid has been operating across board in the Talensi - Nabdam area for the past 10 years before it was later divided into the two districts.

He explained that, they are engaged in Irrigations construction, some level of Regional advocacy work in areas of dehumanizing cultural practices such as Widowhood rites, Female Genital Mutilation and currently championing End Child Marriage project.

He added that it was against this backdrop, Action Aid is now constructing Early Child Care Centers and KGs to support the communities.

Mr. Abdul-Rahaman advised parents, staff of the school and community members to maintain the facility and ensure that all children of school going age are enrolled and retained in order to secure their future.

On behalf of the GES, the Nabdam District Director of Education Joseph Amesimeku thanked Action Aid Ghana for the kind gesture and appealed for their continued support in that regard.

He promised that the facility will be used accordingly for improved educational outcomes. Also in an address read on her behalf, the Nabdam DCE Agnes Anamoo underscored the role of Action Aid Ghana through its implementing partners such as Widows and Orphans Movement WOM and BONATADU.

These organizations have over the years supported a number of advocacy programmes in the Nabdam District, particularly in area of women’s right and economic empowerment.

Such programmes, she added, have helped women in the area to gain access to farm lands and also empowered them economically to achieve food security, with sustainable livelihood.

Mrs Anamoo further emphasized that, the construction of the two facilities by Action Aid gives credence to their vision of realizing a just, equitable and sustainable society in which every person enjoys the right to a life of dignity and freedom from poverty and all forms of oppression.

She added that there is no right to a life of dignity than opening the doors to education to the little ones in deprived communities such as Sekoti.

The Nabdam District Assembly, having realized government’s resolve to shifting the educational systems and structures from merely passing examinations to character formation, nurturing value, and raising literates, it was  a wakeup call for that educational transformation.

The quality of school buildings may be related to other school quality issues such as working conditions for teachers, and the ability to undertake certain instructional approaches.

Proposed Frafra Potato Genotypes release-Manga Bawku-UER

 

The Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) is one of the 13 research institutes that make up the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) – a quasi-government organization that operates under the ambit of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation. 

The Institute was originally known as the Nyankpala Agricultural Experiment Station (NAES). 

In June 1994, it was upgraded to a full-fledged Institute and re-named Savanna Agricultural Researc
h Institute. 


SARI, has proposed five Frafra potato varieties 2017, to the National Variety Release Registration Committee NVRRC. 

The release, which is the brain child of the Manga Agricultural Research Station, weather station Bawku brings to fifteen the number of varieties released to NVRRC. 

Five millet varieties in 2015, five varieties of cow pea in 2016 and five varieties of frafra potation 2017. 

According to the leader of the fifteen scientist member research team, Dr Francis Kusi, an Entomologist, Frafra potato, known as Solenosttemon rotundifolius Poir, is a small berbaceous annaual crop with ascending succulent stem and branches. 

The crop normally grows up to 20 -30 centimeters in height. It is a lesser known and under exploited species of food crop in Ghana, yet with high economic value. 

The crop is popular in northern Ghana, especially in the Upper East and West Regions where it serves as a food security crop during the lean season when all available crops have been consumed. 

Dr Kusi explained that production of the crop is limited to subsistence level, due to the absence of suitable improved technology to change the traditional production practices. 

He emphasized that Frafra potato an underutilized crop species which is central to improving food security in the Upper East and Upper West Regions of Ghana. 

Dr. Kusi, said the tubes are a delicacy for children, with high marketing potential, compared with its counterpart sweet potato. 

According to Dr Kusi, research intervention since 1997, has generated some baseline data on the crop and its production constraint. 

The major constraint, he said were identified as undersized tubers, rapid tuber deterioration during storage, lack of healthy and reliable planting materials, pest and diseases. 

It was against this back drop that the need was felt to carry out the study with farmers, technology development and farm management extension is more robust when farmer’s needs and aspirations are considered in a participatory settings.

He added that the aim is therefore to increase the production by deploying elite varieties to farmers, collect and document the crop in areas identified as geographical gaps in collection, development of database of frafra potato germplasm, multiplication and evaluation of frafra potato varieties with farmers among others.

Four Parishes celebrate Corpus Christi together in Bolgatanga

Corpus Christi is a feast celebrated by the Catholic Church every year for the solemnity of the holy Eucharist.

It is characterized by the exposition of the Holy Eucharist through the principal street. Four parishes namely; the St. Martin de Porres Church, Zuarungu, Our Lady Queen of Africa Parish, Bolga-Tendama, St Joseph Parish, Soe and Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish took part in this year’s celebration.

The occasion was characterized with a procession through the principal street of Bolgatanga amidst drumming, singing and dancing.

According to the Assistant Parish Priest, Father Samuel Atinga, Corpus Christi is a feast in which the church publicly expresses her faith in the real presence of Christ in the celebration, the joy in the institution of the Eucharist, the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

Father Atinga added that, this year’s celebration was unique because it coincides with the 4th National Eucharistic Congress scheduled to be held in Jasikan in August.

He however underscored the need for the said Parishes to come together for the celebration. It was preceded by a candle light processing through the streets of Bolgatanga.

In his sermon, the Bishop of the Navrongo – Bolgatanga Diocese, Most Rev Bishop Alfred Agyenta reiterated Pope John Paul II’s call that the church was gradually losing enthusiasm, that her people were no longer showing much interest and were leaving the church.

He added that the Holy Father calls for renewal and refining our methods in practicing our catholic faith. Bishop Agyenta emphasized that the situation required a new evangelization as captured in this year’s theme by the Catholic Bishops Conference for the National Eucharistic Congress.

The institution of Corpus Christi as a feast in the Christian calendar resulted from approximately forty years of work on the part of Juliana of Liege, a 13thcentury Norbertine canoness.

Born in 1191 in Liege, Belgium, a city where there were groups of women dedicated to the Eucharistic worship.

In 1208, Juliana reported her first vision of Christ in which she was instructed to plead for the institution of the feast of Corpus Christi.

In 1246, Bishop Robert ordered a celebration of Corpus Christi to be held in the dioceses each year. As we all pray for the re-awakening of the new evangelization, Ghana today wishes all Catholic faithful a very successful 4th National Eucharistic Congress.

 

One person has been shot and killed by armed robbers at Tilly forest.

A 27 year old from Kotintabig in the Nabdam District of the Upper East Region yesterday met his umtimely death following a robbery incident around the Tilly Forest. 

The deceased, Boaluu Bugbire sustained various gunshot wounds on the body including the chest and stomach forcing his intestines to gush out. 

Information gathered by Radio Ghana from an eye witness, Elias Yen indicated that the robbers were four in number with one wielding an AK 47 assault raffle. 

According to him, the late Bugbire, who was in possession of a hunter’s gun was among other two friends roaming in the said forest in search of their stray donkeys. 

During the searching spree, they sighted the four suspected robbers enjoying mango fruits under a mango tree, a booty they had made from robbing a vehicle on the main Bawku trunk road in the early hours of the day. 

Out of curiosity, Bugbire drew closer to find out who they were. Sensing danger, one of the robbers opened fire on him killing him at the spot. 

The four armed robbers on two motor bikes had earlier robbed a mini urban bus en route from Bolgatanga to Bawku with registration number UE 219 Q. The robbers who came out between Nangodi and the Tilly forest opened fire on the said vehicle in an effort to rob passengers of their personal belongings. 

The driver, name withheld managed to park the vehicle on the side of the road and fled through the forest to make an official report to officers manning the Nangodi Police station. 

Passengers on board were subsequently ordered to lie down and before the police arrived at the crime scene, they had made away with the belongings of the passengers and fled into the forest. 

No passenger on board the vehicle was hurt during the robbing process.  At the time of this report, the Police had declined to give any further information with the explanation that investigation were ongoing. According the Police, no arrest had so far been made. 

However, the deceased which was sent to the Bolgatanga Regional hospital by the Police for autopsy had since been buried.

Regional Launch of the 2017 Nurses Week celebration in the Upper East Region

This year’s Nurses Week celebration has been launch in the Upper East Region, with a call on government to address the numerous problems confronting the Nursing profession. 

The launch was in line with the International Nurses Day, and the founder, Florence Nightingale’s, birth Day. 

History tells us that, Nightingale, born on the 12^th of May 1820 was a soldier. She went to the Crimean War in 1853 and one of her major roles was to treat her colleague soldiers and civilians that sustained various degrees of injuries. She died on the 13^th August, 1910. 

This year’s celebrations was launched under the locale theme “Health Implication of Galamsey and the Attainment of Sustainable Development Goals Nurses and Midwives. Acting in one Voice with stakeholders”. 

According to the Regional Chairman of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, GRNMA, Mr. Thomas Lambone, 

Nurses and Midwives are not only celebrating a grand event of achievements and challenges, but see the celebration as a sacred moment of reflections and stocktaking of what Nurses and Midwives’ contribute to brighten Nightingale’s philosophy of patient care and devotion to duty. 

This he said, calls for dialogue with government and stakeholders, to reach a common grounds that will promote cardinal relationship and mutual respect. 

Mr. Lambone, emphasized the critical need for strong recognition of what nurses and midwives do on daily basis, which has blatantly been undermined by government and some employers. 

He stressed that meeting patients need are basic to their care principles, yet they are often been accused of neglecting their duties. 

Mr. Lambone reminded his colleagues in the noble profession of customer care services, legal implication of their conduct on quality care.

 He advised the few bad ones among them to sit up and be mindful of their professional code of conducts and live by those tenants. 

For Nurses and Midwives to remain relevant in this 21^st century, they must rise up and embrace topical issues to enable them advocate effectively. 

 To be effective advocates, they must join the political wagon and filled up in the decision making process so as to lobby, negotiate and advocate for issues that affect their communities

Road block by Tricycles Motor - Mahama can Doo

Traffic in certain parts of the Bolgatanga Municipality became a standstill as a group of Tricycle Motors, popularly called “Mahama can Doo” blocked parts of roads causing delay in traffic for about 20 minutes. 

The incident took the intervention of Police and the Patrol team of the armed forces to restore the situation to ease traffic flow. 

According to the chairman of the Ghana Association of Tricycle Motors, Abdul-Rahaman Musbawo, their action was in response to the arrest of 10 Tricycle Motors by the Police. 

He said the arrest follows a directive issued by the Upper East Regional Security Council, REGSEC, banning the use of Tricycle Motors from operating between the hours of 7 pm to 6 am each day, for a period of one month effective Friday 26^th May, 2017. 

Mr Rahaman said they wanted the immediate release of their 10 tricycles and that the directive given them not to operate at night was not helping them, the reason being that their business is rather at night. 

He added that, they were not going to heed to any given time frame and will operate 24 hours just like taxis do. 

According to the REGSEC resolution, such motorized tricycles are usually registered for private use but largely operate on commercial basis and are often driven by under-age people without due regard for traffic regulations. 

There are also reported cases of double registration of motor-cycle numbers which is under investigations by the security services and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority DVLA. 

The ban therefore was to facilitate the ongoing investigations.