UER: 178 Teachers and Health workers Trained in Child Protection NBD

 

   The Acting Manager Catholic Education of Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese Rev Sister Bernardine Pemi

About One hundred and 78 teachers drawn from 356 Catholic Schools, from the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese (NBD), have been given a three-day training workshop on Child Protection and Vulnerable Adults.

 

The workshop which was participated by ten health workers from Catholic Health Centres was organized by the Diocese with sponsorship from Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) This was disclosed by the Acting Regional Manager of Catholic Educational Unit, Rev. Sister Bernadine Permi, in an interview with GBCURARADIO.COM in Bolgatanga, on the side-lines of the efforts being made by the Catholic Church to promote safeguarding and child protection within our schools and communities.

 

She said the aim of the workshop was to train each teacher per school as a safeguarding representative in that particular school which will a point of contact for a child or vulnerable adult.

 

She added that, in case of anything within the school, a report must first be reported to the representative in the school before it gets to the child protection team and finally to the child unit of the Ghana Education Service (GES).

 

Rev Permi indicated that the participants were taken through the concrete steps of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, shared real stories they encountered in their various schools and communities.

 

Some of the participants also expressed their joy at the things they learnt from the workshop and lauded the Diocese for organizing such an insightful programme for them.

 

The General Manager of the Catholic Educational Unit, Araba Bentum, who was present at the workshop expressed joy that it was full of insight and charged teachers to take care of children entrusted to them in their various schools both Catholic and non-Catholic schools and as well spread what they have learnt to all stakeholders so as to create the awareness that, “children are to be seen and not heard is a thing of the past”.  She added that corporal punishment should also be avoided in training our children both in schools and at home.

 

The General Manager advised parents to try and provide for the needs of their children and the vulnerable so that they will not fall into temptation, for the child protection and safeguarding the Vulnerable Adults starts from the home.

 

Mrs Bentum recommended that the training workshop be replicated in all the dioceses across the country, she concluded.

Indigenous Seeds Oil from Our Local Environment

Minyela Sylvester CEO Minsaap Ventures

Adam was created by God and kept in a garden signifying that, all man needs to survived and stay healthy is the environment. 

It is against this backdrop that, a 42-year-old businessman and a 2010 graduate from the University for Development Studies (UDS) with the knowledge in his development studies and a passion for studying natural things, had to delve into natural seed oil extraction. 

Sylvester Minyila is now a friend to every pod that a tree or plant can bear not only for the benefits the fruits can provide for our health, but the seed which unknowing to us has a rich natural oil that can treat numerous ailments. 

These fruits and pods abounds in our environment especially in the northern parts of Ghana. 

The Boabab tree hitherto unknown to most natives, has a lot of benefits. Aside the leave being used for soup, the dry Boabab fruit is use for porridge and TZ.  

The various seeds oils

The seeds are the main component use together with beans, round powder beans and flour to prepare a local dish call ‘tuunto’ a major meal in the performance of traditional funerals in the Bolgatanga Municipality (BM) (the Gurune speaking area).  

The core of the seeds that contain that groundnuts like substance is also use for soup especially vegetables but that is mostly during famine period. In fact, history has it that, in August 1982 – May 1983 famine in Ghana, the (BM) and its adjoining communities relied mostly on the Boabab tree leaves and the seed for survival. 

Baobab seed oil

Expert say, the Boabab seed oil is generally known for its regenerative abilities.

 Its excellent in skin softening and healing of any imperfection due to its antioxidants and solves most of the health problems. In an interview with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Minsaap Ventures Sylvester Minyila indicated that, after extracting the oil, the residue of the Boabab seed becomes animal feed in effect, nothing of Boabab is useless. 

He stated that, Boabab Seed Oil contains Vitamins A, B and C along Omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids, Magnesium Potassium and Calcium. 

Baobab powder and Pumkin seeds 

He added that, similar nutrients and vitamins are contained in Pawpaw, neem, Pumkin and kenaf seed oils, and plays a similar role in the enhancement of the health of people daily. 

The seed oil extractor

Regarding job creation, Minsaap Ventures has employed 8 direct staff, 8 temporal staff to handle the separation, milling and extraction plants as well as the packaging and labeling .and about two hundred and 87 indirect employees that is those rural poor who gather the raw materials from the Boabab, Neem, pumkin, kenaf seeds and sell them to Minsaap Ventures, Pawpaw seeds from the pawpaw daily venders. 

 

Minsaap Ventures has in a way provided some form of income generation for the vulnerable in some rural communities. 

Some products of Minsaap Ventures ‘are certified by the Food and Drugs Authority. Mr. Minyila stated that, his intention of expanding the venture into a bigger factory.

Story by: Emmanuel Akayeti

UE/R Kukula the river god in perspective –KNWD

This is the front part entering in to Kukula the River God ( the scene is feathers from fowls used for sacrifices 

Shrines and Growths, rivers, hills and forest play a very significant role in the lives of our people, either environmentally, economically or spiritually based on one’s believe and faith on the later. 

They are natural sites governed with traditions that our forebears have bequeathed to us with a lot of history behind them, their relevance today cannot be underestimated. 

One of such is Kukula the river god in Kayoro/Akania in the Kassena Nankana West District of the Upper East Region. As part of the heritage month, Radio Ghana took a visit to Kukula. 

Kukula the river god, takes its source from Burkina Faso running through Kayoro/Akania in the Kassena Nankana West District of the Upper East Region and ending up in the White Volta tributary in Pwuluga.

 Kukula is believed to have come from the sky in the form of light and struck a huge rock in the court yard of the Kayoro/Akania Chief’s Palace and split it, signifying that, the Aduinawo’s Palace should be the custodians of the god. 

This is how the power that came struck and  splinted part of the rock 

Beside the splinted rock is another rock in the form of an arm chair for resting such as this one 

From there, the power moved and settled in the river and has since become their river god “Kukula”. 

The water in the river hardly dries up and it is in this water that, when consulting, after performing the necessary rituals you are directed all alone to go into the water and make all your wishes then bath in it. 

According to the Chief priest of the river god Emmanuel Ayerah stated that, Kukula is a god that blesses people and have the solutions to all problems of human endeavor such as success in marriage, money, power, education, business, fame, travelling abroad, except to kill someone. 

He indicated that, people both home and abroad visit the river god including some pastors. 

The linguist of Chief’s Palace Aduna Adubinwo revealed that, historically, Kukula saved the people of Kania and Kayoro during the slave trade in the 1615s to 1630s, when the Kayoro/Akanias were pursued by the slave raiders, they consulted Kukula that they were being tormented for far too long and that they the natives needed power to overcome the enemy. 

According to Aduna, the linguist the next attack by the raiders, it was during March dry season.  Akanians run across their river god on dry land when the slave raiders tried to cross, Kukula suddenly filled herself with water, the raiders were rounded up, killed and the river carried their bodies away with the water.  This history is similar to that of Moses and the Israelite at the red sea against Pharaoh and his chariots.

The shackles taken from the slave raiders are in custody at the Akania chief’s Palace as exhibits.

The Chief linguist Aduna holding the shackles for as exhibit 

 When the slave raiders arrived, they shot a gun and the bullet hit a Tamarine in the 16^th century, that tree is still alive today with mark.

This is the gun shot of the slave raiders on the tree

Inside the Akania’s Chief Palace, where the suckles are kept, there is a platform which according to the linguist their ancestors came and met and it has never change. 

The frequent visits of people to area is a form of tourism and revenue to the natives as visiting there is not totally free. Kukula is located in a forest which as serves as a forest reserve.

 According to the natives, the forest has wild animals such as elephants, lions, monkeys, Antelopes, among others that servers as wildlife. The tree species found in the forest are the sheanuts, dawadawa, tamarine, black berry and ebony trees among others. 

In time past, that stretch of forest was very dense and fearful but was less patronized as the Kukula was not popular as of now. 

As a result of human activities, it lost its vegetative cover drastically as the common phenomenon bush fires bedevil the area.Though the Sustainable Land and Water Management Project (SLWMP) is operating in the area.

 As we celebrate the heritage month, there is the need to conserve whatever that has been bequeathed to us by our forebears for generation yet unborn, to come and experience it, learn and share. Otherwise, planet earth will suffer a disservice injured and destroy and posterity will not forgive for a wicked act.

Straw Basket Weavers Received PPE and Education on Social Distancing Against COVID-19

Straw Basket weavers in the Upper East Region have been given education on the need for social distancing and personal protective Equipment PP, to help prevent the spread of the corona virus. 

As a result, they are no longer weaving together in groups at the Weaving centers.  

Paku Enterprise (PE) Ghana in collaboration with the African Market Baskets (AMB) of the Overseas Connection of United States of America (USA), are among the major partners that are complementing government’s efforts at sensitizing the Straw Basket weavers in the region to help curb the spread of Coronavirus(COVID-19). 

The two organizations as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility   provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to more than the ten (10) Straw basket weaver groups valued more than GHS 10,000. 

The beneficiaries are from Zorbisi, Bolga-Sherigu, Zaare, Sumbrungu,, Sokabisi,   Yorogo, , Zorko,  Nyariga ,  Yikene and  Bolgatang, the regional capital. All the groups received  110 Veronica buckets, alcohol-based hand sanitizers and handwashing soaps. 

Speaking at the separate functions, the Coordinator of Social Interventions of the two organizations, Ms Eleanor Anabire, explained that the items, which formed part of her Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) was   to enable the groups wash their hands with soap under running water   and apply the hand sanitizers regularly to help prevent them from contracting the COVID-19 virus. 

The Coordinator who educated the groups to observe all the COVID -19 protocols and the President’s directives of social distancing, public gathering and personal hygiene, entreated the groups to be the ambassadors of the COVID -19 education in their respective communities. 

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Paku Enterprise Ghana, Mr Paul Akurugu, explained  that  although  the COVID-19 pandemic had affected  everybody in one way or the other, the basket weaver groups whom are mostly women are among the most  vulnerable groups that require immense support to keep them safe from contracting the virus. 

He explained that, Paku Enterprise is an indigenous firm based in Region that is primarily into production and export of authentic Bolga baskets and other handicraft products. 

He stated that the two partners have been working with the basket weaver groups in the region for many years and have been supporting the groups in diverse ways. 

He mentioned that annually the two organization as part of I their CSR, collaborate with    the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to register and renew the NHIS subscriptions of all members of the weaver groups, including their children.  

He also disclosed that both organizations annually donate educational materials such as reading and text books, pens, pencils, mathematics set, and computers among other to pupils of basic schools within the basket producing communities on an annual basis. 

Mrs. Akolpoka Abugre, one of the leaders of the Basket Weaver groups thanked the two organizations for the support and assured them that they would be ambassadors of the COVID-19 education in their respective communities.

Eat well, have sufficient rest and stay hydrated to boost immune system- Regional Director of Health

The Upper Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Winfred Ofosu has stressed the need to eat well, have sufficient rest, regularly and frequently drink enough water to stay hydrated and have regular dose of exercise to build a robust immune system in order to fight the effects of the Corona virus disease, saying the speed of one recovering from COVID 19 will largely depend one’s level natural

He has also discouraged the patronage of immune booster in the form of pills as substitute nutritious diet and regular physical activities.

Dr Ofosu made this known on Youth and COVID 19 show jointly hosted by 13-year-old Amoh Nana Adwoa Kente and 14-year-old Fuseini Hamshawu on GBC URA Radio over the weekend. 

He disclosed that that there is evidence that the virus is secreted in the fecal matter and that flushing the water closet after use can create an aerosol that can likely store the virus in the space for some time. 

He therefore advised not to use the wash room immediately after someone else uses it and to flush the toilet while the lid is closed to prevent aerosol from being created. 

Responding to a question on how the patients with COVID 19 are said to have recovered even though there is no known vaccine, he explained that the management protocol involves treating the Symptoms presented by each patients while monitoring the viral load and that will determine whether a patient has recovered. 

He hinted that there is evidence that even when a patient recover, the recovered person can still pass out the virus for up to about five weeks, hence the need to observe the health protocol including

 Social or physical distance, staying at home or wearing of nose mask when going out. 

Explaining why there is less death and fewer patients on ventilators in the African continent, Dr. Ofosu explained that the area with much COVID 19 cases with less death corresponds with areas where Malaria is endemic adding that some school of taught have it that has it that Africans have some level of protection due to malarial infection. 

He encouraged persons with symptoms similar to COVID 19 to Call the regional hotline 059-645-02-15 or alternatively reach the national hotline 112 and the call will be redirected to the regional response team adding this will check infesting others as one move to the health facility. 

A Workshop on Tax Education Held in the Upper East Region

Effective Tax collection is very crucial as it generates revenue for the smooth and rapid administration of every country. Unfortunately, due to poor tax education, ineffective tax laws ignorance and corruption, Ghana loses a lot of revenue for her development. 

It is against this backdrop that the Upper East Regional Tax Justice Coalition (TJC), an advocacy Organization has called on government to take steps to review the current tax system to expand the tax net to rake more revenue for national development. 

The Coalition said taxation was the major source of funding for the country’s development projects, however about 90 percent of the potential taxpayers were left out of the tax net leading to low mobilization of resources for national development. 

This has therefore compelled the Ghana to depend on external aid to finance most of the country’s project including roads, schools, hospitals and social amenities among others. 

The Coalition made the called during a stakeholder workshop in Bolgatanga, organized the Rural Initiative for Self-Empowerment Ghana (RISE-Ghana), a Non-Governmental Organization ((NGO) with funding from Action Aid Ghana, another NGO. 

The aim of the workshop was to build the capacities of Civil Society Organizations, NGOs, business owners, media among other stakeholders to enable them engage in evidence based tax justice advocacy and support local revenue mobilization efforts.

It was under the themes, “addressing policy challenges and regulatory loopholes to improve tax compliance in Ghana: what role can state and non-state actors play and “taxation: taxpayer’s role and responsibilities and the need to for compliance”. 

The workshop brought together, representatives Civil Society Organization, Government Agencies and Departments, the media and market women. 

Speaking to Radio Ghana, the Executive Director of Rise Ghana a Non-Governmental Organization Mr. Awal Ahmed Kariyamah and a member of the Tax Justice Coalition (TJC), explained that, the coalition is made up of different civil society groups, media and other informal actors group who are concern about the fact that the tax system needs to be fair and just, so that the more taxes collected are responsive to the the needs of the people and based on their income levels. 

Mr. Ahmed stated further that, the aim of the workshop was to dialog with all the stakeholders and GRA to see how best they can support government to be able to mobilized the necessary revenue as well as how government can have equitable and just tax system, so that the collection and processing should not be a burden to the tax-payer. 

He indicated that the coalition is looking at about 70 percent of Ghana’s educational needs are going to be supported by sourcing for external funding (borrowing), the same is talked off in our health sector. 

These external borrowing come with conditions and is such huge a debt to be borne by generation yet unborn. Mr. Ahmed emphasized that if the tax system is well handled, it will rake enough revenue to achieve the much talked about of the Ghana Beyond Aid agender. 

The Acting Office Manager of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) of the Domestic Tax Revenue Division, Bolga Small Tax-payer Office Mr. Yussif Musah Braimah took participants through the establishment of GRA indicated that, the Tax Act, Act (791) of 2009 mandate every Ghanaian of his or her tax obligation to pay as such and in default sanctions can be applied under the Revenue Administrative Act of 2016, Act (915) 

Mr. Braimah schooled participants on the role of GRA, divisions of the tax system, the various types of taxes that exist, their rates and mode of payments. 

He advised that every Ghanaian to demand for a receipt of any taxable item purchased in order to help mobilized revenue for the nation building.

UE/R Stakeholders Workshop to Influence Disbursement of DACF to PWDs

A cross section of participants at the workshop

A stakeholder’s workshop on facilitating women living with Disabilities/Albinism access to economic opportunities has been organized by the Seed for Economic Empowerment of the Vulnerable (SEEV-Ghana) in the Upper East Region. 

SEEV-Ghana’s aim is to contribute to positive change based on mutual interest and values. 

They support children, women groups, persons with Disabilities (PWDs), their associations/networks and community leaders to work in partnership with duty bearers on the development of a more inclusive, open and unwavering societies. 

Persons with Disabilities PWDs who constitute majority of the beneficiaries of SEEV-Ghana in the Upper East Region so not fully benefit from the 3 percent District Assemblies Common Fund allocations to PWDs. A situation where PWDs suffer all forms of discrimination, exclusion in addition to District Assembly restricting support for PWDs, further disempowers them economically.

 It was against this backdrop that SEEV-Ghana, with funding and technical support from the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund and its donors Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the European Union currently undertaking an advocacy action to influence Bolgatanga Municipal and Bongo District Assembly to facilitate access to economic opportunities for Women Living with Disabilities/Albinism in the communities. 

Vincent Subby BUSAC Fund Monitor and Robert Nintand Programmes Manager SEEV-Ghana

Speaking to Radio Ghana, the Programmes Manager Robert Nintang, indicated that, the workshop intended to create a platform to deliberate on findings of a research conducted in the Bolgatanga Municipality and Bongo District as part of the advocacy action and step that could be taken to resolve the issue. 

He added, with the provision of skills and established social facilities, it will bring enormous economic benefits to PWDs in the area and also increase income generating capacities to members of PWDS, create employment opportunities which will lead to economic independence and self reliance. 

The BUSAC Fund monitor Vincent Subby stated that, SEEV-Ghana has applied and met the criteria for funding from BUSAC. Therefore BUSAC will monitor every activity to ensure that their choice of fighting for PWDs to give some leverage and sustainability in the disbursement of the District Assembly is achieved. 

SEEV-Ghana came in to being as a result of peer discussion amongst development students and the constant contact with women and children in distressed communities in the Upper East Region and Ghana as a whole.