Category: General

Hundreds of residents in the Krachi East Municipality of the Oti Region have expressed fear over the likely outbreak of diseases as many pit latrines were submerged by flood waters.

The Ghana News Agency (GNA) saw some guest houses and washrooms along the riverbanks of Oti already contaminated by the flood.

Checks by the GNA revealed increased cases of typhoid being reported among residents in the Municipality.

Dr Mavis Marfo, the medical doctor of Dambai Health Centre, disclosed to the GNA that from August to October, this year, the facility recorded a total of 951 typhoid cases against a total of 565 recorded in the same period in 2022.

Madam Sybil Marie Boison, the Oti Regional Environmental Health Officer, in an interview with the GNA, said her office would work with the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Bernard Aborkugya Mensah for a lasting solution.

She said it was an eyesore to construct latrines along the riverbanks by putting the lives of those who used the water for domestic purposes at risk of g
etting infections and contracting waterborne diseases.

She said that the United Nations recognised access to water and sanitation as human rights issues and further as rights that were interlinked with the realisation of human dignity.

‘It is sad to say that due to the lack of access to toilet facilities, many people in every part of the country engage in open defecation, a practice that is an affront to the dignity of any civilised human society,’ she said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Government is not taking chances in respect of securing Ghana’s stability, peace and security ahead of the 2024 General Election, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured.

He said his Administration was determined to leave behind a country in harmony, devoid of confusion and rancor.

‘I ask all of you to continue to pray for Ghana’s peace and unity so, we can continue to move forward as a united nation, which is a beacon of stability and freedom in Africa,’ he stated.

President Nana Akufo-Addo was addressing the leadership of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) at a valedictory service for its outgoing Moderator, the Right Reverend Professor Joseph Mante, in Accra.

He will be succeeded by the Moderator-elect, the Rt. Rev. Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye.

The President said the citizenry ought to desist from activities that had the potential to dent the nation’s hard-won reputation and enviable record within the comity of African states.

‘I want to state for the record that under my watch, no p
erson or group of persons, no matter their political colouration, will be allowed to destabilise our country nor destroy the peace that all of us are enjoying.

‘It will not happen,’ he emphasised.

While counting on the continued understanding and active cooperation of all and sundry in achieving Ghana’s development agenda, he was optimistic the nation would prevail, in spite of the current socio-economic difficulties.

‘We can make it, if all of us will work at it.

‘I need the support of every Ghanaian together with the prayers of the Church to help me and my Government carry out our mandate successfully,’ he prayed.

The President lauded the Presbyterian Church for being a worthy partner of the State in development.

Ghana, he said, had for many decades benefitted immensely from the initiatives and development programmes of the Church, particularly in the area of education, health and agriculture.

‘God will continue to bless the Church for its work,’ he stated, and lauded the outgoing Moderator for conti
nuing with the PCG’s good legacies.

The Rt. Rev. Prof. Mante said he appreciated the support and encouragement the Church gave him throughout his tenure.

He promised to always be at hand in helping to prosecute the agenda of the Moderator-elect for the sustainable growth of Presbyterianism.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Torgbiga Adama III, Paramount Chief of Somé Traditional Area, in Ketu South has called on Somé citizens home and abroad, and philanthropists to support the area for more development projects.

He said: ‘I hope to mobilise Somé citizens, the government organisations and other stakeholders to help us motivate our teachers to teach and pupils to learn, find scholarships for our brilliant but needy pupils to study Medicine, Law, Ewe Language and Arts and improve health and sanitation, and the road network.’

Torgbiga Adama made the call at the 2023 Sometutuza, the socio-cultural and development festival at Agbozume celebrated on the theme: ‘Unifying All of Somé for Her Total Development.’

He said though he and his chiefs had made some modest gains in areas of chieftaincy, education, health and socio-economic development, ‘Somé is not yet out of the woods’ and required the support of all.

‘There are still some pockets of chieftaincy disputes here and there, health facility challenges, poor road network and the
flooding of Somé.

Torgbiga Adama said he intended to revive the ‘kete’ (kente) industry to be a more vibrant and innovative trade and indicated his readiness to work with any well-wisher to win the economic battle for Somé.

‘Somé cannot do it alone, just as you also cannot do it alone,’ the Paramount Chief said.

Former President and Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, who graced the durbar in the company of Mr Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, General Secretary of the NDC and Mr Mawutor Agbavitor, Regional Chairman, NDC among other party functionaries, donated relief items meant for flood victims in the area.

The items included 177 bags of rice, 38 cartons of cooking oil, 43 cartons of tomato paste, 45 cartons of canned fish and packs of bottled water.

Mr Mahama assured all flood victims of the NDC’s support and thanked Volta Region Members of Parliament (MPs) for standing with their people in their plight.

Saturday’s durbar which showcased the rich traditions of Somé was replete
with drumming and dancing, cultural performances, poetry recitals, a play featuring the economic activities of the people and an exhibition which flaunted the kete designs and products from Agbozume.

The festival which had returned after 19 years break due to chieftaincy disputes, had Togbi Gbordzor III, Dusifiaga of Anlo and other traditional leaders from Aflao, Ave and Klikor areas in addition to other dignitaries like MPs for Ketu South and Akatsi South, and current and former Municipal Chief Executives for Ketu South.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Tom Nørring, the Danish Ambassador to Ghana, has rallied stakeholders in the maritime security sector to remain vigilant and alert to pirate attacks in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) in spite of the recent decline in cases in the region.

While commending efforts that had contributed to the decline, he warned that ‘we don’t let our safeguards down’ because ‘the risks are still there’.

Mr Nørring made the call at the launch of a Danish and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) – funded study titled: ‘Pirates of the Niger Delta II: An update of piracy trends and legal finish in the Gulf of Guinea’ in Accra.

The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAPITC) also opened a two-day training on ‘Gender and Maritime Security in West Africa: Integrating the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda’, as part of the programme.

A total of 21 delegates from Cote D’Ivoire, Benin, Togo, Cameroun, Ghana, and Nigeria are participating in the training.

Mr Nørring encouraged stakeholders in the marit
ime sector to continuously focus on the issues despite a decline in pirate attacks.

‘We do talk a lot about the reduction, and we are thankful for that. There is a lot of analysis as to the reasons behind the reduction, but I think it also must be a prudent approach that we don’t just let our safeguards down, close our eyes and move on.

‘The risks are still there, and we have to continuously be focusing on that,’ he said.

The GoG has been identified as the most dangerous shipping route in the world, accounting for more than 90 per cent of all kidnappings at sea in 2021.

Meanwhile, data from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), a global database that reports piracy, indicate that only seven incidents of piracy were recorded in the (GoG) in the first quarter of 2022.

The IMB said only five reported cases were recorded in the first quarter of 2023.

Air Commodore David Anetey Akrong, Deputy Commandant, KAIPTC, expressed concerns that the extent to which women and men contributed to solutions in the sect
or was not consistently mirrored in policy implementation.

He said although countries within the region had ratified and integrated national action plans to implement the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda, the application had not been extended to the maritime governance and maritime security sector.

‘It is, therefore, critical that deliberate and intentional policies are made taking into cognisance, the distinctive gender dynamics of the maritime sector within the GoG region,’ he said.

Mr Thomas Kofi Alansi, Chairman of the Ghana Maritime Security Committee, and Director General of Ghana Maritime Authority, described worrying emerging trends in the shift from geographical location of piracy incidents from West Africa to Central Africa.

He said the development required urgent attention and concerted efforts to address the evolving challenges in the affected regions.

Ms Jane Kimani Kinyazui, Associate Programme Officer, UNODC, said the UNODC would continue to collaborate with the KAIPTC to train more marit
ime personnel to enhance the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda.

The ”Pirates of the Niger Delta II” is the second edition of the Danish-funded study titled ‘Pirates of the Niger Delta: between brown and blue waters’ released in 2021.

The study is a comprehensive analysis of the recent decline in deep offshore kidnap-for-ransom incidents in the region.

The Study analyses piracy incident data from diverse sources, including the International Maritime Bureau, Stable Seas, Maritime Information Cooperation and Awareness Centre and CEMLAWS.

It also explored the modus operandi of piracy attacks during the period of decline, including the target of attacks, geographical focus and reach of attacks, among other issues.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Brian Acheampong, the Minister for Food and Agriculture and Mrs Mavis Hawa Koomson, the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Monday jointly launched the 2023 Agrifest to help Ghana achieve food security and resilience by 2028.

The three-day exhibition, which is part of the Farmers’ Day celebration week, saw actors in the agricultural value chain from across the 16 regions, display wide food crops, items and products, clothing and machinery in Accra, for viewing and sale.

Among the items were locally produced yoghurts, cereals, cash crop powder, mushroom and soda pastries, palm, groundnut and coconut oil, legumes, manure, fertilisers, weedicides, tractors, African fabrics, cocoa and shea products.

Mr Acheampong said the government was embarking on a journey towards Ghana’s attainment of food security and food self-sufficiency by 2028, hence, had developed a five-year strategic food security plan from September 2023, which included the Agrifest.

‘It is important to showcase the tools they
will employ to help achieve the food security. Input dealers, farmers, regional and district agriculture offices, fisheries departments across the country and a lot of stakeholders will help to achieve that,’ he said.

The Minister said Ghana could only attain food security and resilience through the hard work of farmers, hence it was very important to honour and encourage them to do more for the economy.

‘It is important for all Ghanaians to come on board to march the journey together for us to achieve our food security and resilience. We believe with the trajectory we have embarked on as a country, we will be food-secured and resilient by the next five years,’ he added.

Mrs Mavis Hawa Koomson, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, said Agrifest was a young innovation towards the Farmers’ Day and lauded the Minister for Food and Agriculture for the efforts towards the programme.

She called on all stakeholders to join forces to honour the hardworking farmers, ‘who without, there would not
be any food on the table’, adding: ‘Let’s do this in a grand style’.

The 39th edition of the National Farmers’ Day celebration on the theme, ‘Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience’, will be held on the campus of the University of Mines and Technology, Western Region on Friday, December 01, 2023.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) has held a Valedictory and Thanksgiving Service for the Right Reverend Professor Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, the outgoing Moderator of the General Assembly, at the PCG Victory Congregation, Fafraha near Adenta in Accra.

It was graced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Chief of Staff, Madam Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, and the Finance, Road, and National Security ministers, the Inspector General of Police, George Akuffo Dampare, and chiefs among many dignitaries.

Rt. Rev. Prof. Mante took office as the Moderator on December 1, 2018, after serving as the President of the Trinity Theological Seminary.

President Akufo-Addo eulogised the Moderator for his contribution to the development of the country and called on the Church to continuously pray for the leadership and the Government to carry out its mandate, successfully.

Touching on his achievement, Prof Mante said with the introduction of ‘Vision 1.5’, the church had increased its membership to about 1.4 million
.

He said 285 pavilions were constructed across the country to provide a welcoming environment for collective worship and the expansion of the church’s influence.

A suitable manse was constructed for the Moderator of the General Assembly while he introduced responsible and sustainable environmental practices among the various congregations of the Church.

Rt Rev. Prof. Mante led the church to provide support for PCG’s minsters serving in deprived and economically challenged communities.

He said the Presby Church had provided enormous support to the education sector of the country, currently boasting of 2,500 basic schools, 36 senior high schools, and seven tertiary institutions.

He commended all and sundry for their support and encouraged Christians not to lose touch with God’s divine presence.

He urged them to take corporate worship and their personal relationship with God seriously, since that was the only way, they would move to higher ground.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Stakeholders in conflict management and peacebuilding have identified the lack of well documented plans of succession as the major cause of chieftaincy disputes in parts of northern Ghana.

The situation has created a culture and environment of greed and lust for power among some traditional governance systems, leading to protracted chieftaincy and related conflicts, they said.

The stakeholders, including the Catholic Church, traditional authorities, the Upper East Regional Security and Peace Councils, therefore, urged traditional leaders to take steps to document clear culture-specific succession plans to minimise such disputes.

This came up a Chieftaincy Act and Succession Planning training, organised for members of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs by the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocesan Development Organisation (NABOCADO), the development wing of the Catholic Diocese, held at Pusu-Namongo in the Talensi District.

It forms part of the implementation of the Integrated Peacebuilding for Improved Food a
nd Nutrition Support (INPEACE) project by NABOCADO, sponsored by the MISEREOR, a German Catholic Organisation.

Very Reverend Father Lawrence Azure, the Vicar General of the Diocese, noted that sustainable peace was not only a sign of God’s presence in one’s life but a necessary ingredient to achieving sustainable socioeconomic development and national cohesion.

‘You will all bear with me that Palestine and Israel or the Middle East for that matter has become a pale shadow of itself since October,’ he said.

‘Our own backyard, Bawku, has become a pale shadow of itself as the economic and normal social life of the people have all been disrupted by this age-old chieftaincy conflict. Many have lost their lives and livelihoods, with several others having been maimed…’.

‘As result of greed and lust for power, there are some people who will always want to put aside laid down succession roadmaps in order to ascend to the throne when it is not yet their tenure.’

Mr Ali Anankpieng, the Executive Secretary of the Up
per East Reginal Peace Council, explained that the judiciary and the chieftaincy institution were the most resilient institutions that had survived colonial, military and democratic rule.

However, it was open secret that chieftaincy had been a major cause of conflicts in Ghana, he said, and called for strategic efforts to minimise them.

Mr Stephen Yakubu, the Upper East Regional Minister, in a speech read on his behalf, said seven traditional councils in the region had completed their succession plans awaiting approval at the national level and commended NABCADO for working to promote peace in the region.

Dr Joseph Bangu, the Director of the Good Governance, Justice and Peace Directorate, NABOCADO, said the project had contributed to peace building in the North East and Upper East regions by helping traditional areas to document their succession plans to improve governance.

Naba Baba Salifu Atamale Lemyaarum, the Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area, said the call for documentation was noted that
call for documented succession plans for traditional areas was the right one and called for support to help traditional areas document their succession plans

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Volta Regional Directorate of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in collaboration with its Head Office has donated relief items to flood victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage in South Tongu and Anloga districts of the Volta Region.

The Company presented 1,000 bags of sachet water and 50 packs of bottled water to each of the districts to help the victims have access to quality drinking water to remain healthy.

The items were received by the District Chief Executives of the two districts on behalf of the affected persons, for onward distribution to the victims.

Mr Francis Lamptey, Volta Regional Chief Manager of the Company, who presented the items said the gesture formed part of the Company’s corporate social responsibility.

He disclosed to the Ghana News Agency that the items were produced by a subsidiary of the Ghana Water Company Limited called G-WATER and that they were of high quality.

Mr Lamptey said the victims were their customers and it was the customers that kept them in business, so it
was important that the Company empathize with them and support them to alleviate their pain.

‘We are in business because of customers, so when our customers are suffering, we have to support them, because we survive as a Company because of our customers,’ he said.

He disclosed that to be sure that water delivered to the customers in the affected districts was not contaminated, the Company took samples from those districts and conducted a quality test.

The Director said the test result was positive and there was no contamination as no pathogen was found in the water but was quick to add that the Company would continue the testing.

Mr Seth Kwasi Agbi, South Tongu District Chief Executive expressed appreciation to the Company for the gesture.

He said about 30 communities were affected within the area and that the donation would go a long way to alleviate the plight of the victims.

Mr Seth Yormewu, the District Chief Executive for Anloga also thanked GWCL for coming to the aid of the affected persons as wat
er was an important commodity in the life of human beings.

The DCE disclosed that a team from the Head Office of the GWCL led by the District Director of the Company were in the district to do assessment regarding the water that the people were drinking.

Source: Ghana News Agency