Tamale,- Mr Habib Haruna, Chief Executive Officer of Pure Trust Social Investors Foundation (PTSIF), a non-governmental organisation, has urged the citizenry to prioritise local initiatives to ensure the development of their areas.

 

Mr Haruna emphasised the need for community members amongst other stakeholders to pool resources to create the needed avenue for the development of their areas.

 

He was speaking at a stakeholders consortium workshop in Tamale organised by PTSIF in partnership with Ghana Philanthropy Forum (GPF) and funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.

 

The workshop was to engage stakeholders from communities that had registered for the second phase of the Community Foundations project being implemented by PTSIF to get them prepared for the smooth implementation of the project by January, next year.

 

Participants included members of various Community Foundations, and representatives from the middle and northern zones of the country, who shared experiences and updates on activities undertaken in their areas as part of the Community Foundations initiative.

 

They also discussed the need to strengthen the Community Foundations as well as the need for more community involvement and participation to ensure they achieved their targets.

 

Mr Haruna expressed the need for participants to educate community members on the relevance of Community Foundations to whip up their interest and participation in championing their own development.

 

Dr Ben Ocra, President of GPF called on Community Foundations to tap into the available resources in their communities to reduce their dependence on donor organisations in the drawing and implementation of initiatives for their own development.

 

He called on Community Foundations to build the culture of documentation and accountability to help project the African story of philanthropy to guarantee mutual and sustainable development in the communities.

 

Mr Martin Gyan, Sunyani West representative of PTSIF expressed the need for all to develop the spirit of volunteerism to complement government’s efforts for the development of their communities.

 

Mr Charles Nyojah, Saboba Zonal Representative expressed the willingness of members of his zone to actively participate in the activities of the Community Foundation to champion their own development.

 

Source: Ghana News Agency

 

Wa,– The Upper West Regional Youth Parliament has called on the government to take the necessary actions to ensure the immediate completion of the Wa-Tumu-Bolgatanga highway to help promote trade and business between the two regions.

 

It said the completion of that trunk road would also promote agricultural activities in the Sissala East Municipality and the Sissala West District as the farmers would be able to transport the farm produce in large scale to major market centres in the two regions.

 

Mr James Baba Anabiga, the Speaker of the Upper West Regional Youth Parliament, made the appeal at a press conference in Wa on Thursday.

 

He explained that the Upper West Region remained the only region in the country that had no good road linking its other parent region of the Upper East.

 

“Whilst other regions are currently calling for rehabilitation of their tarred roads, the Upper West Region is yet to see a fully constructed tarred road for easy access to Upper East Region despite the countless campaign promises by successive governments,” Mr Anabiga explained.

 

According to him, it was not enough for the contractors in charge of that road to be on site for many years without completing the project that could be executed within a year or two.

 

He said since the Sawla-Damango-Fufulso road project with markets and health facilities was completed within three years, it was also possible for the Wa-Tumu-Bolgatanga Road to be completed within a short time.

 

Mr Anabiga also stressed the need for a tollbooth along the Wa-Babile-Lawra-Hamile stretch to enable the region generate funds for road maintenance.

 

He observed that the long vehicles that run on that stretch had contributed to the early destruction of the road, hence the need for those vehicles to pay road levies to the region to regularly maintain the roads.

 

Mr Anaiga also talked on the abandoned Affordable Housing Project in the region, which could have improved the housing situation for the people in the area.

 

He explained that the sod for that project was cut in 2007, but had since not been completed and called on the government to work to ensure that the project was completed.

 

Mr Anabiga therefore called on all well-meaning natives of the Upper West Region, including the Upper West Regional caucus in parliament to lobby for the swift execution of those projects for the development of the region.

 

Source: Ghana News Agency

 

Accra,- The Ghana Police Service (GPS) on Saturday opened its newly expanded and remodelled Ghana Police Church to commence religious services for its members and the public.

 

The expanded and remodelled Church now has a 1,400-seating capacity Chapel with multipurpose meeting spaces, which would allow members to use the space for religious education to enrich the spiritual experience of members.

 

It was officially opened by the President, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo.

 

The very Reverend ACP Frank D. Twum-Baah, chaplain, Ghana Police church, said he was glad the expansion construction and remodelling of the Church had come to a successful end to pave way for the glorification of God.

 

He said it would help deepen the spiritual lives of Police Personnel, their families and the general public as well as many generations to come.

 

“The prophetic manifestation concerning the role of this church in the coming revival of the Church in Ghana, as well as the gateway, is a great and humbling news for us,” he said.

 

He commended Church members and individuals who contributed in one or the other to ensure the successful completion of the Chapel.

 

The Right Reverend Professor J.O.Y Mante, Moderator of General Assembly, Presbyterian Church of Ghana, speaking at the dedication of the Chapel, urged members of the Church to use the new edifice to propagate the message of God to help enhance peace and development in the country.

 

He also called on Ghanaians to put up more beautiful houses of God to ensure that it would benefit the current generation and the future generations.

 

Professor Mante said the construction of Churches and other houses of God were not only for prayers and glorification of the Almighty God, but also for other purposes such that it could be a source of shelter for victims of natural disasters and other unfortunate events.

 

He encouraged the GPS to ensure that their attendance to the Church would reflect in the discharge of their duties.

 

Professor Mate said the duty of any religion was to change immoral people to moral individual, and that it was essential for the churches to be transforming the lives of Ghanaians.

 

The Church was started in 1964 by some police officers and their families along with other civilians living in the neighbourhood.

 

Presently, its membership has a strong nondenominational presence.

 

The total estimated cost of the construction works including fitting and fixtures of the Church expansion and remodelling was over GH¢11.7billion.

 

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra,– The Lord’s Pentecostal Church International (TLPCI), Saturday, launched its 60th Anniversary with a kick-start of the Church’s 60th Annual General Conference to celebrate achievements and reflect on how to improve the works of the Church and support the congregation.

 

The launch at its Kwashieman branch on the theme: “Let Your Light Shine”, as taken from “Matthew 5:16”, also sought to encourage and strengthen members to lead positive and exemplary lives in the society.

 

The celebration was adorned with a cultural ministration and drama over how the Church was formed and how prayer to God rendered all other forces powerless and healed physically and spiritually.

 

The General Overseer of the Church, Apostle Eric Essandoh Otoo, with Apostle Eric Kwabena Nyamekye, the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost and the immediate Past General Overseer of TLPCI, Apostle Richard Yao Amegbor Buafor, unveiled the Anniversary Logo to reflect the theme for the anniversary.

 

The Founding Fathers of the Church comprising 25 members including the Menka family presented a cheque for $1,000 to the church.

 

Apostle Eric Kwabena Nyamekye, Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, said churches were just bricks and mortar, but in it was Jesus Christ, his word and the power of the Holy Ghost, which helped members to overcome their fears.

 

Speaking on the theme, he said although children of God were supposed to be lights, there was so much darkness in the world.

 

Apostle Nyamekye, who is also the Vice President of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, said: “It is not enough to say I’m born again, and so what? Your light must shine and benefit humanity.”

 

Making reference to the Bible verse, 2nd Corinthians 4: 1-6, he said Christians were to use the life and light given to them to resurrect the dead and those living in darkness, through helping them to reconcile with God.

 

Apostle Otoo, the General Overseer, said other programmes on the 60th Anniversary calendar of the Church were a Convention, 60th celebration for the aged, donation to the Peki Government Hospital and Basic schools, donation to needy, organisation of youth camp, health and nutrition walk, tree planting and clean-up campaign, dinner and awards, and ordination of Pastors, leaders, and apostles.

 

As Rebekah gave birth to twins as described in the Bible, at age 60, he said it was the same way that each member of the congregation was going to receive double blessings.

 

He encouraged members to be committed to the celebration and give of their best to ensure its success.

 

The Church prayed that they shined and made positive impact at their homes, communities, work places and on the nation at large and for renewal of minds and greater grace.

 

The Church of Pentecost donated 10,000 Cedis to support the Anniversary of TLPCI.

 

Other dignitaries who graced the occasion were Reverend Ministers from the AME Zion Church and Calvary Baptist Church.

 

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, Oct.30, GNA — James Mensah, aged 42, Facility Manager of West Hills Mall and Samuel Annum Adjei, 44-year-old contractor, have been arrested by the Weija Divisional Police Command for blocking the entrance of China Mall with rocks.

 

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Juliana Obeng, Head of Public Affairs Unit, Greater Accra Regional Police Command, preliminary investigations suggested that the West Hills Mall was competing with China Mall for clients, hence the blockage.

 

She said on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at about 0200 hours, the Police at Weija received a distress call from the security man at China mall that some persons were there with a dumping truck, tipping off rocks at the entrance of the China mall located behind the West Hills Mall.

 

DSP OBeng said Police immediately moved to the scene and upon arrival, they observed that the entrance to the mall had indeed been blocked with rocks.

 

She said the two suspects immediately took to their heels upon seeing the Police.

 

However, the suspects were given a hot chase, arrested and sent to the Command for questioning, DSP Obeng said.

 

She said James and Samuel both admitted to the offence and had been cautioned.

 

DSP Obeng said they were presently in Police custody assisting with investigations, meanwhile the rocks have been moved from the entrance of the China mall.

 

Source: Ghana News Agency