Category: General

Tarkwa(WR) May 23, GNA – The Member of Parliament (MP) for Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency, Mr George Mireku Duker, has cut sod for the construction of a pavilion to serve as meeting place for the residents of Akoon.

The project funded by the Member of Parliament will be undertaken by Messers Offshore Engineering and is expected to be completed in three months.

Speaking at the ceremony, the MP who doubles as the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, noted that the project was in fulfilment of a promise he made to the community this year.

He, therefore, presented over 60 bags of cement, two trips of sand and stones to exhibit his commitment for the project to commence.

The deputy minister implored the community to assist the contractor to discharge his duties smoothly so that the project would be completed within the time scheduled and used for the intended purpose.

Mr Duker urged the contractor to have a cordial working relationship with the community and liaise with the elders of the community.

He pledged to work hard and to bring more developmental projects to his constituents in Tarkwa-Nsuaem.

The Chief of Akoon, Nana Abban, on his part expressed gratitude to the MP and assured him of his people’s support.

He appealed to the Deputy Minister to construct a reservoir for the Akoon community as they experienced frequent water shortage in the area.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Tamale, May 23, GNA – Right Reverend Dennis Debukari Tong, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Tamale has encouraged Christians to be faithful and continue to live to please God.

He reminded Christians that they would be rewarded in the life hereafter, based on their deeds on the earth. “For Christians, our final destination is to be with Christ, which is the reward we look forward to,” the cleric said, adding that human beings were sojourners in the world passing through to heaven, the final destination.

He, therefore, encouraged Christians to be faithful and live to please God saying, “this final destination is determined by how we live our lives.”

Right Reverend Tong was delivering a sermon during church service in Tamale on the theme: “Going to the Father, Our Final Destination”.

He said the Bible explored the concept of discipleship and faithfulness in the book of Deuteronomy Chapter 34, as deeds worth reward in God’s Kingdom.

He reiterated that Christians would be rewarded in the life hereafter based on deeds on earth.

He added that “faithful disciples will be rewarded. As Jesus assures us of going to the Father so shall those, who are His faithful disciples, also go to the Father.”

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Felix Ngmenkaara Darimaani, National Project Coordinator, Savannah Zone Agricultural Productivity Improvement Project (SAPIP), says Africa needs commercial agriculture to address food insecurity.

Mr Darimaani, a Development Economist, explained that though subsistence farming – an age long practice across many countries in Africa was still important, the time had come for the continent to focus on commercial agriculture.

He said for Africa to develop, it must move from subsistence to commercial agriculture to help the continent produce enough food crops to feed industry in its quest to industrialise and transform its economies.

He said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of a visit to some project sites under SAPIP and Savannah Investment Programme (SIP) in the Northern Region.

Mr Darimaani said: “Subsistence farming has been with us for a very long time and they’re still important, but for us to industrialise, we actually need the bigger players, the commercial farmers to produce in large quantities for the industry.”

He added that: “Smallholder farmers only produce for subsistence and sell the surplus, but the commercial farmer is more interested in the market than what to eat.

“Therefore, commercial farmers put in much effort to produce in larger quantities and have high productivity to feed the industry, thereby, reducing the export of raw materials.

“If we have a lot of commercial production in Ghana and Africa, then we’re working towards industrialisation, providing the raw materials for our own industry, and not exporting the raw materials to other countries,” he said.

Citing SAPIP as an example, the Project Coordinator indicated that the intervention under the Technologies for African Agriculture Transformation (TAAT), led to area production growth of 13,364 hctares in 2021 from 87 hctares in 2018.

Yield levels for maize and soybean also increased from 4.03 tonnes and 1.83 tonnes to 6.6 tonnes and 2.35 tonnes respectively, and cumulatively, farmers produced 102,675 tonnes of maize and 12,395 tonnes of soybean since 2018.

He stated that: “Currently, there have been restriction of the exportation of some food items (maize and soybean), and this presents an opportunity for our farmers to further expand, produce adequately to feed us and export other countries.”

Mr Isaac Papanko, a beneficiary of tge project said: “Since the implementation of SAPIP, production has improved tremendously, and yields have also gone up. So, we have more volumes of the produce compared to 2018.”

“This is helping to close the food shortage gap, though there’s price increase in food crops especially now. The prices would have actually been higher if production had not increased.”

SAPIP, anchored on the Government’s flagship Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) and One District-One Factory (1D1F) initiatives, provides farmers with input support, including seedlings, as well as farm implements like tractors, and harvesters.

The primary aim of the project is to transform the agriculture value chain for food and nutrition security, job and wealth creation through agricultural productivity and diversification and strengthen agribusiness within the Savannah zones of Ghana.

This is to help address the challenges of agro-ecological conditions, low socio-economic indicators and historical deficit of public investment in terms of infrastructure and services.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Some angry members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Aowin Constituency of the Western North Region, who are not happy with a decision by the National Executive Council to rerun a recent constituency election to elect new executives, have set the office ablaze.

The earlier election was, allegedly plagued with irregularities.

The angry supporters will, however, have none of that.

But the supporters, who are unhappy about the decision, say they will resist any attempt for the elections to be reorganised.

Apart from Aowin, the Okaikoi South constituency poll of the party also experienced some chaos as 413 names of delegates got missing from the register.

Also, in Yendi, in the Northern Region, the process was halted over anomalies with the album.

Source: Modern Ghana

Bolgatanga, May 23, GNA – One person has been shot dead after a renewed communal conflict between the residents of Doba in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality and Kandiga in the Kassena-Nankana West District.

Five people have been arrested in connection with the clash and are currently in police custody assisting investigation and to be processed for court.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr David Fianko-Okyere, Public Relations Officer, Upper East Regional Police Command, confirmed the incident to the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga and said the clash occurred in the evening of Sunday, May 22, 2022.

He said the renewed clash was related to the recent land dispute in the area between the chiefs and people of the two communities.

According to ASP Fianko-Okyere, calm had been restored to the area, while security services continued to work to arrest perpetuators.

The communal conflict started in 2020 when the two communities claimed ownership of a land on which a Police post and a Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound were to be constructed.

The conflict then led to gunshots from the two factions leading to loss of lives, destruction of property such as houses and farmlands particularly through burning.

It also led people to seek safe haven elsewhere, prompting the Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to form a joint military and police operation team to keep the place calm and maintain law and order.

The Ministry of the Interior has also imposed a curfew in the area.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Berekum Chelsea scored a last gasp goal to beat League leaders Asante Kotoko 1-0 at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

Kelvin Obeng smashed home the match-winner ten minutes from to give the Blues a well-deserved win against a familiar opponent.

After a barren first half, Berekum Chelsea were reduced to ten men after Osei Wusu received the marching orders – giving Asante Kotoko a numerical advantage in a very close contest.

Kelvin Obeng went round his marker before curling the ball past Danlad Ibrahim into the back of the net with 10 minutes of time remaining.

The defeat means Asante Kotoko need to wait a little longer in the battle for the Ghana Premier League title after Medeama SC cut their lead to six points with five games in hand.

Asante Kotoko sit at the top of the Premier League standings with 56 points – 6 points ahead of Medeama SC who are on 50 points following their come from behind win against Great Olympics on Saturday.

In other matches, AshantiGold SC scored in either half to overcome bottom-placed Elmina Sharks 3-1 at the Nduom Stadium on Sunday. The Miners opened the scoring in the 15th minute through Derrick Atta Afriyie but Sharks responded four minutes later as Michelle Sarpong drew them level.

Back from recess, Ali Mohammed increased the tally for the Obuasi lads in the 70th minute before Yaw Annor put the nail in the coffin in the 74th minute to extend his goal tally to 17 after 29 League matches.

Bechem United could not reclaim the second spot after playing out a 0-0 draw with Legon Cities at the Fosu Gyeabuor Park on Sunday.

The Hunters needed the points to overtake Medeama who moved second after beating Great Olympics 2-1 on Saturday. But after a flurry of attacks from both ends – thy failed to take their chances as the game ended goalless at Bechem.

Dreams FC and WAFA shared the spoils at the theatre of Dreams in a 1-1 draw that extended Dreams FC’s winless run to 11 matches in the League.

Kwabena Gogoe gave Dreams FC the lead after connecting a cross from the left side. But WAFA drew level moments later through Justus Torsutsey.

Bibiani Gold Stars edged past Real Tamale United 2-0 at DUN’s to continue their dominance at home. The away side put up a spirited display to hold their host but Gold Stars shocked off thachallengeed as they put two past the Northern giants.

The Miners scored in succession to down Real Tamale United at home. Prince Opoku Agyemang broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute before Emmanuel Appau found the back of the net two minutes later.

King Faisal snatched a point from the jaws of Karela United as they came from behind to draw 1-1 at the Crosby Awuah Park at Aiyinase.

Karela United captain Umar Bashiru drew first blood in the 43rd minute after a closely contested affair in the first half. King Faisal improved tremendously in the second half and found the equalizer through Samuel Kusi inside 59 minutes.

Elsewhere in Accra – Accra Lions were held 0-0 by two-time champions Aduana FC at the Accra Sports stadium on Sunday.

Earlier on Saturday – Medeama SC came from behind to beat Great Olympics 2-1 at the Accra Sports stadium. Maxwell Abbey Quaye netted first for Great Olympics inside 18 minutes but Vincent Atinga canceled the lead after connecting from the spot in the 35th minute.

The home side created more decent chances in search of the winner but it was Medeama SC who has the last laugh as Godfred Kwadwo Asamoah smashed home a sensational volley in the 70th minute to give his side the three points.

Source: Modern Ghana

Tamale, May 23, GNA – Reverend John Kidisil Ngmalbini, General Overseer of Dominating Power Ministry (DPM) in Tamale has said women empowerment requires collective and broader stakeholder engagement between the church and other organisations to enhance their participation in major decision-making.

He said although the church over the years had played crucial roles towards women empowerment, there was the need for more collaboration involving the church, government and other non-governmental organisations to ensure that women were equipped to contribute to the growth and development of the country.

He indicated that the holistic growth and development of the country largely depended on women and therefore efforts to aid their empowerment should not be underestimated.

Reverend Ngmalbini was speaking at a women empowerment programme organised by DPM in collaboration with the women and children department of the church as part of measures to maximise their inclusion in major decision-making in the country.

The event, which brought together women and children of DPM amongst other women groups from various ministries in the Tamale Metropolis, was on the theme: “Thou woman carry yourself well to manifest the glory of God”.

It was to recognise the role women played towards nation building and the need to deploy strategic mechanisms to facilitate their growth and development.

Reverend Ngmalbini reiterated that women were not inferior to men according to God’s purpose, saying “We are all created in the image and likeness of God to fulfill our assignment on earth.”

He added that women, who were supposed to champion certain aspects of national development agenda, were subjected to some forms of injustices and abuses detrimental to their holistic growth.

Madam Jachaan Comfort, President of the women and children department of DPM said there was the need for the church and other stakeholders to prioritise women and children’s development to bridge the gap between women and their male counterparts.

She expressed need for women not to shy away from platforms that would project them as role models to the youth and said “No one can better champion the interest of women than the woman herself. Knowledge acquisition, competence and perseverance are very necessary for our liberation.”

Source: Ghana News Agency

Some aggrieved supporters of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Aowin Constituency of the Western North Region, have set the party’s constituency office on fire over a decision by the National Council to re-run the constituency’s election.

The National Council said the elections were fraught with irregularities and must be conducted again.

However, some supporters in the constituency unhappy with the directive, are completely against it.

They have vowed to resist every attempt to have the elections rerun.

The aggrieved persons said, “we will not agree. We will not hold another election. We’ve already voted and the women’s orgnanizer has been removed. Let it stay so. We’ve voted out the person and you want us to vote again because of that?”

A press conference organized by the aggrieved party supporters blamed John Boadu, General Secretary of the party for the development.

According to the them, the committee did not recommend a rerun of the elections but that input was made by John Boadu.

Read their statement below:

JOHN BOADU IS DESTROYING AOWIN NPP

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, kindly accept our warmest regards for attending to our call this crucial moment. Our message to John Boadu and the leadership of the New Patriotic Party is very simple. We will not sit down for John Boadu to destroy the party here in Aowin. About a month ago, the Constituency Elections Committee organized very credible elections after weeks of rigorous campaign, going to electoral areas that are one hundred miles apart all within the very large Aowin Constituency.

The Elections were conducted by the Electoral Commission of Ghana, candidates were voted for by the almost nine hundred delegates and eventually, elections results were declared. Today, we are hearing John Boadu is going to call for a rerun of the elections in positions where persons supported by his Personal Assistant, one Abanga lost terribly.

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me pause here and send the strongest signal to John Boadu and those involved in this grand scheme to note that, firstly, WE WONT ACCEPT ANY RE-RUN of the Constituency elections. Secondly, we shall use EVERY MEANS POSSIBLE TO RESIST any attempts of nullification of any of the positions unless the Electoral Commission which conducted the elections has said so or a competent court of jurisdiction

Now back to the lies of John Boadu and his cronies, Ladies and Gentlemen I have a copy of the comprehensive report from the Aowin Constituency Elections Committee. The Committee’s report details all the legitimate processes that were followed and provides concrete ground for every single action taken. Kindly go through the report and know for yourselves the kind of competent and detailed work the committee did only for John Boadu and a few people in Accra to think they twist things and have their way. No! We shall resist them to the peril of our lives because we have suffered enough to build the party here.

Our message is simple, they should not put our patience and resolve to test. They will be in for the shocks of their lives if they think we are far from the headquarters of the party. We will literally wipe out NPP from this Constituency for everyone to see if they think they nullify and an election conducted by the Electoral Commission of Ghana without recourse to the courts of competent Jurisdiction in this country.

We will rest our case here and wait for them.

Meanwhile, another youth group in the constituency is calling for a swift organization of the re-run election.

In a statement issued last week, they accused the Regional Chairman, Mr. William Benjamin Assuah and the National Director of Research and Elections, Mr. Evans Nimako of deliberately working to frustrate the process to carryout the recommendation of the committee put together to look into the issue.

Read full statement below:

THE NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY, WESTERN NORTH REGION, AOWIN CONSTITUENCY

PRESS CONFERENCE ISSUED BY CONCERNED NPP YOUTH OF AOWIN CONSTITUENCY ON THE NULLIFICATION OF SOME AFFECTED CONSTITUENCY POSITIONS BY NATIONAL COUNCIL

Good afternoon Ladies and gentlemen of the Media. We thank you very much for honouring our invitation for such an important press conference, though it was with a short notice.

Background

As you may recall, our Constituency elections was scheduled on 30th April, 2022.

Some party stalwarts and staunch members including the four time woman organizer, Mrs Joana Morcher, Woman Organizer aspirant, Mad Constance Asare, woman Organizer aspirant, Mr Benson Afful, organizer aspirant, Clifford Kwesi, assistant secretary aspirant and Mr Konadu Yiadom, second vice Chairman aspirant were all illegally and unconstitutionally disqualified on the very day of the elections after going through all the necessary processes needed for the elections.

A petition was sent to the national Executive Committee through our general Secretary and it was referred to the Alternative Dispute Resolution and Legal Committee.

Ladies and gentlemen of the Media, our National council met on Friday, 13th May, 2022 and received the report from the Alternative Dispute Resolution and Legal Support Committe Chaired by Hon.Cecilia Dapaah on the unconstitutional disqualification of aspirants in our Constituency, that’s AOWIN.

The National council which received the report and read at the meeting concluded as captured in the report a re-run of the affected positions in our Constituency.

Friends, it will interest you to know that, today we were briefed that, the Regional Chairman, Mr William Benjamin Assuah and our National Director of Research and Elections, Mr Evans Nimako want to connived and employed clandestine tactics to delay the execution of the decision taken by National Council and eventually imposing the other candidates whose elections have been nullified on us.

We are calling on the General Secretary of our party, the National Council and our President, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo who was part of the National Council meeting to call the National Director of Research and Elections, Hon Evans Nimako to order for him to go ahead to fully execute the order given by National Council to bring peace to Aowin.

We are also aware that the Regional Chairman wants to use delay tactics to disenfranchise the affected positions in our Constituency and their appointees in the impending Regional Elections, so he has sent a petition to the Director of Research and Elections requesting his side to be heard in the decision taken by the Alternative Dispute Resolution and Legal Committe and approved by National Council. How on Earth should this petition be allow to thrive and even receive attention?

What is it there to be heard again, after decision taken by National Council?

Hon Evans Nimako, the Director of Research and Elections, agreeing to meet the affected aspirants and the regional Chairman in the spirit of giving the Regional Chairman hearing on the events is believed to be delaying the process.

We are using this medium to humbly appeal to our General Secretary, Hon John Boadu, the National Council and our President to rescue the party in Aowin Constituency by expeditiously executing the National Council’s decision in order to avert any apathy in our Constituency.

Source: Modern Ghana