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| Volta Region News - February 2009 | NEWS PAGE | Page 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 ***** Election 2008 - Photo Report | Send your COMMENTS to: the WEBMASTER More Ghana News: www.ghanaweb-news.com | - Beware of visa contractors - German Embassy warns (25.02.2009) - Nigerians in Ghana urged to protect national image (25.02.2009) - Volta region eradicates guinea worm but HIV/AIDS soars (23.02.2009) - Holland based NGO rehabilitates schools in V/R (21.02.2009) - Chief survives attack from lion (21.02.2009) - Volta Region chiefs to develop development plan for region (21.02.2009) - Medical, technical varsity for Volta Region (20.02.2009) - Ho private schools clean to welcome new Regional Minister (20.02.2009) - Teenage sisters defiled in Police custody (18.02.2009) - Cabbie driver in Hohoe refuse to reduce fares (11.02.2009) - Cross-border armed robbers nabbed at Aflao | | | Beware of visa contractors - German Embassy warns |  Berlin, Alexanderplatz (City Centre) | The German Embassy on Wednesday alerted the public to beware of visa contactors who claim they could secure German visas for young soccer players to stay in a training camp in the Federal Republic of Germany.
"We would like to remind the general public to desist from making use of the services of self-appointed visa contractors," a release from the Embassy in Accra warned.
The statement noted that the company named Worldlinque, which had representatives in Ghana, had recruited young soccer players in Ghana via TV-advertisements among other channels, offering to facilitate their stay in a training camp in the Federal Republic of Germany. It noted that the applicants were said to have paid GH¢3,000 to secure the necessary visa and to participate in the training camp. The Embassy said no provisions for the training camp had been made at the time of submitting the visa applications, adding that, invitations from Germany which had been presented to the Embassy had been falsified.
The statement said the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service had therefore been roped in and was investigating the matter.
|  | Nigerians in Ghana urged to protect national image Ho, Feb. 25, GNA - Nigerians living in Ghana have been urged to abide by the laws of Ghana so as to protect the image of Nigeria. Madam Edith Chukwu, Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Association in the Volta Region made the call when she spoke to the Ghana News Agency on the reported criminal activities of some Nigerians in the country.
She said there were several Nigerians engaged in genuine businesses in Ghana, who were not happy with the criminal activities of some of their compatriots, and the negative impressions these were creating about Nigerians in general. Madam Chukwu said Nigerians who intend to settle in Ghana are expected to register with the Nigerian Associations in the regions where they intend to settle in. Such people are expected to give details about themselves so as to make it easier for them to be identified and traced in Ghana as well as to Nigeria when required.
She observed that it was those who have criminal intentions for coming to Ghana who refuse to be registered and must be treated as common criminals, when they fall foul of the law, as they do not reflect the character of a patriotic Nigerian. Madam Chukwu, who is also an actor and teacher, warned that such deviant Nigerians should not expect help from their compatriots, who are conducting themselves with civility in Ghana.
| | | Volta region eradicates guinea worm but HIV / AIDS soars Ho, Feb 23, GNA - The Volta Region recorded no case of guinea worm in 2008 but slumped in the area of HIV/AIDS with more than a 100 per cent increase in reported cases.
Dr. Sam T. Kwashie, Acting Regional Director of Health Services, in a report to the region's health performance review conference on Monday in Ho, said the fight against guinea worm was "a major breakthrough" but that of HIV/AIDS, was "rather alarming". The five-day conference was under the theme "Improving Health Delivery Service: A Focus on Discipline, Supportive Supervision and High Impact Rapid Delivery (HIRD)".
Dr. Kwashie said the trend to eradicate guinea worm in the region became clear in 2007 and that the last case of indigenous guinea worm was reported in May 2007, after which only one imported case from the Northern Region was detected in June 2008 and promptly contained. He stressed that "vigilance will be maintained in the Volta Region and complacency will not be given a foothold until Ghana is completely free from guinea worm".
Dr. Kwashie said the number of persons with HIV/AIDS in the region increased from 377 in 2006 to 1,306 in 2007 and 2,799 in 2008. He said "This unfortunate situation calls for intensified public education and the urgent campaign for a change in sexual behaviour since over 80 percent of HIV infections in Ghana are through sexual transmission". Dr. Kwashie announced that the measles elimination campaign was right on course, with the region recording only one "confirmed case in 2008 just like it did in 2007".
He said there was a modest reduction in the number of maternal deaths in 2008 thus 52 as against 65 reported in 2007, pledging that the region would do better in the coming years. Dr Kwashie said reported cases of cholera in the Keta Municipality, Krachi-East and Nkwanta districts had been contained with the "daily incidence of cases reduced markedly in recent weeks, although the problem exists".
He said there were 10 deaths in the 410 cases reported in the Keta Area, three out of 63 cases in the Krachi-East and no death out of the 15 cases in the NKwanta Districts.
Dr Kwashie said the region's health sector was hard pressed by financial, transport and human resource constraints. He said there were only 27 out 177 medical assistants needed and that 80 per cent of the 50 midwives in the region were above 50 years and transiting into retirement. Dr. Kwashie expressed regrets that out of the 11 general practitioners posted to the region recently only two, both females, reported.
He stressed the need for a well-disciplined workforce for essential service providers such as the Ghana Health Service to achieve its goals.
Mr. Joseph Amenowode, Volta Regional Minister, charged the Regional health Directorate to improve its coordination with the Regional Coordinating Council to devise ways of checking the HIV/AIDS spread in the region.
He said the correlation between the health of the people and wealth generation should imbue health professional to do their utmost to implement policies to improve the wellbeing of Ghanaians. Mr. Amenowode, a Psychotherapist, urged the conference to provide input into government suggestions to improve the National Health Insurance Scheme.
He commended some health facilities in the region for coming up with mission statements, in line with the trend to improve performance of public sector institutions. Mr. Amenowode said only the people-centred approach to organization of these facilities, with management and the workforce imbued with professionalism, transparency, integrity and discipline could improve output.
He promised to liaise with the Regional Health Directorate to tackle problems preventing doctors from accepting posting to the region.
Dr. John Eleeza, Ho Municipal Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), told GNA that clinical investigation were in the process to explain the strange disease that affected about 20 people in the Anfoeta-Gborgame community in January, this year. He said no fresh cases of the disease, which sent the otherwise healthy people into fits, had been reported lately, and that all victims were well. The conference decorated Mr. Livingstone Dzisa Futokpor, a Private businessman, for providing structures for a clinic at Klikor, in the Ketu-South District. Mr. Futukpor since 1994 when he donated the building had refurbished it, provided additional rooms for child welfare and reproductive health sections and also paid for 60 trips of sand to shore up the area against floods. | | | Holland based NGO rehabilitates schools in V/R Ve-Deme (V/R), Feb. 21, GNA - A Holland-based non-governmental organization (NGO), Ghana Support-Holland, under the auspices of Google International (Holland Division) and Wilde Ganzen, Holland, have constructed two separate primary school blocks and rehabilitated a Junior High School (JHS) for Ve-Deme community in the Hohoe Municipal. The Kindergarten and the primary blocks, each with three classrooms, office, staff room and a store was worth GH¢ 50,000 and the rehabilitation of the JHS including re-roofing is valued at GH¢ 24,000.
Mr Hans Zonneveld, Chairman of Ghana Support, Holland, said the project was their contribution to the development of Education in the area after providing similar facilities in health, agriculture and sanitation in other parts of the country. He said within the last 18 months over GH¢ 165,000 had been sunk into development projects and was skeptical that the global economic recession could pose threats to their continuous funding of projects in the future.
Ms Juliet Beauty Kumah, Hohoe Municipal Director of Education (HMDE) lauded the contribution of the development partners in the education enterprise, reminding the people to "eschew laissez-faire attitudes", which are fertile grounds for producing deviants. She appealed to teachers, parents, pupils, churches and the entire community to cultivate the culture of maintenance to prolong the lifespan of the School blocks. Ms Kumah noted that education is a springboard for development, an investment in human capital for sustained economic growth and urged the people to enroll their children in school. Togbega Delume VII, Paramount Chief of Ve Traditional Area commended the Dutch NGOs for their benevolence and appealed to the HMDE to procure furniture for the Schools. He called on the people to expedite action on the construction of the teacher trainees' quarters and praised Madam Justine Adoboe-Hlo, a native, whose instrumentality gave birth to the projects in the community. | | | Chief survives attack from lion Ho, Feb. 21, GNA - Togbe Dzamesi II, Chief of Adaklu-Wuakpe near Wumenu in the Volta Region, who claimed to have engaged a lion in a 45 minute duel in the bush at Wuakpe on Friday, is on admission at the Volta Regional Hospital in Ho with multiple deep wounds.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview at the Volta Regional Hospital, Togbe Dzamesi, 54, said he went to the bush together with his two sons, aged 15 and 20, when the incident occurred. The chief, who sustained serious injurious on his left arm and left thigh with other minor injuries all over his body said they had gone there to survey the area for clearing towards the farming season. He said while the children rested under the canopy of some trees as he (the chief) took a walk round the area to assess work to be done, he encountered the beast.
Togbe Dzamesi said the distance between him and the lion was about 10 meters as it strode towards him. He said he quickly removed his gun and shot it in the head, sending it to the ground.
Togbe Dzamesi said before he could take a step, the lion pounced on him, pulling him to the ground, wounding him in the process. He said he, however, blocked the claws of the lion with his two arms and "glued" his body to that of the lion making it difficult for it to devour him.
Togbe Dzamesi said after some struggling, the lion planted its teeth deep into his left arm, tearing it apart and tried to also bite deep into his thigh but just as it was about to do that, he hit its jaw with his right arm.
Togbe Dzamesi said the lion appeared dazed and after a few minutes, loosened its grip on him after, which he (Togbe Dzamesi) managed to get to where his children were and was taken home and later to the hospital. He said Fulani herdsmen had earlier informed the communities in the area about animals they suspected to be lions devouring their cattle. Nurses on duty at the Hospital said Togbe Dzamesi is responding to treatment and assured that he would get better soon. Meanwhile, Mr George Asamoah, Manager of Kalakpa Resource Reserve of the Wildlife Division of Forestry Commission said his outfit was investigating the incident.
He said officials had been dispatched to the Hospital to access the type of canine and claw injuries on the victim, claiming wild cats could be in the area. | Source: GNA / Sat.,21. February 2009 |
| | | Volta Region chiefs to develop development plan for region Ho, Feb. 20, GNA - The Volta Regional House of Chiefs has begun work on a development plan for the region and it will include inputs from all traditional areas. Togbe Afede IV, Agbogbomefia of Asogli State and President of the House, said this at Ho at a meeting of the. He said the region could not depend on government for everything and urged members of the House to make inputs into the plan in time to speed up efforts at improving the living standards of people. Togbe Afede appealed to the chiefs to be the "voice of the voiceless" and stand firm in defence of truth and in the interest of the people.
He appealed for co-operation from chiefs in the region towards the resolution of chieftaincy issues in order to focus on tackling developmental challenges of the region. He commended President John Evans Atta Mills and Vice President John Dramani Mahama on their election to the highest offices of the nation and pledged the support of the House towards alleviating poverty by enhancing the socio-economic development of the region. Mr Anthony Ahiabah, Registrar of the House, commended the House for ensuring peace throughout the region but said issues pertaining to membership of the House was becoming a great challenge and needed to be sorted out.
| | | Medical, technical varsity for Volta Region The government's desire to establish a university in the Volta Region was given a major boost yesterday, with the announcement by a group of humanitarian agencies that they are through with plans to build a modern Medical and Technical University in the region.
The university, to be sited at Sokode in the Ho District on a 4,000-acre land donated by the chief of the town, is estimated to cost 850 million dollars and will be funded solely by ACORD, a Switzerland-The university, to be sited at Sokode in the Ho District on a 4,000-acre land donated by
Jonie Akabuo, Chief Executive of Suric Limited, the main contractors for the project, briefing Vice President John Mahama on the project at a meeting at the Castle, Osu in Accra, said that construction work is expected to begin by the middle of the year.
He said although the project was being funded by ACORD, it would be donated to the government to manage as a public university in line with the organisation'He said although the project was being funde
He said the project, which would be in two phases, was initiated by Project Aid Foundation, a Ghanaian humanitarian organisation, after which it attracted support from ACORD.
The first phase, he explained, involved the construction of a 500-bed teaching hospital to be completed at the cost of 250 million dollars, while the second phase, to cover the construction of a Medical and Technical University would be completed in three years at the cost of 650 million dollars.
After completion, he said, a fund would be set up to support needy students who enter the university.
"It is expected that the project will help to generate employment and enhance the health and human development needs of the country," he stated.
Mr. Akabuo appealed to the government to help to facilitate the construction process in terms of the clearing of materials at the port and attracting qualified members of staff for the university.
Vice President Mahama, who was elated on hearing about the project, described it as "manna from above."
That, he said, was because it was government's intention to establish a university in the region, and therefore the intervention of the group would ease the burden on the government in establishing universities in the other regions without any.
He lauded the project and commended the group for the support saying, "you can count on us to make this project a reality."
He gave the assurance that the Presidency would get the Minister of Health to set up a committee to facilitate the project to ensure its early completion.
An agreement for the project has already been signed between Suric Limited and ACORD.
Omran Mohammed Fouad, a representative of ACORD and Hinnedy Magdi, a consult of Credit Suisse of Switzerland, partners of ACORD, who were part of the delegation to the Castle, are in the country to assess preparatory works for the commencement of the project.
| Source: Ghanaian Times / Friday, 20.February 2009 |
| | | Ho private schools clean to welcome new Regional Minister Ho, Feb. 20, GNA - The Ho zonal branch of the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) on Friday organized a massive clean-up exercise of government offices to welcome the new Volta Regional Minister. The clean-up, which also climaxed activities marking GNAPS Week, covered the regional administration buildings and its immediate environs, the National Service Scheme block and offices of the Ghana Education Service.
Other places covered were the Municipal Hospital, Leprosarium and the Ghana News Agency block where the students cleared weeds and chocked drains. "We want to give a good look to the regional administration and other strategic institutions as a welcome gesture for the new Regional Minister," said Mr. Samuel George Saaneye, Zonal Organiser of GNAPS.
"The regional administration is the core office where people come and work for the region and needed to be given good look to attract investors," he added. Mr Saaneye urged the new Regional Minister, Joseph Amenowode, who assumed office last Monday, to give priority attention to sanitation in the region. | | Teenage sisters defiled in Police custody Ho, Feb. 18, GNA - Two teenage sisters were allegedly defiled at the Vakpo Police Station, in a report to the Kpando branch of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative justice (CHRAJ). The report also said a policeman, identified as Samson Asare, then on duty, allegedly looked the other way, the father of the sisters had told the CHRAJ.
The sisters, who were then in Police cells over a scuffle with another woman, were detained for three days in the cells, after they were defiled.
Mr Kenneth Asamoah, father of the children said his daughters reported the incident to their mother, who came to visit them. He, in turn, reported the incident to the "Kpando District Police Commander, who gave a hospital form to the children to be examined at the hospital".
"The report of the Doctor indicated that the children were defiled. Mr Asamoah said in his report that in the night of the incident whiles her daughters were in the cell, two men called at the police station and asked the sisters to follow them to another room, where a Police uniform was hanging on a wall.
He said his daughters were given a mattress to sleep on, whilst sleeping the two men came to lie by them.
"In the thick of the night the two men jumped on the children tore their dresses and had sex with them", Mr Asamoah's report indicated. He alleged that "though the children shouting the name of Asare, he refused to assist. The two men after defiling the children sent them back to the cells".
Mr Asamoah alleged that when he drew the attention of Inspector Agbenyegah, officer in charge of the Vakpo Police Station to the incident, he retorted that "the children were disrespectful so anything can happen".
When contacted Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr Joseph Ellis Agbevade, Kpando District Crime Officer confirmed the incident and identified the two men involved as friends of Sampson Asare.
He said the two men have been arraigned before court.
Mr Joseph Nuertey, Assistant Legal Officer at the Volta Regional Office of CHRAJ said the Commission was doing its best to ensure that the two girls were compensated by the police for their negligence. | Source: GNA / 18.February 2009 |
| | | Cabbie driver in Hohoe refuse to reduce fares Hohoe, Feb. 11, GNA - There is confusion in the Hohoe Municipal Area over taxi fares, several weeks after the National Petroleum Authority reduced fuel prices. Taxi Drivers who operate within the Hohoe Municipality have refused to reduce fares claiming they were waiting for directives from their leaders, resulting in daily bouts of quarrels, fights, and arguments between the drivers and their passengers.
Ghana News Agency (GNA) investigations could not locate any taxi driver to speak for his group, because they had had no unions in the area for sometime. Officials of the Hohoe Branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), which is said to have oversight responsibility for the taxi drivers, said they had been trying to reach a settlement with the cabbie drivers over the fares.
When contacted the Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service at Hohoe, said they had been impressing on the taxi drivers to move quickly to resolve the issue to stop the fights between the stakeholders. Meanwhile, passengers have adopted the practice of paying drivers with the exact recommended fares and not with higher amounts, which could enable the drivers to deduct what they wished. | Source: GNA / 11. February 2009 |
| | Cross-border armed robbers nabbed at Aflao Police at Aflao have nabbed two suspected members of a cross-border armed robbery gang operating in Togo and Ghana, who allegedly rob an Aflao based businesswoman.
A locally manufactured double pin shotgun, 10 cartridges and a knife were found on them at the time of the arrest.
They are Adewale Tiayo, alias Iron, 34, an unemployed Nigerian based in Lome, Togo and his Ghanaian collaborator, Mark Lugudor, 30.
Two other Lome-based Nigerian members of the gang were said to be on the run.
Also arrested was a 14-year-old Ghanaian school pupil believed to had been trained by Lugudor and suspected to be involved in the attack and robbery of the businesswoman.
Mr Ahmed Issah Yakubu, Aflao District Police Commander, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Saturday that around midnight on January 5, 2009, five armed and masked men, broke into the room of the businesswoman, madam Lovelace Ama Nyame at Avoeme Aflao and ordered her at gun point to surrender all money and valuables.
The armed men succeeded in collecting GH¢400, six mobile phones, mobile phone memory chips, jewellery, and GH¢1,500 worth of mobile phone recharge cards and bolted.
Mr Yakubu said the victim, during the incident identified Lugudor, who lived around her place by his belt, and therefore reported to the police.
He said the police therefore mounted a search at Lugudor’s house found a gun and other dangerous implements under his possession.
Mr Yakubu said Taiyo was lured to Aflao where he was arrested after which the 14 year old by was also picked up.
Police investigations said suspects on the run had moved to Accra before their colleagues were arrested.
Source: GNA | | | |
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