This is according to the Municipal Chief Executive, Joseph Amiyure.

The municipality’s 47 traffic lights located on  major traffic intersections have not been functioning for the past five months causing chaos and inconvenience for both motorists and pedestrians.

Residents and road users have expressed concern about the state of the faulty traffic lights, noting that the current situation posed a great danger to them.

But speaking to Citi News, Mr. Amiyure said, efforts are underway to get the faulty traffic lights working, while new ones are installed.

“There are already programmes in place to upgrade the traffic lighting systems in Bolga.  There is a contractor who already has been put in place to ensure that our traffic systems work, and that currently he is working in the Brong-Ahafo Region, and when he complete works there, hopefully he will be in the Bolga municipality. It is my hope  when that happens we will get our traffic lights working,” he said.

He added that “the other good news is that we are going to upgrade the traffic lighting systems, which means that, there are also other areas that due to the traffic load there, we are likely to add more traffic lights”Amiyure stated.

Mr. Amiyure said the assembly in the interim has tasked to municipal police command to detail police personnel at all intersections to manually direct traffic.

He added that the presence of police officers directing traffic in the evenings although helpful, results in accidents due to poor visibility.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Bolgatanga: Faulty traffic lights to be fixed soon – MCE appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Gloria Akuffo disclosed this at Bolgatanga during a familiarization tour of the Upper East Region on Thursday.

The tour to was to enable her have first hand information about the challenges confronting state attorneys in the discharge of their duties in the region.

[contextly_sidebar id=”wtLHIux0NXxSitIltn1dvfoEDV0v9YYi”]She recounted numerous problems confronting state attorneys in their line of duty saying government was committed to resourcing them work effectively and efficiently.

“We have problems with staffing, vehicles, office equipment and accommodation confronting the justice delivery system. I have tried to explain that there have been some neglect, but as of now there are constraints with money and by the time government finishes servicing the loans and meeting statutory obligations, we would have much left to share but whatever little we get we will try to use it in such a manner that all my offices will get something to work with.”

“In respect of staffing, we have be given approval to recruit about Fifty (50) Attorneys, they are going through the recruitment process, and once the process is completed we will send some lawyers to the Upper East Region. In the meantime, I have asked the National Service Secretariat (NSS) to post to my office all lawyers who are newly enrolled and will not have performed their National service yet so we can use them to support Attorneys in the regions,” Miss Akuffo stated.

Miss Akuffo also indicated that, government would soon procure some vehicles for state attorneys to facilitate their operations.

State attorneys ditching gov’t for better paying jobs

There were reports in 2016 which suggested that State Attorneys were abandoning the judicial service for better paying jobs.

According to the Director of Public Prosecution at the time, Yvonne Attakora Obuobisa, the trend hampered the delivery of justice across the country.

She noted that as at 2016, Accra had only 36 prosecuting attorneys, noting that the situation was “worse in the regional offices.”

She said a region as big as the Brong Ahafo Region could boast of only two prosecuting attorneys, “two in the Central Region, two in the Upper West Region, three in the Northern Region, three in Volta Region, and six in the Eastern Region.”

“We have low numbers and we are actually overwhelmed. There are so many cases that we have to advise on. It all has to do with a number of factors. For some time now we’ve had high attrition rate, people come and leave because it is always better to work in private practice,” she lamented.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Gov’t to employ additional 50 State Attorneys appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr. Awula was accused by tutors of embezzlement through the violation of procurement procedures.

[contextly_sidebar id=”rEy8zQypiwsnT5byfVxvxdTcNkHrKtAA”]Deputy Minister for Health, Tina Mensah, told Citi News that the Principal is already repaying the monies to the school, although the Economic and Organized Crime Office [EOCO] is yet to complete its investigation into the matter.

“There was some allegation of monies being misused, so they took up those allegations and they worked on it. We have not seen the report, but we are going to talk to EOCO. We have also talked to the culprits themselves, that is the principal and accountant, and they confirmed that there are some monies they have to refund to the school,”she said.

The Minister also stated that such criminal activities will not be condoned.

Principal must go – Tutors

The spokesperson for the tutors, Edward Atim, said they are satisfied with the efforts of the Health Minister, but said the teachers will only resume work if the principal steps aside.

The impasse between the principal and tutors brought academic work to a halt from October 2017.

Tutors of the Bolgatanga Nursing Training College in the Upper East Region, locked up the office of the school’s principal, Bawa Awula, over allegations of abuse of office and misappropriation of funds.

The tutors, who threatened to boycott lectures, demanded that the principal steps aside to pave way for investigations into his conduct.

Numbering about 18, they took a unilateral decision to lock up the office of the Principal, accusing him of violating the Public Procurement Act in the procurement of goods and services, as well as neglecting the plight of both tutors and students.

Supervision in nursing training colleges

It appears supervision in most of the country’s nursing training colleges is quite weak, a situation that allows a lot of improper practices spearheaded by principals and other officials to thrive.

This has in some cases led to the interdiction of some principals accused of wrongdoing, with the recent one being the Principal of Tepa Midwifery and Nursing.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Bolga Nursing principal repaying embezzled funds – Tina Mensah appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The 10 doctors, including three from Cuba, offer services to a population of about 2.6 million people in the Region, and takes referral cases from facilities within the area and some parts of the Northern Region.

Dr. Atobrah disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the Hospital’s two-day Performance Review for 2017, which is an avenue for staff to share experiences and chart the way forward.

[contextly_sidebar id=”4q58y1UTErbyspVSpxcDav1Qcbo1Il09″]He said the period under review had not been easy, adding “In the past few years, we have lost two surgeons who had to upgrade their skills at the Ghana College of Surgeons. We also lost our gynaecologist to another institution, so virtually our level of human resource has been going down.”

Dr. Atobrah said the Pharmacy Department was under-staffed causing congestion as clients had to wait for long to be served, and that compelled the Hospital to use part of its internally generated revenue to engage more professional hands to assist.

He said the initiative had reduced the finances of the Hospital, adding; “Our finances have been very much hit by these expenditures outside the direct expenditure for the patients”.

Mr. Joshua Abanga, the Deputy Director of Nursing Services, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, urged nurses, especially Community Health Nurses, to follow-up on health cases such as Tuberculosis (TB) and the Human Immune Virus (HIV) in the various communities instead of waiting for the patients to come to them.

“We have been given a target of about 2.7 million out of the population to screen for HIV and send for treatment. If we want to sit down in our comfort zones and wait for the people to come, we can never meet our target of 90-90-90 by the year 2020, we have to go to the people,” he said.

Mr. Abanga called on all health facilities in the country to intensify screening exercises at their various entry points.

“We need to do a lot of screening for both TB and HIV. On the part of TB clients, we have to direct them to the laboratory. We should not just screen them, detect the cases and allow them to go home, we will not be meeting our target of 90-90-90 for HIV if we want to go this way,” he said.

He advised the nurses to be of good behaviour to patients, adding that measures were being put in place to discipline nurses who disrespect clients at the facility.

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Source: GNA

The post U/E Regional Hospital to lose five doctors appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The suspects include Rufai Umoru, a Nigerian national aged 36; Mutaka Mohammed, aged 29; Stephen Botey, aged 29, Laryea Nevis aged 27.

Mutaka Mohammed’s, wife Adongbire Asampana, aged 24, was also arrested.

Speaking to Citi News, the Upper East Regional Police Commander, DCOP Vincent Redeemer, said the suspects went into hiding after a robbery in Prampram on November 20, 2017.

They were arrested on Saturday, January 6, 2018, at Gambligo, a suburb of Bolgatanga, at about 10:00 pm.

Muntaka Mohammed, during police interrogations, confessed that the three Nigerians were his accomplices in the robbery.

He later led police to Kings and Queens hotel at Bukere, a suburb of Bolgatanga, where four members of his gang, namely; Israel Edoh, aged 43; Mike Osuji aged 48; Daniel Adosi, aged 52 and Musah Issah were also arrested.

He added that four handguns were found on the gang leader, Mutaka Mohammed, three Nokia phones, one Samsung Galaxy S7, Samsung Galaxy Duos, Infinix Note, Techno tablet, Techno T349 and an HP Laptop.

All the items, except the guns, were stolen from victims during the robbery at Prampram, according to police.

Mutaka Mohammed again told police that his three gangmembers asked him to bring weapons to enable them rob a gold businessman at the Gbani mining site in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region.

Ashaiman robbery arrest

In another development, a wanted armed robber, Aduku Wahabu Awinitit, involved in series of robberies in Ashaiman and its environs, was also nabbed in a hotel at Binaba in the Bawku West District.

DCOP Vincent Redeemer said the suspect is currently assisting police investigations and will be transferred to Prampram and Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region for prosecution.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post 9 arrested in Bolga in connection with Prampram robbery appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to authorities of some of these private SHSs in the region, the implementation of the Free SHS policy had also put some financial burden on the private schools as parents expect them to reduce their fees, hence the need to lay off some staff to enable them stay in business.

[contextly_sidebar id=”3OxoqX94H4cxQmVryNRmYXLpVH8IAfe2″]Government in September 27, rolled out the Free SHS Policy which absorbed the cost of tuition, feeding, textbooks and utility bills which used to be paid by parents.

That policy, which has come to salvage the plight of parents and guardians, is however a threat to private SHSs.

Speaking to the media in Bolgatanga, Madam Felicia Baa-an, the Accountant of Golden Step SHS in Bolgatanga, said only five students out of 15 who were given admission had reported to the school, as compared to 168 students who were admitted last year.

She said the situation would affect the smooth running of the school, as it could not support all the staff hence the authorities’ decision to lay off some of them.

One of the classrooms of the School which would has been used by the first year students, is now being used to store maize harvested from the school’s farm.

The situation was not different from the Rock Foundation Senior High School, another private SHS in Bolgatanga, where the Director, Bishop Stephen Apuweni, said the school admitted 64 students last academic year, but had so far not taken in any student this year.

Bishop Apuweni said even though the Free SHS policy is laudable, government had failed to consider the private sector during its implementation.

He said the school had to lay off some of its workers as they were no longer needed.

“By laying off workers, we are increasing the unemployment problem which is not the best for the economy”, he said.

The authorities of the two private Senior High Schools, therefore, appealed to the government to reconsider the policy and include the private sector.

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Source: GNA

The post U/East: Private SHSs to layoff staff over low admissions appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

However, the process has been fraught with a few challenges resulting in students and parents left standing in long queues for extended periods of time.

With the students supposed to report back in a couple of days, the parents have thronged the schools to get their wards registered before classes commence.

At some schools in Accra, parents expressed their frustration with the slow registration process to Citi News’ Marrie Franz.

“I got here almost 7:00am and was told to sit in the Assembly Hall and wait. While we’ve been here, some parents have come to call their wards. We don’t know what’s going on but we think they’ve started. They told us they were using the numbers,” one parent said.

“When we reported, we were told that we had to take numbers before we’ll be attended to. They just gave us the numbers and paid no more attention to us,” another parent said.

“We came here around 4:30am, thinking that we’d be attended to quickly so that we could go to work. We can’t spend the whole day here. We saw a few people going upstairs and we thought they were getting VIP and protocol treatment. They’ve told us they are using the numbers and I’ve got a number now.”

One of the officials stated that, the process was going smoothly, but expressed concerns with the “impatience” of the parents.”

“We have to admit 500 people, we can’t do it at the same time,” she said

Kumasi

At the Kumasi Academy in the Ashanti Region, Citi News’ Hafiz Tijani reported that, many parents had braved the rains to arrive early in order complete their wards’ registration.

According to him, the process at the school had initially been tense, but the situation had calmed down with many parents able to register their children since then.

Bolgatanga

Citi News’ Frederick Awuni reported that, a few schools in the Upper East Region had not yet put up a list of the students who had been placed there.

Some parents also complained about the slow pace of the registration process.

“We were here very early, some of us are from very faraway places. I’m from Kintampo and had to sleep in Tamale to get to the school early,” one parent said.

However, the school assured them that their challenges would be addressed in time for them to complete the registration process.

Listen to the reports from Accra, Kumasi and Bolgatanga below

Accra – 0:00 minutes

Kumasi – 5:06

Bolgatanga – 8:23

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Long queues as parents rush to SHSs to register wards [Report] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to REGSEC, the motorized tricycles usually registered for private use are being largely operated on commercial basis by under-aged people without license.

REGSEC also noted that, most operators of the tricycles driven with impunity without recourse to traffic regulations.

The council also uncovered reported cases of duplication of motor-cycle registration numbers under investigations by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).

In a press statement issue by secretary of REGSEC, Alhaji Abdulai Abubakar disclosed that, the ban was necessary to secure the safety of lives and property in the municipality.

“The council has weighed the possibility of banning the use of tricycles in the Bolgatanga Municipality between 7:00pm and 6:00am each day for a month effected Friday, May 26, 2017.

The Bolgatanga municipal assembly has also been impressed to invoke sanctions on drivers and vehicle owners who park wrongly in the township particularly major trunk roads and artillery roads.

The Council will be left with no option but to fully implement planned sanctions against offenders, if the current trend of events continues.”

Upper East Regional police commander DCOP Redeemer Vincent Dadjoe said the directive which will be fully implemented to the latter, should not be seen as witch hunting but for the security and safety of all residents.

“We have the men to fully implement the ban effective 26th May, 2017 and any offender will be arrested and prosecuted. Also even those who will be riding these tricycles on the roads of the municipality without riding license will be arrested and prosecuted.”

But Secretary of tricycle riders’ association Mr. Salifu Baba Yahaya appelaed to REGSEC to reconsider the ban from 9:00pm to 6:00am, adding that, the current ban will have dire implications on commuters’ especially traders in the night.

“These tricycle businesses have come to help we the youth because not all of us can go to school and this is what we do to survive. We agree that, some of the riders are minors, some don’t have license and others don’t also obey traffic regulations. We are also aware that, the tricycles were registered for private use but actually we are using them on commercial basis.”

“We think the police should enforce the law by arresting and prosecuting those minor riding the tricycles and those without riding license but not ban us from operating from 7:00pm to 6:00am that is unfair. Again, there should instruct us (tricycle operators) to re-register the tricycles for commercial use but not to ban us from operating.”

Mr. Yahaya said, an emergency meeting will be convened to discuss the ban and subsequently write to the Regional Security Council to reconsider their decision.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Tricycles banned from operating in Bolga after 7pm appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the concerned residents, the emerging illegal mining in the community has led to pupils and students dropping out of school.

Speaking at a press conference in Tindonmolgo, spokesperson for the group, Akolgo Ayintogra, said the move has become necessary because several efforts by the youth to stop galamsey activities in the area have proved futile.

“The owner of the illegal mining grinding mill DOGGY and Brothers City, engages children of school going-age in either extracting of gold from grind stones or fetching pebbles into the grinding mill. Our health is at risk due to continuous grinding of the stones, emitting copious dust particles into the atmosphere reducing the quality of air the populace breathe in causing respiratory sicknesses like asthma among others. The situation has also led to increasing social vices such as robbery stealing, rape, teenage pregnancies among others. We now live in fear as there is no day that passes by without a report on these social vices.”

Mr. Ayintogra further urged all stakeholders concerned to ban galamsey activities in the community and the region as a whole.

Meanwhile, the Upper East Regional Police Command is yet to start arresting illegal miners dotted across the region.

Currently, illegal mining is rife in the Talensi, Nabdam, Fumbisi, Bolga-Sirigu, and the Zebilla areas of the Upper East Region.

Although galamsey in the region is not impacting negatively on river bodies, according to the Ghana Water Company Limited and the Community Water and Sanitation Management, its dire impact on the environment cannot be underestimated.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post #StopGalamseyNow in Tindonmolgo – Residents cry out appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr. Bukari bemoaned the existing the land acquisition and land tenure system in the region, adding that, if the current system is not checked, investors will not be attracted to invest in the region, and government may not be able to undertake development projects there.

Speaking to Citi News in the regional capital, Bolgatanaga, Mr. Bukari said, though the region is well-positioned to benefit from numerous developmental projects and investments, the problem of land acquisition is deterring investors from the region.”

“There is a big problem with land acquisition in the Upper East Region especially in Bolgatanga, the land tenure system is just terrible. We want to put up passport office, some banks want to open their branches in the region, we want to build a regional prison, so many departments want to put up structures here, but lands for these projects  have become a problem,” he said.

“This is where I am finding it difficult to be comfortable because the projects and investors I want to bring to the region when they come and there is no land for them, they pass to other regions. I can’t sleep well because of the way land acquisition is being managed in the region, it is harming us as a region and we shall lose a lot of projects if we don’t give in. But if landowners and traditional leaders agree, at least we have to demolish some structures to pave way for other developmental projects that will benefit us in the future,” he said.

He hinted that, government will soon commence the implementation of the notable ‘One Village One Dam’ and ‘One District One Factory’ policy programmes, which require more lands, and called for dialogue with all stakeholders in the acquisition of land for the development of the region.

Mr. Bukari said a committee will soon be put in place to liaise with landowners and the ‘Tindanas’ to understand why they should willingly give out lands for developmental projects, adding that they will be compensated.

He added that, the committee will also work to map up measures with key stakeholders to solve land acquisition problems.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post U/East Minister urges residents to release land for dev’t projects appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.