According to Nana Ansah Adu Baah, the creation of the Ahafo region is critical since it will spread development across fairly.

[contextly_sidebar id=”gnWd5zYMTlOVhzmTPiufgbhcZIUgewRA”]“If we split the region it will help develop the area especially the roads, schools and hospitals,” he said.

He also noted that the Ahafo part of the region is blessed with abundance of foodstuffs, but transporting them to the major cities is hardly impossible because of the bad nature of the roads.

“We all know that the Ahafo part of the region has a lot of foodstuffs, however, transporting them to the major cities is a big problem,” he said.

He said it is their hope that the government fulfills the promise to create the new region, adding that they will support the creation with all their royalties from mining in the area.

“We are very prepared to help the government with the proceeds of the minerals we mine here,” he said.

A Commission of enquiry is currently hearing an argument for the creation of new regions out of the existing ten.

The Commission is presently in Bono Ahafo where there are proposals to split that area into Bono East, Bono west and Ahafo regions.

The Commission of Enquiry was set up by President Akufo-Addo to examine petitions on the possible creation of new regions.

The Commission has started its work in the Brong Ahafo Regional Capital, Sunyani.

The region presented two petitions for the creation of the Bono East Region and Ahafo Region, out of the current Brong Ahafo Region.

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By: Farida Yusif & Mashoud Kombat/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to him, the development of the cashew industry is of great importance to the development growth of the Ghanaian economy.

[contextly_sidebar id=”4d4Ui8nWpGWASfyHYbHtdjKMn80X95VB”]“I think it is extremely important not just for the economy of Brong Ahafo, but for the economy of Ghana that we get on the bandwagon of developing this industry. There is a lot of money involved, for producers, for the marketer, for the distributor and also for those who will do the processing and conversion of the nut,” he said.

He also noted that, when the plan is rolled out, there will be no drama in terms of infrastructure, stressing that government support will be critical.

“…And I have no doubt that in that plan when it is unveiled, issue of infrastructure, the nature of government support for the industry, all of that is going to be put on the table,” he said.

He also pointed that Ghana there is nothing stopping Ghana from making good revenue and developing the Cashew industry “like how our neighbouring country Cote d’Ivoire is doing.”

The President said these at his second media encounter at the Flagstaff House following his one-year stay in office, when a journalist from the Brong Ahafo Region, in calling for the development of the cashew industry, requested the construction of cashew roads as its done in the cocoa sector.

“I like the concept of cashew road, I do not know whether it is something that is being proposed, but we will see fully what is being proposed, and I think that any serious policy has to address issues of infrastructure,” he said.

Ahead of the 2016 election, Nana Akufo-Addo promised to boost agriculture by also transforming the cashew sector into a major cash crop and foreign exchange earner.

His promise came at a time when cashew farmers were unhappy with government’s decision to place a temporary ban on the exportation of cashew nuts.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The MP had reportedly been holding series of engagements and meetings with his constituents in the building as part of activities to mark the Christmas festivities when at the time the incident took place.

The alleged assailants, numbering about six and wielding dangerous objects and machetes stormed Mr. Opoku’s residence at about 11:30am and forcefully gained access to the main building.

They reportedly broke the glass windows and doors of the house, vandalised several of the vehicles that had been parked on the property and other things they could lay their hands on.

However, when they failed to gain access to one of the top floors of the building where the participants of the event had been moved, the angry youths turned their attention to the private and commercial vehicles which had been hired by the sympathizers and supporters of the MP, breaking the windscreens, side mirrors and deflating the tyres.

According to Citi News checks, the programme hosted by the MP was an annual event organized to interact with his constituents to make merry, share experiences and also afford him the opportunity to render an account of his stewardship.

Confirming the incident to Citi News, the Director of Elections of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Constituency, Prince Nyarko said the programme was the fourth to have been organized by the party and the MP and saw over 300 people in attendance.

He alleged that members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) were behind the attack.

“We picked up signals and threats from the NPP supporters to attack the venue if people did not stop going to the house or the programme. We took the threats for granted and to our surprise, they came there with machetes and one of them was holding a gun and started attacking people in the house but fortunately, no injuries were recorded so we quickly moved them upstairs and they started destroying the parked vehicles including the rented commercial ones. Surprisingly, what is the link between somebody’s private commercial vehicle which he is using for his business to earn a living and Eric Opoku’s political career? They destroyed his Landcruiser and four other cars in the process”, he narrated.

He said the matter had been reported to the District Police who assured them that investigations into the incident have commenced

He also pledged to assist the security agencies to bring the perpetrators to book as he could identify a number of them.

Prince Nyarko assured supporters and sympathizers to remain calm and not attempt any reprisal attacks that would jeopardise the peace in the area as the MP and victims of the attack were safe and are waiting for directives and action from the police.

He observed Sankore has been a stronghold of the NDC since 1992 and accused the NPP of doing everything in their power to intimidate and cause fear and panic gain political power in the area.

“The cause in Asunafo South is purely political and one may ask why always Sankore? Where polling station matters in an election and Sankore has been the stronghold of the NDC since 1992 so the NPP is taking advantage to make the place ungovernable to prevent people from voting. So that is the only reason for these disturbances. So people coming in their numbers to welcome and interact with the MP in the numbers tell how unpopular their administration is in the constituency so that is why they are doing this”, he opined.

On the way forward to end these acts of violence and intimidations, Mr. Nyarko said the security agencies must let the law work in the constituency as a failure to enforce the existing laws was leading to the unnecessary loss of lives and destruction of properties.

“In the Asunafo South laws do not work. At the elections, you can count over 600 incidents pending at the police station, lives lost, money and properties destroyed. Even my house has been attacked more than nine times without reason,” he fumed.

He noted their common enemy was poverty, illiteracy and weak socio-economic development of the area and stretched a hand of friendship to all political parties and development partners to collaborate and fight for the economic transformation of the area.

Police in the area remain tight-lipped on the matter but Citi News checks revealed that the Regional Commander will be visiting the troubled area.

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By: Mashoud Kombat/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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He disclosed that the region was currently bedevilled with 50 chieftaincy disputes, 47 of which are petitions with three other appeals pending before the judicial committee of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs (BARHCs).

[contextly_sidebar id=”c8bqTHVAKzo92qoHYa15qzT1SQxARagw”]The Minister, therefore, called for a holistic approach by the Brong Ahafo Regional Coordinating Council (BARCC), the House of Chiefs and other stakeholders to bring the number of disputes that have plagued the region, down to the bare minimum.

“Of particular concern to the BARCC and the BARHCs is the chieftaincy dispute at Portor near Kintampo where two lives were recently lost due to a dispute between two rival factions who pay allegiance differently to the Gonja Stool and Nkoranza Stool. Peace has been restored by the security agencies and the police are investigating to identify and bring the perpetrators to book,” he stated.

The Minister made this known in an address to members of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), Heads of Department/Agencies (HODs), Municipal/District Chief Executives (MDCEs) and Traditional Authorities. The meeting was aimed at sharing ideas and experiences to help in the implementation of the region’s developmental agenda.

Environmental degradation

He also noted that illegal mining was wreaking havoc on most productive farmlands in the region and said REGSEC, in collaboration with the MDCEs, were monitoring all galamsey-prone areas and will soon nip the menace in the bud.

On illegal lumbering, he disclosed the 13-member Police Taskforce established by REGSEC has so far impounded over 50 trucks.

He also appealed for collaboration between residents and the various security councils in their areas to share information for the effective and coordinated arrest of perpetrators.

He appealed to residents and petitioners in the region to fully cooperate with the Presidential Commission on the creation of new regions to discharge its duties in the interest of all and warned against using the siting of the capitals to forment trouble.

He highlighted governments flagship programmes and interventions and encouraged residents to take advantage of the initiatives to improve their standard of living.

The Minister said with relentless efforts from Donor Agencies, Heads of Department/Agencies, MDCEs, Private sector and Traditional Authorities in partnering the BARCC, the vision of the President to develop the country will soon be realized.

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By: Mashoud Kombat/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post B/A: Chieftaincy, land disputes hampering development – Minister appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Assembly in collaboration with the District Health Directorate and other stakeholders, have intensified their sensitization exercise in schools, among organized groups and communities in a bid to reduce its impact in the area.

The dire situation of the district came to light in an address by the District Chief Executive (DCE), Adane Ankomah, when the Assembly took its turn at the second phase of a Town Hall Meeting organized by the Ministry of Information in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, to afford citizens the opportunity to interact with key stakeholders to deepen the country’s governance process.

He disclosed that the district has a total of 22 health facilities comprising 11 CHPS compounds, 3 clinics, 6 health centres and one private hospital to provide health services for the entire population, a situation he described as worrying.

He said 107,241 patients reported at facilities in the first three quarters of the year with malaria cases, upper respiratory infections, rheumatism and diarrhea cases being the topmost among health incidents.

He subsequently commended the government, National Malaria Control Programme and the National TB Control Programme for installing the first ever ultra-modern X-ray equipment in the area to improve healthcare in the district.

On the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), he commended the authorities for increasing their membership from 41,151 to 51,837 as at November 2017, as well as establishing satellite offices in Goka and Duadaso.

Mr. Ankomah also highlighted government’s social intervention programmes such as Free SHS, Planting for Foods and Jobs, School Feeding Programme, Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), One District One Factory among others, and urged residents to take advantage of the interventions for economic transformation of the area.

He added that other areas that would receive attention from the government included education, water, health, energy and road sectors, and assured that all inherited projects from the previous NDC government would be completed.

Paul Desmond Tutu, the Presiding Member of the Assembly in his address, appealed for peace and collaboration between the Assembly and stakeholders to attract more investors for development.

He lamented the poor road network in the district, and tasked government to pay special attention to the situation to open up the area as a major cashew producing district.

Desmond Tutu challenged assemblies to consider the interest of the area above all other considerations, to ensure growth and development.

Students die from Meningitis, others hospitalized

The disease appears to be rearing its ugly head in some parts of the country, following the death of a student at Damongo SHS in the Northern Region, and two others at the Bawku Secondary Technical School in the Upper East Region, and the Koforidua Secondary Technic School in the Eastern Region respectively.

Several students are also on admission at various hospitals showing symptoms of the disease.

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Mashoud Kombat/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Cerebrospinal Meningitis claims 3 lives in Jaman North appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The region has the highest prevalence rate of 2.7%.

The Sunyani Municipality, the regional capital, is the urban area in the country with the highest prevalence rate of 4.2%, an indication that the 2016 HIV Sentinel Survey puts the region in the lead of HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the country.

These statistics were revealed by the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, at a meeting with members of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), Heads of Department/Agencies, Municipal/District Chief Executives and Traditional Authorities of the region on Thursday.

“The region has the highest HIV prevalence rate of 2.7% in the country along with Volta region, and Sunyani municipality where I stay is the urban area in Ghana with the highest prevalence rate of 4.2%. So Brong Ahafo is leading the HIV/AIDs pandemic.”

He therefore called for concerted efforts by all stakeholders to address the pandemic that has the potential to affect the quality of the country’s much needed human resource for development and economic transformation.

He said the region only have a total of 792 health facilities including hospitals, clinics, health centres, maternity homes and CHPs, to render health care services, and lamented logistical challenges, lack of staff, high neonatal mortality rates, and increasing rate of teenage pregnancies, which he said puts pressure on the limited facilities thereby affecting quality healthcare delivery in the region.

On the performance of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the Minister said as at September, 2016, the scheme had a total active membership of 718,444 as against a total active membership of 731,682 in September 2017, an increase of 1.8%.

He added that the number of health service providers as at September 2017, increased to 481 from 430 in September 2016, a situation that demonstrates a renewal of people’s confidence in the scheme.

Sanitation

Mr. Asomah-Cheremeh revealed a 244 million US dollar master-plan by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), to construct a new treatment plant with the capacity of 10.3million gallons of water per day on the Tano River, to promote water sufficiency in the region to support the Abesim, Tanoso, Biaso and Berekum head pumps, which supply only 3.2 million gallons a day to most areas of districts in the region.

He noted that the Sustainable Rural Water and Sanitation Project (SRWSP), Chinese Assisted Water Project and Social Investment Fund Water Project, implemented by the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, will complement the quality water needs of residents.

The Regional Minister however expressed worry about the indiscriminate disposal of waste, and tasked the assemblies and institutions to do more in the management of waste in their areas.

“All around us, we see piled up refuse, choked gutters and drains which cumulatively lead to health problems of our people and expose the weakness in our environmental and sanitation management efforts of the assemblies. Let’s take a serious look at our sanitation management strategies and involve all stakeholders”, he emphasized.

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By: Mashoud Kombat/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Akosua Brago, who is in a critical condition, and the deceased, had been in a relationship for the last six months but had no children.

[contextly_sidebar id=”tTLJHp7OJ8CdxlOsjAVpVzBbsOgmo7JO”]The Kukuom District Police commander, DSP Robert Kwasi Boakye who confirmed this to Citi News’ partner station in the region, Success FM, said the incident happened on Sunday, October 22, 2017 around 9:00pm.

“Its true that a case of such nature has occurred at Sankore, but it’s not a murder case, its an attempted murder because the victim is still alive and what happened is that, the deceased person and the victim are in relationship but of late the relationship hit the rocks, so the lady (Akosua Brago) is living around and no one knows what happened that day.”

“The lady was about to bath and the man attacked her, alarm was blown and some people came to the scene and the man managed to escaped from the scene. The woman was sent to the hospital when the man was sought for. He was found lying in the bush dead,” he said.

He added that the victim, Akosua Brago, whose age is yet to be determined, is now receiving treatment at Star of Hope Hospital in Sankore.

So far, the body of the deceased has been deposited at Goaso Government mortuary awaiting an autopsy.

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By: Atiewin Mohammed/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Farmer assaults wife, kills himself at Sankore appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The illegal lumber, which were sourced from the Goamu and Ntotroso areas, according to Anthony Adjei, may be distributed for use by uncompleted educational facilities and self-help projects in the district.

Anthony Agyei, who spoke to Citi News after effecting the arrest, bemoaned the activities of illegal loggers, saying they were fast depleting the forest and vegetative cover of the Goamu and Ntotroso areas of the district.

He thus pledged to institute measures to protect the area’s forest reserves to ensure the President’s vision of protecting the country’s vegetative cover is realized.

Mr. Agyei said due to the bad roads and inefficient communication service in the remote areas of the district, the illegal loggers had resorted to engaging in their illegal act at night, a situation he lamented was making it difficult to arrest them.

The District Commander of Police, DSP Teddy Damptey Brown, warned that his outfit will prosecute any individual or group of persons who fell trees in the forest without authorization from the Forestry Commission.

He said the arrest was based on a tip off, and therefore appealed to residents of affected areas to collaborate with police by providing them with useful information.

The Assembly member for the Jericho electoral area who doubles as the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Constituency Chairman for the Asutifi North, and facilitated the arrest, commended community members for providing the information leading to the arrest.

He said illegal lumbering was greatly depleting forest reserves in the Goamu area, and pledged not to sit unconcerned for some greedy individuals to put the lives of residents of the area in danger.

Illegal lumbering has assumed an alarming level in the region’s forest reserves lately, especially in the Kintampo North, Asutifi North, Tano North and South, and Tain districts.

The practice, coupled with illegal mining in the area, is greatly destroying farmlands and polluting water bodies.

Early this week, a galamsey pit in the area caved in, leaving one dead, with several others believed to have been trapped.

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By: Mashoud Kombat/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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She has therefore called for the establishment of a masterplan by stakeholders with a shared vision to achieve the goal of Water and Sanitation services for all by 2030 and make the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal six (SDG6) a reality.

Mrs. Duti made these known in an interview with Citi News during a 4-day Stakeholders’ forum on District Full WASH Coverage Strategic Planning Workshop held in Kenyasi and organized by IRC, Safe Water Network and its partners with support from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation in collaboration with the assembly.

She lamented the low statistics recorded in the country on Water and Sanitation related activities and called for more efforts to address the challenge.

“Our water coverage for example is about 68% which means there is still 32% of the population that really are not yet covered so we have to work towards reaching them. Even for the 68%, we realised that most of the existing systems were either non-functional or performing sub-optimally so we also want to see how we can work to sustain even the 68 mark. If we look at the issue of sanitation, our performance country wide is not really encouraging.

If we look at liquid waste treatment and management, we are zero. If we also look at household toilet and waste management, we still need to do more to improve on it.” she said.

She was however hopeful with the intervention of the Asutifi North district, which would be the pacesetters for the entire country, lessons about how to make progress and commended the assembly and traditional leaders for the show of commitment towards the success of the project would be learned.

The Country Director of IRC appealed to stakeholders to fashion out effective and efficient measures, strategies and partnership to avoid duplication and misapplication of resources in the development chain pledged her outfit’s willingness to collaborate with all stakeholders to bring development to the door steps of the people.

The District Chief Executive (DCE), Hon. Anthony Mensah in his welcome address, commended IRC and its partners for the initiative and pledged the assembly’s readiness and commitment to the success of the project.

He emphasized governments recognizes and appreciates the role and contributions of development partners and donor agencies to facilitate development initiatives for the benefit of the district and therefore entreated participants to contribute meaningful to the success of the project.

The Asutifi North District is the only district selected to pilot a District Based WASH Coverage Initiative and its success will be replicated in Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in Ghana.

The project seeks to leverage resources and expertise from stakeholders to support the design of a 15-year masterplan to serve as the vehicle for delivery of universal WASH services for all in the district by 2030 towards the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal Six (SDG 6).

The programme brought together traditional leaders, organized groups, market women, departmental heads and stakeholders in WASH to brainstorm and to strengthen the capacities of local CSOs to effectively contribute to sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene activities.

Earlier on, the delegation held a closed door meeting with the District Chief Executive (DCE) and management of the assembly.

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By: Mashoud Kombat/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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He has thus called for collaboration from Muslims, chiefs and people of the Brong Ahafo Region to enable them execute all the interventions in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all.

He called for prayers from the Muslim community for the government.

Dr. Bawumia made the appeal in separate interactions with some prominent religious leaders in the Brong Ahafo Region as part of his Ramadan tour of some regions in the country. His tour in the region, has taken him to Kintampo, Techiman and Sunyani, the regional capital.

He explained government was putting in place measures for a smooth take off of its initiatives to turn the fortunes of the country around, and called on Ghanaians to partner the government for its success.

The Vice President re-echoed the credentials and desire of President Nana Akuffo Addo to develop Zongo communities in the country where the majority of Muslims live, but lacks development, and therefore pledged to establish the Zongo Development Fund as captured in the party’s manifesto.

“The Zongo Development Fund is one of the initiatives to develop our deprived communities and help us bridge the developmental gap amongst communities. It has never happened in Ghana here since 1957. People in communities to benefit from the fund will drive the developmental initiatives and areas to be developed or where the fund will be invested. In fulfillment of our pledge, in our first budget, we have allocated 219 million Ghana Cedis. It’s not a small amount and next month officials will be coming around to conduct needs assessments”, he opined.

He said government policy of making Arabic studies at the basic level optional and examinable, study of French and Free Senior High School, are aimed at addressing the challenge of language barrier in dealing with neighboring countries.

According to him, all necessary arrangements have been put in place to ensure that this year’s Hajj Pilgrimage will be incident-free, and wished all pilgrims well on their trip to the Holy land.

“After Ramadan, we will be to perform Hajj, and I wish all those going a safe trip. For this year, there are some changes to the arrangements to bring relief to pilgrims. Six flights will depart from Tamale and seven from Accra. Because of your suffering during the Hajj, the government has arranged for pilgrims to be fed for three days in Madina, buses to transport people especially the elderly, and due to long wait for flights in Jeddah, we have also arranged for you to be fed whilst waiting for your flights”, he announced.

The Vice President commended the chiefs and religious leaders for their prayers, and for voting for the NPP, and appealed to them to continue to pray and build bridges for peace and harmony in their respective jurisdictions for development.

The Chief of Wangara Communities in Kintampo, Sariki Fanyinama, in his welcome address commended Dr. Bawumia and government for appreciating the contribution of Muslims to the country’s development.

He charged Muslims especially the youth to emulate the humility of Dr. Bawumia, which he said serves as shining example in their localities.

The Brong Ahafo Regional Chief Imam, Sheikh Umar Abdul Kadiri, commended government for initiating programmes to address poverty and unemployment in the country, and pledged their support for government’s development agenda.

He prayed for peace, unity and abundant blessing for the nation in this Holy month of Ramadan, and tasked the Muslim community to be each other’s keeper for the blessings of Allah to manifest in the country’s development.

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By: Mashoud Kombat/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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