According to Mr Kwame Sowu, who is also the Chairman of Energy Synergy, lots of business opportunities, particularly in Agribusiness, abound the Volta Region.

But the underutilization of these potential openings has, over the years, resulted in the loss of huge revenues which could have changed the fortunes of the region.

Speaking at a Breakfast Meeting held in Ho with the Regional Minister and members of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in attendance, Mr Sowu who was part of a delegation from the Association of Ghana Industries spearheading the deliberation, said the topography of the land spanning major coastal areas, forest zones, and savanna, strategically positions the region to tap into the abundant opportunities in Agribusiness.

“The Volta region has substantial agricultural resources and large expanses of land estimated around 1.2 million acres that are suitable for the cultivation of crops or rearing of animals, but for some reason, only 29% of the total land has been cultivated, ” he said.

Citing the region’s cassava-producing potential of the region, he stated that they could generate enough revenue from cassava, which he argued could compete with cocoa, and create more jobs for the people.

“…for instance let’s use the 72% of our land that has not been cultivated in cassava production, we will be generating at a farm-based price of 1.2 billion cedis. We could easily be generating another 1.2 trillion cedis from our farmers and that will spread across the Economy of the Volta region,” he explained.

Corroborating his analysis, the Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Letsa, said the Region, under his leadership, is taking pragmatic steps towards taking advantage of government’s industrialization policies to build a robust local economy in the region.

The Minister, who stressed the vital roles the media plays in shaping the minds and attitudes of the society challenged the GJA in the region to lead the campaign towards attaining the industrial revolution agenda of the region.

He pledged his commitment to providing journalists with farmlands to cultivate in a project that would be christened “One Journalist- One Farm”.

The meeting is part of the close collaboration between the GJA and the Eastern/Volta Branch of the AGI to revamp industries in the two regions.

The Chairman of the Eastern/Volta AGI, Dela Gadzanku hinted that a business incubation centre would be established in Ho, to be named after Madam Esther Ocloo who birthed the AGI in 1958, as well as a Volta Trade and Investment Summit to attract investments into the regions.

The GJA Volta Chairman, Attorney Bells Kafui Kayi pledged the Association’s support to the revamping and growth of industries in the region.

He said his outfit has already taken steps to tour some of these dormant industries and have been engaging stakeholders on how to rejuvenate their operations.

He added that the Association has appointed an economic planning Advisor to help in conducting visibility studies and informing key stakeholders on plans to chart for the future.

The region which shares the western belt with the Republic of Togo has a total land area of 20,570 km² with an average population of 2.5 million people.

Aside from the Atlantic Ocean at the foot of the region, the River Volta traverses the middle belt to the north, meandering through the mountains and flooding the forests. This provides a perfect Agricultural setting for income generation.

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By: King Norbert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post V/R losing over GH¢1bn from untapped arable lands – Analyst appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The sitting, which is the first public encounter of the Commission with the people in the region, after earlier stakeholder consultations, was held in the Dr. Afeti Auditorium of Ho Technical University.

[contextly_sidebar id=”FUdhn6ELWVIn2eTHbF3XoGOpTmEyCNa9″]Chaired by Justice S. A. Brobbey, the Commission gave the two sides fair hearing to submit their views on whether the territory needs a new region or not.

It was however clear at the end of the sitting that the differences mostly came from persons on either side of the northern and southern divide, with most people in the northern part of the region craving a new region in hopes of bringing development to the generally underserved areas.

The southern dwellers, however, opined that the development gap could be bridged if the government creates additional districts in the area and improves transportation networks to ease the movement of goods and service from the north to the south.

One of the participants, Charles Kwesi Gomenu, told Citi News, what the existing region needs is improved infrastructure and not having a whole new region carved from it.

“Creating a new region out of the Volta region will not bring any difference. Let’s look at the Upper regions divided some years back by former president Rawlings. You still see their youth migrating from their region to Accra. You know, the challenge of Ghana now is youth unemployment and what we can do to create employment for the youth. We have to develop our infrastructure,” he said.

“You know, it’s a fact that commuting from Kete-Krachi or the northern part of Ghana to the regional capital is a challenge simply because the road network is very bad. If you cross the border to nearby Togo, you can travel by rail from Lome right to Gblita. So where the terminals are like Tsevie, Notsie, Atakpame and others, you see markets booming around the terminals. That alone gives employment to a whole lot of their people. Foodstuffs like yam and others can be transported down to the southern sector.”

The secretary to the petitioners, Dr Kweku Addeah, however, disagreed with this assertion stating that a lot more indicators factored into their calls for a new region.

“The gentleman was missing the point. When we talk of development, transportation is one of the indicators. But there are several indicators like water, like even food, like education, like jobs. He only picked one and we have taken all. Look at the statistics I gave. All the statistics are in our favour. You can’t doubt that one. A problem that has existed for more than 60 years, you cannot in one budget or two budgets, solve it,” he said.

“You see, in any case, what will our brothers and sisters in the south lose if any region is created? You don’t lose anything. What I have observed is that people or some people are opposed to us not because we want a division of the region but because they want to promote a secessionist idea of joining Togo. You see every student of history or everybody who has been to secondary school, you would have known by now that when colonialism is gone, it’s gone. When you’ve got your independence, you’ve got your independence. We are now creating new structures.”

The Commission is expected to hold similar sittings in the other selected areas including Ketechrachi, Nkwanta, Kpasa and Jasikan in the week.

Justice S. A. Brobbey said the hearings are part of a fact-finding mission, after which the Commission will inform the President on whether there is a need and substantial demand for the creation of the new region in the northern part of the Volta Region.

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By: King Norbert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post V/R: Participants divided over creation of new region appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The septic tank is located within the premises of the Ho Central Prison, close to a trunk road that connects two principal streets; from the Mount Zion Junction to the Ho Municipal Hospital.

Citi News’ visit to the area revealed that the sanitary facility has not seen any major dislodging in recent years.

The septic tank, which is visibly filled to the brim, is spilling over into the main drainage channels along the streets.

As a result, residents in the area have had to bear the brunt of the discharges, making their lives unbearable.

“The scent from the prisons side is very dangerous and it can cause a whole lot of sicknesses” a resident lamented

“When I am even passing by I have to hold my nose; you can see the septic tank overflowing. In fact the stench is unbearable” another added.

The sewage spilling into the drains is also affecting the businesses sited along those drains.

Owners of those shops told Citi News that customers aren’t comfortable doing business with them because of the mess.

“We who have shops around, it is affecting us a lot; sometimes a customer would come around to buy but because of the scent they would turn away. Because of the stench I report to work late because it is unbearable in the early hours,” one shop owner said.

The Ho Municipal Environmental Health Officer Mr. Divine Sokah admits the situation is a challenge to the Assembly and poses health dangers to people living around.

He called for collective support of both the government and other stakeholders to manage the conditions around the prisons.

The Regional Public Relations Officer at the Ghana Prisons Service, DSP Abotchie Sewoenam said his outfit is determined to solve the issue as they have begun talks with the Ho Municipal Assembly.

He attributed the situation to the congestion in the prisons which currently houses twice its ideal capacity.

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By: King Nobert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Sewage from Ho prison disrupting lives of residents appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The fire reportedly started at 5:00 am, and swept through three shops and three warehouses filled with cosmetic and rubber products.

Several secondhand clothes meant for sale were also destroyed.

The affected traders who are counting their losses, say they also lost money to the fire.

It is unclear what caused the fire, but eyewitnesses told Citi News they suspect it emanated from a nearby refuse dump site where the refuse were being burnt.

The Deputy Fire Officer, Mawusi Sarpong, who told Citi News her team rushed into to douse the fire, said investigators are on the ground gathering information to determine the cause of the fire.

“We spoke to a lady around who told us that the fire started from the dustbin nearby. But our fire investigators are on the ground to ascertain that and the way forward” she said.

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By: King Nobert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Fire ravages portions of Ho Market [Photos] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Bright Paul Yebbi, 32, a former National Service personnel, and Panidas Fordjour, 33, who were working in the Human Resource Department of the Service, allegedly forged the signature of Dr. Joseph Teye Nuertey, Regional Director of Health Services, on release letters for nurses and midwives involving GHC 1,440.00.

Nana Asomah Hinneh, Regional Police Commander, who briefed the media, said Yebbi admitted forging the signature of the Regional Director with the help of Fordjour to facilitate release of health workers from the region.

Their activities came to light when Dr. Nuertey denied appending his signature to release letters during the period of investigation.

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Source: GNA

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A recent tour of the capital city saw at least twenty (20) mentally challenged persons at vantage areas; mostly around the central business centres.

 A major concern is their harassment of road users and pilfering of items from shops with impunity.

Others were seen piling and littering the streets with rubbish.

Their activities residents say threaten their security. Some residents who spoke to Citi News recounted how they were physically harassed by the mentally challenged in their homes and offices.

Although comprehensive plans were made after Ghana’s Independence to build additional six psychiatric and rehabilitation centres to the existing three facilities, to accommodate the growing number of psychiatric patients in the country, those plans are yet to materialize.  

The absence of rehabilitation facilities in the Volta region and the congestions at the existing facilities in Accra, Pantang and Akaful has exposed the weak support systems in the Ghana, for the mentally disabled.  

This has renewed concerns over the implementation of the defunct Mental Health Law. Although Ghana has ratified a number of international human rights treaties, including the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the implementation of the Mental Health Law which was enacted in 2012 has been a major setback towards the protection of Persons with mental disabilities and the improvement of mental health services.

The situation apart from creating an unhealthy socioeconomic environment is a crucible for the infringement of fundamental rights of such mentally challenged as they are susceptible to torture and other inhumane treatments from persons who feel threatened by their activities.

Clearly, there is the need to remove such persons from the streets, house them in decent environments and provide them with adequate health care services.

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By: King Nobert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ho residents worried over mentally ill persons on streets appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

It was also a normal business day for most of the workers and customers of UT Bank in Ho as they all seem not perturbed about the current situation, despite general concerns of the job security of workers of UT Bank and Capital Bank, which also collapsed.

Citi News‘ visit to the Bank’s premises at the Ho Civic Centre saw customers walk in and patiently await their turn for transactions.

Most of them that spoke to Citi News explained that move by the Central Bank means nothing but only asking them to go back to their parent Bank which is GCB.

“To me, I think it is normal. Maybe it will be an improvement for the society so I don’t feel bad about,” one customer said as he took the news in his stride.

Other customers took solace in the security provided by a bank of GCB Bank’s scope

“They are just changing the names so I should not feat. My money will be there for me. Since GCB is a very big bank that cuts across the country, if they have taken over then I am secure.”

“I feel there will be no harm anyway because it is a takeover and Ghana Commercial Bank [GCB Bank] is the mother bank of all the Ghanaian banks and I don’t think they will do anything to harm the customers of the samller banks that they are taking over.”

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By: King Nobert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ho: UT Bank customers welcome GCB takeover appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

A total of 863 triggered communities in 14 districts were ranked based on their open defecation free and latrine coverage in priority communities among other indicators.

Mr Joshua Ofosuhene, Regional Coordinator for UNICEF Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in an ODF progress report, said Ho Municipality recorded latrine coverage of between 31 and 70 per cent in 69 triggered communities, ODF coverage of between 1 and 10 per cent, with six communities declared ODF.

He said the Municipality scored zero in Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Inter-Coordinating Committee’s monitoring, and review effectiveness, and four in Assemblies’ ownership and management support.

Mr Ofosuhene said Kadjebi District ranked first on the table with an ODF coverage of between 50 to 70 per cent in 108 triggered communities, a latrine coverage of between 71 to 100 per cent, with 56 communities declared ODF.

He said the Ho West District placed last, 14th position, with six communities out of 81 declared ODF.

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Source: GNA

The post Ho at bottom of Open Defecation-Free league table appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He said a survey conducted on the shortfall revealed that a good number of people in the Municipality kept the net and only used them for visitors to create “good impression”.

[contextly_sidebar id=”CXzrtoKbpI0SvSr8VOs00uMiQ0DxqaTy”]Mr Amegadzi said this at a review meeting to mark the closure of the implementation of Advocacy for Resources for Malaria Stoppage (ARMS) in eight districts of the Volta Region by Hope for Future Generations (HFFG) and funded by UKAID.

He noted that in spite of regular sensitisation, the myths about the treated mosquito net usage remained high among the populace resulting in steady increase in malaria cases in the Municipality.

Mr Amegazi said for instance tested malaria cases rose from 41, 609 in 2014 to 45,567 in 2015 and further to 66,776 in 2016.

He said the Municipal Area was, however, recording slight decline of malaria cases in pregnant women and deaths and called for concerted efforts to increase the use of treated nets.

Dr Kwesi Djokoto, the Ho Municipal Director of Health Services, said the Directorate was engaging stakeholders to sustain gains made by Hope for Future Generation and other non-governmental organisations in the fight against malaria.

Mrs Gladys Tetteh-Yeboah, the ARMS Programme Manager, said the programme reached 1.5 million health seekers across the country on malaria prevention, testing, treatment and tracking and also engaged over 10,000 healthcare service providers.

Ms Rita Lodonu said over 80,000 people were engaged in the Ho Municipal Area on malaria prevention and treatment and that malaria advocacy groups were formed in selected municipal and district assemblies under ARMS to raise resources for malaria reduction in the Volta Region.

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Source: GNA

The post ‘Only 40% use treated mosquito nets in Ho’ – Health officer appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The pond according to residents was created out of the town stream for construction works on the Bame-Dzolokpuita Road.

The deceased, identified as a taxi driver popularly known in the area as ‘Asong’ was believed to have sent his vehicle to the pond for washing before his death.

His vehicle was however found on the shoulder of the road with no indication of what exactly may have accounted for his death.

But residents suspect foul play as they allege that the body does not suggested he drowned.

They believe that he was murdered by some unknown persons and pushed into the pond under the cover of darkness.

The late ‘Asong’ is believed to be in his late 30s

The body has since been recovered and deposited at the morgue.

Meanwhile, the police in Hlefi have commenced investigations into the matter .

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By: King Nobert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ho: Driver allegedly murdered and dumped in pond appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.