According to the residents, the directive is negatively affecting the smooth running of businesses and movement in the community.

[contextly_sidebar id=”lEMgofl8GJvlFRdtZV9IhjIIoDwBWDmk”]Last Friday, REGSEC banned the use of motorbikes in two of the region’s hotspots, following a shooting incident which claimed the lives of three persons.

But residents of Bimbilla who say the motorbike serves as their means of transport are appealing to the Regional Security Council to review the ban.

One resident who spoke to Citi News said: “This is a very serious issue because here, our main transportation is the motorbike. Assuming I’m carrying my father, he is old and they say I should not carry somebody if we are going to farm, how do we do it?”

Another said: “I have six members of staff and it is only me who goes to school on a single bike. The other people always come to school in pairs. Yesterday when I came to school, we were three and when I asked what happened, they said we should not carry people on motorbikes. The effect is that the standard of education is going to go very bad. We are already battling with it here.”

Three people died in Bimbilla, with eight others injured in the attack which occurred last Thursday.

According to eyewitnesses, two persons on a motorbike allegedly shot at them and sped off.

Five persons who sustained various degrees of injury are receiving treatment at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, with three others at the Bimbilla Hospital.

The incident led to sporadic shootings in some parts of the troubled town.

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By: Felicia Osei /citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Speaking at the annual festival of the Lawra traditional area in the Upper West Region, to climax their annual Kobine festival, the president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, reiterated his administration’s commitment to the development of agriculture in order to improve the quality of the lives of Ghanaians.

“Agriculture remains the fuel that powers all our activities in Ghana, as we have seen, we ignore it at our risk. Now, government will certainly not ignore it, it is my pledge, that farmers, food crop farmers, fish farmers and livestock farmers will all have the support and respect they deserve from my government,” Nana Addo said.

He added that, government, with the assistance of the government of Canada, would purchase the 3,000 motorbikes and 250 pickups to help farmers improve the agricultural sector of Ghana.

The Paramount Chief of the Lawra traditional area, Naa Puowele Karbo III, commended the president for his government’s interventions in the sector which have resulted in an improvement in agriculture in the area.

He also challenged government to expedite action on the national climate change policy to ensure its implementation at the regional and district level, to address issues of climate change in the region, since the region is most at risk of climate change.

“We are aware that the national climate change policy has been formulated but its implementation is yet to trickle down to regional, sub regional and local levels,” he said.

Naa Puowele Karbo III, stated that, agricultural platforms intended to mainstream climate change issues into the district assembly planning and budgeting processes, have been established, but bemoaned the fact that their operationalization has been bedeviled with apathy, lack of resources and funding.

The Member of Parliament for Lawra, who is also the Deputy Roads and Highways Minister, Anthony Abayifaa Karbo, confirmed that funds have been released to contractors working on major roads in the region, and pleaded with the residents to support the government to deliver on its promises.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Mr. Apeatu  in a wireless message sent to all Regional Police Commands in Ghana, explained that the move has become necessary due to the increasing number of unregistered motor bikes and vehicles on the roads.

“It has been observed across the country that large number of motor bikes ply our roads without registration number plates. Similarly unregistered vehicles ply the road. This unlawful act is gradually being accepted as normal and lawful. INGPOL directs all regional commanders to conduct nationwide clamp down on all unregistered motor bikes and vehicles.”

“Those that do not have proper registration be impounded and owners prosecuted…” the memo indicated.

The memo further directed that the order is carried out “with full vigor and must be robust”.

The directive is already in force as hundreds of unregistered motorbikes were seized earlier today [Tuesday].

Those who had the proper documentation and licences were allowed to go while the unregistered motorbikes were seized. Their owners have also been booked for prosecution.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post IGP orders nationwide seizure of unregistered motorbikes appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Commission has also instructed the security personnel to block access routes to persons who intend using motorbikes at the various polling stations.

Addressing the press on Tuesday, Charlotte Osei, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission further stated that the sale of alcohol around polling centres is also not permitted.

“We want to remind the public that the sale of alcohol within 500 meters of a polling station is prohibited. In addition the Police have determined that within the hours of 5:00pm tomorrow and 6:00am on December 8th, the use of motorbikes are not permitted. In addition to this, on Election Day, motorbikes are not permitted within 400 meters of a polling station,” she explained.

The EC’s decision follows fears expressed by stakeholders over possible ballot box snatching which is usually done with motorbikes.

The EC had also identified drunkenness as one of the factors accounting for the high number of rejected ballots.

We’re ready for December 7 polls

Charlotte Osei further used the opportunity to express her outfit’s readiness to organize the general elections tomorrow [Wednesday] December 7, 2016.

She said all material, equipment and personnel required for the conduct of the polls have been dispatched to all the polling stations nationwide. “Everything is set for tomorrow,” she added.

According to her, over 15 million voters are expected to cast their ballot in the election on Wednesday.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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According to the Head of the Animal Products and Biosafety Department of the Kofi Essel, people continue to live in poor sanitary conditions in spite of numerous educational campaigns on sanitation and personal hygiene.

“Personally, we need to take a lot of the blame. If you take any by-laws of any local government, it tells you that you are responsible for any immediate public property that borders your property. You are primarily responsible for your health. If you fail to observe hygiene, no amount of facilities that have been put in place will help you.”

He believes that the authority faces a huge task in maintaining quality health standards in the country due to the unwillingness of people to change their attitudes.

“This is the 21^st century, and people still eat without washing their hands, or do so without using soap. We can’t do anything about that. We can only continue to hammer on these attitudinal changes that we have been talking about. Each individual has a role to play in the fight against cholera,” he added.

Mr. Essel also believes that the local assemblies have failed to provide the appropriate facilities to promote public health and safety.

“If the gutters are not clean, and people don’t have hygienic places to sell food, that is a problem.

The disease has claimed over 80 lives with more than 10,000 cases recorded across the country.

An outbreak of cholera has claimed the lives of over 80 people with more than 10,000 cases recorded across the country.

The Ghana Health Service says it is contemplating a ban on the sale of food on the street in light of the epidemic.

The country has also initiated discussions with the World Health Organization (WHO) to supply oral vaccines to help bring the situation under control.

Mr. Essel is hoping that increased education on personal hygiene would help prevent a further spread of the the disease.

“The FDA is working with the local government and other organisations to intensify public education so that people will be aware.We want to ensure that the food vending activities do not pose a threat to public health and safety.”

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Cholera won’t stop spreading if you don’t change – FDA appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The FDA says it “has reliably been informed that the Manufacturing Plant of Exeter Corned Beef in Argentina has been shut down for some time now and that the product is now being manufactured in Brazil”.

The FDA, sounded the  alarm in a press statement signed by its Chief Executive Officer (CKO), Hudu Mogtari.

Despite this development, some persons are still importing Exeter Corned Beef indicating the country manufactured to be Argentina.

“The public is, therefore, being cautioned against the patronage of Exeter Corned Beef purported to be manufactured in Argentina since the FDA cannot guarantee its safety”.

The statement said, “Consumers of Exeter Corned Beef are advised to patronize only the ones from Brazil; which the FDA has approved currently”

The FDA further advises that report should be made to any FDA office nationwide or the police on any shop or persons found distributing or selling Exeter Corned Beef purported to be manufactured in Argentina.

Furthermore, the general public is being assured of FDA’s readiness to ensure public health and safety at all times and therefore appeals to the general public to give any information on persons suspected to be engaged in any practice which has the possibility of endangering public health and safety, through any of the following contacts: 0244337235, 0244337243, 0244337249, 0244563764 or 0244337251.

Source:Herald

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The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has cautioned the public to beware of the distribution and sale of unwholesome sachet water in Accra.

According to the FDA, a new brand of sachet water, “Special Basin” which was currently being distributed and sold on the market has not been registered by the Authority.

A statement signed by the Deputy Chief Executive (Food Safety Division), Mr John Odame-Darkwah said investigations by the FDA have established that “Special Basin” water was being produced by Special Basin Company at Tema, Community 2.

According to Mr Odame, the product is an imitation of Special Ice Mineral Water produced by Special Ice Company Limited in Accra.

He said investigations have established that Special Basin company has been operating illegally for quite a while and has been supplying the unwholesome sachet water to some shops located around Ashaiman, Tema and its environs.

It said the FDA has since locked up the production facility of Special Basin while investigation continues and was therefore advising the public to beware.

Mr Odame asked distributors and retailers of sachet water, to beware of where they source their supplies since they are equally culpable if they sell or distribute unwholesome/unregistered products to consumers.

He reminded all producers of FDA regulated products, which include sachet water, to note that it is a criminal offence to offer for sale products that have not been given approval by the FDA.

Source: Graphic Online

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