Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, has tasked the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executive Officers (MMDCEs) to collaborate with traditional authorities to halt illegal mining, which is still rife despite recent clampdown .
He said collaboration between MMDCEs, the traditional authorities and the Mineral Commission would see to the effective implementation of the Community Mining Scheme.
Darko-Mensah made the call in Sekondi when he interacted with the media over the weekend.
The Minister also charged the Operation Vanguard Team, the combined military and police action task force enforcing the ban on illegal mining also to collaborate well with the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and the Regional Coordinating Council to deal effectively with community resistance to the ban on galamsey.
“Galamsey activities have still not stopped in the Tarkwa, Wassa Akropong, Mpohor, Wassa Manso areas to the extent that a galamsey mining pit caved-in and killed 6 galamsey operators at Manso in the Mpohor District, in August 2019,” he noted.
Although, Ghana reserves legal small-scale mining exclusively for locals, it is estimated that about 70 percent of small-scale miners are unregistered and operate illegally.
In spite of the support it gives to livelihoods, illegal mining has caused severe damage to the environment. It is responsible for the destruction of farmlands and pollution of water bodies.
Illegal mining activities also denied the state revenue to the tune of 2.3 billion dollars in 2016 alone.
Some illegal miners, however ,blame the cumbersome legal regime and licensing procedures for the proliferation of illicit mining.
Others also blame corruption, poverty, unemployment, institutional weakness and the lack of political will to combat it.
To address the challenge, government has instituted and rolled out several policies including the Community Mining Programme to ensure that mining activities are done the right way within the tenets of the law in order to reduce or eliminate the destruction of Ghana’s natural environment through such illegal activities.
The programme has provided training for more than 4,500 miners across the country at University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa.
The government interventions, notwithstanding, illegal mining activities are still on the rise in the country, with its attendant pollution of river bodies and depletion of forest reserves.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Matthew Dadzie
W/R: Minister calls for effective collaboration to halt "galamsey"
Enrolling inmates into tertiary institution a step in right direction-Former MP
A Former Central Regional Minister, Aquinas Tawiah Quansah, has stated that UCC’s initiative of enrolling 59 inmates into tertiary education is a step in the right direction.
Background
59 Inmates of the Nsawam medium-security prisons were matriculated to begin their tertiary education at the Nsawam Prisons to study as distant students of the University of Cape Coast (UCC).
Being the first time in Ghana tertiary education has been taken to the doorstep of prison inmates, the initiative is to make sure convicts benefit from their diploma courses while in prison.
The UCC also opened a prison campus inside the Nsawam prisons to help inmates qualified for diploma courses to also benefit.
Reacting to the above on Atinka TV’s Morning Agenda, a segment on Ghana Nie, Aquinas Tawiah Quansah observed that UCC is a pace-setter when it comes to such initiatives, and was optimistic that it will be able to execute the initiative successfully.
“UCC started distance education and it was successful. You will be shocked that out of the 59, two or more inmates will come out with first class. In the next five years you will see other universities buy into the idea when it becomes successful, like what happened with distance education which is being done by other public universities,” he said.
Aquinas Tawiah Quansah urged the inmates not to be discouraged because of their environment, rather strive to achieve something more profitable while in prison.
“The inmates shouldn’t say because of the environment they cannot learn, especially those with hard labour. When you go to some of the prisons like Ankaful, they have some decent facilities that can be used for such programmes. This is a move in the right direction,” he added…
For his part, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Okaikoi South Constituency, Ahmed Arthur expressed excitement about the issue.
He suggested that the prisons employ psychologists and motivational speakers who will encourage the inmates and motivate them on the need to improve themselves while in prison before they go out.
“What I think the prisons need is a psychologist and motivational speakers who will understand the prison environment so that they can go in there and motivate the prisoners to understand the need to improve themselves within the four walls before they come out,” he said.
Ahmed Arthur added that, “There are a lot of young, intelligent and talented guys in there but they are wasting their time because they have no focus and they have no direction; And so we need people who will go in and have an interaction with them, a session with them to bring their minds to certain things that happens outside their world.”
He challenged UCC to make the initiative a national programme to help more inmates, calling on government to provide the facilities in the prisons that will facilitate the teaching and learning process.
“I believe where UCC has taken this initiative to is a good one but they have to go a step further to make this a national programme to help inmates. NGO’s should also take it upon themselves to employ these prisoners because when they come out and they do not get jobs, they end up in same situations got them into prison.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
New China virus: Fourth person dies as human-to-human transfer confirmed
A fourth person in China has died from a new virus that has spread rapidly across the country, as authorities confirmed that it can be passed from person-to-person.
A 89-year-old man was the latest victim of the new strain of coronavirus, which causes a type of pneumonia.
He lived in Wuhan, the city at the centre of the outbreak.
More than 200 cases have now been reported across major cities in China including Beijing and Shanghai.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is considering declaring an international public health emergency over the virus – as it did with swine flu and Ebola. The decision will be made in a meeting on Wednesday.
China’s National Health Commission on Monday confirmed for the first time that the infection could be transmitted from human-to-human. It said two people in Guangdong province had been infected in this way.
In a separate statement, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission said at least 15 medical workers in Wuhan have also been infected with the virus, with one in a critical condition.
The workers presumably became infected with the virus due to contact with patients. All of them are being kept in isolation while being treated.
Where has the virus spread?
The disease was first identified in Wuhan, a central Chinese city of 11 million people, late last year. There are currently 218 confirmed cases of the virus in China, according to the WHO.
A handful of cases have also been identified abroad: two in Thailand, one in Japan, and another in South Korea. Those infected had recently returned from Wuhan.
Authorities in many countries, including Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan have stepped up screening of air passengers from Wuhan. US authorities last week announced similar measures at airports in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York.
In Australia, a man who had travelled to Wuhan has been placed in isolation and is undergoing tests. China is the largest source of tourists to Australia, with more than one million people visiting last year.
How fast is it spreading?
There are fears that the virus could spread swiftly – and further across the country – as millions of people across China prepare to travel home for the Chinese New Year holidays later this week.
This mass movement of people could also mean that authorities will not be able to monitor further spread of the disease.
And experts say there already could be many cases going undetected.
A report by the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial College London suggested there could be more than 1,700 infections. However, Gabriel Leung, the dean of medicine at the University of Hong Kong, put the figure closer to 1,300.
The outbreak has revived memories of the Sars virus – also a coronavirus – that killed 774 people in the early 2000s across dozens of countries, mostly in Asia, and which China was accused of initially covering up.
Analysis of the genetic code of the new virus shows it is more closely related to Sars than any other human coronavirus.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for “all-out efforts” to control the outbreak, according to state media, including quickly making information available and taking measures to “guide public opinion”.
What do we know about the virus?
The virus, known also as 2019-nCoV, is understood to be a new strain of coronavirus that has not previously been identified in humans.
It is believed to have originated from infected animals at a seafood and wildlife market in Wuhan.
Coronaviruses are a broad family of viruses, but only six (the new one would make it seven) are known to infect people.
The World Health Organization has advised people to avoid “unprotected” contact with live animals, thoroughly cook meat and eggs, and avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.
Signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
BBC
Talensi NDC demands apology from DCE over “illiterates” comment
The Talensi constituency wing of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has asked Mr. Christopher Boatbil, the District Chief Executive of the area to openly render an apology to Member of Parliament (MP), B.T. Baba, for making some distasteful comments about him.
The party has also demanded an apology from the DCE for calling Talensi people “illiterates”.
Mr. Christopher Boatbil is said have described the MP and people of the area as illiterate during a speech reported by A1 Radio, a local radio station in Bolgatanga.
Even though, the DCE has denied making such comments and cleared the air on the issue, the NDC is not happy and wants an immediate, open and unqualified apology from him.
In a statement signed and issued on Sunday by the constituency secretary, Zinekena Solomon T.T.B, and copied to our Upper East Regional Correspondent, the party expressed shock at the “insults” on the MP and people, stating it will not countenance any such act intended to bring into disrepute the good name of the MP and peace of the area.
The statement said Mr. Christopher Boatbil who sought to “score cheap political points” with his comments must immediately apologize to the MP and people of the area.
The party explained that the MP and people of Talensi did no wrong to deserve the invective language used on them, adding the MP had only gone to inspect some school projects in the constituency when the DCE descended on him with insults.
It said if the DCE thinks the projects that were inspected by B.T Baba are not his and were not initiated by him, he should provide facts to back his claims and desist from “the falsehoods he has been peddling on various platforms seeking to take undue credit of projects initiated, funded and completed by the erstwhile John Dramani Mahama led NDC government”.
The statement also advised the DCE, saying “The NDC in Talensi would like to advise the DCE to abort his pregnancy of insults, arrogance and abusive language. We will further caution that, the DCE should eschew politics of insults to prevent possible response in equal measure as election 2020 draws closer”.
Below is the full statement.
Sunday, January 19, 2020.
Immediate Release.
[Party Office, Talensi Constituency].
TALENSI NDC DEMANDS AN IMMEDIATE UNQUALIFIED APOLOGY FROM THE DCE FOR TALENSI, HON. CHRISTOPHER BOATBIL .
The attention of the NDC in Talensi has been drawn to an article with a heading: ” illiterate can do what you are doing – Talensi DCE tells MP,” published on GhanaWeb sourced from a1radioonline.com, making rounds on social media. After reading the said article, the DCE for Talensi, Dr. Christopher Boatbil Sormiteyema sought to score cheap political points by describing the Member of Parliament and the good people of Talensi as illiterates at Shia. What is the crime of the Hon. B.T. Baba and the good people of Talensi to have warrant this invective from the representative of President Nana Addo in Talensi. This virulent language exposes the immaturity of the DCE in contemporary politics.
To the best of our understanding, the only crime committed by the Honourable Member of Parliament of Talensi, Hon. B.T. Baba is his inspection of school projects in the constituency in December, 2019. Hence, his description as an illiterate.
The NDC in Talensi would state the records straight without equivocation as follow:
- During the 2015 Talensi Constituency bye-election campaigns, constituents in the said communities where the schools are located requested for the school infrastructures from Hon. B.T. Baba who was a parliamentary candidate.
- He (Hon. B.T. Baba) told the constituents that he will lobby for the projects if he is voted into office.
- After elected as the Member of Parliament in 2015, he lobbied through GETFUND and GES with applications to secure the following school projects. These include:
- 6-unit classroom block with axillary facilities in Namoalogo.
- 3-unit classroom block in Sheaga.
- 3-unit classroom block at Gbeogo JHS.
- 2-unit classroom block in Tengzuk Nursery.
- 6-unit classroom block at Balungu.
- 2-unit classroom block at Pwalugu for a KG.
- 3-unit classroom block at Kpale.
- 2-unit classroom block at Baare (Sakpare).
- 3-unit classroom block at Winkogo (Dapoore).
- 3-unit classroom block at Sawaliga.
- All these schools are at various stages of completion with the exception of about three where the contractors have visited the site and are about to commence work.
- These projects preceded the coming into power of current NPP government.
The question is, what is wrong with the Talensi Lawmaker as a major stakeholder going round to inspect projects he lobbied for to ascertain the progress of work of such projects? Is it not ridiculous and outrageous for a DCE to question that all important exercise carried out by the Honorable Member of Parliament? Are we not the same people who have been complaining of delay of completion of projects and shoddy work done by some contractors? Mostly, lack of supervision and monitoring account for this canker leading to no value for money. It, however, beats our imagination that a DCE with PhD would lower the bar of political discussion and societal engagements. He is busily dancing in the gutters alone. We may be attempted to believe that some people are carrying big heads punishing their necks if there is no reflection of their academic qualifications in development and nation building.
The NDC would like to dare the DCE to come out with contrary facts relative to the aforementioned schools lobbied by Hon. B.T. Baba. We also want to challenge him (DCE) to publish list of projects initiated and completed by the Nana Addo led NPP government in Talensi. The NDC is keenly monitoring the falsehoods the DCE has been peddling on various platforms seeking to take undue credit of projects initiated, funded and completed by the erstwhile John Dramani Mahama led NDC government. Well! The performing masquerade that tries too hard to outclass his colleagues will end up by exposing his anus.
In fact, the DCE can use all the abusive words on the good people of Talensi, but we will be anxiously waiting for the following:
- The completion of the Talensi Community Day School at Yameriga.
- The commencement of work of the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam.
- The one district, one factory.
- The one village, one dam.
- The one constituency, one million dollars which is in arrears of three years.
- Regularization of the Talensi mining for the youth.
- Provision of furniture in the various basic schools.
- The payment of locked up money with banks collapsed by his (Boatbil) NPP government.
- The jobs the NPP promised Talensi of.
- Connect remaining communities to the national grid etc.
The NDC in Talensi would like to advise the DCE to abort his pregnancy of insults, arrogance and abusive language. We will further caution that, the DCE should eschew politics of insults to prevent possible response in equal measure as election 2020 draws closer.
The rank and file of NDC in Talensi will conduct issue-based campaign with considerable level of cognisance of the peace and security of Talensi. We would continue to demonstrate high level of tolerance, respect and humility to maintain the peace and stability enjoyed by all constituents. However, we would like to send a strong signal that the NDC would never and ever tolerate any form of intimidation from any government official. We shall appropriately resist any form of intimidation with all our might.
We call on the DCE to render an unqualified apology to the Honourable Member of Parliament who has jealously guided and protected his integrity through out his life. He must also render same apology to the respected people of Talensi and refrain from such comments in the future.
…………Signed…………
Zinekena Solomon T.T.B.,
Talensi Constituency Secretary.
0246180297/0208374440.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Senyalah Castro
Malaysia sends plastic waste back to UK insisting it is not world's 'rubbish dump'
Malaysia has sent back 150 containers of plastic waste to 13 mainly rich countries, including 42 to the UK, since the third quarter of last year.
The country’s environment minister warned on Monday that those who want to make Malaysia the rubbish bin of the world can “dream on”.
Shipments of unwanted rubbish have been rerouted to Southeast Asia since China banned the import of plastic waste in 2018, but Malaysia and other developing countries are fighting back.
Environment Minister Yeo Bee Yin said another 110 containers are expected to be sent back by the middle of this year.
She added that the successful repatriation of a total 3,737 metric tonnes (4,120 US tons) of waste followed strict enforcement at key Malaysian ports to block smuggling of waste and closing more than 200 illegal plastic recycling factories.The minister said the Malaysian government didn’t pay a penny, with the costs of sending back the waste fully borne by the shipping liners and importers.
Of the 150 containers, 43 were returned to France, 42 to the UK, 17 to the United States, 11 to Canada, 10 to Spain and the rest to Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Portugal, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Lithuania, Malaysia’s environment ministry said.
Yeo Bee Yin said talks were ongoing with US authorities to take back another 60 containers this year.
She added that Canada also has 15 more containers, Japan 14, the UK nine, and Belgium eight from 110 more containers that are still being held at Malaysian ports.
The minister continued: “If people want to see us as the rubbish dump of the world, you dream on.”
She said the government will launch an action plan on illegal plastic importation next month that will help the different agencies coordinate enforcement and speed up the process of returning the waste.
The minister added: “Our position is very firm. We just want to send back (the waste) and we just want to give a message that Malaysia is not the dumping site of the world.”
It comes after Malaysia announced it would be sending back 3,000 tonnes of non-recyclable plastic waste to countries including the UK, the US, Australia and Canada.
Yeo Bee Yin said 60 shipping containers filled with contaminated waste had been smuggled into illegal processing facilities in the country.
The waste included cables from the UK, CDs from Bangladesh, contaminated milk cartons from Australia and electronic and household waste from North America, Japan, Saudi Arabia and China.
Source: Sky News
Two finance officers arrested over "questionable" payment vouchers
The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament has caused the arrest of two District finance Officers in the Sefwi Akontombra District in the Western Region, Isaac Akokwaa and James Esilfie, for presenting wrong payment vouchers to the committee.
Chairman of the public Account Committee, James Klutse Avedzie, who called for the arrest of the two during the sitting of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament explained that Isaac Akokwaa and James Esilfie failed to justify reasons for the issuance of over 62 purchase vouchers for the District.
“So you want to tell this committee or you want to hold the committee to ransom that the two of you will connive to come and deceive this committee to take anything to get away with it. We are going to lock you. The police will take a statement from you and that statement will be used against you in the law court. We will not prosecute you but government will takeover”, Chairman of the public Account Committee, James Klutse Avedzie, said before the two were arrested.
Meanwhile Atinka News’ Parliamentary correspondent, Afia Kwarteng, reports that the two are currently in custody at Parliament’s Police Station.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com
Video: NPP boys seize party chairman's car for not giving them jobs
Some angry members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Tamale Central constituency of the Northern Region have seized a vehicle belonging to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) chairman of the area, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim.
The youth accuse Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim of not honouring a promise he made to them when the party was campaigning ahead of the 2016 general elections. The youth group including polling station executives after taking custody of the vehicle, deflated the tyres as well. They said they would only release the car if the party secures them jobs.
According to them, the chairman and the constituency executives promised them jobs if the party won power in the 2016. One of the angry youth who spoke off record said several years into Akufo Addo government, the said promise has not been fulfilled. He claimed party executives abandoned them when the party won power and have only returned because it’s an election year.
According to him, the party has taken them for granted and only remembers them when it is an election year hence their actions. He said the youth of Tamale are tired of being used by people for their parochial benefit.
The constituency chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim when contacted confirmed the news. According to him, the constituency has programmes to engage the various youth groups in the constituency because of agitations among them over some allegations. He said accusations have been leveled against the executives that they have hijacked contracts meant for the youth but said the claims were untrue.
He said the NPP youth in ‘Zogbleli’ disrupted the meeting and went ahead and to deflate his vehicle tyres.
The party chairman said he did not react because the boys were angry but added that they went too far by beating the constituency deputy Nasara Coordinator. The chairman further said he was not ready to report the matter to the police since it’s a party affair and that the leadership of the party will resolve the issue amicably.
New China virus: Number of cases jump as infection spreads to Beijing
The number of people infected with a new virus in China tripled over the weekend, with the outbreak spreading from Wuhan to other major cities.
Wuhan reported 136 new cases of the respiratory illness. The capital Beijing reported two cases, while Shenzhen confirmed one.
Total known infections now exceed 200, and three people have died.
The sharp uptick in cases comes as millions of Chinese prepare to travel for the Lunar New Year holidays.
Health officials have identified the infection, which first appeared in Wuhan in December, as being a strain of coronavirus. They say it has led to an outbreak of viral pneumonia, but much about it remains unknown.
Although the outbreak is believed to have originated from a market, officials and scientists are yet to determine exactly how it has been spreading.
South Korea reported its first confirmed case of the virus on Monday, following two in Thailand and one in Japan.
The outbreak has revived memories of the Sars virus – also a coronavirus – that killed 774 people in the early 2000s across dozens of countries, mostly in Asia. Analysis of the genetic code of the new virus shows it is more closely related to Sars than any other human coronavirus.
Experts in the UK told the BBC the number of people infected could still be far greater than official figures suggest, with estimates closer to 1,700.
What we know about the virus
- 2019-nCoV, as it’s been labelled, is understood to be a new strain of coronavirus that has not previously been identified in humans
- Coronaviruses are a broad family of viruses, but only six (the new one would make it seven) are known to infect people
- Scientists believe an animal source is “the most likely primary source” but that some human-to-human transmission has occurred
- Signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties
- People are being advised to avoid “unprotected” contact with live animals, thoroughly cook meat and eggs, and avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms
Source: World Health Organization
Who has been infected?
Authorities in Wuhan, a central Chinese city of 11 million that has been at the heart of the outbreak, on Monday said 136 new cases had been confirmed over the weekend, with a third person dying of the virus.
There had previously been only 62 confirmed cases in the city.
As of late Sunday, officials said 170 people in Wuhan were still being treated in hospital, including nine in critical condition.
Health officials in Beijing’s Daxing district meanwhile said two people who had travelled to Wuhan were treated for pneumonia linked to the virus.
In Shenzhen, a major tech hub close to Hong Kong, officials said a 66-year-old man showed symptoms of the virus following a trip to visit relatives in Wuhan. Eight others in Shenzhen have been quarantined and are under observation to determine if they have the virus.
Four cases have been confirmed abroad – all of them involving people who are either from Wuhan or have visited the city.
In South Korea, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said a 35-year-old Chinese woman was suffering from a fever and respiratory problems after traveling there from Wuhan. She was put into isolation and treated at a local hospital.
The World Health Organization said it was currently not recommending restrictions on travel or trade, but was providing guidance to countries preparing for any outbreak.
Airports in Singapore, Hong Kong and the Japanese capital Tokyo have been screening air passengers from Wuhan, and US authorities last week announced similar measures at three major airports in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York.
What are the Chinese authorities saying?
How China is responding to the outbreak is under close scrutiny, given that it was widely criticised for initially covering up the Sars crisis in late 2002 and early 2003.
On Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time publicly addressed the outbreak, saying that the virus must be “resolutely contained”.
The foreign ministry, meanwhile, said China was providing “timely information about the disease” and would “work with all parties to deal with the virus”.
State media has been urging citizens not to panic and on Sunday the National Health Commission said the virus was “still preventable and controllable” although close monitoring was needed.
It said there had been no cases of the virus spreading from one person to another, but that it had instead crossed the species barrier and come from infected animals at a seafood and wildlife market in Wuhan.
However the WHO said it believed there had been “some limited human-to-human transmission occurring between close contacts”.
“As more… cases are identified and more analysis undertaken, we will get a clearer picture of disease severity and transmission patterns,” it wrote on Twitter.
It noted that the rise in cases in China was a result of “increased searching and testing for [the virus] among people sick with respiratory illness”.
What impact could Lunar New Year have?
From Friday, most Chinese will begin their week-long Lunar New Year holidays.
It’s a time when hundreds of millions travel around China to visit family, raising fears that authorities will not be able to adequately monitor further spread of the disease.
Wuhan is a transport hub and authorities there have for nearly a week been using temperature scanners at airports, and train and bus stations. Those showing signs of fever have been registered, given masks and taken to hospitals and clinics.
Authorities say they will now also be screening everyone leaving the city.
At Beijing’s central railway station, some travellers donned masks but did not appear overly concerned about the virus.
“Watching the news, I do feel a little worried. But I haven’t taken precautionary measures beyond wearing regular masks,” Li Yang, a 28-year-old account manager travelling to the region of Inner Mongolia, told the AFP news agency.
But the tone in Chinese social media, where the outbreak has been a top trending topic, was different.
“Who knows how many people who have been to Wuhan may be unaware that they have already been infected?” one Weibo user said.
BBC
I chose development of Navrongo, Upper East over a $2 million contract – Kofi Adda
Navrongo Central Member of Parliament (MP) and Aviation Minister, Joseph Kofi Adda has revealed that there was a time in his life when he had to choose between a juicy two million-dollar contract from the World Bank and heeding to calls by his people to contest a by-election in 2003.
After he had achieved successes in previous contracts with a consultancy firm he was working with in the United states of America, Mr. Adda was gearing up for another juicy four-year contract in Mauritius from the World Bank when calls came knocking on his door to return home to start a political journey.
The people wanted him, saying he was best replacement for the late John Setuni Achuliwor, who was Member of Parliament for the area at the time until his sudden demise.
There was the search by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for a candidate who would best represent the party and the people.
For keeping touch with the people back home despite his work nature, that mostly took him outside of Ghana for longer periods, and his relentless commitment in contributing to the development of Navrongo, the people settled on him as their preferred candidate, made efforts in convincing him to come back home, knowing the good he would bring.
Speaking exclusively on “Day Break Upper East” on Bolgatanga based A1 Radio Monday morning, Mr. Adda who took listeners down the journey of how he got into mainstream politics revealed it was a difficult time for him as he was torn between making himself rich and returning home to help in the development process of his beloved hometown- Navrongo and the Upper East Region.
He said even though he could have paid deaf ears to the calls and concentrate on his consultancy work that was making him millions of dollars, he ditched his personal interests and opted to return home because he wanted to bring the area and his people the needed development and transformation.
“I had successfully finished consulting for some companies and preparing for another job in the Mauritius for the World Bank when pressure came for me to return home for my political journey. It was a difficult moment and a choice between my personal interest and the development of Navrongo and the Upper East Region. But I chose and I put the development of Navrongo and the Upper East Region over an amount which could have made me the richest man in the region. I knew I could bring development to the area”.
Mr. Adda who is grateful to the party and people of Navrongo for seeing the best in him and giving him the opportunity to represent them in Parliament for all the years, noted some challenging times in his political journey but said discipline has been key to his success story since he joined the race and have no regrets choosing to serve his people.
“I have been active in politics since the 60s and 70s when I would usually go to rallies and other party events and activities. Even though I wasn’t always at home, I gave my contribution for the development of the party and I must add that being discipline has been very key in my life and in politics. My father stood for discipline,” he said.
The MP expressed his disappointment in past governments for the manner in which the upper East region airport was handled, assuring that this government is working around the clock to make it soon operational to make traveling to the region easier.
He commended the current government under the leadership of President Akufo Addo for the several life-changing projects in the region such as the construction of the Pwalugu Multipurpose dam, adding that “everything for that particular project was actually done in 2008 under then Kufuor NPP government and if we (NPP) had won the election that year, the project would have been completed by now but the NDC which won that election prioritized the Kwame Nkrumah interchange and used the funding for that project”.
He urged the people of the Upper East Region to continuously keep faith with the NPP government for more of its unmatched development projects.
Brief history.
Joseph Kofi Adda became MP for the Navrongo Central constituency in 2003 after winning a by-election. He replaced the then MP john Setuni Achuliwor in Parliament after his death.
He was re-elected to Parliament in 2004 and 2008 but lost to fierce contender Mark Owen Woyongo in the 2012 general elections. He came back strong four years later to unseat Mark Owen Woyongo in the 2016 elections.
Mr. Adda who has made his intentions to contest in the upcoming NPP parliamentary in April 2020 and subsequently retain the Navrongo seat for the NPP urges delegates to make him the best choice.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Senyalah Castro
A/R: Police outline security measures ahead of voters' register demo
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has outlined adequate security measures ahead of the demonstration by the Inter Party Resistance against the New Voters Register scheduled for tomorrow Tuesday 21st January, 2020.
Prior to the demonstration, the command has urged all persons who will be part of the event to take note of agreed routes and comply in order to avoid any confrontation with the Police.
According to the police, the event is scheduled to begin from the Aboabo School Park-through to Asawase Police Station to – Asare Original Pay All Office, – through to the Central Mosque then continue to -Asanteman Senior High School; Then to the – Kumasi Zoo Traffic Light through – Pampaso to – Wesley Methodist Roundabout to – Pioneer Office, Melcom Traffic Light to – Aseda House.
The demonstration will continue to – A Life Supermarket through the – Asafo Interchange and Labour Roundabout and finally end at the – Jubelee Park.
The Police stated that it will ensure that the routes agreed on for the event are secured and Law and Order is maintained throughout the entire period.
“The Media is entreated to caution all persons or groups that no acts of lawlessness i.e. burning of lorry tyres, throwing of stones, harassment of bystanders and hawkers will be entertained during the demonstration,” the police stated.
Below is a statement:
THE MEDIA
SECURITY AHEAD OF INTER PARTY RESISTANCE AGAINST THE NEW VOTERS REGISTER DEMONSTRATION
1. The Ashanti Regional Police Command has outlined adequate security measures ahead of the demonstration by the Inter Party Resistance against the New Voters Register scheduled for tomorrow Tuesday 21st January, 2020.
2. Following discussions with the organizers of the event, the routes below is agreed to be used by the demonstrators. All persons must take note and comply in order to avoid any confrontation with the Police.
3. The event is scheduled to begin from the Aboabo School Park-through to Asawase Police Station to – Asare Original Pay All Office, – through to the Central Mosque then continue to -Asanteman Senior High School. Then to the – Kumasi Zoo Traffic Light through – Pampaso to – Wesley Methodist Roundabout to – Pioneer Office, Melcom Traffic Light to – Aseda House.
4. They will continue to – A Life Supermarket through the – Asafo Interchange and Labour Roundabout and finally end at the – Jubelee Park.
5. The Police Command will ensure that the routes agreed on for the event are secured and Law and Order maintained throughout the entire period.
6. The Media is entreated to caution all persons or groups that no acts of lawlessness i.e. burning of lorry tyres, throwing of stones, harassment of bystanders and hawkers will be entertained during the demonstration. The Police will ensure that acts that will undermine public peace and order as well as flouts the Public Order will not be entertained.
Signed
GODWIN AHIANYO
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE
PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER/ASH
In case of reply the Number and date of this letter should be quoted My Ref .PAU/ASH.25VOL6/4 Your Ref: Public Affairs Unit/Ash Ghana Police Service PO Box 1903 KUMASI 20TH JANUARY, 2020 NEWS RELEASE
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