MYSTERIOUS HOLE AT MEMPEASAM

DCE, Hon. Jambia Alhassan

The people of Mempeasam in the West Gonja District of the Northern Region are living in constant fear following the discovery of a wide deep hole located at some few kilometers from their homes.

Following reports from the chief and Assembly woman of Meampeasam, the DCE visited the community with specialist from the Geological Survey Department to sympathies with the people and ascertain first hand information about the mysterious hole.

Addressing the community after the survey, Mr. Emanual Mensah, the Regional Director of Geological Survey Department for Northern and Upper Regions attributed the cause of the hole to a reaction of a limestone in contact with water. He explained that the hole is not caused by a volcanic erruption or earth turmoil as speculated earlier. He also assured the people that the hole would not expand further into the community and that they should not entertain any fears because the situation is not as bad as they think.

Mr. Saaka Sulemena, a spokes man for the chief of mean peasam stated that when the hole was discovered last week the opinion leaders consulted their gods and other oracles to know the exact cause but to no avail. This he said increased the fear in the people. He however expressed his gratitude to the District Chief Executive and her entourage for coming to alay their fears.

The District Chief Executive for West Gonja District Assembly, Hon. Jambia Alhassan assured the people of the District Assembly’s commitment to promote the welfare of the people in the District. She noted that no meaningful activity can be done when the people live in fear. She urged the people to belief in the report of the Geologists and go about their normal daily activities without fear.

The District Chief Executive sized the opportunity to appealed to the people to ensure peace before during and after the upcoming elections.

PUBLIC FORUM HELD

By Alhassan Mesuna, Damongo

The District Electoral Security Task Force has organised a public forum in Damongo in the West Gonja District of the Northern Region to sensitise the general public on the need to maintain peace in the district. The programme started with a float comprising of all the political parties clad in their party colours and treated to brass band music.

Addressing the forum, after the float, the DCE of West Gonja, Hon. Jambia Alhassan admonished the people to cherish peace. Gonja Land according to her is well-known for being peaceful. This trend she said must not be truncated by this generation on political expediency. The DCE observed that the tongue is a powerful tool that can either sooth volatile situations or inflame passions. She further urged political parties to guard their tongues against derogatory words so as to avoid violent confrontations.

She called on religious and traditional Authorities to continue praying for the Nation to go through the up coming elections without blood shed. She mentioned that she would be the happiest person on 8th December if nobody looses a drop of blood in the process of the elections. She finally called on the security agencies to be vigilant so as to identify possible security treats for redress.

On his part, the Chief of Damongo, Damongo wura Tuntumba (I) said the traditional authorities would not allow complacency to rob the district of the current prevailing peace. He cautioned that anybody found at the wrong side of the law shall be dealt with accordingly. He finally urged the political parties to conduct their campaign devoid of insults and other bad language.

Other Speakers were the Chief Imam of Damongo, The Missionary in charge of the Ahamadiya Mission in Damongo, President of the Damongo chapter of Council of Local Churches and the Catholic Bishop of Damongo.
The Task Force would hold similar fora in selected communities in the district

WGDA HOLDS SECOND ORDINARY SESSION

By Alhassan Mesuna, Damongo
The second ordinary meeting of the West Gonja District Assembly (WGDA) had been held in Damongo, the District Capital.

The DCE, Hon. Jambia Alhassan in a report mentioned that the Assembly had realised about 80% of revenue from its internal sources. This she said showed 18% improvement over the first quarter of this year. The DCE urged executives of the Area Councils to double their efforts in mobilising revenue so as to supplement the District Assembly Common Fund.

The DCE informed the House that West Gonja District had been selected to benefit from the Transport Sector Programme Support (TSPS II). The programme according to the DCE is being sponsored by DANIDA, an NGO. The intervention she said would focus on feeder roads construction, rural housing, water and sanitation and socio economic activity support. And that the programme would formally be implemented in the district from 2009 to 2013. She was particularly happy because the major challenge facing the district is inaccessible roads this gab she said would be filled by TSPS II.

On the up coming elections, the DCE disclosed that an Electoral Security Task Force had been formed with a mandate to implement programmes that would ensure violent free elections before, during and after the December 7th polls. She mentioned that the District Assembly had given the needed support to the Task Force to carry out their action plan.

The DCE enjoined Hon. Assembly Members to support the Electoral Commission in mobilising the people to participate in all future national exercises.

CAMPAIGN ON CHILD HEALTH BEGINS IN WEST GONJA

By Alhassan Mesuna

The Integrated Maternal and Child Health Campaign is being organised in the West Gonja District of the Northern Region. The three days campaign is under the theme “Healthy Mothers and Children Make a Better Ghana”.

In a press release signed by the West Gonja District Disease Control Officer, Mr. Gearge M. Alhassan stated that Ghana Health Service is targeting pregnant women, lactating mothers, and Children from birth to five years.

Under this programme according to him children from six months to five years old and lactating mothers up to eight weeks after delivery shall be given Vitamin A supplementation, Polio vaccination for children from birth to five years, deworming of children aged two to five years, as well as distribute Insecticides Treated Nets (ITN) to children under one year and pregnant women.

According to the release the District Health Directorate would reach out to all communities in the district from 16th to 18th October, 2008.

LEAP BEGINS IN WEST GONJA DISTRICT

LEAP BEGINS IN WEST GONJA

By Alhassan Mesuna, Mognori

The Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) is being implemented in the West Gonja District of the Northern Region. Ghana Post, National Youth Employment Programme and the Department of Social Welfare are the grassroot implementers.

At a ceremony in Mognori in the West Gonja District to transfer cash to beneficiary heads of households. Mr. Osman Iddrisu the West Gonja District Social Welfare Officer stated that LEAP is a component of the National Social Protection Strategy intended to enhance the capacity of the poor and vulnerable persons by assisting them to manage socio-economic risks such as sickness, disability, old age and unemployment. This intervention according to him is meant to improve the livelihood of the extreme poor by reducing the impact of risk and shocks that they confront in their daily lives.

Mr. Osman revealed that because of last year’s flood disaster West Gonja is being catered for under the emergency LEAP where a cash transfer of Fifteen Ghana cedis (Ghc15.00) would be paid to each beneficiary for six months beginning from September, 2008 to February, 2008.

On her part, Hon. Jambia Alhassan, DCE for West Gonja District Assembly mentioned that the implementation of LEAP is a clear manifestation of government commitment to invest in people so as to reduce hardships and unemployment in the country. Hon. Jambia explained that after last year’s floods, government had never relented in its efforts to ensure that victims of the disaster are restored to normal life. This she said shows the difference between a listening and caring government and the others which are not.

The DCE urged beneficiaries to put the support into good use to achieve the desire of government in fighting extreme poverty in the country. She enjoined the people not to politicise the programme so as to avoid discrimination.

Beneficiaries were selected from communities that were badly affected by the floods last year

voters register opened

The West Gonja District Direcorate of the Electoral Commission of Ghana have opened the voters register to give people who have attained the votting age of 18 years and those who for some reasons could not register during the last registration to register to enable them exercise their franchice in the upcoming elections in December.

According to Mr. Issah Nantogmah the District Electoral Officer, 10 registration centers have been opened district wide.The registration officials would be rotating from one electoral area to another based on a scheduled time table. The exercise according to him is expected to cover all the 20 electoral areas and the 93 polling stations within the two weeks period.

A visit to some of the polling stations revealled that the process had been peaceful. As at the seconday of the exercise, 39 people were registered at the Damongo Police Station registration centre, 156 at Ngbaripe, 115 at canteen and 58 at Laribanga.

INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT ORGANIZES FORUM FOR POLITICAL PARTIES

INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT ORGANIZES
FORUM FOR POLITICAL PARTIES

By Alhassan Mesuna, Damongo

The West Gonja District Directorate of Information Services Department have organized one day sensitization forum on coverage of political activities for political parties in the West Gonja District of the Northern Region.

In a welcome address, the West Gonja District Information Officer, Mr. Alhassan Mesuna stated that the tongue is a powerful tool that can be used to sooth or inflame passions. He then advised leaders of political parties to wisely choose their words to promote unity and peace in the district.

He explained that, the Information Services Department has a role to promote issues that border on national unity and social cohesion and that his outfit have resolved to liaise with all stake holders in the district to ensure peaceful, violent free elections in December this year.

On his part, the Deputy District Co-ordinating Director of West Gonja District Mr. Patrick Aparik advised the political parties to conduct their campaigns based on issues and avoid attacking personalities which he said is a recipe for conflicts. He observed that the aim of every political party is to bring development and that it would be out of place to promote conflict in their campaign messages in an attempt to capture political power.

The purpose of the forum was to sensitise political parties in the district on the role of Information Services Department to ensure violent free elections in December, 2008.

Participants were drawn from all the political parties, security agencies, the Electoral Commission and the media.

WEST GONJA BAC SUPPORTS TRAINEES

BAC SUPPORTS TRAINEES
By Alhassan Mesuna
The West Gonja District Business Advisory Center (BAC) of the Rural Enterprises project (REP) supported graduates of the programme’s community base skill Training program with apprenticeship support kits to enable them start practicing their trade.

Addressing people in a well attended meeting Mr. Alidu Ewura disclosed that his out fit had trained a total of 944 unemployed youth in 24 communities. This number he said is made up of 330 females and 614 males. He noted that the provision of Graduate Apprenticeship Support Kits is one of the services provided by the BAC under the REP to give upcoming entrepreneurs the required tools to start work after undergoing skill training with the BAC. He then appeal to the youth to register with the centre to benefit from the program.

On her part, the Zonal Co-ordinator of REP, Madam Ohene Ampofo said the presentation ceremony marks a new era in the lives of people who have acquired skills but lack the requisite tools to practice. She then urged the beneficiaries to take good care of the tools to ensure that it last long.

The District Chief Executive, Hon. Janet Jambia Alhassan said the apprenticeship support kits provided by the REP is a novelty of government to ensure increase productivity, reduce unemployment and poverty in the country.
The DCE stated that government is targeting the rural folk through the REP concept because majority of the citizens of the country live in rural areas.
She was also optimistic that the 0.5% decline in the poverty incidence in the district in 2007 would further be reduced in the years to come because of the social friendly policies implemented by government such as National Health Insurance Scheme, National Youth Employment Programme and the District Industrialization Program which is about to take off.

The DCE finally cautioned the 35 beneficiaries to ensure the production of high quality goods and services so as to justify the good intensions of government.

In all 35 people were presented with tools to start work as Hairdressing, Black Smiths Dressmakers, Vulcanizers Leather workers, Carpenters, Bicycle Repairs and Masons.


HATS HOLDS FIRST MATRICULATION
By Alhassan Mesuna

The Damongo Health Assistant Clinical Training School organised its first matriculation ceremony at Damongo in the West Gonja District of the Northern Region. The ceremony was organised under the theme “quality health care delivery the role of the health assistant clinical”.

In his welcome address, the Principal of the school, Mr. Cosmos H. Alhassan said the school admitted its first batch of 64 students consisting of 40 ladies and 21 Gentlemen in November 2006. Currently the school has a total enrolment of 172 out which 99 are female with 65 males. The first batch according to the principal started training at the regional health directorate training center in Tamale and finally moved to Damongo last year.
Mr. Cosmos stated that the absence of library facilities, computer laboratory as well as inadequate hostel facilities and accommodation for staff is hampering smooth academic work. He then appealed to Ghana Health Service to as a matter of urgency post more staff to the school as the present staff strength, stands at three including the principal.

On her part the District Chief Executive for West Gonja District, Hon. Janet Jambia Alhassan said the District Assembly had over the years shown a lot of commitment to ensure access of the people to health facilities. This she said is done by constructing additional clinic in Damongo and six CHPS compounds in other communities district wide. Hon. Jambia noted in addition that District Assembly have been sponsoring nursing trainees and other tertiary students to augment the human resource base of the district and commended the tutors of the school for their commitment and dedication to duty.

Hon. Jambia stated that the nation’s dream to achieve the MDG 4 and 5 would be a mirage if attention is not paid to the development of human resource to manage the health sector. She then called on the Health Assistants Trainees to be loyal to their teachers and work hard to pass their examinations so as to justify their stay in the school.

The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris who was the Guest of Honour for the occasion urged the students to let the core values of the nursing profession be their guide. This he enumerates as team work, confidentiality, professionalism, people centred service among others

Hon. Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris promised the school two sets of Jersey, two foot ball, a colour TV set and a motor bike.

Present at the ceremony was the Regional Director of Ghana Health Service Dr. Kwasi Twumasi, MP for Damongo Daboya Constituency, Hon. Alex Seidu Sofo, Heads of Department Religious Leaders Traditional authorities and the general public.

ASSESSMENT OF UNDP PROJECTS IN WEST GONJA DISTRICT

ASSESSMENT OF UNDP PROJECTS IN WEST GONJA DISTRICT
By Alhassan Mesuna, Damongo

Metropolitant, Municipal and District Assemblies have been urged to mainstream the MDGs in their Development plans so as to facilitate the attainment of those goals by 2015.
Madam Akua- Agyeman, UNDP Advisor on MDGs gave the advise at Damongo in the West Gonja District of the Northern Region during an inspection tour by a team from UNDP and Ministry of finance to inspect projects sponsored by UNDP in the West Gonja District.

The UNDP is sponsoring the Localization of MDGs in the West Gonja District. Sustainable livelihood programs under this project include, guinea fowl rearing, Dry Season gardening, groundnut processing and sheep rearing.

Madam Akua stated that attainment of the MDGs at the district level would have a greater impact on the gains made at the National level. She than advised the West Gonja District MDGs Localization working group and beneficiary farmers to step up their efforts and work as a team to ensure the success of the project in the district.

The Deputy District Co-ordinating Director for West Gonja District Mr. Patrick Aparik disclosed that poverty incidence in the district declined from 68.3% in 2000 to 64% in 2007 whiles malnutrition among children in the district have also decrease from 37% in 2007 to 27% in the first quarter of 2008. He stated that the marginal gains recorded could not have been possible without the support of development partners like UNDP. He finally called on other development partners to take advantage of the prevailing peace in the West Gonja District to promote development.

CIC DAMONGO