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