Thursday, June 2, 2011

PRESIDENT JOHN EVANS ATTA MILLS CALLS ON YAGBONWURA

The President of the Republic of Ghana His Excellency John Evans Atta Mills in a company with some government and Party Officials visited the district as part of his Regional Tour.

The president paid a courtesy call on the king of Gonjland Yabonwura Tuntumba Borsesa Sulemana Jakpa I. He later commissioned a 10 room girls Hostel valued at 124,230.85 Ghana Cedis at the Damongo Health Assistant Training School (HATS) and inspected some ongoing projects.

Addressing a durbar of chiefs and elders at the Yabonwura’s palace, the president congratulated the King on his instalment as the Yabonwura.

He thanked the chiefs and elders and people of Gonjaland for giving him a hard working vice president. He described the vice president as someone who has the nation at heart and has concerned for development issues.

He assured the people that he will be back in June to cut sod for the commencement of the construction of the Fufulso-Damongo-Sawla Road.

He further assured the people of more developmental projects. The president was optimistic that the NDC will win power for the next four years.

On his part the Yabonwura assured the president that by the time his skins become vacant he would have his support and that of other kings and chiefs as well and other stakeholders resolved if not all but more than half of the conflicts first in his Kingdom and in the Northern Region at large. This he said would change the attitude and mind set of those who think the Northern Region offers only conflict in place of development.

He noted that peace is the prerequisite for development and its sustenance was key to meaningful growth and development.

The King pledged to build and rely on some of the already existing structures as well as innovation aimed at achieving lasting peace not only in Gonjaland but the whole of the Northern Region.

He also reassured all those who want to assist districts in his Kingdom to develop to come and do so because he has with all chiefs under him resolved to work hard to achieve measurable results for posterity.

He commended the president for the numerous projects being under taken in the district and urged him to continue to do more.

The King appealed to the president to assist him get a lasting solution in dealing with institutions and agencies that need to pay royalties or compensation to his Kingdom. He mentioned the Mole Game Reserve and the Bui Dam project as some of the agencies. He pointed out that, not much has been realized by his predecessors as a direct contribution to the kingdom.

However, he commended the management of the Mole Game Reserve for the level of cooperation they have enjoyed with them.

Besides he reminded them that much as they were privileged to have the park in the district, there was the need to preserve and conserve the flora and fauna, yet human life still remains very valuable and important and everything should be done to preserve life.

The Yabonwura thanked the president for this visit and hoped that he would be given the opportunity to reciprocate the visit since it would afford him the rare opportunity to show case his vision and mission and effects needed to achieve them.



BY: REGINA ATULE

ANNUAL WASSA CELEBRATED

The Damongo District Police Command in conjunction with the Bole and Sawla District Police Command celebrated their first ever Annual West Africa Security Services Association (WASSA) in Damongo the District Capital of Gonja West.

WASSA celebrations started some years back in Ghana. It is an annual event that aims at assessing performances and adopting measures to enhance the delivering of service. It also offers a platform for members to socialize and familiarize with each other.

Addressing participants at the gathering, the District Police Commander DSP Mr. Ansah Dawuda disclosed that, the three District Police Commands have a working strength of 101 currently, adding that though the number is inadequate, the Districts have managed to bring crime to its barest minimal.

He pointed out that, the Police cannot work in isolation but need the cooperation of all stakeholders especially the general public.
He appealed to all and sundry to volunteer information to enable them combat crime to making the Better Ghana Agenda of the government a reality.
He assured members that any information given to the Police will be treated with tactfulness.
He further appealed to stakeholders to assist the three Districts Police Command with motorbikes, computers and its accessories to enhance effective policing.
DSP Mr. Ansah Dawuda also appealed to stakeholders for the renovation of the police barracks and the construction of a KIVP for Damongo District Police Command.
He expressed his profound gratitude to the Yabonwura for his continues support to the Police saying, “In fact, what we are witnessing today is through the support of his highness”.
He also expressed appreciation to the Damongo-wura for the release of about 16 acres of land to the Police for the construction of a new District Police Headquarters.

The commander made it known that the project which is sponsored by the West Gonja District Assembly was almost completed.
He commended the MP for Damongo/Daboya constituency Hon. Sammy Wusah, the West Gonja DCE Hon. Adam Mutawakilu, and the District Assembly for their love and support for the police over the years.




BY: REGINA ATULE

SRWSP LUNCHED

The Ghana Sustainable Rural Water and Sanitation Project had been launched in the West Gonja District of the Northern Region.

The project is funded by the International Development Agency (IDA) in conjunction with the World Bank.

The project aims at expanding access and ensuring sustainability of water supply and sanitation services in six selected regions across the country.

Delivering a presentation at the ceremony an extension service specialist of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency Tamale, Mr. Moses Bagblelle disclosed that, a sum of $75m has been allocated for the project.

He revealed that the project has three components namely; A: Rural and Small Town Water Supply B: Rural and Small Town Integrated Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion C: Institutional Strengthening and Project Management.

He said, 600,000 people are expected to benefit from the water and sanitation components.

He disclosed that US$47.6m, US$ 18.6m and US$11.1m has been allocated for the three components respectively.

Component A among other things will provide;
• Boreholes fitted with hand pumps for up to 1.200 people,
• Rehabilitation of broken down “orphan” boreholes
• Rehabilitation of non optimal performing water supply systems transferred from
GWCL.
• Large sized water supply systems based on mechanized boreholes or surface water
for large size small towns for about 5,000 people.

Component B will provide among other things;

• Achieve behavioral change for long-term sustainability
• Encourage people to acquire their own toilets

Component C include provision of

• Technical assistance
• Establish sector information system
• Project coordination and management


Mr. Joseph Tei Labi an Administrative Manager of CWSA Tamale, also took participants through the role of stakeholders in the implementation of the programme.

The District Coordinating Director Mr. S. Y. Inusah advised members to embrace the programme with all seriousness to make it a reality.

He noted that water is life and any community that faces the challenge of water supply cannot see a better development.

He promised that the assembly will support the programme to make it successful.



BY: REGINA ATULE

A NEW RECUE TENDER FOR DISTRICT FIRE DIVISION

A New Recue Tender has been officially handed over to the West Gonja District fire Division.
In his welcome address the Hon. DCE Adam Mutawakilu noted that, the ceremony was really a dream come true.
He stated that upon his assumption of duty in the mid of 2009, he made it part of his plans to ensure that most of the departments in the district were equipped to enable them work effectively.
It was out of this vision that, when he came into contact with Mr. Achana Joseph a philanthropist, he took advantage to discuss with him the possibility of helping the district in this direction he said.

Indeed the interaction yielded positive results and this was how come the district is privilege to be among only few districts to have a Rescue Tender he added.

He hoped that the vehicle will be used for the intended purpose. He remarked that Maintenance culture was one challenge in most of the institutions. He therefore urged the District Fire Officer to have a maintenance plan to ensure regular maintenance of the vehicle.

On behalf of the district, the DCE thanked Mr. Achana Chief Fire Officer for this wonderful donation.
He announced his pleasure of the intended construction of the Fufulso-Damongo-Sawla Road and noted that often times, people ask for first class roads but they also come with a cost. He said the good roads lead to people’s desire to go at a high speed which often leads to frequent accidents.

In a new development, the DCE inaugurated Fire Volunteers Squad selected across communities in the district.

He stated that, the presence of fire volunteers in our communities was a welcome initiative. He added that, Government was concern with the vegetation of this country which is being depleted in most cases by human activities.

The introduction of fire volunteers is therefore very timely and the Assembly shall give the necessary support to let them work effectively he stressed.

He mentioned bushfire, overgrazing by Fulani Herdsmen and illegal lumbering as the main issues affecting our environment.

He promised to bring these challenges under control with the support of the officers.




BY: REGINA ATULE

BECE IN WEST GONJA DISTRICT

The District Coordinating Director Mr. S.Y Inusah accompanied by the District Director of Education Mr. Charles Akatuk and some officials visited the two Centers where candidates were undertaking their Basic Education Certificate Examination.

The visit was part of efforts to observed situations at the examination centres.

Mr. Charles Akatuk expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the examination.
According to him the atmosphere was calm and the invigilators were working very hard to avoid any examination malpractice.

He added that security personal were also present to ensure law and order.

According to the district supervisor Mr. Albert Bonah, 922 candidates were registered in the district.

At the Damongo Senior High School centre, 690 candidates from 15 schools were registered, out of which 365 were boys and 325 were girls.

At the Daboya centre, 232 candidates from 5 schools were registered out of which 96 represented girls and 136 were boys.

Two and one candidates were absent at the Damongo and Daboya centres respectively. This brings to the total number of absenteeism to three.

The examination started in time and no incidence of any examination malpractice was been recorded.



BY: REGINA ATULE

FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAMME LAUNCHED

A Financial Literacy Programme has been launched in the Gonja West District of the Northern Region.

The Financial Literacy Programme is one of the components implemented by campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) Ghana with the aim of impacting Financial Literacy and entrepreneurial training skills for young women who are into small scale businesses especially in the rural areas.

Speaking at the launch the training manager Madam Muniratu Issifu disclosed that, the programme had trained 15 young women who were selected from CAMFED Association (CAMA) across CAMFED’s 15 districts of operation in the region.

CAMA is a network of Young Women who aims at empowering themselves with entrepreneurial skills to make them financially independent.

She explained that, each of the 15 Core Trainers will in turn train 30 members of CAMA as peer educators in their various districts.

She further explained that, each peer educator is expected to train 75 members in their districts annually for five years. A total of 18,750 people are expecte4d to benefit at the end of the five year period.

She said it is assume that, each recipient will implement their learning to the direct benefit of 5 people, so that the overall reach of the programme will be 843,750 people in the Northern Region.

She disclosed that over one million people are targeted to be reached on the learning and sharing of knowledge of Financial Literacy over five year period.

Among the modules to be discussed under the program include Business Skills, Financial Literacy Skills and Life Skills.

In a related development, newly appointed District Education Committee Members were inaugurated. The DEC Members oversee the implementation of CAMFED programmes in the district.

Prior to the inauguration ceremony the DCE Hon. Adam Mutawakilu who was the special guest of honor commended the authorities of CAMFED for their immense contribution to development in the district.

He reiterated government’s support for the programme to better the lives of the lot in the district.




BY: REGINA ATULE

CHIEFS CALLS ON YABONWURA

Over twelfth divisional chiefs an elders from the South Moi Traditional area of the Brong Ahafo Region led by the Gyasihene Dr. David Mensah called on the Yabonwura at his palace over the week end on 17th April 2011.

The purpose of the visit was to pass on good wishes to the king on his instalment as Yabonwura and to strengthen their cordial relationship with the Yabonwura and the people of Gonjaland.

The Gyasihene Dr. David Mensah explained that, they did not have a leader since the instalement of the king and that has contributed to their inability to call on the Yabonwura in advance.

The Gyasihene advised members to take the education of their wards seriously.

He further advised members to educate community members to clean their environment to promote a healthy life style.

He cautioned members to devoid from polities since chieftaincy is an institution that serves all manner of people irrespective of their political affiliation.
On behalf of the chiefs and elders he promised to support the king to provide employable skills for the youth in Gonjaland to reduce the rural urban migration.





BY: REGINA ATULE