EXPERTS SAYS RADIATION FROM MASTS OF TELECOMMUNICATION ARE UNHARMFUL HEALTH

EXPERTS SAYS RADIATION FROM MASTS OF TELECOMMUNICATION ARE UNHARMFUL HEALTH

The controversy about the dangers associated with mobile phone mast is taking very interesting dimensions with the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC) embarking on a campaign to present mobile phone masts as not being dangerous to human health.

According to, the Acting Director of the Radiation Section Institute of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Joseph K. Amoako, the Chief programme officer of the Environmental Protection Unit, Ebenezer Appah-Sampong, an official of the National Communication Authority, Henry Kanor, and an official of the Country Office of the World Health Organization, Dr Vincent Ahove, were unanimous that radiation from antennas of telecommunication masts is not harmful to human health.
This revelation was made known at a public forum organised by the National Communications Authority (NCA) in Tamale yesterday to discuss the proposed guidelines for the deployment of communication towers.

The forum was also to sensitize and create awareness to the public on the exposure of the mast in the health of the citizenry in Tamale.
In presentation by all the speakers enlisted the importance of the erection of mobile masts which facilitates communication in the country.

It is always pity that very knowledgeable people in the filed of electromagnetic radiation in this country have been recruited to embark on this massive scale of misinformation.

The Deputy Minister of Communication, Gideon Quarcoo said the issue of perceived health effects of radio frequency radiation has arisen out of lack of public understanding of the differences between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.

He said in order to address this issue that the sector ministry has directed the GIFEC to liaise with the relevant stakeholders to hold series of workshops aimed at creating public awareness about communication masts and deepen understanding on the subject of electronic fields exposure and health.

He noted that in a bid by government to address the issue related with proliferation of masts, recently set up an inter-ministerial committee to develop guidelines for regulating operations of mast in the country.

DCEs NEGLECT CBOs FESTIVAL WITH NO REASON

DCEs NEGLECT CBOs FESTIVAL WITH NO REASON


All but only one out of the 20 District Chief Executives in the Northern Region boycotted this year’s 3rd Annual Regional Community Based Organizations (CBO’s) festival held in Tamale at the GNAT Hall without any reason or excuses.
With the exception of Hon. Adam Abudu Zakariah Lord, DCE for the West Mamprusi District, his colleague DCEs boycotted the festival which was celebrated under the theme, “The role of CBO’S in accelerating development of the Northern Region.
Mr. Hussein Sulemana Haruna, Northern Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education who doubles as Chairman of the CBO’s sub committee under the auspices of the Ghana Developing Communities Association said the festival sought to deliberate on relevant issues that affected development in the region.
He stressed that the event was organized to emphasize the need for effective networking and collaboration between the Ghana Developing Communities Association and other development partners operating in the area.
Mr. Hussein called on the participants to consider the theme for the festival as a wakeup call and rise up to the challenges and threats that strangulate the grass root development agenda of the Northern Region.
Nyinbung Naa Yakubu Andani, the chief of Kukobila underscored the need for traditional authorities in the northern region to flush out recalcitrant Fulani Herdsmen in their communities.
At the end of the celebration the CBO’s therefore presented a communiqué to the Northern Region Minister on the dangers of the existence of the Fulani herdsmen in the region and the country at large.
A member of the CBO’s Madam Mary Bukari on behalf of her colleagues said that a research conducted by the CBO’s has gathered several atrocities caused by the Fulani herdsmen in the region ranging from robbery, rape, destruction of farm produce, polluting sources of drinking water’s causing of environmental degradation among others.

CHRIS EMBASSY LAUNCHES FREE DISTRIBUTION OF DAILY DEVOTIONAL BOOK

CHRIS EMBASSY LAUNCHES FREE DISTRIBUTION OF DAILY DEVOTIONAL BOOK

The Christ embassy Ghana has launch a campaign of free distribution of over one million daily devotional booklet dub Reach Out Ghana 2010 campaign (ROGHA 2010) in Tamale yesterday.
The book titled Rhapsody of Realities written by Pastor Chris and Anita Oyakhilome seeks to promote peace, progress, prosperity and patriotism within the people of the region which will help reduce the kind of misdeeds and sinful acts people are going through in the global village.
The distribution which deem to kickstart on 1st June in the Tamale Metropolis will ensure all households and individual get a copy of the daily devotional book to strengthen the faith of the citizenry.
The Northern Regional Minister Moses Bukari Mabengba who launched the ROGHA 2010 campaign said the campaign could not have come at a better time than now considering the peculiar challenges that people face in the region.
He said the country needs better light on how to progress, live in permanent prosperity and breed patriotism in the citizenry which he believes can only be achieve by God.
According to Mr. Moses Mabengba, the Holy Scriptures says that only the word can give mankind the direction and light to any group of people who want to see the Promised Land.
He said the decision by Christ Embassy to extend the ROGHA 2010 campaign to the region is a noble idea and therefore commended the hierarchy of the church for the initiative to complement government effort in ensuring a stable and peaceful environment.
He expressed his optimism that as the daily devotional book hit the streets of the northern region and gain entrance into the hearts of the people the region will experience the love of God in a better way which will transform the land and people in the region.
He therefore called on the people in the region to embrace the ROGHA 2010 campaign and act on its teaching.
He pledged the commitment of the Regional Coordinating Council to ensure that peace and tranquility is maintained through out the region for the physical and spiritual development of the people.

NORTHERN REGION PNC YOUTH KICK AGAINST CPP/PNC MERGER

NORTHERN REGION PNC YOUTH KICK AGAINST CPP/PNC MERGER

The proposed ongoing unity talks between the Convention People’s Party and the People’s National Convention could become a quandary because the northern region youth wing of PNC is kicking against such move.
The PNC northern region youth wing alluded that a leading figure of the CPP has dolled out GH 5,000 cedis to some self seeking individuals nationwide to champion his political ambition of leading the two Nkrumaists parties to contest the 2012 general elections.
Abdulai Zakaria Abdul Razak, northern regional youth organizer of the PNC at a news conference cautioned such individuals and their paymasters to desist from sabotaging any fruitful yet prospective unity talks between the CPP and the PNC to contest future elections.
The northern regional PNC youth organizer unreservedly warned that the youth will resist attempts to impose any personality from the CPP on PNC members as its unanimous flag bearer for elections 2012.
He asserted that the PNC national leadership has not endorsed any unity talks with leadership of the CPP and that the youth will support any of such moves if the processes initiated would be independent and transparent.
Abdulai Zakaria further rubbished the news conference which was held in Tamale about a month ago to announce the CPP and PNC merger and hinted that the event was organized without the PNC youth participation.
“The covert and shady deliberations characterizing the supposed unity talks as well as the conduct of some key members leave much to be desired: specifically somewhere last month a press conference was held declaring our stance as PNC in support of the unity with the CPP in the northern region without our knowledge,” Abdulai Zakaria explained.
The PNC northern regional youth organizer said the youth in principle were not against the unity talks but that the consultative processes leading to the unity talks should be done in a more transparent manner.

GOVERNMENT DISTRIBUTES FREE EXERCISE BOOKS TO BASIC SCHOOLS IN TAMALE METRO

GOVERNMENT DISTRIBUTES FREE EXERCISE BOOKS TO BASIC SCHOOLS IN TAMALE METRO

Government has released a package of 511,463 exercise books to the Tamale Metropolitan Directorate of the Ghana Education Service to be distributed to about 257 basic and 91 Junior High Schools in the Tamale metropolis.
The donation is in fulfillment of President John Evans Atta Mills’ pledge to donate free exercise books and uniforms to basic school pupils nationwide to enhance teaching and learning.
Hon. Alhaji Abudulai Harunah Friday, the Mayor of Tamale announced this package at Dahinsheli primary school in Tamale where the school’s share of the package was released to the school authority.
Alhaji Friday urged the school authority to put the books to good use and warned that his office will not hesitate to deal with persons who might attempt to sell the books in the market.
He also advised traders to desist from engaging in such trade with school authorities.
The Tamale Mayor commended the Dahinsheli school authority for its sterling performance at the BECE and encouraged the students to embrace discipline as their trademark.
Miss Aisha Wunizooya on behalf of her colleagues commended government for the kind gesture and affirmed their commitment to be of good behavior.
Madam Beatrice Iddi, headmistress of the school expressed her profound gratitude to the Mayor of Tamale for short listing Dahinsheli primary school among the first batch of beneficiary schools in the metropolis.
 

NANA ADDO GAINS MORE SUPPORT UP NORTH

NANA ADDO GAINS MORE SUPPORT UP NORTH

The Chairman of the Research Committee of the Tertiary Education Students Confederacy of opposition New Patriotic Party of the University for Development Studies WA campus, Jonathan Abugre has personally donated equal number of 200 Nana Addo T’ Shirts and 500 Ghana cedis to a group known as Northern Youth for Nana Akufo Addo (NAYONA) replicated in parts of the northern regions.
The donation according to Jonathan Abugre is to support Nana Addo’s bid to lead the NPP to victory come elections 2012.
He asserted that the NPP will suffer another major electoral defeat in 2012 if delegates fail to endorse Nana Addo as the party’s flag bearer at its forthcoming delegates congress scheduled for August 7.
Mr. Abugre described Nana Akufo Addo as time tested and a well marketed politician in the NPP who can win the hearts of floating floaters to wrestle power from the NDC.
He thereby appealed to NPP potential delegates to give Nana Addo one touch victory at the upcoming August 7 national delegates congress.
Mr. Abugre however expressed worry over the recent internal bickering within some leading members of the NPP and implored them to get united for victory 2012.
He further advised party executives at all levels to bury their personal differences and map out strategies that will strengthen NPP’s structures at the grassroots.
President of the Northern Youth for Nana Akufo Addo (NAYONA), Samuel Akamelom commended Jonathan Abugre for the support and promised that the group will not relent in its efforts to support Nana Addo’s ambition of becoming Ghana’s President.
He implied that the 49.7 percent gained by Nana Addo during the first round of elections 2008 meant that he is capable of accomplishing his unfinished agenda come the 2012 elections.
The NAYONA President slammed the ruling NDC government over the delay in implementation of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) and said Nana Addo’s Presidency will have fulfilled its campaign promise of bridging the yawning gap between the south and north.

Youth Empowerment for Life advocate for yam market in northern region

Youth Empowerment for Life advocate for yam market in northern region


Youth Empowerment for Life (YEfL) a non-governmental organisation (NGO) has advocated for the establishment of a common yam market in the eastern corridor of the Northern Region to ensure fair prices and a stable market for yam producers.
Youth Empowerment for Life a community based NGO under the auspices of the Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA), said the eastern corridor of the region is the largest producer of yam in the country, but the farmers do not get fair prices for their produce as the commodity is perishable and the farmers had to travel long distances to the south to sell their produce at the mercy of market queens, who buy the produce at ridiculous prices.
The Programme Officer of YEfL, Jawol Vera Magan said this at a media orientation workshop organized by the GDCA and the Empowerment for Life (E4L) Programme in Tamale yesterday.
The orientation workshop sought to foster strong collaboration and partnership with the media to enable the GDCA under whose umbrella the YEfL operates to carry out its advocacy and empowerment programme more effectively.
She said the establishment of a common yam market will also help mobilize the farmers to form a popular association and help create employment for the youth of the area.
She said other areas of concern the YEfL will be focusing on include, advocating for a national youth employment programme and a national youth policy.
Vera said that although the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) was laudable, its politicization was not allowing it achieve its objective, and called for the de-politicization of the programme in the recruitment process and award of contracts.

On the Youth in Agriculture Programme (YiAP), Madam Magan said information gathered from the field indicated that the programme was not reaching its target areas, and expressed the hope that more efforts would be made to get the youth, especially those from the north, to benefit from the programme.
The Programme Officer of YEfL expressed worry over the delay in having a national youth policy for the country, saying that, a policy guide for all the youth groups, associations, organizations and government youth institutions, would be useful in organizing the youth to undertake meaningful ventures for the development of the country.
The Programme Advocacy and Communication Officer of EfL, Rosemond Kumah in her welcome address said GDCA and YEfL in cooperation with its Danish partners have been implementing the Empowerment for Life (EfL) programme in 14 districts in the region.
According to her, the objective of the programme is to empower poor, vulnerable and marginalized targets groups to have the capacity and ability to improve their quality of life through education, employment, local organizations as well as better access to and management of food and water resources on the basis of rights-based approach.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT BAGABA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT BAGABA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

Government as part of its zeal to boost teacher education in Ghana has supported Bagabaga College of Education with vehicles, lecture hall facility and a modern library to improve academic excellence.
This correlates with government’s policy direction to train more qualified teachers to commensurate with the high enrolment in schools due to the introduction of the School Feeding Programme and the increment in Capitation Grant.
Alhaji Adam Zakaria, Principal of the Bagabaga College of Education disclosed this at the 1st congregation of the college where about 243 graduants were awarded Diploma Certificates in Basic Education by the University of Cape Coast.
He said the Bagabaga College of Education was established in 1944 with only 16 students and can today boast of a student population of 843.
Alhaji Adam underscored the need for government to revise the quota for admission into the country’s teacher training colleges by changing the current 9,000 to 15,000 to enable the institutions train enough teachers for postings to underserved communities.
The Principal appealed to government to tar the roads of the campus particularly the road leading to the ladies hostel and also assist the authority to build security fence to avoid encroachers.
A representative of the Minister for Education, Mr. E.O Asare, Deputy Director in charge of teacher education at the Ministry of Education announced a 300,000 Ghana cedi package for all the teacher training colleges to complete ongoing projects.
He added that the ministry will make available 20 computers to each of the training institutions to enhance the study of Information Communication Technology.
The Minister for Education however cautioned teachers against using students as labourers particularly on their farmlands and urged the graduants to move away from that practice.
Professor James Adu Opare, Director of the Bagabaga College of Education academic board complained that some professional teachers of northern extraction are not committed to their job.
He said majority of such teachers are habitual absentees in their various schools which is hampering academic progression in the Tamale metropolis and beyond.
The 66 year old Bagabaga College of Education which was established in 1944 has trained high profile personalities including current sitting Vice President’s father, E.A Mahama, Dr. Hilla Liman, Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, Abayifa Karbo, S.D. Dombo, Ishague Wemah and Issifu Ali.