NDC youth on Azorka’s nerves

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) youth coalition in the Tamale central constituency are on the nerves of the Regional Vice Chairman of the party for what they described as his gross of disrespect to party loyalties and the youth in the region. The youth coalition of the Tamale central constituency stated in a press conference organized in Tamale that certain major but negative development have emerged in the region which is not only worrying and disturbing but have the potential of disintegrating the party and making it largely unpopular. The chairman of the youth coalition, Abdul-Razak Alhassan Daballi said since the demise of the late Chairman of the party Alhaji Sumani all the hopes and aspirations of the youth and the region under the cruel, wicked, self centered Sofo Azorka have been lost. According to Adul-Razak Daballi, Azorka has turned himself as an auctioneer, grabbing vehicles for his selfish gains. Adding that the selfish Vice Chairman does not only grab but sells those alleged vehicles to some members of the NPP at exorbitant prices to enrich himself to the neglect of his own party members. The youth coalition is made up of over 106 youth groups alleged that Azorka assembled the youth and pleaded with them to organize themselves to welcome President John Evan Atta Mills during his recent visit to the region. They youth raised an issue that Azorka Vehemently mentioned to the surprised of the audience that Abudu-Andani issue can be in any form, what matters to him in the party is how to amass wealth for himself. Mr. Daballi therefore send a serious warning to the Vice Chairman to put a stop to his wicked, cruel, selfish and the greedy activities that is hindering the youth of the party. They disgruntled youth indicated that Sofo Azorka is nobody without the youth saying that it was a complete deceit that he sent 1,800 youth to the recent Sunyani congress. The youth however called on the President, John Evans Atta Mills to wake up from the slumber to advised Chief Azorka or do not think that winning in the Tamale central and Dagbon again is a forgone conclusion adding, if justice denied, voting is lost and winning is gone.

NCCE BOSS BLAME PARENTS FOR ACT OF VIOLENCE

NCCE BOSS BLAME PARENTS FOR ACT OF VIOLENCE
The Tamale Metropolitan Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Alhaji Abdul-Razak Saani, says the act of indiscipline and violence that has bedeviled the youth in the Tamale Metropolis is a replica of their parent’s attitude. The NCCE director said children emulate the practice of parents faster being it good or abysmal behavior saying that culminating from this fact that they are lots of violence in the Tamale Metropolis. Alhaji Saani was speaking as a guest speaker at the speech and price given day of Abe-Halperin School under the topic violence against children. Citing Adolf Hitler, he said Hitler inherited his awkward and violent behavior from his parents and hence advised parents to handle their children with dignity and respect. According to him, the abusive treatments some children go through in the hands of parents are some of the fallout of mental retardation, dejectedness, rejected and mostly feel insecure in the hands of their own parents. Alhaji Saani stated categorically that, Acticle 27 and the children’s Act (556) of the constitution indicated clear how parents should bring up their children. Adding, it behooves on every parents to take responsibility of their wards once they brought forth of them. Ahaji Saani also lamented on the falling standard of education in the Metropolis especially the girl-child, enumerating that 60 percent of girls who sat for this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination failed. This he attributed to the irresponsibility of parents in the Metropolis. The NCCE Boss said due to the irresponsiveness of parents children are languishing in the Tamale market which they call “DaaJugu” literally means Market vultures for their sustenance. He called on parents to live up to expectation and take the responsibility as parents and groom the children to become better future leaders of this great nation

MP’s URGED TO BE SERIOUS WITH THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION BILL

MP’s URGED TO BE SERIOUS WITH THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION BILL
Mr. Alhassan Imoro, Principal of the International Institute of Journalism in Tamale has called on Members of Ghana’s Legislature to serve the collective interest of their constituents by immediately passing the Right to Information Bill into law. He is convinced that the Parliamentarians on whose shoulders the Right to Information Bill lies have no excuse for dragging their feet on the matter which is of importance to all Ghanaians. Mr. Imoro Alhassan who is also a media consultant with the Northern Rural Media Network (RUMNET), a Tamale based Non Governmental Organization realized that passing the Bill into law will make Ghana assume the status as the gateway to West Africa with regards the Right to Information. He was speaking at a day’s regional forum on the Right to Information in Tamale where he opined that the Parliamentarians were afraid to pass it into law because the media will be more resourced to expose them to their constituents. He observed that the Right to Information law will encourage Ghanaians to get involved in social auditing in their communities as a means of strengthening public transparency and accountability. Mr. Imoro Alhassan expressed his deepest worry about the increasing number of politicians owning media houses in Ghana and hence called for its immediate reversal. According to him, the situation has created an enabling environment for politicians, social commentators and serial callers to spew insults and assassinate characters believed to be their opponents. For his part, Mahama Zakaria, northern regional Coordinator of the Right to Information and Convener of the forum categorically stated that members of the Coalition will incite the electorate against their MP’s if they continue with what he described as their “Lukewarm attitude” towards the Right to Information Bill. He noted that the attitude of the Parliamentarians toward the Right to Information Bill meant that they were not seeking the interest of the masses but their selfish gains. Mahama Zakariah described as “Unwise and unjustifiable” the Parliamentary select committee on the Right to Information’s decision to hold public consultative forum for the three northern regions on Monday August 1 without any prior notice to that effect. The forum drew participants from the security, the media, the clergy, the political class and the general public.

CASUD-Ghana call to strategize their business

CASUD-Ghana call to strategize their business
Community Aid for Sustainable Development (CASUD-Ghana), a Non Governmental Organization has called on women groups to strategize their business to ensure efficient management of their enterprises. This it says will go a long way to boost their small scale businesses to enhance their livelihoods. The programme coordinator for Assembly’s of God Relief and Development Service (AGGREDS), Issahaku Zakaria made this call at this year’s conference of the organization organized for women groups in the Tamale Metropolis. CASUD-Ghana which has a membership of over thousand comprises 43 women groups who are engaged in small scale business to ensure their livelihood were taking through safe book keeping, hepatitis and the importance of education. Mr. Issahaku said a well planned business will not only expand but also flourish to the benefit of the society. He appealed to the women to plan their business accurately to prevent losses and ensure profit maximization saying that the aim of every entrepreneur is to maximize profit. The also cautioned them not to be spend drift as their businesses are still immature. The Principal Field Offer of National Commission for Civic Education for the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, Mohammed Abukari appealed to parents to enroll their ward in school especially the girl child. He said education is a life time investment and parents should use the profit they made from their business to invest into their children. Mr. Mohammed said it was necessary to intensify the training of the girl child to reduce the high unemployment rate among women. The Project Coordinator, Ibrahim Joshua expressed profound gratitude to the women the pledged the organization continues support to the women. He said the organization aimed at helping the needy to grow beyond their limits. He called on other civil society organization and government to intervene to guarantee speedy growth of CASUD.
 

TAMA TO STOP CONSTRUCTING PUBLIC TOILETS

TAMA to stop constructing Public toilets

The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly will no longer construct public toilets in neighborhoods an in all communities under the jurisdiction of the assembly except at public places such as markets, big lorry parks, hospitals and institutions such as schools where people usually congregate in large numbers outside their homes.
In this connection, Landlords and all owners of homes and other residential properties who do not have toilet facilities within those are therefore require to urgently provide such necessities or have themselves to blame when enforcement of the directive begins.
These were announced by the Mayor of Tamale, Alhaji Haruna Abdualai Friday at separate meetings with chiefs, opinion leaders, women commissioners, unit committee members and others residence during a working visit to 16 communities within three electoral areas in the Metropolis.
The visits were to afford the Mayor the opportunity to listen to the concerns and other developmental challenges of the people so as to enable the assembly evolve appropriate strategies and interventions to address the challenges.
According to Friday, all submitted request for building permits for the construction of residential accommodation that do not contain provision for toilet facilities will not be approved by the assembly.
The initiative he said is also urgently being implemented by most of the Metropolitan, Municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) across the country as part of measures by the local government ministry to combat poor environmental sanitation and other unhygienic condition associated with most of these public toilets, stressing that, the move is also aimed at protecting the people against exposure to the risk of contagious and infectious diseases associated with the usage of public toilets.
This new directive he stated will undoubtedly posed a huge challenge to most household in the metropolis and therefore assured that, all the existing public toilets will not be closed down but will rather be kept and maintained to serve the needs of those who may not immediately be able to afford their own toilets within their homes. He indicated that some assemblies in the country have already embraced the policy and have started enforcing it whilst at the same time facilitating the extension of support from NGOs and other environmentally conscious organizations to assist interested households who may not have the ability and capacity to fund the construction of the toilets on their own.
He added that the assembly will do same here in Tamale so as to support those who will not be able to afford the construction of their own household toilets saying the Metropolis will soon benefit from a support of 1,500 household toilets from the French International Development Organization Agency Francais Development (AFD).
The Mayor expressed optimism about the success of the new initiative even though the support from the French Government is woefully inadequate considering the number of households in the Metropolis but notwithstanding, he appealed to all in the Metropolis to embrace this new policy directive of the Assembly so as to make Tamale an environmentally clean and safe place for all.
He however made a passionate appeal to them to desist from defecating indiscriminately and warned of severe consequences for all those who will be caught littering the environment with any form of unwanted waste materials.
The request of the people in all the communities visited included the need or lack of electricity, access road leading or from one community to the other, additional or a new school block, safe and portable drinking water, access to credit facilities, toilets facilities, refuse containers, drains to check flooding, income generating activities and construction of culverts as in the case of residents in Chogu-filling point.

NORTHERN NPP YOUTH GROUP ROAR OVER JETS PURCHASE

The New Patriotic Party’s Northern Suhudoo Commentators group in Tamale has sent a signal to government that its members and other concerned citizens in the Northern Region will embark on a series of demonstrations if government goes ahead to purchase the proposed five jets for the military. The group described the endless debate on the purchase of the five jets as one of government’s misplaced priorities which should be kicked against by all well meaning Ghanaians. This came to light at a news conference organized at an abandoned US 20 million Dollar Jubilee market at Kukuo in the Tamale metropolis. Fredrick Tahidu, Spokesperson of the group reminded government of the numerous development challenges that have engulfed the people of the three Northern Regions for which reason monies meant to purchase the five jets should be channeled into bridging the yawning gap between the South and the North. He mentioned the Tamale-Kumbungu, Tamale-Salaga, Tamale-Gushegu, Yendi-Bimbila, Yendi-Gushegu and Sawla-Fufulso roads as some of the projects government should execute rather than attempting to buy five jets for the military. Fredrick Tahidu also impressed upon government to inject the jets money into the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority kitty to enable the administrators execute projects captured under SADA.
 

VEEP ANNOUNCES GUINEA WORM-FREE IN GHANA

The Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama has announce at a special ceremony that Ghana has gone 14 months since it reported it last case of guineas worm after a long battle of over 20 years. He said going 14 months without an indigenous case of Guinea worm disease means the nation has passed one incubation cycle and therefore broken transmission of the disease. Mr. Mahama made this announcement at this years mid-year review meeting of the Guinea worm eradication as part of the celebration of the final phase of the disease in the country. The disease subject to external verification which will occur over the next three years, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) now believes that the disease is no longer present in the country. The battle to eliminate the disease has been waged by GHS in collaboration with the Carter Center and many local and international organizations. He also disclosed that a reward package of 200 Ghana cedis will be given to anyone who can produce a verified Guinea worm case calling on Ghanaians to be at the look out for the disease in the year to come culminating from the fact that the disease can also be re-introduced from other countries. He sited War-torn Sudan, Mali and Ethiopia as the most endemic countries in the world. He added that verification of the disease will be done by GHS in conjunction with World Health Organization (WHO). He therefore cautioned Ghanaians, Ghana Health Service and the collaborators against complacency. Dr. Andrew Seidu Korkor in a presentation said the unit will not relent on their efforts in fighting for the total eradication of guinea worm in the country. He was full of excitement saying it is a legacy that has been left behind by celebrating the last phase in the country. He commended Non Governmental Organizations, civil societies, individuals who contributed in their diverse ways to help eradicate the disease in the country.

YOUTH CALLS FOR MORE SECURITY PERSONNEL IN GONJALAND

YOUTH CALLS FOR MORE SECURITY PERSONNEL IN GONJALAND
The Gonjaland Youth Association has appealed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to as a matter of urgency post more police personnel to the six districts in the area to help to improve law and order. The Association said the security situation in Gonjaland was disturbing considering the rising number of chieftaincy disputes and the menace of the Fulani herdsmen. It made the appeal in the press release copied to the media in Tamale and signed by its Secretary, Dramani Dari over the weekend. The Association noted that there are only a total of 56 police personnel in all the six districts of Gonjaland and said the situation was worrying considering the numerous flash points in the area. Touching on education, the Association noted that although government had made several interventions to improve upon the quality of education in the area, the standard of education continued to fall and therefore appealed to the government to consider establishing a Teacher Training College in Gonjaland. The Association also appealed to government to increase the budgetary allocation to the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) and to fast track its implementation to dispel the notion that Ghanaians are only good at policy formulation but flop in implementation.

GUSHEGU DCE VISITS DAILY

GUIDE
Government has reiterated its commitment to partner the media in deepening the democratic credentials of the country through constructive criticisms and upholding the rule of law. It is in the light of this government is calling on media practitioners in the country to serve as agents of transformation in supporting it to achieve its better Ghana agenda which seeks to improve on the lives of the citizenry. Mr. Fuseini Alhassan, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Gushegu who made these remarks during a visit to Daily Guide Tamale office as part of his familiarization with media houses, underscored the importance of media in National Development. The DCE indicated that the current government identified some challenges hampering the development of the industry which include low wages and salaries for many journalists and the need to improve standards and enhance the role of the media as a key partner in development. He stated that the current NDC government will rely on a critical and objective media to assess its performance and deliver the desires of the citizenry to mandate it another term in office. Mr. Fusheini therefore, urged the media to feel free to point out the weaknesses of the government, stressing that there will not be any room for restriction of the media. He stressed the government's resolve to strengthen the existing relationship between it and the media in general and urged media practitioners in the northern region to exhibit professionalism in their work and centre their debate and discussions on policies rather than on personalities. The Northern Sector Manager of Western Publications Limited (WPL) Stephen Zoure, commended the DCE for being the first government appointee to visit its offices since the NDC assumed office about two and half years ago. He indicated that this was a clear manifestation of his quest to deepen his relationship with the media in the region assuring him of Daily Guide’s support in echoing the various developmental programmes of the district. Mr. Zoure however debunked the wrong impression created that the most authoritative Daily Guide newspaper one of the brands of WPL was an NPP paper and appealed to the DCE to help demystify that erroneous impression.

CDD ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH FRIENDLY PROGRAMS

The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) has advocated for youth friendly programs and the mainstreaming of the youth development initiatives in the planning and development programmes of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies towards developing good governance and democratic culture among the youth.
The Centre has therefore called on local authorities to strengthen the public relations and complaints units in MMDAs and the office of the Presiding Member (PM) who occupies the critical position of Chairperson of the assembly’s public relations and complaints committee.
This they believe would promote state-society relations and strengthen the feedback mechanisms in the assemblies which play a pivotal role in the decentralization process.
The CDD enumerated this during a day’s decentralization workshop under the theme: Strengthening the role of civil society in decentralization and local governance in Tamale.
Mr. Paul Osei Kufuor Programs Manager of CDD-Ghana, Tamale noted that although decentralization has been a key development goal since the 80s, the process has been problematic.
According to him, its progress over the years has also been burdened with an enduring discrepancy between what governments decentralize by law and in reality.
Depending on the context, this divergence Mr. Kufuor indicated can be explained by the limited resources, the need for attaining economies scale of capacity, constraints, lack of political will and the influence of bureaucratic politics.
He said it was in view of addressing these gaping challenges that a new decentralization policy and action plans had been developed and launched in 2010 under the theme” accelerating decentralization and local governance for national development”.
The new policy framework provides conceptual clarity and relevant reforms on decentralization and local governance within the national development strategy he noted.
In a speech read on his behalf the Mayor of Tamale Alhaji Haruna Friday observed that the concept of decentralization could not be fully described as new, given that it is well over 20 years now since the country began the current process to send governance system down to the local level.
Local governance structures stretching from the central government (represented by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development MLGRD) down to the Regional Coordinating Council, the Metropolitan/Municipal /District Assemblies (MMDAs) with Unit Committees being the basic units and therefore the “building blocks” of the system was a clear manifestation in this regard. He observed
The structures he explained have been designed to interconnect each other as they have responsibilities whose links can be traced from the ordinary person out there to the highest decision making body in the country.
The MCE however alluded to the fact that the entire system could still be described as new in view of the fact that most of structures are not fully operational for various reasons.
He identified the incomplete operationalisation to the lack of motivation for actors like the Assembly members, the Unit Committee members and staff of the Zonal/Town/Area Councils whose involvement could make the system work.
Madam Sandra Jensen a representative of GIZ partners of CDD underscored the importance of the capacity building workshop reiterating the commitment of the organization to partner in such events in the future.
She briefed participants on the activities of GIZ in collaboration with its partners citing three workshops in Tamale, Wa and Bolgatanga and other related activities an opportunity for the civil society and other stakeholders to learn more about the decentralization policies and activities in Ghana.

MMDAs IGNORING DISBURSEMENT OF DACF

A new study report released by SEND-Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) has shown, that most Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), have been ignoring guidelines for the disbursement and utilization of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) most especially the 3% share allocated to Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).
According to the report, previously the 3% share for PWDs was transferred as part of the Common Fund into the DACF Accounts for disbursement. But currently, all MMDAs are directed to open a District Disability Fund Account (DDFA) separately and put in place District Disability Fund Management Committees (DDFMCs) to facilitate its operations.
The study found out that these directives have not been complied with by most MMDAs except the Tamale Metropolitan, Yendi Municipality and Savelugu-Nanton District Assemblies had active DDFA.
Titus Segtub, one of the lead researchers gave a highlight of the study at a regional interface meeting with stakeholders at the Northern Regional Coordinating Council.
The research took place in 50 MMDAs in the three Northern Regions –Upper West, Upper East and Northern Regions – and Greater Accra Region in 2010.
The purpose of the study was to bring civil society perspectives to bear on the implementation of the DACF which focused on citizens’ participation, transparency, equity and compliance with implementation guidelines.
According to Mr. Segtub, the objectives of SEND-Ghana in that particular research work was to assess the extent of community participation in DACF sponsored projects and asses the level of awareness and access to information on the DACF by communities.
It was also to assess the degree to which DACF sponsored projects were awarded on contract in line with the national procurement law, he added.
He explained that the three Northern Regions were selected based on the presence of SEND-Ghana and also because of the high incidence of poverty as per the Ghana Living Standards Survey (V) whilst the Greater Accra Region on the other hand was selected based on growing urban poverty noted by GLSS V.
Mr. Segtub who is also a staff of SEND-Ghana added that, District Chief Executives, Coordinating Directors, Presiding Members, Planning Officers and Chairpersons of District Disability Associations were interviewed whereas other information were sourced from Medium Term Development Plans, annual budget estimates and expenditure returns obtained from MMDAs and Administrator of DACF.
The study also revealed that access to the 3% share of the DACF for PWDs from 2003 to 2008 was less than one-third, adding “about 44% of PWDs who accessed the fund expended it on the celebration of the International Day for the Disabled and attendance of meetings”.
The study further revealed that about 50% of community leaders sampled did not belief that MMDAs had effectively used DACF to address their developmental needs.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Mahamud, a Programmes Officer of SEND-Ghana in a statement called on all MMDAs to adhere to the guidelines for the disbursement and utilization of the DACF.
According to him, access to DACF share for PWDs is very limited, adding “though most districts have established the DDFMCs and opened DDAF, as a directive, there is minimal or no transfers of funds at all into those accounts”.
Mr. Mahamud also disclosed that the management of the fund was fraught with misunderstanding between the MMDAs and the PWDs.

GONJALAND YOUTH ASSOCIATION ANGRY OVER FAILED PROMISES

GONJALAND YOUTH ASSOCIATION ANGRY OVER FAILED PROMISES
Leadership of the Gonjaland Youth Association’s National Secretariat says it will advice the people of Gonjaland to boycott political activities during the 2012 campaigns if construction work does not begin on the Damongo-Fufulso Sawla road. The Association warns that all Gonjas will be advised not to grant audience to any political party during the 2012 campaign season if government fails to start construction works on the Damongo-Fufulso Sawla road.
The Association listed the Tamale-Salaga-Kpandai, Domeabra-Mpaha, Kusawgu-Tuluwe, Busunu-Daboya-Mankarigu, Laribanga-Bawena and Laribanga-Mole as some of the major roads in the Gonjaland that needed government’s rapid attention. It therefore declares December 2008 as the stipulated period it expects government to start tarring particularly the Damongo-Fufulso Sawla road which was a major campaign promise in 2008. Dramani Dari, General Secretary to the Gonjaland Youth Association raised these concerns at a news conference in Tamale to express the people of Gonjaland’s displeasure about government’s insensitivity towards alleviating the plight of the Gonjaland. “The deplorable nature of our roads is our major source of worry: indeed the association is not happy about the total neglect of our roads over the years and we are therefore calling on government to as a matter of urgency put in place the necessary mechanisms towards the commencement of work on the listed roads.” “We wish to appeal to the government to as a matter of urgency tar the Fufulso-Sawla road which is so dear to us between now and December or forget it in 2012: honestly Gonjas have compromised lies and deceit from politicians over the years and are no longer prepared to countenance with any political rhetoric, dishonored and unfulfilled promises from particularly the NDC and NPP.”
The Gonjaland Youth Association also reminded the Mills-Mahama led NDC administration of its 2008 campaign promise to create a new region out of the northern region to be named “The Gonjaland region.” It noted that since the NDC assumed power in 2009, not even a single technical committee has been instituted to facilitate the process to set out the parameters toward fulfilling that promise. “What is more worrying is that since Independence Gonjas have never voted %100 for any political party but the dynamics changed during the 2008 general elections during which we voted massively for the NDC and yet we have not been given even a Deputy Ministerial appointment: if this is how the NDC government can appreciate our solidarity for them, then we wait to see its implications in 2012” the statement warned. On education, the association complained about the falling standard of education in Gonjaland and pinpointed the absence of a Teacher Training College in the area as one of the assigned reasons. In view of this worrying situation, the association implored government to consider establishing a Teacher Training College in Gonjaland to help address the problem. The Association described as generally unacceptable the security situation in Gonjaland where the six districts in that part of the northern region can only boast of 56 police personnel. Due to the security lapses, crime wave according to the Association was very high in Gonjaland with particular reference to the activities of Fulani Herdsmen. The Association thus made a passionate appeal to the Inspector General of police to increase the number of police personnel in the area to maintain law and order.