From Ernest Best Anane

Mr. Lloy Alexander Djangmah, Principal of the Offinso College of Education, has pleaded with the government, through the Ministry of Education (MoE), Ghana Education Service (GES), and the Offinso Traditional Council to help give the institution a facelift by way of expanding the infrastructural facilities.

The move, he said, would help make teaching and learning interactive to students and lectures in providing good teachers for the country.

According to him, the challenges the institution might be facing may not be different from any public institution, but as an education institution which trains quality and competent teachers to train the up and coming teachers for the country, there was the need for the school to have the requisite infrastructures and the basic needs to ensure that it achieved its goal.

Mr. Djangmah made the appeal when Nana Wiafe Akenten III, Omanhene of the Offinso Traditional Area, visited the management and staff and non-teaching staff of the institution to acquaint himself with the challenges facing the school, which attained first class in the last examinations.

The college, according to the Principal, lacked a good road network lead to the institution, lecturer theatre, a spacious ICT Laboratory, and a modern dining hall to replace the existing one, which was built to accommodate 150 students, against the current 500.

Nana Wiafe Akenten III promised that the council would always support the school in their own small way they could to help produce good teachers for the country.

The Omanhene commended the Principal for raising the school to a greater height, and lauded management and staff of the institution for their selfless sacrifice for all this while, which had made the school one of the best in the country.

He entreated them to always remain united, adding that the Principal alone could not manage the school without the cooperation of the teaching and non-teaching staff.

The Chief promised to establish fund to help motivate the tutors and students, saying teachers deserved good salaries.

He also promised to provide 100 pieces of furniture, 12-seater water closet toilet facility for the institution to replace the old ones which had never seen any maintenance works for a long time.

From Issah Alhassan

Sixteen children, ranging between the ages of 18 months to 11 years, have undergone free successful cardiac surgeries at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), under the benevolence of a medical team from the Boston University Children’s Hospital in the United States of America (USA).

The beneficiary children underwent the surgeries, which normally would have cost between GH¢12,000 to GH¢24,000, free of charge in nine days of operations, in collaboration with personnel of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). The medical team is led by Ghanaian-born Dr. Fynn Thompson,

The visit by the team was the result of a longstanding partnership between them and the management of KATH, which began in 2007, as part of efforts to assist the hospital in the treatment of patients, mostly children, with congenital heart diseases.

About 100 children have so far benefitted from the programme, which is performed every year by the team made up of 32 medical personnel from the US-based medical facility.

It is also part of efforts aimed at assisting the management of KATH to set up its own Cardiothoracic Centre, and to help train local medical personnel to provide independent services to patients in need of cardio services.

The leader of the team, Dr. Fynn Thompson, told journalists in an interview that he was hopeful the long term plan to get a permanent centre for KATH would soon be realised.

He said the service being rendered was purely voluntary, stressing that congenital heart diseases are prevalent everywhere across the world, and that the biggest challenge in Africa was access to treatment.

Dr. Thompson observed that it is against this backdrop that the team continues to assist KATH towards the treatment of patients and the establishment of a Paediatric Heart Centre.

The Chief Executive Officer of KATH, Prof. Ohene Adjei, noted that the hospital fully appreciated the contribution of the team, which, he said, had saved many children from death.

He disclosed that some local surgeons were currently receiving training in South Africa as part of plans towards the establishment of a cardio centre at the hospital.

A spokesperson of the beneficiary parents, Mr. Winfred Wogblegbe, expressed appreciation to the US medical team and the management of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for the kind gesture.

The team has, meanwhile, presented items, including football and school bags, to the patients.

Stories from Issah Alhassan

The Principal of the Offinso College of Education, Mr. Lloyd Alexander Djangmah, has appealed to the government and other stakeholders in education to assist the college in the area of infrastructure, in order to help meet its accommodation challenges.

Mr. Lloyd Djangmah said though the school continued to receive numerous applications from prospective students seeking to enter training college, it was unable to admit more, because of the infrastructure challenges confronting it.

The Principal made the call during an induction ceremony to officially welcome 500 newly-admitted students for the 2013/14 academic year.

He indicated that the college received a total of 4,136, out of which 3,396 were qualified applicants, but the school could only offer admission to only 500 of them, including 300 from the 2011/2012 group, and 200 from the 2013 year group.

Mr. Lloyd Djangmah said the figure represented an increase of 50.50% for males, and 104.4% females, compared to the preceding years, adding that the overall increase in intake stood at 66.7%, made up of an increase from 300 to 500 students.

He stressed that but for the accommodation and other infrastructural limitations the college could have admitted more, a situation, he said, required urgent attention from the government and other stakeholders.

The Principal of the College, therefore, urged the newly-recruited students to observe discipline and strict adherence to college rules and regulations, in order to ensure a successful completion of their courses, and warned that the college will not hesitate to sanction any student found culpable of breaching the rules and regulations.

“You need to show respect and obedience to all, especially teaching and non-teaching staff and to people in the community at large,” he advised.

He further warned that, as a faith-based institution believing in the one Supreme God, the college does not compromise on issues of morality, hence, indecency in any form was unacceptable in the school.

The Chief Executive Officer of Ameen Scientific Herbal Hospital in Kumasi, Sheikh Dr. Amen Bonsu, has called on both traditional and orthodox medical practitioners to recognise and work on their similarities, instead of differences that exist between the two medical systems, to provide comprehensive medical care for Ghanaians.

According to him, an effective health delivery system for Ghana must be one that inculcates and tolerates both orthodox and traditional practitioners.

Sheikh Dr. Ameen Bonsu made the call at the maiden graduation ceremony of Ameen Professional College in Kumasi over the weekend, during which 37 graduates passed out after obtaining a certificate in Complementing Health Nursing.

The ceremony also coincided with the matriculation of 42 fresh students to pursue courses in Complementary Health Nursing.

Sheikh Dr. Bonsu said herbal medicines remained integral part of the health care system in Ghana and the West African sub-region.

He, however, lamented that in spite of its significant role in modern medicine, indigenous herbal practices had been on the low level for some time, a situation he attributed to the perceived antagonistic relationship that exists between practitioners of herbal medicine, and their counterparts in the conventional system.

According to him, the conventional approach must not be seen as the paramount or better health system than the indigenous one, adding that the approaches and practices in both systems must be encouraged to complement each other.

The General Secretary of the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners, Stephen Boateng, noted that Ghana sits on top of a gold mine of thousands of different plants, roots and herbs that may contain chemicals needed to treat and cure diseases that are currently leading to potential human extinction.

He warned that if actions are not taken to study and preserve these medicines, they could soon become part of many natural products in Africa that foreigners deem profitable and exploitable.

The Director of the institution, Mariam Amin, said the institute, which was established in 2010 with 30 students, now had a student population of 120.

From Richard Owusu-Akyaw

The Amansie West District Assembly has decided to use its share of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) of GH¢368,147.59, as the allocation for the first and second quarters of the year, for the completion of selected projects in the district.

The District Chief Executive, Mr. Alex Kwame Bonsu, announced at the special general meeting of the Assembly at Manso-Nkwanta recently, that the Assembly would engage itself in the construction of a 6-unit classroom block, with office, staff common room, and library at

Manso-Aponapon, and the construction of a 4-unit teachers’ bungalow at the Mansoman Senior High School at Manso-Atwere.

Other projects to be considered under the said funding include the construction of a 4-unit teachers’ bungalow at Manso-Adubia Senior High School, and the construction of a 4-unit teachers’ bungalow at Esaase-Bontefufuom Senior /Technical School.

He announced that the drilling and mechanisation of a borehole at the Abuoso Clinic, drilling and mechanisation of borehole at Manso-Odaho, the construction of a children’s ward at Manso-Nkwanta, the procurement of building materials to support community-initiated projects,

construction of a 3-unit classroom block at Mosikrom (DDF), completion of teachers’ quarters at Manso-Brofoyedru, construction of 3-unit kindergarten block at Mim/Domi, construction of a 3-unit classroom block at Pakyi No.1, and the renovation of the residence of the District Chief

Executive at Manso-Nkwanta, under various interventions considered for implementation before the end of the year.

The DCE gave the assurance that despite the bad nature of most of the roads in the district, the Kumpese-Datano-Keniago, Antoakrom-Ahwerewa, Moseaso-Abodease-Korko, Akropong-Kobeda, Kwakokrom Junction-Kwakokrom; Dawuaso-Nkyeremia (Pakyi No.6 and 7) Abore-Nkaasu, Adubia-Ajarjokrom, Mim-Domi-Odaho, Agroyesum-Ankam, Manso-Nkran-Edwenase roads, among others, would be reshaped.

The Assembly, he said, was about to form a Technical Committee to work for the implementation of the street naming and house numbering project before the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the General Assembly has unanimously approved recommendations by the executive committees that the Ghana Education Service (GES) provides the list of final year teacher trainees to the District Assembly for support of GH¢200 each.

It was also recommended that the Assembly should complete all uncompleted Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) projects in the district.

The General Assembly also wants the administration to liaise with chiefs and landlords to secure land for waste disposal sites, especially in the large communities, and that the communities should agree with miners on their social responsibilities before they are allowed to start mining in the area.

From Richard Owusu-Akyaw

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), in collaboration with the various transport unions operating at the Kejetia Lorry terminal, on Sunday organised a clean-up exercise to de-silt choked drains at the facility.

Personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service were also at hand to use their equipment to facilitate the removal of the slabs over the gutters.

The Special Aide to the Mayor of Kumasi, Mr. Samuel Gyamfi, who co-ordinated the exercise, said it was intended to keep good sanitary conditions at Kejetia and forestall any future endemic outbreak there, as the gutters were de-silted to drain stagnant waters.

He indicated that the KMA would ensure the terminal is free from health hazards and miscreants, and keep it clean and hygienic.

Mr. Gyamfi told Ashanti File that the main motive behind the clean up exercise was to keep Kejetia clean.

The Kejetia Lorry Terminal was redeveloped by the Government of Ghana, with assistance from the World Bank, under the supervision of the Department of Urban Roads, under the Urban II Project.

With the aim of optimising the use of the facility through properly organised vehicle operations and facility management, the management of the facility was entrusted in FREKO FD Enterprise Limited, a private liability company in Kumasi, since June 2, 2002.

The manager (Freko), in line with the terms of the agreement, was required to market the terminal to commercial vehicle operators in order to attract them to use the terminal for their passenger loading purposes, as well as market the terminal to travellers in order to ensure that the vehicles which patronise the terminal have an adequate number of passengers to board their vehicles.

Obligations of the manager, as well, included employing qualified and experienced personnel required to carry out the services, and employ a system of revenue collection such as a 24-hour toll collection service that will maximise utility and revenue.

By the agreement, the manager shall be responsible for the acts, defaults, neglect, commissions and omissions of the personnel, and shall indemnify the owner against all claims, proceedings, cost charges and liabilities of any description, in respect of the agreement.

As part of her responsibilities, the manager makes sure vehicles operating from the terminal comply with the bye-laws of the owner and all road traffic regulations, and ensure an efficient system of managing the place, including legitimate means of restricting entry and unauthorised parking, among others.

But the management of the Kejetia Lorry terminal has, since November 10, 2013, been taken over from Freko FD Company Limited by the KMA, which owns the place.

The KMA explained that the FREKO FD had, over the last years, short-changed the KMA, and had failed to efficiently execute terms of the agreement, leaving the Kejetia terminal in a mess.

“When you go to Kejetia now, everything is in a mess, toilets are spilling over, there is too much congestion everywhere, waste all over,” the City Mayor frustratingly lamented.

He, therefore, defended the take-over of the terminal, stressing that the KMA had been making between GH¢10,000 and GH¢12,000 daily in revenue, while Freko paid the KMA GH¢80,000 monthly.

The KMA is currently embroiled in a legal tussle with the management of FREKO FD Enterprise Limited, which has operated the terminal for almost 11 years.

As part of managing the Disability Fund, the Executive Committee of the Bosome-Freho District Assembly has taken the initiative to offer employable skills to People Living with Disability (PLWD) in the district and their caretakers to earn them a living on a sustainable basis.

Mr. Kwame Adarkwah, District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, announced at the Assembly General Meeting that the Executive Committee also recommended that part of the fund be set aside to cater for unforeseen disability emergencies.

The initiative follows a directive by the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC), after it had realised that the beneficiaries of the fund only use the money to feed themselves, instead of profitable ventures.

He entreated members of the assembly to get data on all PLWDs in their respective Electoral Areas, while the Social Welfare Officer designs a format for them to use for the exercise.

He asked the members to submit a list of communal labour days in all communities within their jurisdiction, in order for the Assembly to monitor its effectiveness, and also to boost maintenance culture in the communities.

According to him, the committee observed that most of the people in the communities had been refusing to pay their levies to the Assembly to aid the development of the district, as a result of which it had been recommended that the siting of developmental projects would now be based on a community’s effort on payment of levies.

The DCE disclosed that the Executive Committee also recommended that the Assembly collaborate with the Regional Feeder Roads Directorate to help reshape most of the district’s roads, which are in a deplorable state.

From Joyce Addai

The Ahafo-Ano North District Education Directorate has organised a two-day literacy training workshop for 60 lower primary school teachers to update their skills on the use of sounds and phonetic to teach their pupils.

The programme was sponsored by the DFID, and would be held in all the 7 circuit centers of the district in two weeks, to enable all lower primary school teachers benefit from it.

The participants were taken through topics like language literacy – the 3 modes, and attributes of letters.

The District Director of Education, Mrs. Victoria Achiaah Osei, said the two-day literacy training workshop would enable school children understand how to read and write.

She appealed to teachers to take their lessons seriously to enable them impart the knowledge acquired to the children.

Mrs. Achiaah Osei also appealed to parents to invest in their children’s education to enable them become very useful citizens.

She announced that the District Assembly would soon come out with bye-laws to deal with children who refuse to attend school and engage in trading.

Stories from Ernest Best Anane

The Agogo State Senior High School (SHS) has celebrated its 50^th Anniversary, with a call on the government and stakeholders to help expand the infrastructural facilities of the school.

The theme of the celebration was: “50 years of Discipline and Steady Academic Progress – The Role of the stakeholders.”

The Headmaster of the School, Dr. Alexis Frimpong Nimoh, said at the Speech and Prize Giving Day ceremony that though the school was 50 years, headmasters had, all these years, been living in a rented house two kilometres away in town.

He complained that there was no accommodation for the two Assistant Headmasters (Academic and Domestic) on campus, a situation which makes the administration of the school and control of students very difficult and ineffective.

He also bemoaned accommodation problem for teachers, saying of the 98 teachers, only seven were resident on campus.

According to him, a block of flats for the teachers, which was started in 1977, was abandoned in 1979, and called for its reactivation to address the acute accommodation problem of teachers at the school.

He said the school population had increased tremendously, but did not have adequate classrooms for the growing population.

This, he said, had resulted in some classes being too large to handle for any serious academic work. The situation, he said, would require an additional 15-unit classroom block to help absorb the 2013/ 2014 academic year batch of fresh students, in order to reduce overcrowding in the classrooms.

Besides the school has no Assembly Hall, and that morning devotions and other gatherings of the school are all held in the open, at the mercy of the weather.

Dr. Nimoh also stated that the school was coping with a make-shift library, which takes only 30 students at a time, and therefore, needed a modern library to enhance the academic activities of the school.

He said because of lack of dormitories, the ground floor of the administration block had been converted into a dormitory, and hoped the government would release funds for the contractor to speed up work on the construction of the new 3-storey boys’ dormitory.

According to him, the school had not benefited from the supply of vehicles to schools in recent times, and underscored that a donation of a bus to the school as a birthday present would be very much appreciated.

Edmond Peprah, the School Prefect, complained that the school was constantly being hit by perennial water problems which were affecting studies.

He appealed to philanthropists, non-governmental organisations and the Ghana Education Trust Fund to provide the school with a KIA truck or water tanker to supply water whenever there is a shortage.

Mr. Samuel Yaw Adusei, Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, represented the President, John Dramani Mahama, at the occasion.

From Joyce Addae

The National Youth Authority (NYA) has held a Youth Dialogue at Tepa for five schools in the Ahafo Ano North District.

It was aimed at presenting one platform to the identifiable youth groups to exchange ideas on the attempts to develop polices and interventions that are geared towards addressing their problems.

The forum formed part of this year’s African Day, under the theme: “Harnessing the potentials in the Youth for Total Development.”

The Ashanti Regional Director of the National Youth Authority, Mr. Opoku Fofie Apraku, noted that Africa was rich with vast resources, yet the Africa states wallow in dire poverty, which he explained in the fact that Africa was inflicted with disease, conflict-prone, low industrialisation, hunger in the midst of plenty, and loose neighborhood relationships (divided by artificial boundaries that favoured colonisation and manipulation).

He noted that member states of the Africa Union (AU) and ECOWAS lack commitment, as they are bonded more to their former colonial masters.

“It is common fact that in Africa today, some government fiscal policies like the budget remain mere paper work if it is not scrutinised and sanctioned by the Western powers. Our over-dependency on foreign inputs to all our critical and major programmes stare us in the face,” he said, adding that “under this circumstance, Africa cannot afford to move forward if its youth is ignorant and unaware of the happenings around him.”

He explained that African Youth Day, therefore, seeks to re-awaken the youth to re-discover and assert themselves as Africans, and rise up for the freedom, independence, total liberation and unity of Africa.

The Ahafo Ano North District Officer of National Youth Authority, Mr. Orwell Amponsah, said a significant number of Ghana’s youth population lived in rural and disadvantaged areas, with poor access to basic social amenities and services, including access to quality and affordable education and healthcare.

Mr. Amponsah hoped that African Youth Day would be one giant step in engaging and equipping the youth on various social topics that confront them.

On her part, the District Director of Education for Ahafo Ano North, Mrs. Victoria Achiaah Osei, used the occasion to asked school children to study hard to enable them become very useful citizens of the country.

She cautioned school children against attending wake-keepings, concerts and video shows, or face drastic sanctions.

By Sebastian R. Freiku

A new chief has been installed and en-stooled for the community of Breman in the Kumasi Metropolis.

The new Bremanhene, who answers to Nana Kotei Kutin Sraman II, has since been out-doored at the colourful ceremony at the public park in the community.

Known in his private life as Stephen Kwaku Boateng, the new chief pledged to champion the accelerated development of the town to befit its status as the resting home for royals of the Ashanti Kingdom.

He mentioned the construction of a new palace, expansion of the Breman Hospital to include accommodation for doctors and nurses, rehabilitation of the road network in the community, clean environment and education as the topmost priority among the projects lined up for the development of the community.

Stressing the importance of education, Nana Sraman II noted that Breman had produced notable personalities nationwide, and called upon the youth to follow their footsteps and stay away from fraudulent acts which would drag the name of the town in the mud.

“I seek love, peace and unity among you to exploit the opportunities available for the development of Breman, and to adequately address the enormous challenges facing us all,” Nana emphasised.

He used the occasion to thank his sub-chiefs, commended them for their hard work, and called for their co-operation.

Nana Kotei Kutin Sraman II, born 60 years to Sam Boateng and Josephine Afia Mintah, was elevated as Bremanhene on July 11, 2013.

Nana Sraman served as a translator and interpreter at USAID of Africa Development Bank to herald his career as a Consultant Assistant in Abidjan, from 1991 to 1998, when he returned to Ghana.

Back home, Nana Sraman ventured in construction, and later in the retailing of Liquefied Petroleum Gas as Bomeng Energy Limited.

Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Eric Opoku, who deputised for the President, John Dramani Mahama, at the out-dooring ceremony, donated an amount of GH¢2,000, and further pledged support and assistance for the completion of the proposed palace project.

Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, the Member of Parliament for Suame Constituency where Breman is located, also promised 300 bags of cement towards the Breman palace project.

From Ernest Best Anane

Nana Brefo-Boateng, Executive Secretary of the Otumfuo Education Fund, has disclosed that the Fund has, since its inception in 1999, awarded over 4,000 scholarships to brilliant but needy students to pursue education at the basic, second cycle, and tertiary institutions in Ghana.

He also revealed that eight scholarships had been awarded to individuals to pursue under-graduate and master’s degrees in the United States of America, and that some of the beneficiaries had completed their master’s degrees, while others had acquired doctoral degrees, and were currently contributing to the advancement of education and development of Asanteman and Ghana.

Nana Brefo made the disclosure at the Second Career Guidance and Counseling ceremony for selected Senior High Schools at the Center for National Culture in Kumasi.

He said the fund had also offered assistance for educational and infrastructural development, through the renovation of dormitories, provision of computers, library books, dual desks and chairs, school uniforms, and water tanks among others to over 150 schools.

Under the programme, the Fund adopts and renovates schools, including the former Trabuom Secondary, now transformed into a model girls school, known as Afua Kobi Senior High School, to promote female education,.

He said the fund sometimes provided money to selected schools for the purchasing of educational facilities, and has also provided or renovated school blocks, as well as provided funds to organise best teacher awards to recognise the selfless services of deserving teachers.

The Executive Director said, last year, the fund organised the first edition of a career guidance and counseling programme for 5,000 students selected from schools in the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Eastern regions.

Dr. Edward Brenya, Administrative Manager, said 14 years down the line, the Fund had done a lot in terms of education, as the number of beneficiaries would increase to 9,000 this year.

He said the guidance and counseling aspect of the Fund would help students to identify the subjects they can perform well in, so as not to be stranded after their second cycle education.

He hinted the establishment of an Asanteman University, through the Otumfuo Education Fund in the near future, and that the Fund aspires to extend its benevolence to students from all ten regions in Ghana.

From Ernest Best Anane

The Sekyere South District Assembly has realised GH¢365,240.45, representing 88% of the expected collection of GH¢44.89.88, as at October 31, 2013.

Mr. Edward Kusi Ayarkwa, District Chief Executive for the area, announced this at the 3^rd Ordinary Meeting of the 3^rd Session of the Assembly.

He said, as at the end of October, 2013, the external grants received totaled GH¢929,277.03, which include the District Assembly Common Fund and District Development Fund.

According to him, the Assembly estimated to spend a total of GH¢327,098.78 from the Internal Generated Fund (IGF) for the year 2013.

The Assembly, he said, spent a total of GH¢302,168.84, representing 92% of the total expenditure, adding that the Assembly was likely to exceed its recurrent expenditure as a result of the increase in utility charges and fuel.

He said the Assembly’s tipper truck, which performs commercial work, was able to accrue an income of GH¢47,950 from the beginning of the year, with an expenditure of GH¢20,171, and that the wheel loader and grader, mostly used for commercial work, were able to bring in

GH¢69,850 and GH¢10,190 respectively from the commercial work they embarked on, and indicated that the expenditure made on them was GH¢7,333 and GH¢3,999 respectively.

Mr. Ayarkwa said steps were being taken and consultants contacted to provide appropriate structural designs which would be presented to the house for approval, in order to ease the office accommodation challenges facing the departments, while a facelift and refurbishment of the administration building have commenced in phases.

The entire office would be refurbished as funds become available, as adequate provision has been made in the 2014 budget estimates to cater for residential accommodation for the staff in the district.

He said education continued to receive the needed attention from both central government and the Assembly, adding that a total number of 2,800 mono desks had been distributed to schools in the district, while additional laptops had been distributed to the second cycle schools, and a total number of 135,506 exercise books also distributed to basic schools in the district.

He disclosed that with the growth of population and expansion of the communities in the district, there was the need to plan ahead in the distribution of educational facilities, and therefore, proposed for the consideration of the house, the establishment of a Senior High School at Bipoa.

He suggested the need for the District to move higher up in education, by having a university, for which he urged the Assembly to support individuals, groups or organisation that intend to establish a university in the district.

According to him, discussions were being held with the Presbyterian and Pentecost churches on the establishment of the university in the district, and announced a favourable response regarding negotiations with the said churches.

From Richard Owusu-Akyaw

The Asafo-UTC Interchange, constructed at a cost of GH¢16.5 million, as one major project for the people of Kumasi, and which is being constructed by the Italian contractor, Messrs Sarroch Granulati-Gelfi J.V., since 2007, is steadily deteriorating.

For some time now, some of the crash metal barriers along the pavements have been removed, with others completely rusted, and the bolts and nuts being unable to hold the metals together.

Some drivers told the paper that a vehicle run into the metal rails sometime ago, and has remained unattended to for a long time.

Vehicles which might accidentally lose control and veer off the road might plunge headlong into the valley without any protection.

Mr. Theophilus Quaye, Metro Director of Department of Urban Roads, last Friday told the Ashanti File that he was not aware of the state of the metal rails, and that he would deploy personnel to fix the problem as soon as he returns to base in Kumasi.

Pix:

From Issah Alhassan

Residents of Apramang community in the Nhyiaeso Constituency, now have something to cheer about, after waiting for almost 32 years to acquire a decent sanitary facility.

Residents of the community had to cope with a dilapidated toilet facility constructed way back in 1981, before the management of the Atasemanso Hospital, a private medical centre, came to their rescue.

A 24-seater modern toilet facility, funded by the management of the hospital, was last Sunday commissioned and formally handed for use by the community.

The project, valued at GH¢300,000, was solely funded by the hospital, as part of its corporate social responsibility, aimed at addressing the numerous sanitary challenges within and around the community.

The Apramang community is located in the catchment areas of the hospital, and following persistent appeals from the chiefs and people of the area, the hospital agreed to embark on the project.

The Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr. John Boateng, stated at a colourful opening ceremony that the hospital was not only concerned about providing services to people when they fall sick, but also wants to ensure the prevention of diseases.

He indicated that sanitary conditions in the area were so deplorable. A situation, he said, contributed to lots of environmental borne diseases.

According to him, similar facilities had been undertaken in Atasemanso, and expressed optimism that the project would go a long way to help reduce the challenges associated with sanitation in the community and its environs.

Dr. Boateng, however, expressed regret about stiff opposition from the Assembly Member of the area, Linda Karikari, who almost prevented the commissioning ceremony from coming on.

Linda Karikari caused a stir when she prevented the project from being commissioned, insisting that she wanted a similar facility to be constructed for kids in the community.

From Joyce Addai

Three Senior High schools in the Amansie West District have received laptops from the government to enhance the teaching and learning of ICT.

The schools are the Mansoman Senior High School – 50, Manso-Adubia Senior High School – 50, and Esaase Bontefufuo Senior High School – 40.

The District Chief Executive for Amansie West, Mr. Alex Kwame Bonsu, who presented the laptops to the schools, said the gesture was part of the government’s policy to improve ICT in schools.

He warned that the computers were not personal assets, and that they were also not meant for office for administrative work, for which reason he cautioned the management against such practices.

The DCE emphasised that the computers were primarily to facilitate teaching and learning by students and teachers.

He said the government regarded the move as imperative for future capacity development through ICT at the grassroots level.

The District Assembly also pledged to supply 50 bags of cement to the Manso-Adubia Senior High School to enable it continue with development projects.

Stories from Richard Owusu-Akyaw & Joyce Addae

Fifty-five year old Alhaji Mohammed Awal has been adjudged the 2013 Overall Best Farmer in the Ashanti Region when 22 farmers and institutions, including the Akrokerri College of Education and Deeper Christian Life Ministry, were honoured.

The day was marked at Nkwantakese in the Afigya-Kwabre District, under the theme “Reducing post harvest losses for sustainable food security and nutrition.”

Alhaji Awal from Obuasi-Asonkore has 86 cattle, two fishponds, 47 acres of cocoa, an eight-acre maize farm and eight acres of plantain.

He received three knapsack spraying machines, one motorised sprayer, water pumping machine, corn-mill, motorbike, sewing machine and a box of herbicides.

The other award winners received water pumping machines, bags of fertiliser, knapsack spraying machines, wheel-barrows, wellington boots, herbicides, and sewing machines.

Mr. Eric Opoku, Ashanti Regional Minister, called for the establishment of close working relationship between farmers and agricultural extension officers towards the adoption of improved farming technology to boost crop yield and returns.

Mr. Kwaku Fosu and Aboboya Agro Chemicals last Friday became the Best Farmer and the Best Agro Chemicals Distributor in the Kumasi Metropolis respectively during the 29^th Metro Farmers Day celebration.

The 40-year-old farmer from Atwima Techiman, also known as Fosuka, owns a 2,000 acre of farm in Atwima Techiman, and also owns a livestock farm, was adjudged the Overall Metropolitan Farmer by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA). He has 46 permanent workers and 60 casual workers.

Among some of the items given to Fosuka include three kilos of multi vitamin drugs, eight bags of Key soap, four cutlasses, a bicycle, three knapsack sprayers, six pairs of wellington boots, 31-inch television, refrigerator and others.

Other awardees were Dramani Apigah of Appiadu (Best Rice Farmer), Yaw Blay of Ahodwo in Kumasi (Overall Vegetable Farmer), Mr. Salifu Sali (Best Maize Farmer), and Ama Agyekumaa from Ohwim (Best Plantain Farmer).

The Ramseyer Vocational Institute at Chirapatre was adjudged Best Vocational Institute.

The Chief Executive Officer of Aboboya Agro Chemicals, Mr. Gideon Seidu, thanked the event organizers s for honoring him and his workers.

The Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Kojo Bonsu, congratulated the Metropolitan Best Farmer (Fosuka) and all the award winners, and hoped the recognition would spur them on to greater feats.

He noted that the metropolis was battling with post harvest challenges in crop, livestock and fish production.

The Metro Agricultural Director, Mr. Stephen Asante, thanked the KMA for supporting the event, geared towards curbing post harvest loses, thereby ensuring food security.

In the Ahafo Ano North District, the Farmers’ Day celebration was held at Bonkron near Tepa, where 21 farmers were honoured for their hard work.

The Overall Best Farmer went to Mr. Thomas Amponsah of Abu Agya near Betinko. He received an LCD TV, bicycle, wellington boots, one box of Sidalco fertiliser and a knapsack sprayer.

From Tano-Odumasi in the Sekyere South District, Ernest Best Anane reports that 47-year-old Kwasi Oppong, a driver at the Sekyere Rural Bank, was adjudged the District Best Farmer.

His 10-acre farm comprises cocoa, plantain, cassava, coconut, palm nut, birds, livestock and orange.

Mr. Oppong received welling boots, a bicycle, deep-freezer, flat screen television, chemicals, cutlasses, and a piece of cloth as his award.

He commended the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, especially the organisers of the celebration, for recognising his hard work.

Mr. Edward Kusi Ayarkwa, District Chief Executive for Sekyere South, challenged farmers to adopt scientific approaches to maximise production, and thereby increase income.

He said considering the importance of agriculture in our national economy, there was the need for the adoption of the right and scientific approaches to agricultural practices, if we are to maximise production.

Meanwhile, Kwasi Annor was also adjudged the Best Farmer of the Kwbare East District, when farmers converged at Mamponteng, the district capital, to observe the day.

He took home a television set, a deep freezer, a bicycle, a box of key soap, knapsack sprayer and eight cutlasses as his prize.

 Mr. Kwaku Fosu, Kumasi Metro Best Farmer in a pose with the Mayor and others

 Gideon Seidu, (right) CEO of Aboboya Agro Chemicals takes a citation as Best Agro Chemical distributor.

 Ahafo Ano North DCE Amankwah presents items to Best Farmer Thomas Amponsah (in cloth)

 Mr. Kwasi Oppong (in T-shirt) receiving a certificate from DCE Ayarkwah

From Ernest Best Anane

A police post, donated by the authorities of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has been commissioned to beef up security for residents and students of the university community and its surrounding environment.

The facility is expected to serve the institution and communities like Ayeduase, Bomsu and Kotei, where most of the students have rented apartments and hostels.

DCOP Augustine Gyenin, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, pleaded with the public to assist the police with accurate information that will enable them give effective protection.

He observed that criminals were not strangers, but people living within the various communities with us, and for that matter, it was important that the citizens also help the police to able to give protection to life and property, as security was a shared responsibility.

He also pleaded with Nananom and land owners to make provision for police stations, by making land available.

The Police Commander noted: “Every community is supposed to have a police station, so that the police can respond to distress calls immediately, when criminals attack.”

He appealed to hostel owners to provide measures that would ensure 24-hour protection for their occupants.

Professor Ellis Otoo, Vice Chancellor of KNUST, commended the Police Service for being supportive to the university community in diverse ways, and gave assurance of a continuous committed and working relationship with the institution.

He noted that the police post would be a relief to residents and students by ensuring full security.

The Vice Chancellor also commended the chiefs in the communities for giving land for the post, and appealed to the communities to assist the police to protect them at all times, by reporting who harass them for the benefit of the community and the students.

Prof. Otoo pledged on behalf of his administration to provide two motorbikes for post, for effective patrolling of the vicinity towards a crime-free society.

 Chief of Ayeduase, Nana Opoku Agyemang III, cutting the tape to commission the police post

From Sebastian R. Freiku

The Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) has constructed and commissioned a GH¢60,000 building for the Fowaman Kindergarten Basic School in the Ahafo Ano North district.

The building, constructed in two phases, comprises two classrooms, an office, kitchen, apartment, bathroom and a place of convenience, with the community providing labour.

The Managing Director of GCB, Mr. Simon Dornoo, said the building was the bank’s 60^th Anniversary gift to the 110 pupils who studied under were previously studying under disaster-prone structures.

He hoped the building would enhance opportunities for the children to become professionals in the future.

Commissioning the classroom block last week Wednesday, MD Dornoo indicated that the GCB saw growth and development as an integral part of its operations, hence the commitment of GH¢2.6 million in corporate social responsibilities, of which GH¢2 million went into education.

He said, as part of the bank’s 60^th Anniversary, it was constructing boreholes for communities across the country.

The GCB head hinted that the bank was seeking opportunities to collaborate with financial institutions on the ground to provide adequate banking services in areas besides its 158 branches.

Mr. Dornoo commended the chiefs of the area for allowing GCB, which has no branch in the Ahafo Ano North district, to become a social partner.

Ms. Susana Mensah, a teacher at the school, explained that the 70 pupils were displaced when the old block collapsed some years back.

She said following an appeal by the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) through a media report, the GCB inspected the structure and made provisions for the construction of the block in October 2012.

The District Director of Education, Mr. John Oscar Kintor, commended the GCB for the good intention of ensuring a solid foundation for education for the pupils.

He appealed to benevolent societies to emulate the gesture of GCB to support the infrastructural development of the district.

The Chief of Fowaman, Nana Boakye Ampofo, thanked GCB for the assistance in putting up the block to rescue the pupils.

He appealed to the GCB to consider scholarship packages for brilliant but needy pupils in the area to further their studies, and a health centre.

Nana Kwabena Acheampong Tia, Chief of Abernyase and Overlord of Fawoman stool lands, presided over the commissioning ceremony.

The commissioning of the block was graced by the District Chief Executive, Gabriel Barimah, Nana Kwabena Bonsu, Odikro of Bentinko, Nana Kwaku Barnie II, Odikro of Nsuta, Nana Ama Konadu, Nsutahemaa, Nana Amankwa Pipim, Gyasehene of Hia, Obaapanin Abena

Serwaa Adumaddze I, Queenmother of Fawoman, and Nana Pokuaa of Fawoman.

 The kindergarten block

 Dr. Fritz Gockel cutting the tape to open the kindergarten block

MD Simon Dornoo