U/W: Wa Cemetery Blocks Project and Baahisung Foundation Opens New Office

The Wa Municipal Chief Executive Issahaku Tahiru Moomin has donated 30 bags of cement and 10 trips of sand valued at Three Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty Ghana Cedis GHC (3,760) to Baahesung Foundation.

He announced the donation at a solemn ceremony that was organized by the foundation to outdoor an office space for the smmoth running of the foundation’s activities. Baahesung Foundation is a not-for-profit organization with an aim of providing cement blocks solely for the burial of the dead at the Wa Main Cemetery, off the Wa-Busa road opposite the PW Ghanem Quarry in the Wa Municipality.

Announcing the donation, the MCE expressed happiness over the the positive tendencies omong the Muslim front in the Wa Municipality for some time now. He stated that for the past few weeks, he has been attending one Islamic Programme or the other of which he admitted that same cannot be said about the community in a distant past which described as a good omen for the Muslim community.

Issahaku Tahiru used the occasion to admonished Islamic scholars in the municipality to eschew sectionalism among themselves along the lines of which countries that they obtained Islamic educated.

According to the Wa MCE, some of these scholars distinguish themselves with countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Iran among others where they were trained. He also bemoaned another creeping canker where the ulemas attach themselves with particular mosques where they worship with their ‘supporters’ who listen only to their favorite scholars while turning death ears to the messages from others. He therefore advised the scholars to live above the danger of segregation and class system which serves as a breeding ground for disunity among muslims.

A popular Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmed on his part preached that Baahesung Foundation must consider innovative ways of carrying out its duties. Sheikh would love to see the foundation add other services such as providing shrouds for people who may die without preparing their own shrouds.

The renowed scholar also proposed a well secured cemetery that comes with a fully furnished bathroom exclusive for the bathing corpses among others.

Busa Naa and a former District Chief Executive for the then Wa District, DC Ali made donation on behalf of the Wa Naa, Naa Fuseini Pelpuo, the Paramount Chief of the Waala Traditional area. On his own behalf, the Chief of Busa, Naa Ali Seidu Pelpuo pledged that from January 2020, he will donate fifty Ghana Cedis to the foundation every month for the rest of his life.

The Chairman of Baahesung Foundation, Alhaji Ali of Broni Chemicals in an interview agreed that the suggestions of Sheikh Ahmed are beautiful proposals which are being considered. He however stated that it it will be a gradual process.

The Founder of Baahisung Foundation, Mohammed Damba Jesus narrated that by second week of July 2019, about 2000 blocks have already been molded. He added that since the inception of the Foundation in July, about 10000 cement blocks have been provided at the cemetery.

“But as at today, we have a little over a 1000 blocks left at the cemetery. The have been swallowed by the belly of the earth through the continuous burial of the dead”. Damba Jesus lamented.

He mourned that anytime he gets to the cemetery and see less than 300 blocks remaining, he gets nervous and begins to look for ways to increase number.

At the end of the outdooriing ceremony, the foundation realized in excess of One Thousand Three Hundred Ghana Cedis (1300) from fund raising with some pledges yet to be redeemed.

Winneba: Rawlings, Other 31st December Revolution Architects to Lay Wreaths on Behalf of Fallen Heroes

The former President of Ghana, President J. J. Rawlings is set to address 31st December Revolution Anniversary at Winneba.

According to a release cited by Timescrusader, “The scourge of monetization in Ghana’s electoral politics” is penciled to be the theme for the celebration of the 38th anniversary of the 31st December revolution, on Tuesday December 31.

The commemoration which will take place at the Winneba Lorry Park with a durbar of Chiefs and people will have leading cadres including the architect of the revolution, former President Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings as speakers.

 The event will involve a wreath laying ceremony in honour of the fallen heroes followed by a durbar.

According to the Organising Committee, the celebration will be under the theme, Monetization of Elections in Ghana: ‘A threat to National Development and Genuine Democracy’.

 Aside the leader of the revolution, other speakers lined up for the commemoration include former President, John Dramani Mahama, Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah, NDC General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia and Local Organizing Committee Chairman, Mike Hammah.

The organizing committee is inviting cadres, sympathisers of the revolution and members of the public to the commemoration which will commence at 8.30am on Tuesday.

The 31st December 1981 revolution ushered in a period of economic and political transformation that culminated in the re-establishment of lasting constitutional rule in 1992.

The revolution also gave birth to the National Democratic Congress which won elections in 1992 and 1996 under the leadership of Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings.

U/W: New Upper West Regional Hospital Opens to the General Public from 9th January 2020

The newly commissioned Upper West Regional Hospital is set to start operations on 9th January 2020. An official letter that was intercepted by Timescrusader and signed by the Upper West Regional Director of Ghana Health Service GHS Dr. Kuffour Afreh has revealed.

The hospital has been commissioned by his Excellency, the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffu Addo since 18th August 2019. However, the long awaited premier facility has been under lock and key since its commissioning thereby attracting a myriad of controversies from the public. But in an official letter titled Operationalization of the new Upper West Regional Hospital signed by the Upper West Regional Director of Ghana Health Service GHS Dr. Osei Kuffour Afreh and copied to the Upper West Regional Minister, the Director General of Ghana Health Service GHS, the Ghana Health Service Council and all Medical Superintendents in the region among others stated ‘’ The new Upper West Regional Hospital has recently acquired Credentialing from the Health Facility Regulatory Agency HeFRA and the National Health Insurance Authority’’ the letter has informed.

 According to the letter, ‘’ the Upper West Regional Health Service in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service GHS Headquarters, wishes to inform the general public and all stakeholders that, from 9th January, 2020 the new Upper West Regional Hospital will be opened to the general public for both clinical and non clinical service'' it has revealed.

 ‘’We express our appreciation to all stakeholders for the support in achieving this milestone towards improving the health care service in the Upper West Region’’ the letter concluded.

Accra: A Three Term Former NPP Upper West Regional Chairman Succeeds Mogtari Sahanun at Council of Stage

three term New Patriotic Party former Upper West Regional Chairman, Alhaji Abubakari Short sworn in as a Member of Council of State as he replaces Mogtari Sahanun at the Jubilee House In Accra.

Alhaji Abubakari Short has being a polling station agent, constituency chairman, regional chairman for 12 years, chairman of regional chairmen, member of both the National Council (NC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) and disciplinary committee.

Before his accession onto the high office, Alhaji Short has served as the Chairman for a Nine Member Board for the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company (GCMC) in Accra since 2018.

More Soon

Accra: I Don't Recall Being Asked to Refund $4000 - Rawlings Hit Back at Major Rtd Ibrahim Rida

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has denied claims by Major (Rtd) Ibrahim Rida, that he was hurt by his superiors after being asked to refund $4,000 he had wasted.

 In a strong-worded statement Sunday, Mr Rawlings said he did not recall being asked to pay back some $4000.

According to him, “if I was asked to, it would make sense considering the fact that I had to cut off the flying instructors’ course in Peshawar, Pakistan right at the beginning of the course and get back to the mission to help save this country by removing Acheampong to enable General Akuffo to take over.”

 The former Squadron commander who was almost killed during the June 4th uprising last week narrated to JoyNews’ Raymond Acquah on ‘UPfront’ the reason behind Mr Rawlings bitterness in the running to his first coup attempt.

He was speaking ahead of the release of ‘Scars of the revolution’, a sequel to JoyNews Documentary ‘Who killed the Judges’ which was aired in October 2018. ‘Scars of the revolution’ discloses the act of savagery leading to and the aftermath of one of the country’s darkest moment in history, the June 4th uprising.

Former President Rawlings responds to Major Rida What a shame! A real shame indeed. Kindly give your children and some of the good people you've known some decent space; be a little truthful and let them live their lives without this shame.

You don’t appear to have changed, Major Rida. You should leave these fabrications to those who’re politically and financially profiting from damaging June 4th and December 31st. There were a number of interesting and near-tragic events and meetings...all very true that you could talk about.

I am shocked that you would lend yourself to such falsehood. Your uncle Gen Akuffo had a good enough space of time from General Acheampong’s arrest to do what was expected of him but no, he obviously couldn’t see that his refusal or inability heightened the pressure and hostility again. Your head was equally stuck in the ground. Some of you were oblivious of the danger in the air.

Rida, I do not recall being asked to pay back some $4000. And if I was asked to, it would make sense considering the fact that I had to cut off the flying instructors’ course in Peshawar, Pakistan right at the beginning of the course and get back to the mission to help save this country by removing Acheampong to enable General Akuffo to take over.

 Amongst the many conversations we had, do you recall suggesting that I would have to escape after dropping that bomb? Do you recall that General Akuffo, in one instance cancelled a foreign trip with the expectation that I would have dropped the bomb the night before and he would necessarily have to be in Accra to take over as Head of State? Do you recall that particular morning when you drove to the Airforce station to come to ask me "what happened”, "what went wrong"?

 The second thing that put me off collaborating with you was the comment you made the night I suggested (in your sitting room) some of the good senior officers who General Akuffo could bring on board his government.

 Do you recall the comment you made when I suggested a senior officer I thought was clean enough? You said with irritation and annoyance in your voice that "we don't need that holier than thou pepe man".?

Major Rida, all said and done, because of your treachery, when you attempted to call on me a few days after the June 4th explosion at Nana's Flat, one of the infantry guards corked his weapon and nearly shot you.

Do you recall I spun around and jumped from the veranda and planted my body between you and the soldier, to take the bullet for you to save your cowardly life? And you dare to suggest, on a slimy Joy TV programme that I was begging for mercy and to be pardoned? No Rida. 15th May failed because I made it so to prevent the blood-letting that night. Take a look at the trial and tell me that’s the posture of an officer begging to be pardoned.

That soldier and many who knew what you did or did not do would read this new nonsense of yours with regrets. Do you remember it took a while to cool down their anger? Dear Rida, you should have left these fake and brainless fabrications to the Alolgas, Adabugas and the Boakye Djans to continue their cowardly and mercenary behaviour. The exposure time for them, is quite due. I have given cover to a number of uniformed personnel who were not brave enough for June 4th, December 31st and others.

There you are, repeating some of the manufactured 40-year-old lies about Boakye Djan leading soldiers to rescue me. Let me assure you that guy never led any soldier to rescue any goat anywhere.

You cannot be that ignorant of another claim, that he was directing the '79 revolt from inside one of the Recce armoured vehicles? Even as the Recce armoured squadron was under siege and some of the Senior NCO commanders had retreated from engaging in the battle and waiting to join the infantry units, Boakye Djan had long escaped from his unit around 3 o' clock that morning of June 4th, when according to him he heard one of the soldiers cry out, "kill all the officers".

 What he, however, did not say was that he fled to the bush behind the 5BN quarters and found himself crouching next to another Captain on the bush track and with the approach of dawn, the Captain said he headed east towards Tema where his parents lived whilst Boakye Djan headed westwards to Achimota school. I would dare him to invite the unnamed officer to deny or confirm what I’m saying. It wasn't until late that afternoon that he was fished-out of his girlfriend's quarters by a detachment. As should have been expected, he refused to open up until Flt. Lt. Lee threatened to climb up and break down his woman’s door.

Another poisonous and cowardly person I covered up for was Alolga, who should have been in position at 5BN after I had taken charge of the Recce grounds. Albert and I had commandeered two of the armoured vehicles. Alolga was nowhere to be found or seen at that crucial moment of 31st.

It wasn't until the fight of that day was over around 8pm, and some of us had gathered and sitting by the gutter at the Recce Regiment administration block, that Alolga came walking sheepishly and nervously in a very crumpled uniform following a more courageous Chris Atim. I kept quiet about his cowardly disappearance and went on to add him to the membership of the PNDC.

Many brave soldiers and officers have survived many fabrications and revisions of historical events in silence up to this point, don't push it any further, Rida. Your deformed character always affected and took away from your personality the appearance of a fine soldier.

You betrayed the trust of your own men and after all these years have resorted to resurrect yourself this way? The distrust and hatred that your behaviour evoked amongst the men, made it unsafe to bring you back on board.

I have covered up for a lot of personnel because I am not unaware of how courage can desert some of the brave ones. Your stories don’t add up and the current generation of officers and soldiers, I hope, can see through you and your kind.

I didn’t think someone like you in spite of some of your character defects would sink so low. Is it not odd that you have chosen now to come out? You had to wait till that generation of officers, passed out, passed on or retired. You now find it politically expedient to come out with such mindless distortions because a lot of the actors from both the ranks and officers would have retired by now.

Having been close to me you can now play the opportunistic card. If they didn't know me for who I am, all that I said at the trial wouldn't have ignited their emotions. Yes, I was an angry man. Ghana was on its knees and real action was needed and I stood up to do a man’s job. You cannot reduce the story of June 4 to your illusions and pettiness! Cowards like you convince me evil has truly triumphed!!!

Issued By: Kobina Andoh Amoakwa (Communications Directorate)

Wa: Some MMDCEs are Not Advocating for 'Yes Referendum' Because they are afraid of Losing their Jobs - NALAG

The National Association for Local Authorities of Ghana NALAG has created more awareness for District Level Elections before Ghanaians go to the polls for the District Assembly Elections and the referendum to amend an entrenched clause thus article 55 (3) of the 1992 constitution.

The referendum which seeks to make District Assembly Elections partisan must attract at least, 40 percent voter turn out and also garnner at least 75 percent of the voters who vote yes per the dictates of the constitution of Ghana.

National Association for Local Authorities of Ghana NALAG is the mouth piece for the 260 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies MMDAs in Ghana.

As an association, the National Association for Local Authorities of Ghana NALAG mainly focuses on lobbying for policies and Programmes that are favorable to it’s members.

NALAG in preparation for the forth coming refrendun has organized a sensitization and stakeholders forum to engage its members on the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives MMDCEs at Wa.

Members of NALAG include MMDCEs and assembly members among others.

Even though all assemblies have been dissolved and there are no sitting assembly members, NALAG believes that they were the appropriate agents that could educate the electorate on the up coming referendum.

According to NALAG’s Programmes Officer, Joseph Owusu the referendum would allow members who live in the MMDAs to vote for their choice of MMDCEs if the referendum achieved ‘yes’ votes.

He added that the ‘yes’ vote in the referendum would also allow assembly member aspirants to use colors and symbols of their respective political parties and also afford the parties to sponsor their candidates.

The Programmes Officer of NALAG explained that there was fear among the political parties.

He stated that because there were lack of understanding about the process, the parties feared that if party A won In a particular MMDA, and party B was in government, party A could manipulate the development agenda of the ruling government in that particular area.

However, he clarified that once the election of MMDCEs became partisan, the statutory deductions such as the District Assembly Common Fund DACF would continue to go to the assemblies and the MMDCE must do what is expected of him regardless of his party affiliation.

Joseph Owusu said while some MMDCEs thought that they would have a secured turner of office but they fear that they could be voted out of office if their elections became partisan.

He highlighted that some MMDCEs were not helping to educate the populace to vote yes because they were afraid of losing their jobs.

Joseph Owusu therefore stressed that NALAG in collaboration with the Inter Ministerial Coordinating Committee on decentralization IMCC were engaging the public for them to understand what lies ahead.

“Other countries have done it and it is helping them. people fear that when we do it, it will bring a whole lot of misunderstanding and other things. We have to start something first. If we start something the the issues will come and we will engage ourselves look at the way forward and see how best we are able to resolve them and I believe that we would get a good local government policy for our country as it is happening in other countries”. He recommended.

U/W: RE - BNI Operatives Pick Up Ex Executive Secretary to IGP

Disregard publications on social media and some media portals that suggested that the Wa West Parliamentary candidate of the NDC Supt Rtd Peter Toobu has been picked up by BNI Operatives for investigations regarding a purported coup plot. An NDC Statement has directed.

A statement that was issued by the Upper West Regional Secretariat and signed by the Regional Communications Director, Puo-Ire Prosper has directed the general public to disregard publications on social media and some media portals that, the Wa West Parliamentary candidate of the NDC Supt Rtd Peter Toobu has been picked up by BNI Operatives for investigations regarding a purported coup plot.

The statement was released on Tuesday following a social media and other media information that indicated that the retired Police Officer was picked up by the Bureau of National Investigations BNI Operatives in connection with a coup plot.

According to the statement, the NDC in the Upper West wanted to make it emphatically clear that, Supt Rtd Peter Toobu is a law abiding citizen who has spent a considerable part of his life serving this nation diligently as an officer of the law. At no point in time within his life has he acted in aberration of same law that he protected so diligently.

It stressed that Peter Toobu’s loves and respect for democracy and rule of law made him present himself to serve his people through the established democratic processes after resigning from the Ghana Police Service where he occupied a lofty position as Executive Secretary to the IGP for many years.

“It is therefore warped logic to even begin to imagine that, a man who has demonstrated such magnitude of reverence for democracy and due processes could ever brood destabilizing the same democracy that he has firmly committed himself to”. The statement added.

Through the statement, the National Democratic Congress assure the general public that Supt Rtd Peter Toobu has not been picked up by any BNI operative. “He has not also been invited by any security agent and is not under any investigation for any wrong doing.

"He is hearty and going round his campaigns with the assurance of being dully elected by his constituents”. The NDC Statement has said.

The statement has emphasized in conclusion assure that as a law abiding citizen, Supt Rtd Peter Lanchene Toobu will avail himself for any lawful interrogation since he is very clear in his conscience that, never at any point in time did he act in a manner that will compromise the security of the state.

U/W: Only 19 Women Filed Nominations to contest District Assembly Elections in the Upper West Region

Nineteen (19) Women filed their nomination to contest the up coming District Assembly Elections in the Upper West Region. The Upper West Office of the Electoral Commission has revealed.

The figure, which represented 1.96 percent was out of a total of 968 contestants who completed their nominations for the purpose of contesting the forth coming District Assembly Elections. 

This according to figures confirmed by the Electoral Commission was in sharp depreciation over 48 women who took part in the last District Assembly Elections.

The laws of Ghana allow for decentralization of government. Therefore powers and functions of the Central government are lawfully redistributed or delegated to other government units with the aim of allowing for grassroots participation in the governing process of the nation especially in the communities. 

Each Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assembly is required by law to have persons representing the electoral areas that make up such a district, municipal or metropolitan.

Section 2 of the District Assembly Elections Act 1994, Act 473 affirms that district assembly elections shall be organized by the electoral commission. 

Other members are also elected to form the Unit Committee which serves as an advisory and supporting team for the Assembly Member. 

With the Assembly Member and Unit Committee members, the electoral area is considered to be fully represented to govern or administer some functions on behalf of the District Assembly.

 In relation to women empowerment, all the international women conferences held worldwide spanning from decades stressed the importance of women assuming positions of power and influence not only because of their views and talents but also as a matter of their human right. 

In 1994, the World Bank indicated that women contribution to the social and economic development of any society was immense. In spite of these contributions, the Bank stressed that a wide range of laws and regulatory practices still limit women to a greater extent than men.

In the Upper West Region of Ghana for instance, women participation in the forth coming District Assembly Elections decreased from 48 to 19 with a difference of 29 representing 60.42 percent.

Further observations pointed out that the 48 figure of women participation in District Assembly Elections in the last four years however was an appreciation over 17 in the last eight years representing 64.58 percent.

The Upper West Regional Electoral Commission figures privy to the Times Crusader revealed that the districts that recorded the least women participation in the forth coming DAEs were the Sissala West contestants and the Wa East Districts with each recording zilch (0).

However, Lawra and Jirapa Municipalities had the highest women participation with four women each rolling up their sleeves in readiness to slag it out with their male counterparts.

Followed by Sissala East Municipality, Lambusie, Nadowli/Kaleo and Wa West District having 2,2,2 and 2 women participants respectively. The rest were Wa Municipal Assembly, Daffiama/Bussie/Issa and Sissala West all recording one each.

According to the figures intercepted by the Times Crusader, the Wa East District which recorded the highest number of 204 contestants ironically recorded no women participation.

Meanwhile, out of the 293 electoral areas in the Upper West Region, 26 entered into the 17th December polls unopposed.

In the same trend however, a total of 1,994 people have filed their nominations to contest the Unit Committee Elections out of which 75 were women representing 3.76

Wa: Philanthrophy at Wa Main Cemetery Produces More than 6000 Cement Blocks in Three Months

A Teacher’s dream to build heaven on earth gets to a solid foundation as people begin to accept his idea to consolidate the realization of the dream. It is written in the scriptures that when it comes to burying the dead, any contribution towards it attracts countless reward reserved for you in the hereafter.

The idea to provide building blocks at the Wa Main Cemetery to facilitate the burial of the dead which hitherto was a headache and a double agony for many bereaved families was conceived by a professional teacher who was born and bred at Dondoli, a suburb of Wa in the Upper West Region.

Volume 4 of Fiqh – us – Sunnah page 61a states that there was a consensus that burying a dead body and covering it was a collective obligation. 

It clarified that If some Muslims bury the dead body, it would absolve the rest of them from this obligation. Allah, the Almighty, says: "Have We not caused the earth to hold within itself the living and the dead?" Qur'an 77 25-26. 

A retired Missionary of the Ahmadiyya Mission, Mualim Alhassan Saeed of Wa Jujeidayiri described the project as a novelty. He said that the reward for such a venture was endless and those who are involved in it would be exalted in spirit. He prayed for the sustenance of the project. 

Another Islamic Scholar of Wa Zongo, Imam Alhassan Muazu did not mince words. He disclosed that the Prophet of Islam, Prophet Mohammed on whom peace be likened the reward of such a noble work to a mountain as high as the Ombonawura at Ombo.

“On that day will men proceed in companies sorted out to be shown the deeds that they (had done) then, shall anyone who has done an atom’s weight of good see it” Holy Quran CH. 99 vs 6-7.  

According to the founder of the project, Mohammed Damba Issah it came to him as a great worry when people passed on and how to bury them became a difficult task.

He lamented that it was increasingly becoming a phenomenon as components of burial at the cemetery such as blocks was a breeding grounds for clashing of individual faiths.

Mohammed explained that each time somebody dies the community folks just pounced on any available blocks regardless of who owned them.

He described as chaotic where in certain instances where people who are not well to do struggled to mould blocks for specific purposes but before they could use them, they were cleared by the community for the use of burial of deceased members of the community which he argued was causing uneasy calm among kinsmen.

The Professional Teacher narrated that he had contemplated about how to remedy the situation for some time before he was convinced that making blocks available at the cemetery solely for burial of the dead was a worthy course.

He said that he fully launched into the project by first using his salary to buy sixty (60) bags of cement and other complementary materials for the commencement of the cemetery blocks project.

Mohammed stated that he further advocated the idea of the project to his fellow teachers and they were also convinced that the project was worth its sort.

Even though he did not Want to beg people with a bowl in hand, he kept spreading the idea until it got to the attention of one business man who has since taken up the provision of materials such sand and water at the site.

So far, the project has produced in excess of 6000 blocks. Now the sustainability of the project is being strengthened by putting a steering committee to ensure that the project remained eternal.

Mohammed Damba Issah concluded that the goal he is seeking to achieve cannot be accomplished by one man alone. 

He therefore called on benevolent society individuals to join hands and make the project a sustainable one. Interested parties contact this # 0243786484  

Training for the first batch of 60 trainer of trainees (TOTs) from the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) to undertake the Digital Property Addressing System (DPAS) project in the Upper West Region kicks off in Wa.

Under the project, the 60 trainers are expected to train 555 field officers across the 11 municipal and districts in the Upper West Region who will commence the second phase of the actual Digital Property Addressing System (DPAS) project.

In total, 12,750 field officers will be equipped to collect and collate data from across Ghana and also provide digital number plates. The essence of the project was to assign digital addresses to each property in Ghana be it a structure or a parcel of a land yet to be used.

According to the Upper West Regional Coordinator for the Nation Builders’ Corps, Nuhu Umar, the participants for the training programme included physical planers from the municipal and district assemblies.

The rest were three research and training corps (RTCs) from the (NABCO) offices in the municipal and district assemblies and the regional monitors and coordinator. He explained that the benefits of the project was in many fold in the areas of security, health and business.

He said that DPAS will provide easy access to properties for the security agencies which hitherto was not the case.

He also believed that the project would facilitate health care delivery in terms of ambulance services among others.

Nuhu Umar indicated that the physical planners at the various Municipal and District Assemblies were a crucial participants of the (DPAS) project because they were inch age of the Property Addressing System and have the physical layouts of their various municipalities and districts.

He urged the people of the Upper West Region to put their heads and minds on the project and support it to succeed in order to revolutionize the scheme of affairs of Ghana.

Addressing the participants, the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Hamidu Chinnia on behalf of the Regional Minister, Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih was hopeful that the necessary training and capacity building were being given to the participants to ensure that the project was well implemented in all districts of the Upper West Region.

He emphasized the importance the project adding that even though people demand schools, market centers, clinics, good roads and other facilities unfortunately, only a few of the people pay tax.

He therefore agreed that the government must identify each property and individuals in the country in other to be able to generate enough revenue to be able to undertake developmental projects.

Wa: Political Parties, CSOs Pledge Support for the Election of MMDCEs

Political Parties and Civil Society Organizations expressed unanimity In government’s resolve to make Metropolitan Municipal and District Chief Executives positions elective. They say it with the believe that it would increase accountability and also reduce the case of winner takes all.

This came to light when the National Commission for Civic Education launched a campaign to educate citizens and raise awareness on the District Level Elections DLEs and the referendum to amend article 55 (3) of the 1992 constitution to pave way for the election of Metropolitan Municipal and District Chief Executives MMDCEs.

The participants present at the launch were mainly representatives of political parties, Civil Society Organizations CSOs, and traditional rulers among others.

The political parties included the governing New Patriotic Party NPP, the largest opposition party – National Democratic Congress NDC, People National Convention PNC and Democratic People’s Party DPP.

Article 55 (3) on which the referendum is going to be held states that Subject to the provisions of this article, a political party is free to participate in shaping the political will of the people, to disseminate information on political ideas, social and economic programmes of a national character, and sponsor candidates for election to any public office either than to district assemblies or lower local government unit.

Stating the National Democratic Congress’s NDC position on the referendum that seeks to amend the aforementioned Claus of the 1992 Constitution, the NDC’s representative, Nuhu Issahaku Putieha, Who also dabbles as the party’s Organizer and a former Wa Municipal Chief Executive in the Upper West Region minced no words in making the party’s position clear.

“To refresh our minds a little bit. The NDC stated in the manifesto that if we had won the 2016 elections, we were also going to lead the crusade towards the election of Metropolitan Municipal and District Chief Executives. Fortunately, the NPP is leading the way and I am here to state that the NDC is all for the election of the MMDCEs”. The former Wa MCE stated.

According to him, the NDC was aware that if the MMDCEs were elected, it would increase accountability to the people and reduce the issue of winner takes all, adding that it was based on the above reasons that the NDC will do all in its capacity to ensure that the referendum gets the two thirds that it needed to ensure the election of MMDCEs.

Issahaku Nuhu Putieha explained that as an MMDCE, who is appointed by the President through the recommendation of the party, you are sometimes at a cross road as to whether to serve the people or the president.

He also indicated that the NDC was also going to make local level elections partisan that would allow political parties to sponsor their candidates to represent the people at the District Assembly level.

However, whiles the NDC accepts the election of the MMDCEs, Nuhu Putieha admonished the National Commission for Civic Education NCCE, Chiefs, Institute of Democratic Governance IDEG, the media, and all Civil Society Organizations CSOs in Ghana to hold the Electoral Commission EC and the Government responsible in produce credible elections.

Taking the referendum for the creation of the new regions as a test case where it was alleged that deliberate multiple voting was recorded, coupled with the issues of Ayawaso West Wuagon, the NDC therefore called on the Electoral Commission and Government to ensure credible elections at all levels to avoid some parties going to court for not having credible elections.

U/W: Nation Builders Corps NABCO Trainees Give Back to Society as Part of their Social Responsibility Drive

The Nation Builders Corps Trainees across the Upper West Region give back to society as part of activities to mark the 1st anniversary of the government’s flagship program since its inception in 2018 by the New Patriotic Party government.

Nation Builders Corps NABCO is an initiative introduced by the government of Ghana which provided jobs to 1,00,000 unemployed university graduates in 2018 alone.

The aim of the initiative was to solve various social problems in both the private and public sectors and build their skills as well as promote economic growth in the country.

Over two thousand eight hundred and ninety six of these Trainees were allocated to the Upper West Region who were further posted to the various government department and agencies.

One year down the line, these one hundred thousand beneficiaries of the Nation Builders Corps NABCO are showing gratitude to the government and people of Ghana by spending a fraction of their stipets to give back to the society to mark the 1st anniversary of the Programme. In the Upper West Region, activities such as floats on the principal streets across all the eleven districts and municipalities in the region.

In the Wa Municipality for instance, a clean up exercise and a donation to the Children Ward of the Wa Hospital was done in addition to the float.

These activities were lined to run from 1st October and climaxed with blood donation which also started from 11th to 14th October with a durbar of chiefs at the Jubilee park in Wa.

The nationwide celebration will be brought to a close with a two day programme in Accra spanning from the 17th to 18th October with representatives from all districts across Ghana.

Speaking to the Times Crusader Reporter in Wa, the NABCO Coordinator for Wa Municipality, Muhammed Nuru Mahama expressed hope that the NABCO beneficiaries would actively participate in all the activities that were lined up to mark the anniversary celebration.

He encouraged not only the NABCO Trainees to participate in the celebrations particularly the blood donation exercise but also friends and families of the beneficiaries who are benefiting indirectly from NABCO.

According to him, not less than 500 pints of blood was expected to be realized at the end of the blood donation exercise.

Muhammed Nuru Mahama hinted for the information of the beneficiaries that many of the government departments and agencies that have NABCO Traineet working with them have indicated their readiness to formalize their employment in order to offer them permanent jobs.

He therefore urged all the Trainees to take the NABCO initiative serious and prove to their various departments and agencies that they can also take up permanent employment with them.

Wa: Pay Serious Attention to Property Rate Collection - Issahaku Tahiru Moomin

The Wa Municipal Chief Executive, Aihaji Issahaku Tahiru Moomin has identified property rate collection as one area the needs to be given serious attention added that having the appropriate data could serve as the basis for improved property rate collection.

Even though the government continues to play a critical role in developing Municipal, Metropolitan and District Assemblies MMDAs through the provision of logistics, staffing and office accommodation, the Wa Municipal Chief Executive believed that it was important for assemblies to generate the needed revenue to offset recurrent expenditures and also fund development projects.

However, Issahaku Tahiru Moomin doubted if the assembly was aware of the number of properties that were contained in the municipality.

The Wa Municipal Chief Executive made the call when he delivered an address at a ceremony to dissolve the fourth Wa Municipal Assembly.

He therefore urged the electorate to consider returning hardworking and committed people back to the assembly to help in revenue generation and stop the over reliance on the District Assemblies Common Fund and other central government releases.

“One major challenge is the unplanned and haphazard development currently going on in our municipality. It is so nauseating to see houses being built in water ways”. He pointed out.

The Wa MCE admonished Physical Planning and Works Departments to abide by the rules and regulations of their professions concerning the allocations of plots.

He also entreated them to ensure that plots were developed according to their designated land use to avoid the danger of flooding and the accompanying loss of lives and property.

Issahaku Tahiru called for energies and enthusiasm to be put together to check environmental degradation and ensure safe environmental hygiene.

Jirapa: Considering the Financing Scheme of Medical laboratory services in Ghana Critical - GMA

The Ghana Medical Association GMA has expressed worry over medical laboratories services in Ghana.

It stated that it was critical to consider the finances scheme of medical laboratories practice as it was fast becoming a forgotten area. The statement was contained in a solidarity message that was delivered by the Upper West Regional President for The Ghana Medical Association Dr. Richard Wooda Seme at the Annual National Delegates Congress of the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists and the Second Health Laboratory Summit at the Royal Cozy Hill Hotel popularly called ‘Jirapa Dubai’ at Jirapa in the upper west region.

The statement indicated For instance that because most hospital facilities were enrolled into the National Health Insurance Scheme NHIS, laboratory services are bundled in the Out Patients Department OPD tariff.

“Unlike pharmaceutical services which are itemized so for health managers if you invest in laboratory services, it becomes difficult to say that this is the returns I’m getting from laboratory services.

Let’s say if you invest a thousand Ghana cedis (GHC 1000) into medicine, at worst you will recover that thousand Ghana cedis” he lamented. He said that the above was not the same situation for the laboratory medicine in Ghana.

He therefore challenged congress to engender a holistic conversation over the laboratory medicine.

Dr. Wood averted that medical services were essential hence it should not be coupled with other services.

He recommended that revenues that were accrued from medical laboratories can be used to recycle the activities of medical laboratories.

The 2019 congress was themed, Ghana’s health policy framework and the practice of medical laboratory science in the 21stcentury.

The Upper West Regional President for the Ghana Medical Association on a lighter note stated that when it came to the medical policy, the GMA was a suspect until proven otherwise. He however assured that they were in the business together with GAMLS.

Wa: 90 Percent of Registered Busineses are Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises - NEIP

The National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan have opened training for the Business Plan Competition in the Upper West Region on Tuesday 10^th January, 2018.

NEIP was launched in December, 2017 with the mandated to develop sustainable new businesses across Ghana to address barriers of growth face by existing Small And Medium Enterprises with the provision of business and financial support through the Business Plan Competition. 
 

Delivering a keynote address on behalf of the Upper West Regional Minister, the Upper West Regional Coordinating Director, Alhaji Abdulai Abubakar has observed that creating meaningful jobs and employment through investing in agriculture and efficient extraction of natural resources for rapid industrialization is critical for a Ghana without aid. 

The Minister noted that statistics from the Registrar General’s Department suggested that about 90 percent of companies registered in Ghana are micro, small and medium enterprises.

He said SMEs provide about 85 percent of manufacturing employment and contribute about 70 percent to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product adding that SMEs are a force to reckon with in any national development drive because they have greater impact on economic growth, income and employment.

According to the minister, development experts have the view that the growth of an economy is in question if it cannot create jobs for its people.

In view of this, he said there was the need for investment to go beyond public sector to include private sector. 

Alhaji Sulemani highlighted that investing in the private sector helps in broadening economic opportunities that will lead to the transformation of the country’s economy saying that the private sector complements government effort at creating real jobs and enhancing livelihood.

Delivering a speech on behalf of the Minister for Business development, Director of Programmes at the Ministry, Yakubu Yussif mentioned the role of SMEs in economic development alluding to a 2015 World Bank Report that indicated that the formal SME sector alone contributes over 60 percent of the total employment and up to 40 percent of GDP in emerging economies.

He observed that SMEs alone contribute a larger part of labor force compared to the micro and larger Blue-Chip Enterprises making it an important driver in nation’s growth and developmental agenda.

Ibbrahim Mohammed Lawal however regretted that despite the immense contribution that the SME sector makes to the development of the country, many SMEs are faced with numerous challenges of which access to capital is crucial.

As part of the first phase of the NEIP initiative, the Minister disclosed that 700 applicants for the NEIP Business Plan Competition have been trained in Accra in December, 2017, 450 in Northern Region on 8^th January and Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Upper West Regions took their respective turns on 10^th January, 2018 with Upper East Region coming on board on 12^th January, 2018.  

He explained that the SMEs will be assisted based on a 4 tier Support Ecosystem including advisory services, access to seed capital, access to market and the provision of Conducive Ecosystem.  

According Ibrahim Mohammed Awal there anticipated that all applicants will take advantage of the tanning and utilize all tools, knowledge and services available to expand their businesses to meet world standards and increase the employment rate in Ghana.