TOWNS and communities located on the Akuapem Ridge in the Eastern Region are to benefit from a water supply project designed to solve the perennial water problem in the area.
When completed in 2012, the rural water project, which is a component of the Kpong Old Water Works, will benefit communities such as Akorley, Abonse, Aperede, Adukrom, Awukugua, Dawu, Akropong, Mamfe, Amanokrom, Tutu, Obosomase, Ahwerase, Aburi, Gyankama, Peduase, Kitase and Berekuso.
The Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Alban Bagbin, who disclosed this in a speech read on his behalf at the Odwira festival of the chiefs and people of Aburi on Saturday, said access to improved water supply would enhance economic activities in the beneficiary communities.
The event, which was used to raise funds in aid of the Aburi Educational Fund and development projects in the area, drew a large gathering of people, including the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu; the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Baba Jamal; the Municipal Chief Executive for Akuapem South, Dr Godfried O.B. Twum, and the Member of Parliament for Aburi/Nsawam, Mr O. B. Amoah.
Mr Bagbin said though the government inherited difficulties in practically every sector of the economy on assumption of office, it was making every effort to resuscitate the economy, as well as restore various social services to the people.
Highlighting some of the developments on the Akuapem Ridge, he said the refurbishment of the Presidential Lodge at Peduase had finally been completed.
He also announced that the Peduase village facelift and infrastructural upgrading, which were major additional works to the Peduase Lodge Project, had also been completed.
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu, said the construction of the Pantang-Mamfe road, initiated by the NDC government and implemented by the NPP government, had enhanced the movement of the people and goods.
He, however, said the Aburi-Nsawam road project, which was awarded some years ago, had come to a standstill due to inefficiency on the part of the contractor and indicated that the contract would soon be re-awarded to “a credible and competent contractor”.
He hinted that a number of selected roads in the Aburi township would soon be rehabilitated, while the Ghana Highway Authority, in collaboration with the Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI), was undertaking studies on the landslide on the hills at Ayi Mensah to curb any future landslide in the area.
Mr Jamal advised the youth to prepare themselves adequately by taking their education seriously to enable them to face the future with confidence.
Earlier in his welcoming address, the Aburihene, Nana Otubuor Kwasi Gyan, expressed appreciation to the government for the construction of the Aburi Craft Village, which, he said, would create jobs for the youth in the area.
He expressed concern at the poor state of the Aburi Botanical Gardens, which he attributed to lack of maintenance and, therefore, called for a public-private partnership to assist in the refurbishment of the gardens.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
GES INTERNAL AUDITORS APPEAL FOR LOGISTICS (PAGE 61, OCT 25, 2010)
Internal auditors of the Ghana Education Service (GES) have called on the government and the GES to provide official vehicles and logistics to all the regional offices of the unit to enable personnel to discharge their duties more diligently.
That, they said, would empower the auditors to frequently monitor educational institutions to ensure judicious utilisation of funds provided by the government to promote quality education.
“If an auditor depends on the client’s means of transport for easy movement and materials to work with, he could inevitably be influenced in his reportage, ” they stated.
The acting Eastern Regional Auditor of the GES, Mr Joseph A. Allotey, who made the call, said “with the lack of transportation in all the regional units, the only option left for the GES internal auditors to monitor educational institutions is to use public transport as their daily mode of transportation”.
“Independence, one of the ethical and professional standards for auditors to perform their duties diligently, cannot be achieved when we lack some of the basic logistics and facilities,” Mr Allotey stated.
He was speaking at the 7th annual Eastern Regional conference of the Association of GES internal auditors at Asuogyaman in the Eastern Region.
The event themed: “The Internal Auditor: An agent for safeguarding assets for a better Ghana”, brought together internal auditors of the GES and regional and district directors of education in the Eastern Region to take stock of the achievements, challenges and plan towards the future progress of the units.
The acting regional auditor said the work of the GES internal auditors entailed frequent monitoring of several educational institutions across the country.
However, he said, no region could boast duty post vehicles to facilitate the movement of the auditors, a situation that often compelled the personnel to resort to the use of public transport in the discharge of their duties.
In his view, the GES received a chunk of the national budget to promote better education delivery in the country.
This and other development resources were provided by the government to pursue programmes such as the provision of basic classroom blocks for children attending classes under trees, the Capitation Grant, the School Feeding programme, the Free School Uniforms and the supply of free exercise books.
He said it was the responsibility of the internal auditors of the GES to ensure that funds provided for such programmes were utilised for the intended purposes.
“By so doing, the internal auditor ensures that contracts are appropriately, effectively and efficiently awarded and executed and reviews auditable areas such as contract selection, purchasing, receipt of goods and services, checking and approving of payment vouchers, ” Mr Allotey stated.
He, therefore, appealed to the management of the GES to support and co-operate with the internal auditors to discharge their professional duties more diligently.
He also appealed to the management of the GES to refrain from perceiving internal auditors as “witch hunters since our task is to act as watch-dogs for the government just as external auditors act on behalf of shareholders and creditors of a company”.
“The success or failure of the internal audit unit in the GES as an agent for safeguarding assets for a better Ghana will depend on the support of the top GES management, independence of the internal auditor and strong ethical culture within the GES, ” Mr Allotey added.
For his part, the Eastern Regional Chairman of the association, Mr Adolph Attah-Gatorwu, advised the GES internal auditors to live above reproach to enable them to earn the confidence and respect “that the management of GES desires”.
He said when the unit was restructured into zonal systems, the regional and the zonal heads of the unit were promised means of transport but the promise had “become a dream of the past”.
“We can easily count how many of our members have offices of their own at their stations while some have to share furniture with other staff members, a situation that makes keeping our documents safe and out of reach of third parties difficult, ” Mr Attah-Gatorwu said.
He, therefore, appealed to the GES to help address such problems confronting the internal auditors to enhance their role as agents for “safeguarding assets”.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Asuogyaman District Chief Executive, Mr Johnson O. Ehiakper, appealed to the GES to empower internal auditors in the area of logistics to enhance their output.
“Internal auditors need to be empowered to produce reports on time for a proper evaluation of controls put in place by the management to expose weaknesses that can lead to assets and other financial losses that had the tendency to derail quality education delivery, ” he stated.
That, they said, would empower the auditors to frequently monitor educational institutions to ensure judicious utilisation of funds provided by the government to promote quality education.
“If an auditor depends on the client’s means of transport for easy movement and materials to work with, he could inevitably be influenced in his reportage, ” they stated.
The acting Eastern Regional Auditor of the GES, Mr Joseph A. Allotey, who made the call, said “with the lack of transportation in all the regional units, the only option left for the GES internal auditors to monitor educational institutions is to use public transport as their daily mode of transportation”.
“Independence, one of the ethical and professional standards for auditors to perform their duties diligently, cannot be achieved when we lack some of the basic logistics and facilities,” Mr Allotey stated.
He was speaking at the 7th annual Eastern Regional conference of the Association of GES internal auditors at Asuogyaman in the Eastern Region.
The event themed: “The Internal Auditor: An agent for safeguarding assets for a better Ghana”, brought together internal auditors of the GES and regional and district directors of education in the Eastern Region to take stock of the achievements, challenges and plan towards the future progress of the units.
The acting regional auditor said the work of the GES internal auditors entailed frequent monitoring of several educational institutions across the country.
However, he said, no region could boast duty post vehicles to facilitate the movement of the auditors, a situation that often compelled the personnel to resort to the use of public transport in the discharge of their duties.
In his view, the GES received a chunk of the national budget to promote better education delivery in the country.
This and other development resources were provided by the government to pursue programmes such as the provision of basic classroom blocks for children attending classes under trees, the Capitation Grant, the School Feeding programme, the Free School Uniforms and the supply of free exercise books.
He said it was the responsibility of the internal auditors of the GES to ensure that funds provided for such programmes were utilised for the intended purposes.
“By so doing, the internal auditor ensures that contracts are appropriately, effectively and efficiently awarded and executed and reviews auditable areas such as contract selection, purchasing, receipt of goods and services, checking and approving of payment vouchers, ” Mr Allotey stated.
He, therefore, appealed to the management of the GES to support and co-operate with the internal auditors to discharge their professional duties more diligently.
He also appealed to the management of the GES to refrain from perceiving internal auditors as “witch hunters since our task is to act as watch-dogs for the government just as external auditors act on behalf of shareholders and creditors of a company”.
“The success or failure of the internal audit unit in the GES as an agent for safeguarding assets for a better Ghana will depend on the support of the top GES management, independence of the internal auditor and strong ethical culture within the GES, ” Mr Allotey added.
For his part, the Eastern Regional Chairman of the association, Mr Adolph Attah-Gatorwu, advised the GES internal auditors to live above reproach to enable them to earn the confidence and respect “that the management of GES desires”.
He said when the unit was restructured into zonal systems, the regional and the zonal heads of the unit were promised means of transport but the promise had “become a dream of the past”.
“We can easily count how many of our members have offices of their own at their stations while some have to share furniture with other staff members, a situation that makes keeping our documents safe and out of reach of third parties difficult, ” Mr Attah-Gatorwu said.
He, therefore, appealed to the GES to help address such problems confronting the internal auditors to enhance their role as agents for “safeguarding assets”.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Asuogyaman District Chief Executive, Mr Johnson O. Ehiakper, appealed to the GES to empower internal auditors in the area of logistics to enhance their output.
“Internal auditors need to be empowered to produce reports on time for a proper evaluation of controls put in place by the management to expose weaknesses that can lead to assets and other financial losses that had the tendency to derail quality education delivery, ” he stated.
CATHOLIC BISHOP OF KOFORIDUA SUPPORTS SCHOOL PROJECTS (PAGE 63, OCT 25, 2010)
THE Catholic Bishop of Koforidua, Most Rev. Joseph Afrifa Agyekum, has donated 200 bags of cement to the St Mary Vocational Training Institute and the St Thomas Senior High Technical School at Asamankese in the Eastern Region.
He also provided the two beneficiary schools with two Samsung air conditioners meant for the offices of the headmasters of the schools.
The items were meant to assist management of the two schools to construct more structures to enable them to accommodate the new first year students they were to admit.
Presenting the items on behalf of the Koforidua Catholic Bishop, the Financial Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Koforidua, Very Rev. Fr Justin Mensah, said the materials reflected the commitment of Most Rev Agyekum to support the schools to address their infrastructure problems and also to enhance teaching and learning .
He assured management of the beneficiary schools that the Catholic Church was collaborating with other agencies, both local and international, to help put up modern classroom blocks for the two schools and appealed to the headmasters to use the materials for the intended purpose.
Receiving the materials on behalf of the two schools, the Headmaster of the St Thomas Senior High Technical School, Mr Stephen Ahenkrah-Owusu, thanked Most Rev Agyekum for his commitment to the progress of the schools.
“You have come to our aid at a time we are in desperate need for help to tackle our infrastructure challenges.
We are faced with infrastructure problems, which we can only solve with the support of the government and well-meaning individuals in society as well as our past students”, Mr Ahenkrah-Owusu stated.
Pix: Very Rev. Fr Mensah (third left) handing over the items to Mr Ahenkrah-Owusu, Headmaster of the St Thomas Senior High Technical School.
He also provided the two beneficiary schools with two Samsung air conditioners meant for the offices of the headmasters of the schools.
The items were meant to assist management of the two schools to construct more structures to enable them to accommodate the new first year students they were to admit.
Presenting the items on behalf of the Koforidua Catholic Bishop, the Financial Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Koforidua, Very Rev. Fr Justin Mensah, said the materials reflected the commitment of Most Rev Agyekum to support the schools to address their infrastructure problems and also to enhance teaching and learning .
He assured management of the beneficiary schools that the Catholic Church was collaborating with other agencies, both local and international, to help put up modern classroom blocks for the two schools and appealed to the headmasters to use the materials for the intended purpose.
Receiving the materials on behalf of the two schools, the Headmaster of the St Thomas Senior High Technical School, Mr Stephen Ahenkrah-Owusu, thanked Most Rev Agyekum for his commitment to the progress of the schools.
“You have come to our aid at a time we are in desperate need for help to tackle our infrastructure challenges.
We are faced with infrastructure problems, which we can only solve with the support of the government and well-meaning individuals in society as well as our past students”, Mr Ahenkrah-Owusu stated.
Pix: Very Rev. Fr Mensah (third left) handing over the items to Mr Ahenkrah-Owusu, Headmaster of the St Thomas Senior High Technical School.
Monday, October 18, 2010
ROTARY CLUB DONATES TO ADUKROM PRESBY JHS (PAGE 11, OCT 18, 2010)
THE Rotary Club of Accra Airpot has presented 200 Science and Mathematics books and other learning kits to the Adukrom Presbyterian Junior High School.
The materials formed part of the club’s commitment to support less-endwed schools to improve on teaching and learning.
Presenting the items, the President of the club, Mr Caodoc Mills Lamptey, said the members of the club decided to support the school to enable the students to read wide and prepare adequately for the Basic Education Certificate Examination.
He advised the students to make use of the books and materials so as to improve upon their knowledge.
He charged the management of the school to take good care of the books to ensure that they served the purpose for which they were donated.
Receiving the items, the Headmaster of the school, Mr Edmund Amoah, thanked the members of the Rotary Club of the Accra Airport for their support to the school which he described as timely to motivate the students to read and prepare well for the BECE.
The materials formed part of the club’s commitment to support less-endwed schools to improve on teaching and learning.
Presenting the items, the President of the club, Mr Caodoc Mills Lamptey, said the members of the club decided to support the school to enable the students to read wide and prepare adequately for the Basic Education Certificate Examination.
He advised the students to make use of the books and materials so as to improve upon their knowledge.
He charged the management of the school to take good care of the books to ensure that they served the purpose for which they were donated.
Receiving the items, the Headmaster of the school, Mr Edmund Amoah, thanked the members of the Rotary Club of the Accra Airport for their support to the school which he described as timely to motivate the students to read and prepare well for the BECE.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
HEALTH TRAINING INSTITUTIONS ASK FOR MORE RESOURCES (PAGE 51, OCT 13, 2010)
THE Conference of Heads of Training Institutions (COHHETI) has urged the Ministry of Health (MoH) to adequately resource and support health training institutions.
This is to enable them to meet accreditation requirements and consolidate their tertiary status.
It said the provision of well-equipped and stocked libraries, computers, textbooks and health-related journals, current editions of teaching and learning materials, buses for educational tours and vehicles for administrative duties and supervision of students in the clinical areas would enable them ensure quality training of health professionals.
Speaking at the opening of the 2010 annual general meeting and scientific session of the association in Koforidua, the Chairman of COHHETI, Mr James Yambor, said the lack of financial support and other logistics “is adversely affecting the tertiary status of health training institutions”.
The meeting, on the theme: “Consolidating the tertiary status of health training institutions: Challenges and prospects”, brought together heads and acting heads of the various health training institutions in the country.
Making reference to the government’s White Paper on reforms in the tertiary educational system in the country, Mr Yambor said teacher training colleges, agricultural training colleges, nursing and midwifery training colleges were all classified as tertiary institutions and placed under the Regional Colleges of Applied Arts, Science and Technology (RECAAST) to ensure cost-effectiveness by sharing teaching facilities, infrastructure and equipment.
However, he said, resource constraints facing the Ministry of Education (MoE) did not allow for the full implementation of the RECAAST system, in spite of the fact that the MoE had recommended that all RECAAST institutions be affiliated to the universities and steps be taken to upgrade the resources of the potential institutions to those of diploma-awarding institutions.
He, therefore, called on the MoH to help address those challenges to enable health training institutions to measure up to their tertiary status and deliver quality training to students.
For his part, Mr Richard K. Adjei of the NAB advised lecturers in the health training institutions to engage in research activities in relevant areas to enable them to acquire more knowledge and build their professional capability.
This is to enable them to meet accreditation requirements and consolidate their tertiary status.
It said the provision of well-equipped and stocked libraries, computers, textbooks and health-related journals, current editions of teaching and learning materials, buses for educational tours and vehicles for administrative duties and supervision of students in the clinical areas would enable them ensure quality training of health professionals.
Speaking at the opening of the 2010 annual general meeting and scientific session of the association in Koforidua, the Chairman of COHHETI, Mr James Yambor, said the lack of financial support and other logistics “is adversely affecting the tertiary status of health training institutions”.
The meeting, on the theme: “Consolidating the tertiary status of health training institutions: Challenges and prospects”, brought together heads and acting heads of the various health training institutions in the country.
Making reference to the government’s White Paper on reforms in the tertiary educational system in the country, Mr Yambor said teacher training colleges, agricultural training colleges, nursing and midwifery training colleges were all classified as tertiary institutions and placed under the Regional Colleges of Applied Arts, Science and Technology (RECAAST) to ensure cost-effectiveness by sharing teaching facilities, infrastructure and equipment.
However, he said, resource constraints facing the Ministry of Education (MoE) did not allow for the full implementation of the RECAAST system, in spite of the fact that the MoE had recommended that all RECAAST institutions be affiliated to the universities and steps be taken to upgrade the resources of the potential institutions to those of diploma-awarding institutions.
He, therefore, called on the MoH to help address those challenges to enable health training institutions to measure up to their tertiary status and deliver quality training to students.
For his part, Mr Richard K. Adjei of the NAB advised lecturers in the health training institutions to engage in research activities in relevant areas to enable them to acquire more knowledge and build their professional capability.
AMOAKO-ATTA SUPPORTS ATIWA VICTIMS (PAGE 13, OCT 13, 2010)
THE Member of Parliament-elect for the Atiwa Constituency, Mr Kwesi Amoako-Attah, has presented assorted items worth GH¢2,000 and an undisclosed sum of money to the 17 persons who sustained various injuries during the Atiwa by-elections.
The items, comprising cartons of tins of Milo, milk and toiletries as well as bags of rice and sugar, were given out to the people who got injured when the four-wheel drive of the National Women’s Organiser, Ms Anita Desoso, allegedly ran into them.
They included Isaac Duah Agyeman, 18, Seth Ampofo, 20, Ruben Addo, 22, Richard Obuoba, 20, Ernest Amoako, 26, Grace Ofosuwaa, 36, Ama Kyerewaa, 30, Ebenezer Adomako, 40, George Abu, 38, Bright Agyapong, 28, Kofi Bremang, 37, Yaw Asiedu, 35, Asomaning Danpreh, 76, Eric Osei, 49, Sameul Owusu Kwesi, 28.
The MP-elect made the presentation to the 17 persons at Abomosu in the Atiwa Constituency last Friday and was accompanied by the Eastern Regional Second Vice-Chairman of the NPP, Alhaji Omar Bodinga, and his Assistant Secretary, Mr Antwi Bosiako, as well as some of the Atiwa Constituency executive members of the party.
Presenting the items, Mr Amoako-Attah said the items were meant to show the commitment of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to the welfare and recuperation of the 17 persons.
Mr Amoako-Attah, who said the party had already settled over GH¢7, 500 medical bills incurred in the treatment of the 17 persons, assured them of his personal and that of the party’s support to foot any future expenses.
He, therefore, urged the people to continue to seek further medical treatment at the hospitals to enable them to recuperate fully.
He said since the pains they suffered were meant for a good cause to protect any electoral malpractice by “outsiders”, he and the party would not let “your brave acts and pains go in vain”.
The MP-elect called on the police to expedite action on inverstigation into the incident to ensure justice for the 17 persons. Mr Amoako-Attah pledged to commit himself to the rapid socio-economic progress of the Atiwa District in order to raise the standard of living of the people.
Receiving the items on behalf of the others Isaac Duah thanked the MP-elect, the flag bearer of the NPP, Nana Akufo Addo Addo Dankwa, for showing support and footing their medical expenses in the Koforidua and Enyiresi Government Hospitals, as well as the St. Joseph Hospital in Koforidua.
The items, comprising cartons of tins of Milo, milk and toiletries as well as bags of rice and sugar, were given out to the people who got injured when the four-wheel drive of the National Women’s Organiser, Ms Anita Desoso, allegedly ran into them.
They included Isaac Duah Agyeman, 18, Seth Ampofo, 20, Ruben Addo, 22, Richard Obuoba, 20, Ernest Amoako, 26, Grace Ofosuwaa, 36, Ama Kyerewaa, 30, Ebenezer Adomako, 40, George Abu, 38, Bright Agyapong, 28, Kofi Bremang, 37, Yaw Asiedu, 35, Asomaning Danpreh, 76, Eric Osei, 49, Sameul Owusu Kwesi, 28.
The MP-elect made the presentation to the 17 persons at Abomosu in the Atiwa Constituency last Friday and was accompanied by the Eastern Regional Second Vice-Chairman of the NPP, Alhaji Omar Bodinga, and his Assistant Secretary, Mr Antwi Bosiako, as well as some of the Atiwa Constituency executive members of the party.
Presenting the items, Mr Amoako-Attah said the items were meant to show the commitment of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to the welfare and recuperation of the 17 persons.
Mr Amoako-Attah, who said the party had already settled over GH¢7, 500 medical bills incurred in the treatment of the 17 persons, assured them of his personal and that of the party’s support to foot any future expenses.
He, therefore, urged the people to continue to seek further medical treatment at the hospitals to enable them to recuperate fully.
He said since the pains they suffered were meant for a good cause to protect any electoral malpractice by “outsiders”, he and the party would not let “your brave acts and pains go in vain”.
The MP-elect called on the police to expedite action on inverstigation into the incident to ensure justice for the 17 persons. Mr Amoako-Attah pledged to commit himself to the rapid socio-economic progress of the Atiwa District in order to raise the standard of living of the people.
Receiving the items on behalf of the others Isaac Duah thanked the MP-elect, the flag bearer of the NPP, Nana Akufo Addo Addo Dankwa, for showing support and footing their medical expenses in the Koforidua and Enyiresi Government Hospitals, as well as the St. Joseph Hospital in Koforidua.
Monday, October 4, 2010
CHIEFTAINCY TEARING NATION APART (SPREAD, OCT 4, 2010)
THE President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, has observed that chieftaincy disputes are tearing the country apart and appealed to traditional leaders in the country to work towards a better image for the institution.
President Mills said efforts at improving the quality of life of the people and making the country a better place to live in were being undermined by the numerous disputes, “often with disastrous consequences”.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, at a durbar of chiefs and people of Akuapem, on the occasion of Odwira, the President said, “unless chiefs resolve to take concrete measures to stem this trend of affairs, it will be very difficult for us to achieve our development targets”.
The colourful event, which was marked on the theme; “The maintenance of peace and unity within the chieftaincy institution for economic, social and moral development”, drew a large gathering of people from all walks of life.
They included the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Member of Parliament for Akropong, Mr William Ofori Boafo, and the Eastern Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Mr Anthony Gyampo.
The festivity coincided with the 36th anniversary of the enstoolment of the Okuapehene, Oseadeeyo Nana Addo Dankwa III.
“I am convinced that efforts at accelerating our development will be given a bigger boost if our traditional leaders will play their strategic roles as leaders in the development of our communities,” Prof. Mills stated.
The President said as the oldest governance institution in the country, chieftaincy must necessarily regain its rightful and enviable position in society.
That, he said, would only be possible if chiefs cultivated the will power to discard individual or personal interests and placed the interest of their communities and the nation over and above everything else, adding that, “it is my prayer that the various houses of chiefs will take up this challenge.
“For example, as custodians of culture and tradition, chiefs could exploit the values and traditions that we cherish to protect our environment against degradation and ensure sound environmental practices,” he said.
Prof. Mills added that cultural tourism was an emerging area of the tourism sector, which was very promising in the country and, therefore, urged chiefs to be at the forefront in promoting the sector.
He also urged traditional leaders to exercise the influence they wielded and lead in the crusade against the current moral decadence and instil discipline and sound moral values, particularly in the youth, as well as the promotion of education and the training of the youth.
In his welcoming address read on his behalf, Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa called for government support for the chieftaincy institution to enable chiefs and other traditional leaders to play the leadership role expected of them by society.
According to him, the protracted chieftaincy disputes arising out of postponement of judicial committee sittings were due to the absence of legal counsel who were intended to help the judicial committees in their deliberations.
He was of the opinion that to save the chieftaincy institution, its economic and political base should be strengthened, adding that, “some of the former sources of genuine income should be restored to the chiefs”.
President Mills said efforts at improving the quality of life of the people and making the country a better place to live in were being undermined by the numerous disputes, “often with disastrous consequences”.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, at a durbar of chiefs and people of Akuapem, on the occasion of Odwira, the President said, “unless chiefs resolve to take concrete measures to stem this trend of affairs, it will be very difficult for us to achieve our development targets”.
The colourful event, which was marked on the theme; “The maintenance of peace and unity within the chieftaincy institution for economic, social and moral development”, drew a large gathering of people from all walks of life.
They included the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Member of Parliament for Akropong, Mr William Ofori Boafo, and the Eastern Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Mr Anthony Gyampo.
The festivity coincided with the 36th anniversary of the enstoolment of the Okuapehene, Oseadeeyo Nana Addo Dankwa III.
“I am convinced that efforts at accelerating our development will be given a bigger boost if our traditional leaders will play their strategic roles as leaders in the development of our communities,” Prof. Mills stated.
The President said as the oldest governance institution in the country, chieftaincy must necessarily regain its rightful and enviable position in society.
That, he said, would only be possible if chiefs cultivated the will power to discard individual or personal interests and placed the interest of their communities and the nation over and above everything else, adding that, “it is my prayer that the various houses of chiefs will take up this challenge.
“For example, as custodians of culture and tradition, chiefs could exploit the values and traditions that we cherish to protect our environment against degradation and ensure sound environmental practices,” he said.
Prof. Mills added that cultural tourism was an emerging area of the tourism sector, which was very promising in the country and, therefore, urged chiefs to be at the forefront in promoting the sector.
He also urged traditional leaders to exercise the influence they wielded and lead in the crusade against the current moral decadence and instil discipline and sound moral values, particularly in the youth, as well as the promotion of education and the training of the youth.
In his welcoming address read on his behalf, Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa called for government support for the chieftaincy institution to enable chiefs and other traditional leaders to play the leadership role expected of them by society.
According to him, the protracted chieftaincy disputes arising out of postponement of judicial committee sittings were due to the absence of legal counsel who were intended to help the judicial committees in their deliberations.
He was of the opinion that to save the chieftaincy institution, its economic and political base should be strengthened, adding that, “some of the former sources of genuine income should be restored to the chiefs”.
AMPOFO SHOWS MATURITY ...At Odwira Festival (PAGE 13, OCT 4, 2010)
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, last Friday displayed political maturity and humility when he walked up to, and shook hands with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, at the Odwira Festival durbar at Akropong-Akuapem.
The gesture put to silence the growing agitation and murmuring among some of the large gathering of people from all walks of life at the event.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo, who was representing the President as the special guest at the function, announced his preparedness to walk about 70 metres to where Nana Akufo-Addo was seated at the right side of the Akuapemhene, Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III, to welcome him to the festival.
The decision of the President’s representative followed the refusal of the security personnel detailed at the festival to allow the NPP flag bearer to greet Mr Ofosu Ampofo and other government dignitaries at the high table.
That was because Nana Akufo-Addo attempt to extend greetings to the government dignitaries was a breach to the event protocol, which required that all invited guests to the function be seated before the arrival of the President or his representative.
Nana Akufo-Addo, in the company of other top members of the NPP, arrived late at the function at about 3.40 p.m. when Mr Ofosu Ampofo and the government delegation were in the process of paying courtesy call on the chiefs and people.
The NPP presidential candidate’s arrival triggered some shouting and clapping from a section of the gathering and just after Mr Ofosu Ampofo and his entourage had finished paying courtesy calls on the chiefs and people and had taken their seats, Nana Akufo-Addo also took turn to extend greetings to the chiefs and people.
Immediately after paying homage to the chiefs and people, he decided to walk up to the high table to greet Mr Ofosu Ampofo and other government dignitaries but just a few metres to the destination, the security personnel prevented him and his entourage from doing so.
That attracted some booing and agitation from a section of the gathering who appeared very dismayed at the scene that was created following the security agencies’ action.
Prior to delivering the President’s address, Mr Ofosu Ampofo expressed worry over the scene that was created when the NPP presidential candidate was disallowed from greeting him and other dignitaries and, therefore, announced his readiness to walk up to Nana Akufo-Addo to return his “disallowed greeting” and formally welcome him to the festival.
To the surprise of the chiefs and the people, just after reading the President’s speech, Mr Ofosu Ampofo, accompanied by the District Chief Executive for the Akuapem North, walked up to Nana Addo-Dankwa and welcomed him to the function, a scene that attracted massive applause from the chiefs and the people.
The gesture immediately brought to an end the agitation and murmuring from the gathering, some of whom were already engaged in trading of words on whether what happened was appropriate or not.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo had earlier told the gathering that since the theme of the occasion sought to foster unity and peace, they must not allow what took placed to trigger any rift among them.
He also told the chiefs and people that he was a brother to Nana Akufo-Addo, since the two of them were Akyems, saying “we are all one people and, therefore, must never let what happened divide us”.
Meanwhile, Mr Ofosu Ampofo has said that he did not instruct police personnel to prevent Nana Akufo-Addo from greeting him at Friday’s Odwira durbar at Akwapim in the Eastern Region.
According to him, he was not initially aware of the presence of the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the durbar grounds, since all dignitaries were seated before his arrival.
Throwing more light on the issue, Divisional Police Commander of the Akwapem South District, Chief Superintendent Ernest Owusu explained that the programme was originally billed to start at 1:30pm but as at 3:30pm when it started, Nana Akufo-Addo and his entourage had not arrived.
It was therefore agreed that the Regional Minister, stepping in for the president should proceed to greet the chiefs. It was also agreed that Nana Akufo-Addo would not be allowed to go round to greet the chiefs and the decision was communicated to him through the traditional secretary one Bekoe, the police commander said.
However, he stated, when Nana Akufo Addo arrived, he decided to greet the chiefs including the regional minister, but observing protocol, the police prevailed on him to abandon the greetings and take his seat.
Press Aide of the NPP flag-bearer, Herbert Krapa confirmed the incident.
This is the second time that the NPP’s flag bearer had been prevented from greeting dignitaries at a function as a result of protocol breach.
In the first week of September he was prevented from greeting President Atta Mills during the Fetu Afahye festival of the chiefs and people of Cape Coast in the Central Region under similar circumstances.
The gesture put to silence the growing agitation and murmuring among some of the large gathering of people from all walks of life at the event.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo, who was representing the President as the special guest at the function, announced his preparedness to walk about 70 metres to where Nana Akufo-Addo was seated at the right side of the Akuapemhene, Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III, to welcome him to the festival.
The decision of the President’s representative followed the refusal of the security personnel detailed at the festival to allow the NPP flag bearer to greet Mr Ofosu Ampofo and other government dignitaries at the high table.
That was because Nana Akufo-Addo attempt to extend greetings to the government dignitaries was a breach to the event protocol, which required that all invited guests to the function be seated before the arrival of the President or his representative.
Nana Akufo-Addo, in the company of other top members of the NPP, arrived late at the function at about 3.40 p.m. when Mr Ofosu Ampofo and the government delegation were in the process of paying courtesy call on the chiefs and people.
The NPP presidential candidate’s arrival triggered some shouting and clapping from a section of the gathering and just after Mr Ofosu Ampofo and his entourage had finished paying courtesy calls on the chiefs and people and had taken their seats, Nana Akufo-Addo also took turn to extend greetings to the chiefs and people.
Immediately after paying homage to the chiefs and people, he decided to walk up to the high table to greet Mr Ofosu Ampofo and other government dignitaries but just a few metres to the destination, the security personnel prevented him and his entourage from doing so.
That attracted some booing and agitation from a section of the gathering who appeared very dismayed at the scene that was created following the security agencies’ action.
Prior to delivering the President’s address, Mr Ofosu Ampofo expressed worry over the scene that was created when the NPP presidential candidate was disallowed from greeting him and other dignitaries and, therefore, announced his readiness to walk up to Nana Akufo-Addo to return his “disallowed greeting” and formally welcome him to the festival.
To the surprise of the chiefs and the people, just after reading the President’s speech, Mr Ofosu Ampofo, accompanied by the District Chief Executive for the Akuapem North, walked up to Nana Addo-Dankwa and welcomed him to the function, a scene that attracted massive applause from the chiefs and the people.
The gesture immediately brought to an end the agitation and murmuring from the gathering, some of whom were already engaged in trading of words on whether what happened was appropriate or not.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo had earlier told the gathering that since the theme of the occasion sought to foster unity and peace, they must not allow what took placed to trigger any rift among them.
He also told the chiefs and people that he was a brother to Nana Akufo-Addo, since the two of them were Akyems, saying “we are all one people and, therefore, must never let what happened divide us”.
Meanwhile, Mr Ofosu Ampofo has said that he did not instruct police personnel to prevent Nana Akufo-Addo from greeting him at Friday’s Odwira durbar at Akwapim in the Eastern Region.
According to him, he was not initially aware of the presence of the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the durbar grounds, since all dignitaries were seated before his arrival.
Throwing more light on the issue, Divisional Police Commander of the Akwapem South District, Chief Superintendent Ernest Owusu explained that the programme was originally billed to start at 1:30pm but as at 3:30pm when it started, Nana Akufo-Addo and his entourage had not arrived.
It was therefore agreed that the Regional Minister, stepping in for the president should proceed to greet the chiefs. It was also agreed that Nana Akufo-Addo would not be allowed to go round to greet the chiefs and the decision was communicated to him through the traditional secretary one Bekoe, the police commander said.
However, he stated, when Nana Akufo Addo arrived, he decided to greet the chiefs including the regional minister, but observing protocol, the police prevailed on him to abandon the greetings and take his seat.
Press Aide of the NPP flag-bearer, Herbert Krapa confirmed the incident.
This is the second time that the NPP’s flag bearer had been prevented from greeting dignitaries at a function as a result of protocol breach.
In the first week of September he was prevented from greeting President Atta Mills during the Fetu Afahye festival of the chiefs and people of Cape Coast in the Central Region under similar circumstances.
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