Day: July 9, 2023

The ‘No to drugs’ national police campaign, successfully took place at Otjiwarongo in the Otjozondjupa Region on Saturday.

The campaign aimed at creating public awareness on the dangers and consequences of drug use was jointly organised by the Otjozondjupa and Khomas regional Namibian Police Force (NamPol) officers as a community outreach programme on drug law enforcement.

The event which started with a street procession was held at the DRC informal settlement sports field under the theme 'Cleaning Otjiwarongo from illegal substances'.

In a speech read on his behalf, NamPol Inspector-General, Lieutanant-General Joseph Shikongo said the youth of the country should join the efforts of the police in the fight against drug trafficking, distribution and selling in order to make the country peaceful and safe.

Shikongo said as of January to June this year, about 77 suspects were arrested in connection with drug-related crimes in the Otjozondjupa Region on charges of possession and/or use of cannabis, mandrax, cocaine powder and crack cocaine.

He stated that out of the 77 suspects who were arrested, 71 are men and six were women.

“Countrywide in June alone this year, a total of 153 suspects were arrested for dealing in the same drugs which carried an estimated value of more than N.dollars 617 000,” he said.

Of the 153 suspects, 148 were Namibians, three Zambians, and one each from Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Several residents of Otjiwarongo called for more similar public awareness activities on drug use, saying the substances are destroying households, marriages and the future of their school-going children, sisters and brothers.

Otjozondjupa Governor, James Uerikua and Otjiwarongo Constituency councillor, Marlayn Mbakera also attended the event.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Hompa Sofia Mundjembwe Kanyetu was officially designated as the traditional leader of the Shambyu traditional authority in the Kavango East Region on Saturday.

Due to a drawn-out court squabble, recently settled by the Supreme Court in her favour, the Shambyu community has been without a state-recognized leader since the death of Hompa Angelina Matumbo Ribebe on 14 June 2015.

Minister of Information and Communication Technology Peya Mushelenga addressed the Shambyu people during the coronation ceremony as he also dealt with this issue during his tenure as Minister of Urban and Rural Development.

During his speech, Mushelenga made reference to the measures he took when he recognised Hompa Kanyetu stating that the journey was not easy and that he is happy the Shambyu people finally have a Hompa now.

High Court ruling regarding the appointment of a new head of the Shambyu community was overturned on appeal last month.

The Supreme Court ruled that Sofia Mundjembwe Kanyetu was appointed by the chiefs’ council in terms of the law and that the High Court wrongly found that the council had acted unlawfully by refusing an application from another candidate, Maria Ukamba Haindaka.

After the death of Hompa Matumbo Ribebe, a dispute arose between Haindaka and Kanyetu, who are both members of the royal family and can be designated as successors.

On his part, the Minister of Urban and Rural Development Erastus Uutoni said leadership succession disputes have been costly to the Namibian tax papers as the government has been incurring expenditures in commissioning investigations into resolving these disputes.

“These disputes are often avoidable if parties exercise tolerance and respect on laid down customary laws and traditional norms,” he said, stressing that disputes among members of the same royal group not only prolong the filling of the leadership gap but also create unnecessary disunity.

Uutoni said as Kanyetu performs her duties, the law requires her to do so in a manner that upholds national values, laws and policies, while closely working in solidarity with government at all levels.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

About 35 polling station executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Tano North Constituency of the Ahafo Region are upset about the removal of their names from the Party's album (certified delegates) without apparent reasons. As the Party's presidential primaries to elect a flagbearer for the Election 2024 approaches, the aggrieved executives have appealed to the Party's national leadership to intervene for the right thing to be done, before 'the Party is torn apart in the constituency'. Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Duayaw-Nkwanta, Joshua Anumba, the Youth Organiser, Boaso CMB Shed Polling Station, and the spokesperson for the aggrieved executives said the anomaly was discovered during the Party's album verification exercise, saying since that time 'Constituency executives have been divided'. Mr Anumba said if the situation was not resolved immediately, it would affect the fortunes of the Party in the constituency in the next general election. He regretted the NPP in the Constituency had been characterized by petty squabbles, infighting and internal wrangling since the Constituency executives were elected, and prayed the leadership would quickly intervene and resolve whatever 'internal impasse.' Mr. Anumba said, 'tension within the Party in the constituency is mounting and if the right thing is not done, then we should head for doom in the Election 2024.' A list of names of the Polling Station executives missing in the Party's album and signed by the affected people and made available to GNA comprised Christiana Amponsah, Women Organiser, Buokukuruwa CMB Shed, Jonah Anumbia, Secretary, Akokoammon CMB Shed and Bernard Opoku Fofie, Secretary,Duayaw-Nkwanta Circuit Court. Others are Gladys Asantewaa, Women Organiser, Duayaw-Nkwanta Circuit Court, Benjamin Acheampong, Youth Organiser, Apataasu Temp Booth, Mercy Serwaa and Afia Amea, Organiser and Youth Organiser respectively, Koforidua L/A Primary School. The rest were Yaw Boakye, Secretary, Binkyim CMB Shed, Agyenim Boateng, Secretary, Adrobaa New Apostolic, and Thomas Antwi, Organiser, Adrobaa New Apostolic. When contacted, Mr Janamah Biiyien, the Constituency Vice Chairman confirmed the removal and replacement of some of the polling station executives' names in the album but added 'I think you have to contact the Constituency Chairman.' 'In fact, some of the names of the Polling Station executives have been replaced and the right person you can talk to is the constituency chairman because I wasn't engaged in that process,' he added. Efforts to contact Mr Karikari Agyemang, the Constituency Chairman were however, unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Dr. Freda Prempeh, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tano North had officially written to the national leadership of the Party to act urgently to resolve the matter. A copy of the letter signed by the MP and made available to the GNA said 'I write to inform you of the removal of the names of 35 persons from the list of the certified delegates in the Tano North constituency of the Ahafo Region'. 'This anomaly was detected during the album verification exercise. Again, five polling station executives being appointed to the constituency, have also been replaced which is against party directives,' it added. Copies of the letter sent to the NPP National Chairman, and the Ahafo Regional Executive appealed to the leadership to investigate 'the complaint and have the names of the affected persons inserted in the album' to restore peace for the good of the party.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A phase-out programme has been organised by Plan International Ghana to give back to the communities whilst the organisation looks to move out to other parts of the country. The rolling out programme took place in Gwollu in the Sissala West District where the organisation intervened in education, health, agriculture, nutrition, livelihood, sponsorship, and other developmental projects that changed the lives of the residents since 2002. Mr Assum Kwarteng, the Programmes Manager, Plan International Ghana, said despite the enormous contribution, one project they look back to with pride was the Radford project. 'Radford Radio, is a project that has been handed over to the community and is still vibrant and working. I am happy to know it is still working transmitting agriculture, health, and nutrition information to the population', he explained. Mr Kwarteng mentioned that 'Whilst Plan Ghana is going out, we decided to give some parting legacies in recognition of the roles played by the people and the communities'. The donation included 1,420 dual desks to be distributed to 18 schools in both Sissala East and Sissala West Districts. Cash donations and certificates with citations were also given to volunteers who were committed to the cause of the organisation, mobilizing children for sponsorship. Mr Kwarteng said 34 boreholes had been dug and commissioned for 34 communities, two tricycle ambulances for Sentie and Kupulima, and a grinding mill, whilst other communities opted for a health shed, which the NGO provided after consultation with the communities. He assured the people of other grant opportunities for the area whenever there was the opportunity, to provide infrastructure as was done in the past. 'These things are the package that we would leave with you whilst we step back in community development', he added. He said this was part of how the organisation worked to partner government in bringing development to hard-to-reach areas. Mr Kwarteng expressed confidence that after 22 years of intervention, the capacity of the various communities and the people had been improved considerably and they were grateful for their sense of partnership. Mr Eric Nyaaba, a Senior Officer at the Tamale office of Plan Ghana commended the volunteers for their contribution to not only Plan Ghana's work but to their community's rights since 2002. 'Seeing you face to face handling sponsorship families and partnerships, you accepted the pressure of your community and the perception you faced, the organisation is appreciative of your effort', Mr Nyaaba said. Mr Fuseini Batong Yakubu, the Sissala East Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), appealed to Plan Ghana to try to come back as development challenges still stare at the people in the area. On her part, Madam Ayisha Batong Hor, the Sissala West DCE, extended appreciation to Plan Ghana and commended the volunteers saying, 'There is benefit in service.' She charged the pupils and the community to take care of the furniture, and appealed to Plan Ghana to ensure they advocate for farm access roads for the Sissala area. A volunteer remarked that: 'Plan Ghana support has been worthwhile, painful as they are leaving the area, other parts of the country would need their support to be like us.' Plan Ghana for the 22 years of service brought marked improvement in the lives of the people through the provision of dams, scholarships for school children, infrastructure, and the general well-being of the people. The estimated cost of the parting gift was about GH?3,639,000.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Plan B FM, a commercial radio station in Tema Community Two, has launched the 2nd edition of the Inter-Community Soccer Gala 2023. According to Dr. Martian Asare-Aniagyei, Chairman of FreeMinds Communication Company Limited, the Gala was designed to bring together all communities in and around the Greater Accra Region. The 32 teams are to compete in the football tournament that would kick off on July 21st. He stated that the maiden edition of Plan B FM Soccer Gala was played over a two-weekend period from Friday, August 5, 2022, to Sunday, August 14, 2022, with Bankuman FC closely followed by Tema Com. 11 FC as second and P.V. Obeng FC as third. 'This second edition promises to introduce more features to give you more playing pleasure', he noted. Dr. Asare-Aniagyei said the second edition of the Plan B FM Soccer Gala would test the players real soccer competencies, including stamina and staying power. He said the players would be playing a full 90 minutes with a 10-minute break as the men would be separated from the boys. He added there would be a lot of prizes for the second edition and urged all the 32 teams to play their hearts. Dr. Asare-Aniagyei said the competition would also come with long-term benefits as talents would be exposed to the football fraternity. 'This Soccer Gala also serves as a networking platform for all of us, both at professional and personal levels', he added. He said participating in the competition, would improve their wellbeing mentally, emotionally, and psychologically. Mr. Emmanuel Aidoo, a coach and scout for Kaiser Sports Foundation, also reiterated that some challenges faced by Ghanaian football were the lack of stronger player development and system youth infrastructure, even though Ghana had produced some essential talents over the years. There was a need to sustain the investment of grassroot footballers and improve coaching methodology. He said the neglect of grassroot football had produced talents, specifically from Tema. Also, inter-school sporting activities had significantly contributed to the second level of our sports development in the country. The decline of Ghana Football could be attributed to many factors of investment in sports, among which were poor management and a lack of investment in the clubs when necessary, a lack of proper training and facilities equipment in the coaching stage, and a lack of opportunities for young and experienced footballers to exhibit their talents, among others. 'I believe this tournament will give the players the opportunity to exhibit their football skills to the world', he said, urging all players to take this tournament as a means of preparation to showcase what they are made of as footballers and to work hard for more opportunities that await them. Mr. Gabriel Godwin Kwao, Vice President for the Greater Accra Regional Football Association, also emphasised that the tournament served as a platform for young players who would get a scout and also coach them as players; therefore, he encouraged them to bring out their best. He said football has become more tactical and scientific than previously because it now involves much more skill and speed. 'Ghana Football is managed by the Ghana Football Association and is not based on political interest; hence, people should disregard such issues', he said. He said the government should partner with the Ghana Football Association to aid in the improvement of infrastructure for the grassroot players. Mr. Leonard Morgan, coach and technical director for the tournament, stated the rules governing the games, such as substitution, of which each team is entitled to five substitutions during a match, and duration to be played for 90 minutes, that is, 45 minutes for each half, among others. That not withstanding, he then balloted among the teams to play in a four-weekend tournament.

Source: Ghana News Agency