Category: General

Mr Abdul Samad Nurudeen, a campaign team member of Mr Mubarik Abdullah Ciessey, one of the three aspirants contesting the Sunyani West constituency primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has entreated the delegates to endorse Mr Ciessey on Saturday. Mr Ciessey and Lawyer Amma Frimpomaa have been going round canvassing for votes to unseat Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) and Minister of Employment and Labour Relations in the Party's forthcoming primaries. The NPP has set Saturday, January 27 to conduct the parliamentary primaries in the constituencies with sitting MPs of the Party to elect the Party's Election 2024 parliamentary candidates. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, Mr Nurudeen indicated the aspirant had the edge to change the dynamics in politics in the constituency, not only to better the lives of the delegates but also the constituents. 'Ciessey is a down-to-earth young person and his understanding of the needs of the young people in the constituency puts him on the edge of the other aspirants,' he stated.  'I think the sitting MP has made his contributions and he must rest somewhere for youthful, fresh and digital minds to transform the political space to facilitate holistic development of the constituency,' Mr Nurudeen stated. He regretted that the Sunyani West constituency was bedevilled with challenges, including deplorable conditions of access roads, widespread poverty, and high youth unemployment, which threatened the security of the area. 'It is unfortunate key party members are neglected despite their contributions that had enabled the NPP to retain the parliamentary seat for years and win the Elections 2016 and 2020'. Mr Nurudeen advised the delegates to consider the long-term benefit and vote by merit, not allowing other aspirants to lure or buy their conscience with money and gifts. 'Ciessey is a person who has connections and can provide opportunities for the young people to build their talents,' he stated and advised the delegates to vote for him for the purpose of development. Source: Ghana News Agency

Tema: The Tema Regional Office of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), is embarking on a sensitisation campaign to educate residents on bush burning and its effect on power supply. Mr Louis Nutsugah, the Ada District Manager for ECG, speaking to the Ghana News Agency, said his outfit deemed it important to educate residents on bush fires, as their activities were taking a toll on its facilities, especially electricity poles. He appealed to those who engaged in bush burning to consider the dangers it poses to the stability of electricity supply to the communities in the district and to desist from it. He also called on the public to stay alert and watchful in their localities to help caution and apprehend such persons, saying the effects of bush burning could affect every customer of ECG. He said his outfit was collaborating with the media, Assembly Members, and other stakeholders to help curb bush burning, especially during the harmattan season when controlling fire was very difficult. The Ada Distric t Manager acknowledged that bush fires in the area often resulted from unintentional fires set up to clear specific areas in preparation for farming activities but unfortunately end up spreading to other places. That causes damage to properties, animals, and, in the case of ECG, some wooden electricity poles in bushy areas. He stated that the ECG had already lost some electric wooden poles in Koluedor Zongo, Tojeh, Hwakpo, and Addo Kope from December 2023 to January 25, 2024. He said that while customers linked to the burned poles would not have power for a while, the company was also expected to repair the damage caused by the fire, leading to the diverting of resources meant for other developmental projects to ensure the restoration of power supply. Source: Ghana News Agency

Nana Yaw Peperah II, the Chief of Sefwi-Akurafo, near Boako in the Wiawso Municipality of the Western North Region has identified the lack of educational and health infrastructure as a major challenge in the community.  He has, therefore, appealed to the Government, through the Wiawso Municipal Assembly and other benevolent organisations to assist the community in acquiring such amenities to improve upon their living standards. Nana Peperah II made the appeal in an interview with the Ghana News Agency after traditional rites to introduce him to the community as the new chief were performed. He mentioned the abandoned six-unit classroom block and the community CHIP compound which are in a deplorable state. He said urgent steps must be taken to give a facelift to those facilities. He pledged the community's readiness to participate in communal labour to complete any government project that would be initiated in the community. Nana Peperah II said: 'The only CHIP compound here that serves Tiabante, Apromp e, Kojohunu, Mmofranfa Adwene and Fawoman has only one delivery bed, no furniture or beds and toilet facility. That is a big worry.' He called on the Wiawso Municipal Assembly to take steps to ensure the completion of the abandoned school block and renovate the CHIP Compound to help promote quality education and healthcare delivery in the area. The traditional leader further advised the youth to avoid indulging in violent activities as the country prepared to go to the polls on December 7. Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra: A 50-member delegation from the Pan-African Leadership Institute (PALI - Ghana) and Bakke Graduate University, Texas, United States of America, have visited the Parliament of Ghana as part of their Transformational Leadership Immersion Program in Ghana. A statement issued by the Department of Public Engagement, Parliament of Ghana, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, Accra on Friday has said. It said the purpose of the visit was to deepen the understanding of the officials and become conversant with parliamentary procedures and customs. The statement quoted Dr Kofi Osei-Kusi, the leader of the delegation as saying that, 'the visit was to promote Ghana's Constitution and Governance through its Lawmakers while appreciating the peaceful and hospitable nature of its people to the world,' it said. It added that Mr Ebenezer Ahuma Djietror, the Deputy Clerk of Parliament, and Mr Augustine Tawiah, the National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for Bia, briefed the delegation on the overview of Ghan a's Parliament and Ghana's parliamentary responsibilities while emphasizing the rules, Constitution, and Affirmative Action. 'More insights were also shared on the academic study of religion, and the various roles they play in nation-building,' the statement said. According to the statement, the delegation also had the opportunity to tour Ghana's chamber. Source: Ghana News Agency

The National House of Chiefs has reiterated the call for effective collaboration between all stakeholders in the fight against illegal mining in the country. Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, President of the House, who made the call, said effective stakeholder approach was the surest way to tackle the menace which was destroying the country's natural resources. He said strong and effective collaboration between traditional leaders, religious bodies, civil society groups, political parties and community members were critical in the fight against the menace. Ogyeahoho Gyebi was speaking at a meeting of the House with key stakeholders in the mining sector. They included the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Forestry Commission, Minerals Commission and the Water Resources Commission. The meeting was to deliberate and help find ways to tackle illegal mining activities in the country. Ogyeahoho Gyebi pointed out that, though chiefs were doing their best to curtail the problem, their powers were limited. He said effective collaboration with the government would strengthen their hands and make their efforts more effective. 'We can no longer deal with illegal mining with 'kid gloves', the fight against the menace is urgent and must be treated with the urgency it deserves', he stated. Additionally, the present generation had the responsibility to protect the environment for themselves and posterity. Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, Okyehene, lamented on the fact that, chiefs did not have the veto powers to stop illegal mining in their communities. This, he said, had made miners reckless and damaging the country's natural resources with impunity. He, therefore, called for a law to be enacted to enable chiefs effectively deprive these illegal miners from exploiting the environment. Mr.Kwabena Kokofu, Executive Director of EPA, said mineral extraction had tremendous economic impact on the country, thus creating employment to good number of the youth. He however, said when minerals were not extracted with proper regula tions, it could have severe negative impact on the country. Therefore, environmentally sustainable mining should be done to protect the forest and its inhabitants. Mr Kokofu said harmful substances inimical to human health were being used by these illegal miners and coupled with other activities, had increased the negative effect of climate change. Mr. Nelson Ahetor, Director of Small Scale and Industrial Mining at the Minerals Commission, said the mining industry was going to be closely regulated and that the Commission was putting in place legal and regulatory framework to guide the industry. This is to ensure that mining was done in an environmentally sustainable manner for the benefit of the people. Operations on water bodies and forest mining is strictly prohibited, adding that, geological orientation was also being carried out to ensure best mining practices, across the country. Source: Ghana News Agency