BEREKUM MAN WINS BEST FARMER

A 37yr old young farmer, Thomas Awuah from Berekum in the Brong Ahafo Region has won the 26^th Brong Ahafo Regional best farmer.

 The event was held at Nsawkaw the district capital of Tain in the Brong Ahafo Region.

Addressing the 26^th Regional Farmers day celebration the Brong Ahafo Regional Director for MOFA, Krobia Asante said this year’s event is dubbed “Grow More Food”.

He stated that the theme is meant to encourage farmers, public servants and the general populace to grow more food and rear animals to increase food production for improve livelihoods.

The Ministry’s mission according to the director is to pursue an on-going policy of improved agricultural service provision, encourage farmers and private sector participation and investment.

They are also helping in improving household food security and enhanced natural resources management for sustainable agricultural growth and development.

Mr. Krobia noted that one of their objectives is to ensure food “security and emergency preparedness” through increase production, improved food quality and creations of food buffer stocks for grains and legumes especially.

He continued that the objective is geared towards forestalling the outbreak of pests and diseases in the Brong             Ahafo Region and the country as a whole.

The MOFA director said in a bid to move away from over reliance on rain fed agriculture, the government through the help of MOFA is supporting farmers with highly subsidise irrigation equipment and accessories to encourage farmers to enter into dry season farming now that the season is approaching.

Mr. Krobia used the event to appeal to farmers to listen to advice of field officers by using the right agro-chemicals in their quantities to avoid high incidences of pesticide residues in their produce.

“As a matter of urgency I would like to appeal to policy makers to negotiate for adequate number of motor bikes for field extension workers to enable them cover most parts of their operational areas”, he added.

The Brong Ahafo Regional Fire Commander, DO1 Paul Opoku Peprah, also called on the farmers to be careful with fire when they go to the farm because dry season is approaching.

He disclosed that starting from this season there has been a ban on group hunting using fire; he said anyone caught in that act will be made to face the full rigours of the law.

DO1 Opoku Peprah said his outfit has trained over 7000 fire volunteers in the region to help in stopping bush fires and to help the farmers on how to avoid bush fires.

The Regional Best Farmer, Thomas Awuah, rear cows, sheep’s, grass cutter, snails, goats and grows cassava, plantain, moringa and many other food items. For his price he received corn miller, bicycle, one full piece of cloth, weedicides and many other things to help in improving his farm.

He thanked MOFA for the award and said his vision is to get the national best farmer award and he will work towards it.

He encouraged other farmers to work hard so as to be rewarded in whatever they are doing.

Newmont Gives To Twene Amanfo SHS

Newmont Gives To Twene Amanfo SHS

Newmont Gold Ghana Limited as part of its social responsibility to the communities in which it operates has donated one hundred bags of cement to Twene Amanfo Senior High Technical School in Sunyani.

According to the Headmistress of the school, Georgina Boakye, she tendered in a request to Newmont for assistance to enable the school complete a 2-storey classroom block started by the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) with support from the school’s internally generated resources.

She said the building when completed will help solve the acute classroom accommodation problem the school is facing currently.

She was therefore grateful for the quick intervention by Newmont by given them the cement. She promised them of using the cement for the purpose upon which they were presented.

“We are particularly touched by your prompt response to our request and sincerely hope that, this will be the beginning of sustained ties of collaboration between your outfit and this institution,” she added. It was her hope that the company will always come to their aid when the need arises.

Mrs. Boakye on behalf of the school authorities, the PTA and the students thanked Newmont and called on other philanthropists, NGO’s to come to their aid.

Pix: The Headmistress with the staff members standing by the cement

I HAVE SOFT SPOT FOR WOMEN

By Vivianna Mensah, Sunyani

The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Kwadwo Nyamekye- Marfo has debunked allegations that he travelled with women to the USA to have fun instead of staying in the region to help in development.

He disclosed that his trip to the USA was to look for investors for the region and also have a sister-city programme which is going to help the region in its development.

The minister was speaking on Sky FM, a Sunyani-based radio station on issues concerning the region.

According to him, he has a soft spot for women in terms of helping them reach higher in what they set out to do, and that is why he always moves with women to help encourage them to be like their male counterparts.

Touching on education, Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo mentioned that the region has started with the first phase to remove schools under trees and has kicked-start the construction of 67 schools in various parts of the region.

Speaking on the University of Natural Resources which is to be built in the region, the minister said lands have been provided in Nsoatre, Acherensua and Dormaa to kick start the school.

The construction works on the university, he noted, will start latest by September 2011 to help create employment for people who will be engaged in building the school.

Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo was upbeat over the work the security agencies are doing in the region and called on them to do more to ensure peace in the region.

According to him, the presence of Fulani herdsmen in the region, who indulge in all sort of crimes such as armed robbery, has been a major security concern to his administration. He stated his preparedness to clamp down on them to ensure a lasting peace and security in the region.

He continued that the regional security has met with the heads of the Fulani community in the region to talk about the deviant behavior of some of them and they promised to help stop the armed robbery and rape which is been perpetrated by them.

The regional minister stated that the security personnel are on the roads in the region patrolling day and night because of the robbery that has heightened in the country.

The minister blamed the regular road accidents on broken down vehicles which are left in the middle of the road.

He therefore called on drivers to always make it a point to toll their cars off the road when it breaks down so as to avoid some preventable accidents.

Establish HIV Support Fund

Establish HIV Support Fund

Religious bodies have been urged to establish HIV Support Fund to lend a hand to HIV patients to enable them have access to anti-retroviral drugs in order to prolong their lifespan.

Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies have also called upon to design activities to reduce the economic impacts of AIDS on infected and affected households in the country.

 The CEO of Global Media Foundation (GLOMEF), Raphael Godlove Ahenu stated this at a separate forum on stigmatization and discrimination against People Living with HIV and AIDS at Nwawasua in the Sunyani Municipality.

 The programme was organized by Global Media Foundation with financial support from Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA Ghana) and the Mission of Hope for Society Foundation.

In all more than 200 people from the Church of Pentecost and the Apostolic Church Ghana at Nwawasua benefited from the sensitization programme. 

The programme was aimed at educating and sensitizing the general public on negative socio-economic effects of stigmatization and discrimination against People Living With HIV/AIDS. It was also aimed at changing the perception of the public towards HIV and AIDS patients. 

Mr. Ahenu noted that spread of HIV is strongly influenced by surrounding social, cultural and economic environment.

 He continued that the socio-cultural and the political structure which provide the framework of governance have implications for the pattern of spread and nature of responses to the epidemic.

He pointed out that depending on the level of the epidemic, HIV and AIDS in turns affects the social-cultural and economic systems of a country.

The Gender and Youth Development Officer of GLOMEF, Lovelace Kpogo entreated the clergy to stop using the pulpit to preach political issues that will bring division into country, but rather use it to preach against stigmatization and discrimination against People Living With HIV and AIDS.

The Director of Operations at GLOMEF, Victor Fosu Boamah, also stressed the need to ensure the identification and adoption of socio-cultural practices which promote relevant HIV prevention, care and support as well as reinforce positive behavioral change.

He further reiterated that his outfit will enhance the capacity of stakeholders to address issues related to HIV and AIDS, human rights and the rule of law.

The Presiding Elder of the Nwawasua Apostolic Church Ghana, Steven Yembila who is also the Unit Committee Chairman of the area, thanked GLOMEF for its effort to educate them on the deadly disease.

 He urged the public to show love, sympathy and support to people living with the disease.

HIV Patient Could Go To Heaven

HIV Patient Could Go To Heaven

The Pastor In-Charge of Deeper Life Christian Church Nwawasua in the Sunyani Municipality, Pastor Abraham Kombo has asserted that People Living With HIV and AIDS could go to heaven if they live a righteous life. He therefore urged Christians not to reject AIDS patients in their community.

Pastor Kombo stated this at a forum on Stigmatization and Discrimination Against People Living with AIDS at Nwawasua, near Sunyani. It was organized by the Global Media Foundation with funding from Adventist Development and Relief Agency Ghana and Mission of Hope for Society Foundation. 

He stated that because some Christians perceive those living with the disease as sinners, they tend to shun them.  He therefore appealed to the general public to stop stigmatization and discrimination and rather show love and support to AIDS patients. 

The Leader of the Nwawasua Youth Association, Stephen Adjei, also used the opportunity to advise the youth not to engage in social vices that will expose them to the disease. 

He urged them not to rush into marriage but rather go for voluntary testing to determine their HIV status before getting married.

The Director of Operations of Global Media Foundation, Victor Fosu- Boamah, called on government to make anti-retroviral drugs free of charge to HIV patients. 

He noted that the current GH¢5 by HIV patients deny many of them access to the drugs.  

Mr. Fosu Boamah said political commitment is key to the success of the fight against HIV and AIDS.

In attendance at the forum were members of the Deeper Life Christian Church, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Pupils of Nwawasua M/A Primary and Junior High School as well as the Muslim Community.

Community Health Nurses Angry

Community Health Nurses Angry

 Vivianna Mensah, Tanoso

Students of the Tanoso Community Health Nurses Training School in the Tano North District of the Brong Ahafo Region are angry at the school authorities over what they termed as harsh living conditions in the school.

The students, who embarked on a peaceful demonstration recently in the school, have called on the school authorities to look into their long-awaited grievances or will not go for lectures.

According to the irate students, they fall sick frequently because of the congestion at their hostels and low quality of food being served them.

Wearing red and black attires to register their anger with placards some of which red “What is this, where is the sugar milk, Milo, Nido, Mr. Principal Aden,” “Mr. Principal you need to solve our grievances,” and “Sports and entertainments dues, what are you using them for,” the students called on the school authorities to account for the many user fees and levies they have paid over the period of their stay in the school. This include sports, entertainment and computer fees, which they claimed do not undertake in any of them in the school.

The student nurses also alleged that their monthly allowances have not been paid for over a year now whiles their counterparts in other schools continue to enjoy their monthly allowances.

The students also complained of large class sizes with no public address system which affect them because they find it difficult to hear their lecturers during lectures.

The first year students have also warned against any plan to sack 25 of them due to the limited facilities. They alleged that they paid GH¢1,200 before securing admission into the school and can therefore not be sacked on the grounds of limited facilities.

The Principal of the School, William Abotzabire, expressed worried over the issues raised by the students. He said he was new in the school since he resumed office on the 3rd of November and was yet to acquaint himself with the various allegations the students raised.

According to him, he met the SRC President on the 17th November who stated the problems in the school as low lighting system and poor quality of food, where steps have since been taken to address them.

Speaking about the laying off some of some fresh students, the principal said when he assumed office he was given 174 names as the new students in the school, but three weeks afterwards, two more students found their way into the school putting the number at 176. He indicated that matter is under investigation.

The principal could however not confirm the alleged high amount the students quoted as admission fees because he said it was done before he took up the post. According to him, what is on record is GH¢633.

The Board Chairman of the school, Rev. Father Felix Twumasi told Daily Guide that he was going to meet with the board of directors of the school to look into the grievances of the students and solve them amicably.

70,000 Ghana Cedis Items For Farmers Day

70,000 Ghana Cedis Items For Farmers

Vivianna Mensah, Goaso.

The MP for Asunafo North, Robert Sarfo Mensah has presented items worth 70,000 Ghana Cedis to the Goaso branch of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) to be presented to the farmers who will excel in the upcoming farmers day celebration.

According to the MP about 80% of people in his constituency are farmers so when it is an occasion like this he deems it necessary to show them his love for what they are doing.

He said beginning of every year and the farming season he gives the farmers cocoa seed to plant at where the seeds the planted the previous which died.

The items were two boxes of Wallington booth, six knapsack machines for spraying, three boxes of machete, and a twenty one colour television which is to be given specially to the farmer who will win the overall award.

He added that if the farmer who will win the overall award live where there is no light he will add generator to the television to enable him watch the television.

Mr. Sarfo-Mensah said he will also be with them on the occasion day to celebrate with them and to encourage them to do more for mother Ghana.

A Member of the Planning Committee from the Municipal Assembly, Ato Mends thanked the MP for remembering the farmers in an occasion like this and promised him that they will deliver the items to the award winners.

Earlier on the MP had donated 30 bags of cement to the chief and people of Bediako a village near Mim  at a harvest to raise funds for a rebuilding of their palace which has not seen any facelift for the past 100 years.

The Chief of the Bediako, Nana Bediako Ababio, said the harvest is done every year to raise funds for the development of the village and this has really helped them in terms of building streets light and other things.

He stated that the proceeds of the harvest that they will get will be used to build the palace and the rest will be used to build a market for the people in the village since they don’t have a market.

Nana Ababio called on governments, NGO’s and philanthropist to come to their aid and help them in developing their village.

He also urged all the people in the area to have a good heart in doing communal jobs to help in the development of the community in which they live.

B/A GJA Chairman Calls Ablakwa To Order

B/A GJA Chairman Calls Ablakwa To Order

From Vivianna Mensah, Sunyani

Comments made by a Deputy Minister for Information, Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa last weekend describing the Ghanaian media as terrorist has incurred the wrath of the Chairman of the Brong Ahafo Regional Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Ian Motey, who is demanding that the minister comes out to explain what he meant by “media terrorism.”

According to the GJA chairman, when it comes to media terrorism it is they the politicians that set the agenda instead of the media doing so.

Mr. Motey told Daily Guide in an interview that there are many professional journalists in the media who do not dabble in the affairs of the politicians, and so their conscience cannot tolerate the insults from politicians anymore.

 “I respect people like Okudjeto and all honourables. As much as I do that there is also respectable people in the media whose intelligence should not be toiled with,” the GJA chairman said whiles challenging Mr. Okudjeto to explain his media terrorism.

The GJA chairman further stated that in as much as the media want to help the government to deliver on its Better Ghana Agenda, people like the deputy minister should not insult the professionals in the media.

“He might have insulted the former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, but he should watch his utterances because it might bring him down,” he added.

“His Excellency Atta Mills is a humble man and a father for all so people like Okudjeto should be brought to order to avoid the riots of people,” he opined.

Mr. Motey called on the deputy minister to respect members of the media like any other professional body.

“But for the fact that he is being giving the platform by the media to speak, which he does well, should not give him the platform to underrate and disturb the intellectual capacity of some of the professionals like myself who have been practicing this profession for two decades now. I challenge him to explain the word if he knows the meaning of the words he used,” he angrily said.

“How safe are we when we land outside the shores of Ghana and identify ourselves as journalists, can’t we be blacklisted and treated as terror suspects?” If we live in our own country and a minister of information identifies journalists as terrorists and the government shouts up without calling him to order then he is creating fear and panic,” he concluded.

Man Striped Naked For Stealing Phone

Man Striped Naked For Stealing Phone

A man believe to be in his late twenties has been striped naked to walk in the streets of the Sunyani by some residents in the Sunyani Zongo for stealing a phone belonging to John Sam-Arthur, a journalist with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) branch in Sunyani.

According to Mr. Sam Arthur, he went to the drinking spot to relax after a hard day’s work, but dropped his phone when he got up to go home. He said upon reaching home, he released that his phone was not with him.

When he went back to the bar and narrated the incident to the bar operators, they told him that the panty seller was the one who took over his seat after he had left, and suspected him of having stolen the phone.

 He said they traced the suspect and later found him drinking at another spot, who initially denied having stolen the phone.

Mr. Sam-Arthur stated that upon further search on him they found the phone in his bag. It was there that the people around decided to teach him a bitter lesson by stripping him naked and made him to walk naked on the streets of Sunyani Zongo.

Why dis divorces

Divorce here divorce there....even Pastors, elders and deacon are joining the train wats all this. Am i going to get the vim to..................So help me God