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Bongo District Assembly awards scholarship to 64 students

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64 students out of over 200 applicants in the Bongo District of Upper East Region have been given government scholarship to pursue various courses in tertiary institutions.

The Bongo district received a total amount of Ghc64,000 from the scholarship secretariat to support these poor but needy students to further their education at the tertiary level.

The students were awarded scholarship package ranging from Ghc800 to Ghc2,850.00 to lessen their financial burden.

Bongo District Chief Executive, Peter Ayinbisa Ayamga who presented letters of the scholarship awards to them said government of Ghana has credited into the accounts of schools of the beneficiary students.

Mr. Ayinbisa lauded government for decentralizing the scholarship awards which a good number of students from the Bongo district are benefiting.

“In the past, it would have been difficult for 64 students from Bongo District to gain scholarship, not even 1. But because of the decentralization policy, we have 64 students gaining scholarships”.

He appealed for further decentralization of recruitment process to enable deprived individuals benefit.

“So in some other sectors, we should begin looking at balancing of the equation to the extent that if it had to do with the recruitment of police, military, teachers we should give every district a quota. If we do that, people from less endowed districts will get the opportunity. Otherwise, well to do people, people who have connections are the only ones that will benefit. I urged government to continue doing decentralization so that everybody coming from any nuke and cranny of this country can get some support from this government”.

Speaking on the criteria for selecting the students, the DCE said the process was made open through public averts for qualified students to apply devoid of political or family relations.

Mr. Ayinbisa said the beneficiary students stand to be awarded again in the next academic year based on their conduct and performance.

He entreated them to take up their studies serious and “not to emulate blindly the lifestyle of friends who are coming from well-endowed places” instead, “concentrate on their books to become better persons in the future”.

Mr. Peter Ayinbisa Ayamga (right) presenting a letter of the scholarship award to Ms Mercy Awinpanga

Akanbole Comfort, a second year student of the Zuarungu Nursing Training College who first saw the advertisement on social media and applied while thanking government for the support said authorities of the school were “sacking us that if we don’t pay our fees we will not write the coming exams. So we were frustrated”.

Another student of the Zuarungu NTC Stephen Nkoo said “I have been going through stress on how to pay my school fees and I think this scholarship will help me”.

Mercy Awinpanga while thanking government indicated that her father’s “business is no longer going on well but the government scholarship has come to support me in my education”.

Source:A1Radioonline.com|Joshua Asaah

ActionAid Ghana supports Upper East flood victims with relief items worth Ghc2 million

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ActionAid Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organization with support from its donors has procured food and non-food items to be distributed to the survivors of the Upper East Region flood.

The items include 2,000 sacks of rice, 2,000 boxes of oil, 2,000 bottles of shito, 4,000 pieces of mattresses, 4,000 pieces of pillows, 4, 000 slippers and 4,000 blankets.

The rest of the items are 10,000 sanitary pads, 4,000 plastic buckets and 8,000 sachets of water.

A cash transfers of Ghc150.00 will be given to 1,000 extremely vulnerable persons in the 10 targeted districts were the flood wreaked havoc to properties and causing loss of lives.

Country Director of ActionAid Ghana, Sumaila Abdul-Rahman said the items and cash support translates into a total of 2 million cedis. This humanitarian response he said is “deeply rooted in the organization that seeks to solidarize with poor people”.

Mr. Abdul-Rahman said the support to the victims is one of the organization’s biggest relief operations and called on other organizations to step in and render support to flood victims in dire need within the region and beyond.

In order to avert future occurrence of such disaster, the ActionAid Country Director called for a national conversation on climate change which will include concrete measures taken to curb it.

“Climate change is not a phenomenon for the future, it’s a daily reality and as we experienced last month, its effects are deadly”, he said.

Country Director of ActionAid Ghana, Mr. Sumaila Abdul-Rahman

Upper East Regional Minister, Tangoba Abayage while commending ActionAid Ghana for the timely support to the flood victims, appealed to other benevolent organizations and philanthropists to support the very vulnerable to put up permanent structures that can withstand floods.

“In the villages, most of the houses are mud houses. The soil here is more of sand and, so, when the rains come in consistently the houses will just scrambled. ActionAid Ghana is the first NGO to come in and support us. I will call on other organizations to come to the aid of the victims”, she appealed.

The Minister added that the magnitude of the flood as a result of a 5-day consistent rainfall has caused damaged to the entire spillway of the Tono Irrigation Dam which needs an initial estimate of 10 million dollars for to it be fixed.

Upper East Regional Director of National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Jerry Asamani who commended ActionAid Ghana for the support indicated that the gesture will be fairly distributed to the worst affected persons.

“NADMO has always been deficient in terms of items to the people and now that ActionAid Ghana has come with this numbers, we must be grateful”.

ActionAid Ghana which began its operations in the Upper East Region about 3 decades ago has supported the vulnerable in society, and empowered citizens to demand equal rights and opportunities towards the attainment of some Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Source:A1Radioonline.com|Joshua Asaah

UCC students donates relief items to Upper East Region flood victims

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Emmanuel Awine Agangezesum (left), presenting some relief items to a victim

Students of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) having been affected by the plight of flood victims in the Upper East Region have mobilized and donated some relief items to some affected persons in two communities in the Kassena-Nankana West and Builsa North District respectively.

The beneficiary communities include Nyangolingo located in Sirigu community of the Kassena-Nankana West and Namulsa in the Builsa North District.

These communities add to many communities in the region which were hardly hit this year by torrential rains which caused havoc leading to loss of lives and properties.

The items donated at separate communities includes used clothing, food stuff, soap, tissues, and exercise books which were generated from weeks of mobilization. The gesture which is in a response from government to benevolent persons to support the victims will go a long way to lessen the burden of the victims.

Emmanuel Awine Agangezesum who led the students to donate the relief items thanked colleagues and individuals including the Cape Coast Regional Police Commander, Paul Awine who donated to their course.

The UCC students appealed to organizations and individuals to come to the aid of the flood victims by donating through a movement known as ‘Students Volunteers Connect (SVC) either at the University of Cape Coast or a wing at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

Mr. Agangezesum on behalf of his colleagues said they will continue to solicit support from benevolent persons and institution to support the flood victims

“I want to appeal to everybody, philanthropists, churches and our brothers from North here and the entire Ghanaian society to come to aid of the victims”.

Some of the items.

Immediate past Assembly Member for the Nyangolingo electoral area, Atanga Robert Anabire on behalf of the flood victims in the community thanked the students for the gesture.

“I am so grateful with my people, that students who are at campus learning [and] needed materials have decided to sacrifice to come to our aid due to the downpour which collapsed many houses, killed people and animals”, he said.

The Assembly member who said 8 people lost their lives in the entire Sirigu community while others displaced added that “even though the rains have stopped, people are sleeping in schools and with relatives who have few rooms, this can lead to sickness and extreme hunger”.

Source: A1Radioonline.com|Joshua Asaah

Committee exonerates Bolgatanga Central NDC Chairman on allegation of votes buying

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Mr. George Ayanore, Bolgatanga Central Constituency Chairman of NDC

A committee, set up to investigate Chairman of Bolgatanga Central Constituency of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), George Ayanore over allegation of votes buying during the party’s parliamentary election has exonerated the chairman.

Mr. Ayanore who was accused of luring voters to vote for a candidate of his choice while voting was ongoing at the Catholic Social Center in Bolgatanga, in the Upper East Region was nearly attacked by some irate youth of the party.

This led to the accused chairman, Mr. Ayanore to petitioned the Council of Elders of the party in the constituency to investigate the matter.

The Council of Elders of the party in the constituency through a committee led by its chairman, Dominic Asabea in a 2-page report cited by A1 News found the constituency chairman of no wrong doing.

The report indicated that “the chairman did not openly or secretly campaign for any candidate at the venue, that the chairman did not openly or secretly gave out money to any delegate to influence the voting pattern at the venue”.

The Council of Elders in its report while congratulating Mr. Ayanore for a “show of maturity at the scene of the incident on the voting day” admonished him to remain resolute and “not be discouraged by the incident”.

In an exclusive interview with A1 News the Bolgatanga constituency chairman of the opposition NDC, Mr. Ayanore expressed gratitude with the findings of the committee.

“In fact, I will say that, I am over joyed not because I did something but the fact that people who might have thought that something happened, would now realize that nothing really happened. It was just an imagination of a few people, for their own interest. To an extent, I feel very confident now to carry out my duties”.

Mr. Ayanore who had threatened legal action against individuals who leveled the allegations against him and threatened to attack him during the party’s parliamentary elections which saw Isaac Adongo emerging winner, said he intends not to seeking level advice again since the committee has exonerated him.

“Now that the committee has come out with a verdict, exonerating me, I think legal action is not the way to go”, he stated.

Source: A1Radioonline.com|Joshua Asaah

Upper East Regional ISD equips staff on district level election and referendum

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Mr. Bennin Douri Issifu (RIO, UE/R )

Municipal and District Information Service Officers as well as Cinema Commentators with the Information Services Department (ISD) in the Upper East Region have been empowered with the requisite knowledge on the upcoming district level elections and referendum.

This is in line with the Electoral Commission scheduled day on December 17, to conduct a referendum to give a greenlight for the amendment of Article 55 Clause 3 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.

This bill when passed into law will enable political parties to file and fund candidates for the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) portfolios in the country.

Eligible voters on the 17th December, 2019 will be asked to vote YES or NO to accept or reject the referendum.

Upper East Regional Information Officer, Bennin Douri Issifu addressing his staff during the capacity building workshop said at least 40 percent of eligible voters must turn out on the day and if 75 votes YES in favor, then, political parties can present candidates to be voted to become MMDCEs.

Mr. Issifu admonished the ISD staff to be conversant with the right information to further educate the public on the local level elections and the referendum for the election MMDCEs.

He stated further stated that the election of MMDCEs comes with a lot of benefits which he is optimistic Ghanaians through the messages which would be channeled out by the ISD officials will vote in favor of the referendum.

“It will promote local democracy because the people will have the opportunity to choose people they want to represent them based on political lines. Also, it shall guarantee the tenure of office of MMDCEs and that will give the MMDCEs sound mind to be able to think and bring development to their people,” he outlined.

ISD Officers – Upper East Region

Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, Joseph Amiyuure addressing the ISD staff said the amendment of the constituency which will pave way for election of MMDCEs is in line with the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 2016 campaign promise to Ghanaians.

“The president wants the people to decide who should lead them. It is very rare to see a president who wants to lease some of his powers. It is an opportunity given to all of us and we should not allow it to slip. Information Services Officers should give the right information to the public because there are a lot of mix feelings in the public”, he stated.

Mr. Joseph Amiyuure – Bolgatanga MCE

Bolgatanga Municipal Assistant Director, Mohammed Awal cautioned that Civil Servants will not be allowed to contest to become MMDCEs while in office if the article 55 (3) is amended.

“You are not allowed to contest on a ticket of a political party but in respect of the district level election, you are allowed to contest but as soon as you win, you have to resign your position as a Local Government’s worker or a Civil Servant”, he indicated.

Source: A1radioonline.com|Joshua Asaah

Government commiserates with Upper East Region floods victims

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Vice President, Dr. Alhaji Mahamadu Bawumia on Sunday paid a visit to some victims of the floods that hit parts of Upper East Region.

The Vice President who led a sizable government delegation to the region regretted that the impact of the rains has resulted to loss of lives, properties and rendering many homeless.

“We are here today, to extend on behalf of His Excellency the President Nana Akufo-Addo and the government and people of Ghana, our deepest condolences to you the Manyoro Chief, the Nantognia Chief and all the families who are here represented, for the loss of lives and properties that, we have suffered as a result of this rainfall. Government is very very concerned about it”

Dr. Bawumia said this at Manyoro community in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality of the Upper East Region where he met with some of the floods victims.

According to him government is concern with the disaster and will soon support the affected persons with relief items aside some items donated in the course of the week.  

The Vice President on behalf of government donated a Ghc50,000 cash as initial contribution to support the affected persons.

“As a result, government is putting together initial relief items and these items include, rice, blankets, cooking oil, mosquito nets, soap, plastic buckets, basins, plates, poly mats, mattresses, mosquito coils, roofing sheets, maize and water purification tables. These are to deal with the immediate needs of the people. In addition, government has also provided Ghc50,000 to deal with the immediate needs of the families”  

Dr. Bawumia presenting the cash donation to MCE for Kassena-Nankana, William Aduum

The Vice President also tasked Municipal and District Chief Executives in the region to support the floods victims to put up structures that can withstand floods when they occur.

“The way we build, sometimes doesn’t help when the rains come with this types of force. I have asked that, the MMDCEs look at how we can help whether it is with cement, so that they can be stronger to withstand the rains as they come. Ultimately, government wants to have permanent solution to flooding in our area and this is why we are very keen to construct the Pwalugu Dam. And by the grace of God, we will proceed with its construction soon”, he stated.

Chief of Manyoro, Pe Dr. Atudiwe Atudipaare Pwakweah Manchi III thanked government for the swift responds to the plight response of the floods victims.

“I have called on the people of Manyoro and its surrounding communities that a person who stood by you in times of difficulties, is the person you should remember when you are taking action in the quest of that person. The Vice president of our republic has demonstrated not just once that he is our brother, he has demonstrated that he has the nation at heart. I have been here all my life; I have never seen my father sat in any skin or stool to welcome a vice president to this town. It is the first time I am sitting here to welcome him”, the chief said.

Dr. Bawumia with his entourage at the Tono Irrigation Dam

The Vice president also visited the Tono irrigation Dam where the torrential rains have caused damaged to the spillway.

Source: A1radioonline.com|Joshua Asaah

Sack ‘merrymaking’ Regional Minister – NDC to Prez

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The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is calling for an immediate removal of Upper East Regional Minister, Tangoba Abayage.

According to the party the minister who “likes enjoyment” to the plight of floods victims in the region has outlived her usefulness in the high office and should be shown the exit door to enable her continue doing what she enjoys doing most.

Madam Tangoba is currently serving her annual leave out of the region, at a time the region is hardly hit with floods leading to more than 20 deaths.
But the NDC believes she could have suspended her leave and pay a visit to the victims back at her home region if only she had the people at heart.


“We are also deeply scandalized and disappointed in the nonchalance and inaction of the substantive Upper East Regional Minister, Madam Paulina Abayage who continues to be on leave in these difficult times. The least expected of a responsible Regional Minister is to have suspended her leave, and make a quick trip to the Region to commiserate with her people and help bring some relief to them”.

Upper East Regional Secretary of the NDC, Donatus Akamugri who addressed the media called on President Akufo-Addo to sack the minister in order to save the people of the Upper East Region from such “irresponsible and insensitive leadership”.

“Finally, ladies and gentlemen, considering the fact that Ministers of State are appointed to solve problems on behalf of the President, we are left with no other option but to conclude that the Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Paulina Tangoba Abayage has already outlived her usefulness in that high office. She has obviously prioritized enjoying the comfort of her annual leave over the painful plight of her people. We therefore advise President Akufo-Addo to reconsider her appointment in order to save the people of Upper East Region from such irresponsible and insensitive leadership”.

Source:A1Radioonline.com|Joshua Asaah

Government is insensitive to Upper East Region floods victims – NDC

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Mr. Donatus Akamugri

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has attacked government for failing to attend to the plight of flood victims in the Upper East Region.

The region recorded about 27 deaths according to figures from National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) as a result of torrential rains. The flood waters also brought down houses rendering some residents homeless. The Upper East Region has been on the news due to the havoc caused.

Addressing the media at the party’s regional office in Zuarungu, in the Upper East Region, the NDC has taken a swipe at government for neglecting the affected victims in the region. Buttressing his point, Regional Secretary of the party, Donatus Akamugri said government would have responded swiftly if similar tragedy had occurred in other parts of the country.

“We must state, however, that the greatest tragedy in all of this has been the inaction of President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia whose fellow Northern brothers and sisters are the victims of this natural disaster. We have witnessed similar occurrences in other parts of the country, on very much low-scale, and how government has responded with swiftness and alacrity. So why does President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia who hails from the North seem to care less when it concerns northerners? We want to know why.”

The NDC recounted a fatal accident that occurred this year on the Kintampo road involving a bus from Garu-Tempane as a case study to believe that government has always shown little or no attention to the plight of victims from the Upper East Region.

“It would be recalled that earlier this year when there was a ghastly accident at Kintampo involving a public bus from the Garu-Tempane area, leading to loss of several lives, President Akufo-Addo showed next to little empathy for the many grieving families who had lost their loved ones. The President failed to embark on a simple trip to commiserate with the bereaved families”.

The NDC is therefore calling on President Akuffo Addo and his Vice Dr. Bawumia to as a matter of urgency “dispatch an emergency response team from NADMO Headquarters to visit the region and assess the impact of the disaster, and make the necessary relief items available to the victims”.

Source: A1Radioonline.com|Joshua Asaah

135 people undergoing free plastic surgery in Upper East Region

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More than 135 people in the Upper East Region who have suffered various forms of defects are undergoing free plastic surgery at the regional hospital to correct the deformities.

The gesture is organized by an international charitable organization known as Restoring Emotional Stability Through Outstanding Reconstructive Efforts (RESTORE).

RESTORE under its founder, Dr. Michael Kwame Obeng has been organizing this free surgery yearly across the country for persons who could not afford to correct various forms of deformities suffered either by accident or by birth.

This year, under the leadership of Deputy Director of Diaspora Affairs at the Office of the President, Dr. Nadia Adongo Musah who is a native of the Upper East Region, the team of medical officers have extended the service to the region for people who are in dire need of plastic surgery but cannot afford to the cost.

Dr. Nadia Adongo Musah speaking to A1 News said the free surgery which she lobbied for people in the region to benefit is in line with the ‘Year of Return’ which seeks to reunite all African diasporas.

“This is our second time coming with RESTORE. As a Deputy Director of Diaspora Affairs at the presidency, part of our mandate is to, how do we mobilize our diasporas to come back and provide their own quota to the development of this country. As you all know, this year is the ‘Year of Return’ so we have done various ways of activities including the surgery”, she said.

Dr. Nadia Adongo Musah (left) interacting with a beneficiary of the free surgery

Among various forms of deformities corrected by the plastic surgeons include, eye deformity, ear deformity, nose deformity, genetic deformity, breast deformity cleft lip cleft palate and other defects either caused by genetic, viral infection during pregnancies or by accidents.

Team Leader of RESTORE, Dr. Paa Ekow Hoyte-Williams in an interview said the surgery which would have costed over ghc3,000 per individual based on individual’s condition is offered free by the organization as a way of giving back to the society.

According to him the Upper East Region which has no single plastic surgeon lacks the required instruments at the regional hospital for appropriate surgeries to carry out.

Nonetheless, he expressed optimism that the team of medical officers will be able to perform all the outlined surgeriesin due time.

The beneficiaries of the free surgery included a Nigerian national who suffered facial deformity due to accident.

They thanked the benevolent organization, RESRORE and Dr. Nadia Adongo Musah for the kind gesture extended to them in restoring the lost hopes.

Source:A1Radioonline.com|Joshua Asaah

Reduce number of ministers – Bongo Chief to Akufo-Addo

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Paramount Chief of Bongo Traditional Area, Naba Baba Salifu Alemyaarum has challenged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to reduce the number of ministers serving under his government.

The Akufo-Addo administration which has about 125 ministers has come under serious criticism of being an over-sized government in the history of Ghana. This, according to some critics is having a negative toll on the country’s budget.

Adding his voice to the call for a reduction of ministers in the country is Paramount Chief of Bongo, Naba Baba Salifu Alemyaarum.

Naba Baba Salifu Alemyaarum believes the Nana-Addo over-sized government is adversely affecting the fight against corruption in the country.

“If the Excellency the President will agree to reduce the number of Minister in this country so that for the establishment of anti-corruption board to function correctly”, Bonaba stated.

The Paramount Chief of Bongo who doubles Vice President of Upper East Regional House of Chiefs said this in Bolgatanga during an engagement program organized by Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) and Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) for members of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs on the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP).

The GII and CHRAJ is embarking on a nationwide tour to solicit support from Chiefs to fight against corruption in the country.

Source: A1Radioonline.com|Joshua Asaah

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