The Paediatric Oncology Unit of the Upper East Regional Hospital has launched the Upper East Childhood Cancer Support Fund (UECCSF) to help families overcome financial barriers that prevent children with suspected or confirmed cancer from accessing further care.

Since the Unit began providing services, it has assessed 34 children with suspected cancer, 25 of whom required referral for further evaluation or specialist care.

However, only 14 of the 25 children completed their referrals, while 11 were unable to do so.

According to the Unit, financial difficulties, including the cost of transportation, food, accommodation and other expenses associated with travelling to referral centres, are among the barriers preventing some families from completing referrals.

The initiative forms part of Gold Ribbon Upper East 2026, a Childhood Cancer Awareness Month programme focused on improving awareness, early recognition, referral and access to childhood cancer care in the region.

The Unit said its experience has shown that identifying a child with suspected cancer does not necessarily mean the child will reach the next stage of care, particularly when families cannot afford the associated costs.

In one case, a child who had been referred for further care could not immediately make the journey because the family was unable to afford transportation. The referral was delayed and the child later died.

Healthcare workers at the Unit have sometimes used their own money to support families facing such difficulties, but the team says relying on personal contributions from staff is not sustainable.

The UECCSF is therefore intended to provide a more structured source of support for families whose financial circumstances could interrupt investigations, referrals or treatment.

The Fund will not replace existing healthcare financing interventions such as the National Health Insurance Scheme or the Ghana Medical Trust Fund. Instead, it is intended to complement them by addressing practical expenses that may remain even when medical services are covered.

Paediatric Oncology Nurse at the Upper East Regional Hospital, Jonah Awinbe Ayamba, and his colleagues believe the Fund could help ensure that a lack of money for basic expenses does not prevent children from reaching the care they need.

The Unit is consequently appealing to individuals, businesses, philanthropists, corporate organisations, NGOs, professional associations, faith-based organisations, community groups and development partners to contribute to the Fund.

Donations will be received through the Upper East Regional Hospital’s established institutional mechanism for receiving and accounting for donor support.

Prospective donors are encouraged to contact the Paediatric Oncology Unit for guidance on the appropriate process through 0544219505, 0204703873 or 0242720543.

For the Unit, the message of Gold Ribbon Upper East 2026 goes beyond recognising the signs of childhood cancer early. It is also about ensuring that once a child is identified and referred, financial hardship does not prevent them from reaching the care they need.

A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Moses Anaba Azubire | Bolgatanga

Hannah Talata has declared her intention to contest the Women’s Organiser position of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Bongo Constituency, with a campaign focused on women’s participation and grassroots mobilisation.

Madam Talata says her decision follows consultations and reflection on how she can contribute to strengthening the party’s structures in the constituency.

Campaigning under the theme, “More Women in Leadership for a Stronger Bongo,” she has pledged to increase women’s participation in party activities and decision-making while strengthening the NDC’s women’s wing at the grassroots.

She is also seeking to improve grassroots mobilisation, election preparedness, accountability and effective organisation within the party.

Madam Talata is campaigning under the slogan, “The Grassroots Woman (Poka Zuulam),” which she says reflects her commitment to working closely with women and party members at the community level.

She believes creating more opportunities for women to participate in leadership and party organisation would help build a stronger and more active women’s wing in the Bongo Constituency.

Madam Talata has consequently appealed to delegates and party members to support her bid when the NDC holds its constituency elections.

Her campaign is anchored on the messages, “Empower Women. Mobilise Communities. Drive Change,” and “Stronger Women. Brighter Future.

A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Moses Anaba Azubire | Bolgatanga

Naab Bileehsing Lanwont Namoog, Chief of the Kotintabig Traditional Area in the Nabdam District, has called for stronger scrutiny of government projects in the Upper East Region, while urging communities and traditional leaders to take greater responsibility for supporting and monitoring development in their areas.

He said journalists should independently verify claims about infrastructure projects and hold political appointees accountable for commitments made to residents rather than relying solely on statements from politicians.

“Media, hold them. Don’t give them the partisan stuff. They are taking us for granted because they play on our psyche,” he said.

Speaking on Bolga FM’s Tooma La Dengo Sanga, Naab Bileehsing said political appointments are public responsibilities and officeholders must be prepared to account for their decisions and performance.

He cited the Bolgatanga-Bawku road as an example and questioned whether preliminary activities at project sites should be presented as significant progress when the actual construction remains incomplete.

Naab Bileehsing claimed that machinery had been moved to some project sites ahead of President John Mahama’s visit to the Upper East Region but was subsequently removed.

He urged journalists to visit such sites and independently establish the progress of work, arguing that the presence of machinery should not be mistaken for the completion of development projects.

The traditional leader said accountability should, however, extend beyond government officials and contractors, with traditional leaders and residents also taking an active interest in projects implemented in their communities.

“Supervision is key,” he said, urging chiefs to ensure they are informed about contracts awarded for projects within their traditional areas and to monitor their implementation.

Naab Bileehsing recalled his involvement in supervising a community dam project, which he said contributed to the successful implementation and continued functionality of the facility.

He also cautioned against allowing partisan considerations to undermine project quality, arguing that communities could find it difficult to demand accountability when contractors are protected because of political connections.

Naab Bileehsing further urged communities to support projects that could expand Bolgatanga and surrounding areas, including development towards the BONABOTO enclave.

He appealed to landowners not to focus solely on immediate compensation when land is required for public infrastructure, arguing that communities should also consider the longer-term benefits of such projects.

“Let us move away from the attitude that I must get something before I move. What you will benefit from the government project is more than the compensation you take and go and spend today,” he said.

Naab Bileehsing maintained that achieving meaningful development in the Upper East Region would require government accountability alongside active participation by the media, traditional leaders and communities in monitoring public projects.

A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Moses Anaba Azubire | Bolgatanga

Naab Bileehsing Lanwont Namoog of the Kotintabig Traditional Area has called on the Nabdam District Assembly to deploy its District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) equipment to address deteriorating roads across the district.

The traditional leader said potholes, poor road surfaces and difficult river crossings continue to make movement challenging for residents and other road users.

Speaking on Bolga FM’s Tooma La Dengo Sanga, Naab Bileehsing urged the District Chief Executive and officials responsible for the DRIP equipment to prioritise roads requiring urgent attention.

“The DRIP machines are not for decoration,” he said. “If you think you can serve the people, then move out and work.”

Naab Bileehsing said he recently experienced the poor condition of some roads in the district when a journey took considerably longer than expected because of the difficulty in navigating sections of the road.

He argued that while broader development projects are important, roads connecting communities within the district must also receive attention because of their importance to the daily movement of residents.

Naab Bileehsing called on the Assembly to mobilise the necessary resources and make effective use of the DRIP equipment provided to improve local roads.

“Please, DCE, if you are sleeping, rise,” he said, calling for action on the concerns of residents.

He said priority should be given to some of the most deteriorated sections, particularly roads with severe potholes and difficult river crossings.

Naab Bileehsing maintained that putting the available equipment to use would help improve access between communities and ease transportation difficulties for residents.

A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Moses Anaba Azubire | Bolgatanga

Naab Bileehsing Lanwont Namoog, Chief of the Kotintabig Traditional Area in the Nabdam District, has urged residents of the Upper East Region to demand greater accountability and development from governments, irrespective of their political affiliation.

Speaking on Bolga FM’s Timaaga Sanga programme, Naab Bileehsing argued that the region’s support for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) should be matched by greater investment in infrastructure, employment and economic opportunities.

“I think the Upper East Region has done well for the NDC, and they have no excuse to say they cannot develop Upper East,” he said.

The chief, who is also a lecturer at Bolgatanga Technical University, said limited employment opportunities remain a major concern, particularly for young people.

“The opportunities are not there. We have limited opportunities for the youth, so this was a way of trying to keep our youth busy doing something productive,” he said.

Naab Bileehsing said residents should not allow their political preferences to prevent them from demanding development and accountability from elected officials.

“Politicians should not take us for granted. That is why I said some time ago that until Upper East sacrifices five NDC MPs and allows them to lose, they will never take us seriously,” he stated.

He stressed that his concern was about development rather than partisan politics.

“I am talking in terms of development,” he said.

Naab Bileehsing also expressed concern about what he sees as disparities in development between the Upper East and Upper West regions.

“When you go to the Upper West Region, the level of development there cannot be compared to what is happening in the Upper East,” he said.

He acknowledged that successive governments, from the administration of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, to the current administration of President John Dramani Mahama, have contributed to the country’s development.

He, however, maintained that the Upper East Region requires greater investment to address its infrastructure and economic challenges.

Naab Bileehsing called for increased attention to job creation, agriculture, education, healthcare and infrastructure to expand opportunities, particularly for young people in the region.

“We cannot take political support for granted, and government cannot take the people for granted. What we are asking for is development,” he said.

A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Mary Atiamah Aperika | Bolgatanga

Naab Bileehsing Lanwont Namoog of the Kotintabig Traditional Area in the Nabdam District has called for successive governments to build on Ghana’s development gains while introducing interventions that respond to the changing needs of the population.

Speaking on Bolga FM’s Tinmaalgo Sanga programme as Ghana marked the birthday of its first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Naab Bileehsing reflected on the contributions of different administrations to the country’s development.

He highlighted the establishment of the University for Development Studies as one of the interventions that expanded access to tertiary education in northern Ghana. UDS was established in 1992 as Ghana’s first public university in the north.

Naab Bileehsing also cited social interventions introduced during the administration of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, including the National Health Insurance Scheme and the Ghana School Feeding Programme.

The Ghana School Feeding Programme began in 2005 with objectives including increasing school enrolment and attendance, reducing hunger and malnutrition among schoolchildren and boosting domestic food production.

He also pointed to interventions aimed at addressing youth unemployment. The National Youth Employment Programme, which preceded the current Youth Employment Agency, was officially inaugurated in 2006 to provide employment opportunities for young people.

Naab Bileehsing said Ghana’s growing population has increased demand for jobs and economic opportunities, particularly among young people.

He called for continued investment in programmes that equip young people with skills and provide opportunities for employment and other productive economic activities.

He also acknowledged contributions made under former President John Evans Atta Mills as part of what he described as Ghana’s continuous development journey.

Naab Bileehsing said national development should not be viewed solely through the achievements of one administration, but as a process in which successive governments build on existing interventions while responding to emerging challenges.

A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Moses Anaba Azubire | Bolgatanga

The GhanaThink Foundation is marking the 13th edition of National Volunteer Day with a series of community service activities across Ghana, including sanitation, health, education and substance abuse interventions.

The activities, organised through the Foundation’s Ghana Volunteer Program, form part of National Volunteer Day 2026, an initiative established on September 21, 2013, to promote volunteerism and community service.

According to the Foundation, the initiative began with about 300 volunteers undertaking 40 projects and has since expanded into a multi-regional movement involving thousands of volunteers.

Co-founder and Director of the GhanaThink Foundation, Ato Ulzen-Appiah, said the initiative was established to encourage a culture in which people, particularly young people, take responsibility for addressing challenges within their communities.

“The thinking at the beginning was to work on, celebrate, mobilize, encourage, organize the persons who work on all sorts of activities, more than the activity. We wanted to build a culture where young people across Ghana realize that leadership begins with service, and that true progress happens when ordinary citizens take the initiative to solve problems right where they live,” he said in a statement.

As part of this year’s activities, GhanaThink organised Konnect meetups on September 19 in Accra, Tema, Takoradi, Cape Coast, Koforidua, Sunyani, Ho, Wa, Tamale, Bolgatanga and Kasoa.

The gatherings brought participants together to reflect on their volunteering experiences, network and plan community projects.

Other interventions include a sanitation exercise in Sagnerigu, a medical outreach in Wa and a national blood donation drive led by Rotaract District 9104.

Additional activities are expected to focus on environmental protection and recycling in Teshie, literacy support for more than 150 pupils at Ayeduase R/C School in Kumasi, youth employability training and support for the BAHASS Foundation facility in Wa.

In the Upper East Region, the BolgaKonnect team is expected to undertake a substance abuse sensitisation exercise at Bolgatanga Central Technical School.

BolgaKonnect Administrator Raymond Ayinne said the intervention would focus on educating young people about substance abuse and its consequences.

“I am really excited that the BolgaKonnect team will be sensitizing young people about substance abuse to curb the ever-rising incidence. By addressing mental health and addiction early, we give our youth a real chance to thrive,” he said.

The GhanaThink Foundation is encouraging individuals and organisations to make volunteering part of their regular activities through initiatives such as community cleanups, mentorship, blood donation, tree planting and offering professional services to communities.

A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | David Azure | Bolgatanga