Nkranstech Cries for Help

Students of Nkrankwanta Senior High Technical School (NKRANSTECH) in the Dormaa West District of the Brong Ahafo region are calling on the government to help the school resolve the many challenges currently affecting academic progress.
DAILY GUIDE'S visit to the school revealed that it lack many basic facilities including electricity which the rest of the community has been enjoying for the past 2 years. it also needs a dining hall, library, computer and science laboratories, adequate teaching staff, class rooms and dormitories for both sexes.
Even though the school is currently on vacation, students who reside in the community expressed worry over the problems they were .
According to them, their class rooms were overcrowded , making it difficult for them to concentrate on teaching. Those living in the school's hostel said the situation was no different there.
The boarding voiced out on their dissatisfaction with the authorities for not doing enough to address the dining and the lighting situation, saying they cook for themselves in wooden structures which is difficult to do whenever it rains.
When the paper contacted the outgoing Head master, Yaw Anane, he declined to comment about the students concerns regarding on the state of the school-Francis Yanchira Daily Guide.

MCA Marks 4th Anniversary

THE Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) has lined up a series of activities to mark its fourth anniversary in Ghana.

MCA took the initiative to announce the occasion at a press gathering healed at the coconut growth hotel in Accra.

Major Albert Don-Chebe (rtd) the Director in charge of Community and Outreach of the MCA in his speech disclosed that MCA will be hosting series of programmes, include a field trip with the media to some selected project sites in the Akuapim South Municipality and National-meet-the press to outdoor MiDA’s mid-term documentary as well as a photo exhibition.

He said Ghana still enjoys MCA’s funds because the country continues to demonstrate good governance, economic freedom and investment in people.

“Aid is most effective when it reinforce the three broad policy categories in the recipient country; ruling justly, investing in people and encouraging economic freedom” he noted.

He added that MCA programme is a rural based as over 30 districts seeks to raise farmer incomes through a private sector-led development and transformation of agribusiness with its 70,000 trained personnel.

“It will increase the production and productivity of high-value cash and food staples crops, and enhance the competitiveness of Ghana’s agricultural productions in regional and global market” he emphasized.

As part of the MCA’s contribution to eradicate guinea worm in the northern parts of the country, Major Don-Chebe revealed that, his outfit have built Tamale Water Extension project to help residence to get access to potable water.

He entreated that, the Akuapem South District stands as MCA’s anchor district seeing most of the developmental projects.

With regards to accountability Major Don-Chebe urged Ghanaians not to be afraid since they are audited 9 times every year. Francis Yanchira DG.

Guinea Worm Eradication Programme Launched

The National Guinea Worm Eradication Programme (NGWEP) has launched the sensitization campaign strategy in Accra.

The programme was aimed at educating the public on the eradication of guinea worm diseases in the country.

The programme emphasized on the declined of the guinea worm cases from 8,290 in 2004, to 8 at the end of 2010 it added that as at January 2011, there has not been any reported case.

Speaking at the occasion the Minister of Health Hon. Joseph Yilleh Chiren said, “So far this year, no case of guinea worm has been reported; this represents 8 months since the last case was reported in May 2010 and 14 months since the last uncontained case in October, 2009” he said.

He said “It is your turn to ensure that everyone in Ghana is aware of our achievement thus far and known what to do when they see anything that look like guinea worm diseases”

Hon. Chiren in his speech made known that he is happy to note that the health education and promotion officers are going to form vanguards of the national communication campaign and community sensitization effort, which their colleagues have already worked hard to break transmission.

The heath Minister therefore assured that the initial amount of GH¢50 will be increased to GH¢100 on any guinea worm case reported.

Hon. Naa Prof. John S. Nabila who chaired the occasion in his remarks mentioned that he is happy that after so many years of waging war on this disease, it has finally gotten to the verge of eradicating it.

“Medical students use to see guinea worms physically for their studies but now they can only see them in books” he added.

Prof. Nabila pledged to use his position as a traditional ruler to help increase awareness among the general population, advocate and lobby for more support so that the disease will be finally covered adding that the public should not be complacent that the disease is finally gone, “Complacent sometimes lets the greatest man forget how to be great” he noted.

The Director General of Ghana Health Service Dr. Elias Sory recalled the pain he went through when he personally contacted the guinea worm disease and therefore called for a total eradication of the disease.

Dr. Sory outlined some challenges that they went through in eradicating the disease saying that some affected communities thought that guinea worm disease was an act of witchcraft and that no medication can cure it.

He emphasized that provision of potable water for the affected communities was a big challenge but the government and other corporate organizations helped to rectify the problem.

Also at the occasion were dignitaries from USAID Ms. Sheryl Anderson the resident coordinator of Carter Centre Mr. Jim Niquette, resident representative, Japan International Cooperation Agency Mr. Kunihiro Yamauchi, Dr. Iyabo Olusanmi who represented UNICEF, Scountry Director for WHO Dr. Daniel Kertesz, the head of EU Delegation H. E. Claudia Maerten and the National Program Manager for GWE Dr. Andrew Seidu Korkor.

These dignitaries they said have worked vigorously to ensure that Ghana is not represented on the guinea worm associated countries anymore.Francis Yanchira DG.

Mason Hangs Himself

Residents of Dome Pillar two could not could not belief their eyes when a 31-year old Mason, Owusu Amah Hammond hanged himself on a mango tree in his father’s house in the late hours of, January 6^th, 2011.

The deceased’s mother, Comfort Sakyi Hammond who could not control herself due to her son’s sadden death told Daily Guide that “I believe my son did not hang himself, but since I do not know the one who did it, I leave everything in the hands of God” she said.

She said the decreased was the bread winner of the family since the husband abandons her in the name of marring another wife.

Madam Sakyi added that she can no longer boost of a son anymore since the deceased happened to be her only son.

The deceased wife Doris Adoma Hammond who was emotionally down told Daily Guide that her husband was in good health and well sounded “he had a good relationship with everyone and I don’t really know why he could do such a thing” She noted.

The deceased kid sister Mercy Hammond Abiashie briefed Daily Guide on the account that she think has transpired to his brother’s death, saying “My father has been quarreling with him and has coursed his arrest on several occasion, since then he has not been feeling happy” she said.

She continued that her brother was standing under the mango tree with the sponge tied to his neck. “How can someone commit suicide whilst standing”? She asked.

Sympathizers were also present to show their condolence to the bereave family.

The time Daily Guide got to the scene; the body has already been conveyed to Korle-Bu Teaching for autopsy.

The bereaved family pleads with the right authorities to investigate into the death of their beloved one. Francis Yanchira DG.

MiDA Assures of Rural Development

THE MILLIENNIUM Development Authority (MiDA) on Wednesday took the media on a field trip to some of its project sites within the Akim South and Gomoa East municipalities as part of its 4th anniversary celebration.

The trip was aimed at exposing the media to MiDA’s projects over the years.

At MiDA’s construction site at Nsawam, journalists were briefed on the construction of the 72-kilometre road linking Odeikrom and some communities within the municipality.

The Zonal Director in charge of the constructions, William Yaw Owusu, said 42 out of the 72km stretch had already been completed whilst the remaining 30 kilometers are at the gravelling stage.

Rev. Daniel Obeng Agyei, a farmer at Odeikrom, commending MiDA said: “Our farm produce will no longer be stacked away on our farms because we have good roads to transport them to the market now.”

He urged MiDA to construct proper drainage systems to help prolong the road’s durability adding, “We are also pleading with MiDA to help build a kindergarten for our kids here in Odeikrom to help prevent any danger the cars pose to them especially for those who attend schools across the street.”

Other beneficiary communities in the Akim South district lauded MiDA for its contributions to ensuring that agribusiness made a greater impact on the economic lives of the peasant farmers.

“Our farm yields have tripled from 2 bags per acre to 6 due to MiDA’s intervention,” they said.

MiDA has partnered with Frigo GH Limited to build a modern pack house that will help preserve perishable fruits and vegetables cultivated in the areas visited.

Kwabena Afari, MD for Greenspan Farms Limited said, “As of now, we are able to export about 1,200 tons of pineapple and we hope to increase it to 3,000 when the pack house starts full operation.”

At Senya Breku in the Central region, the teams were introduced to the CEO of 2K Farms, Emmanuel Call, who said his outfit was the leading producer of pawpaw in Ghana.

“With 150 employees, we are able to export 60 percent of pawpaw to Europe and Lebanon whilst the remaining 40 percent are for the local market,” he emphasized.

Mr. Call said he hoped to do better with his 750-acre farm land when MiDA completes the installation of electricity to his pack house.

The chiefs and people of Odjobi Traditional Area in the Gomoa East municipality were not left out of MiDA’s project plan as the DA, JHS and KG schools which were destroyed by a powerful rain storm in 2007 have been rehabilitated with additional classrooms built.

The Assemblyman man of the area, Michael Tawie, thanked MiDA and pleaded for the construction of a bungalow and computer laboratory for the pupils.

He promised to form a watch-dog committee to help guard existing facilities at the school.

The MiDA officials promised to continue to support rural development by ensuring that agriculture which is the backbone of Ghana’s economy continues to support the nation. Francis Yanchira Daily Guide.

Vodafone Discharges Korle-bu Patients

Telecommunications giant Vodafone has discharged people who went for treatment at the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital but could not pay for their bills owing to their economic circumstances.

The concept for the gesture was to all allow the deprived patience get to their families for the Valentine’s Day celebrations.

Vodafone pledged to settle the outstanding GH¢ 60,000 debt owing at the government hospitals within the 10 regions nationwide.

Each discharged patient received a Vodafone branded mobile phone and a SIM card loaded with credit.

Head of cooperate communications for Vodafone Mrs. Carmen Bruce-Anane said, “the concept for the valentine’s day homecoming is for Vodafone to pay the outstanding of these patients that have been classified as detained by selected hospitals to enable them be realized to their loved ones in time for valentine’s day.”

She added that, “the homecoming is in line with Vodafone’s commitment to helping the Ministry of Health to achieve its strategic objectivities of the five year framework by increasing financial access to basic service.”

The beneficiary patience who some of them have spent more than three months, emotionally lauded Vodafone for the gesture and pleaded on behalf of needy patience in the hospital.

The PR officer of Korles-Bu teaching hospital Mustapah Salifu showed his gratitude and pleaded for more support from other philanthropies in the country to show mercy for the needy.

The 170 beneficiary across the nation will be released from 11^th to 13^th February to enable them reach home for the Valentine’s Day festivities.

Vodafone assured to pay for 170 patients who are not already registered on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to enable them enjoy the service.