Ga South gets municipal court

The Ga South Municipal Assembly now has a  court to make justice delivery more accessible. Located at Weija, the court is also to remove the barrier of distance which impacts on justice delivery, as well as reduces the time spent on delivering justice.

The assembly provided the facilities for the establishment of the district court, which is expected to bring justice on the doorstep of the people.

At the inauguration ceremony at Weija yesterday, Justice Naa Adoley Azu, Justice of the High Court, said a number of factors had militated against the effective operations of the courts and the administration of justice, a situation which had impacted and influenced the justice delivery process in the country.

She mentioned the lack of court houses, the deplorable state of the physical infrastructure housing some of the existing courts and the obsolete equipment and technology which had long been employed in delivering justice.

According to her, the Judicial Service had, for many years, experienced extreme shortage of accommodation (both court and residential) and inadequate supply of facilities to perform its functions.

She said even though it was the responsibility of the service to provide an enabling environment to create a legal and judicial system that promoted the rule of law, transparency and speedy administration of justice, the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) were responsible for providing court houses and residential accommodation for magistrates, something they had found difficult to comply with.

Justice Azu indicated that the Chief Justice had instituted measures to address the challenges confronting the service to improve efficiency and enrich the adjudication process.

She said those included massive court automation, computerisation and the use of state-of-the-art equipment in order to reconcile the justice sector with current technological developments and best practices in the administration of justice.

She said the creation and the inauguration of the Weija District Court formed part of the prioritised reform initiatives of the service and commended the assembly for providing the facilities for the establishment of the court.

She reminded judges and other officials manning the courts to exhibit a high level of professionalism in the discharge of their duties to protect and maintain the good image of the Judicial Service and avoid acts that would bring the administration of justice into disrepute.

The Ga South Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Jerry Akwei Thompson, said the opening of the court in the municipality was timely and appropriate because of the role it was expected to play in checking the numerous disputes, the menace of lands guards, illegal sand winning, noise making and the general lack of discipline and respect for environmental sanitation in the municipality.

He said due to misconceptions about the role of the MMDAs, some people did not appreciate what they were offered and asked the people to study the relevant provisions in their legislation and abide by those rules, so that should they breach any of the provisions and brought before the court, they would not accuse the assembly of witch hunting.

He advised traditional authorities and the people trying to cause mayhem in the communities because of some disagreements over chieftaincy issues to avail themselves of the court to settle issues, instead of resorting to violence, which sometimes resulted in loss of lives and property.

Mr Thompson urged the Judiciary to deal drastically with people such as land guards who were becoming a major threat to peace in the municipality and advised people who used the services of land guards to desist from those activities, since those who would be caught would not be spared.

Assembly invests over Ghc 8m in development projects

The Atwima-Mponua District Assembly has within the last four years invested more than Ghc8.8 million in development projects across the district.

These include the construction of school blocks, health and sanitation facilities, the extension of electricity, roads, office and staff accommodation and the supply of school furniture.

In all, there are 93 projects, and many of these are already completed with construction works on-going on others.
 

Speaking to Ghanadistricts.com, Mr. Stephen Yeboah, the District Chief Executive  said education had been the number one priority and, therefore, received greater percentage of the development funding.

He said the district was doing everything to improve classroom infrastructure to create the right environment for effective teaching and learning and that the district has two senior high schools (SHS), 73 junior high schools (JHS), 119 primary schools, 120 kindergartens and 20 private schools.

He said the assembly was determined to promote not only access to education, but the quality to raise performance of the pupils and students.

Mr. Yeboah said the assembly was working hard to mobilize resources to complete every single project started to transform the living conditions of the population.

All is well in Gushegu township

The District Chief Executive of Gushegu, Alhassan Fuseini has confirmed the existence of minor skirmishes in the Gushegu township, but insists the situation was under control.

Three people on Tuesday were reported to have lost their lives with several houses burnt as a result of the ongoing strife between the Yiyamba and Berimba communities in the Gushegu district of the Northern Region.region.

Two other people purported to be responding to treatment at the Gushegu Government Hospital with a third person currently in critical condition.

Speaking to ghanadistricts.com, the DCE of Gushegu, Hon. Fuseini revealed that “Gushegu has had its problems since 2008 since the last administration, we came and then made it normal. This has erupted mainly as a [result of a] parcel of land, and this happens in every district in this part of the country”

He also added that, this development was nothing to worry about and that despite the tension in the area elections are often held there without any hindrance.

meanwhile, The Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) ASP Ebenezer Tetteh has also affirmed the ongoing strife and revealed they were as a result of long standing chieftaincy disputes in the area.

Let’s unite for a better society – Bishop

The Right Reverend Professor Osei Safo-Kantanka, Methodist Bishop of Kumasi, has rallied Ghanaians to pull together to turn the faltering economy around.

He said they need to rely on their creative ability given to them by their creator to fix the difficulties and transform the economic situation.

The Rt. Rev. Prof. Safo-Kantanka, who was performing the ceremony to unveil a plaque on a manse built by the Walterworth Memorial Methodist Society at Mpasatia in the Atwima-Mponua District, urged an end to what he labeled, “the overly politicization of almost every national issue”.

That, he said, was unhealthy and counter-productive to development.

He underlined the need for a “master plan” or a blueprint for the nation’s development, which all must work up to.

The Rt. Rev. Prof Safo-Kantanka criticized the situation where some people simply chose to stand on the sidelines, satisfied either in complacency or cynicism, saying, “all hands should be on deck”.

He again called for greater collaboration between the state and the church to bring progress to the people.

The Very Rev. Christopher Nyarko Andam, Synod Secretary of the Kumasi Diocesan Methodist Church, hailed the contribution of the Walterworth Memorial Society to the growth of Methodism and the spread of the gospel.

It has produced a number of reverend ministers, evangelists, catechists and stewards for the church over the past 100 years.

He said since its upgrading into a Circuit, it had assisted in the planting of more churches and winning converts, and asked the society to sustain its evangelization drive.

The Very Rev. Samuel Asante Nnuro, the Circuit Superintendent, gave a brief history of the project and said the construction works started two years ago.

The Ghc1.5 million manse is now about 98 per cent complete.

EKUMFI Rest stop to boost economic activities-DCE

Chief Executive of the Ekumfi District in the central Region, I.K Dawson is to take advantage of the completion of a rest stop at Ekumfi Eyisam to boost economic activities in that area.
 

Mr. Dawson is to set up a vegetable market close to the rest stop to enhance the sale of vegetables and other foodstuffs which would be targeted at travelers.
 

He said the necessary measures have been taken to ensure actualization of the project. "The project has already been advertised and soon the contract would be awarded for the commencement of the project", stated.
 

"This is one of the measures already in place to actualize the economic development the president has tasked us to focus on". Mr. Dawson noted that being one of the newly created districts, they have to start from the scratch since they cannot even boost of any vibrant market or business.
 

The actual structure for the rest stop constructed by CEDECOM has been completed and currently contractors are working on the landscape after which it would be opened to the travelling public.

ATIWA:Communities urged to form neighbourhood watch c’tee

Atiwa District Police Commander, District Superintendent of Police (DSP) Jeffery Darko, has   advocated the formation of community neighbourhood watch committees to support the police in combating crime.
   
He said the District Police Command would assist any community ready to form such committees, in the screening and training of prospective members.
  
DSP Darko made the call at Kwabeng, at the third ordinary meeting of the Assembly.

He educated Assembly Members on the need to support the police to boost security in the area, in view of the insufficient number of police and the upsurge of criminal activities.
   
He appealed to traditional rulers and the district assembly to collaborate with the police to open police stations at the various communities within the district.
   
DSP Darko in an interview with Ghanadistricts.com said the police in the district is overwhelmed with some social challenges as teenage pregnancy, defilement, rape, drug-abuse, domestic violence against women and children, illegal chainsaw operations, Illegal Mining gambling and petty stealing thereby urging the people to volunteer to assist the police in information to enable them fight crime effectively.
   
He advised parents to be interested in their children’s education particularly the girl-child to enable them acquire skills and knowledge needed for national development.
   
DSP Jeffery Darko,also appealed to the youth to register with the National Youth Employment Programme and to refrain from acts that could bring them in conflict with the law.

Atwimahene donates to Takyiman police

Police motorbikes

The Atwimahene, Nana Antwi Agyei Brempong II, has presented a Nissan vehicle and two motorbikes to the Atwima Takyiman Police Station in the Ashanti Region as his contribution towards the fight against crime in the area.

The donation was also to aid the police in their work In addition, the chief presented a stand-by electric power generator, a flat screen computer, a printer and accessories to the police.

He had bought them from his personal resources and contributions of some individuals, including the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Nathan Kofi Boakye, and the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Samuel Sarpong.

Atwima Takyiman and its surroundings have lately been under attack from armed robbers, necessitating that the police be supported and security in the area tightened.

The Atwima Takyiman Police Station, inaugurated in April 2014, is a new establishment and is under the jurisdiction of the Asokwa Divisional Police Command.

While presenting the items, Nana Agyei Brempong commended all whose contribution had made the purchasing of the items possible.

He was hopeful that the gifts would, to a large extent, enable the police to combat crime in the area.

DCOP Kofi Boakye, for his part, praised the Atwimahene for his support and encouragement to the police. He used the occasion to urge other chiefs to emulate Nana Brempong’s example.

The Ashanti Regional Police Commander charged the police personnel at the Atwima Takyiman Police Station to ensure the proper maintenance of the items, opining that it was “the only station in the region with its own patrol vehicle and motorbikes”.

Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly makes stride

The Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly has made significant strides in the area of education, health and sanitation, the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Edward Ayagle, has said.

Speaking at the first Ordinary Meeting of the Assembly on Friday, he said the Assembly had constructed three-unit classroom blocks at Yebongo, Zuarungu Moshie, Adakora and Zuarungu Central.

The Assembly has also built two teachers’ quarters at Kalbeon and Katanga and procured 180 mono desks and supplied them to Anateem, Adakora and Zuarungu Central.

Mr. Ayagle said the two Members of Parliament for the area utilized their District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) to sponsor needy students in the Municipality. The Bolgatanga East MP, Dr. Dominic Ayine, supported 64 students with 23,750.00 Ghana cedis and the MP for the Bolgatanga Central, Mr. Opam Brown, supported 85 students amounting to 21,817.00 Ghana cedis.

“We have increased the beneficiary schools under the School Feeding Programme to 32 with a total enrolment of 13,400 pupils,” Mr. Ayagle said.

On sanitation, the MCE said the refuse truck and the cesspool emptier the Assembly bought in 2013 were in use and had also increased the waste collection sites by providing 10 more waste containers.

Mr. Ayagle said another remarkable achievement of the Assembly was the provision of 49 boreholes in 25 communities, construction of a small water system at Kalbeon which is ongoing while periodic maintenance of other water systems in the Municipality had been carried out leading to increase provision of portable water in the Municipality.

“Five hundred low tension poles have been procured for distribution under the Rural Electrification Project and rehabilitation of street lights in the Municipality is currently ongoing,” Mr. Ayagle said.

The Assembly, he said, also gave support to the Municipal Health Directorate in their outreach programmes on immunization, malaria prevention and control and the distribution of food to malnourished children.

Mr. Ayagle said the Assembly’s internally generated fund amounted to 969, 107.89 Ghana cedis and appealed to the Assembly members to help ensure that the street naming exercise which the Assembly was about to undertake becomes successful.

Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly makes stride

The Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly has made significant strides in the area of education, health and sanitation, the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Edward Ayagle, has said.

Speaking at the first Ordinary Meeting of the Assembly on Friday, he said the Assembly had constructed three-unit classroom blocks at Yebongo, Zuarungu Moshie, Adakora and Zuarungu Central.

The Assembly has also built two teachers’ quarters at Kalbeon and Katanga and procured 180 mono desks and supplied them to Anateem, Adakora and Zuarungu Central.

Mr. Ayagle said the two Members of Parliament for the area utilized their District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) to sponsor needy students in the Municipality. The Bolgatanga East MP, Dr. Dominic Ayine, supported 64 students with 23,750.00 Ghana cedis and the MP for the Bolgatanga Central, Mr. Opam Brown, supported 85 students amounting to 21,817.00 Ghana cedis.

“We have increased the beneficiary schools under the School Feeding Programme to 32 with a total enrolment of 13,400 pupils,” Mr. Ayagle said.

On sanitation, the MCE said the refuse truck and the cesspool emptier the Assembly bought in 2013 were in use and had also increased the waste collection sites by providing 10 more waste containers.

Mr. Ayagle said another remarkable achievement of the Assembly was the provision of 49 boreholes in 25 communities, construction of a small water system at Kalbeon which is ongoing while periodic maintenance of other water systems in the Municipality had been carried out leading to increase provision of portable water in the Municipality.

“Five hundred low tension poles have been procured for distribution under the Rural Electrification Project and rehabilitation of street lights in the Municipality is currently ongoing,” Mr. Ayagle said.

The Assembly, he said, also gave support to the Municipal Health Directorate in their outreach programmes on immunization, malaria prevention and control and the distribution of food to malnourished children.

Mr. Ayagle said the Assembly’s internally generated fund amounted to 969, 107.89 Ghana cedis and appealed to the Assembly members to help ensure that the street naming exercise which the Assembly was about to undertake becomes successful.