The outgoing Member of Parliament for Fanteakwa South Constituency in the Eastern Region, Kofi Okyere Agyekum popularly known as ‘ARAFAT’ has cautioned the former President of Ghana and flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahama to stop throwing dust into the eyes of Ghanaians by using the current economic crisis confronting the country to solicit votes from them.

According to him, John Mahama is saying in his campaign messages that the current hardship in the country has led to the increment of the foodstuffs, and it has even affected the prices of Kenkey and Konkontey.

Reacting to that, Arafa emphasized that the hardship has been in existence not today, and it is surprising that former President Mahama is using it to solicit votes from Ghanaians and that tactics won’t succeed.

He added that, despite the hardship, President Akufo Addo implemented a free Senior High School education policy, and over 5 million Ghanaian youth have benefited from this initiative since its inception in 2017 to 2024.

Arafat mentioned that John Mahama shouldn’t compare the high prices of Konkontey and Kenkey to the free Senior High School education policy.

Kofi Okyere Agyekum made this known when he donated a Hematology analyzer machine to Bosuso Health Centre on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, to enhance quality healthcare delivery in the community.

The Fanteakwa South lawmaker explained that there were days when the price of land was affordable, and due to the hardship, only a few people were able to purchase some.

“The only way we can fight hardship is through education, so, therefore the beneficiaries of the FSHS education will become prominent people one day and do properties for their parents who couldn’t do some because of poverty,” he noted.

Arafat opined that John Mahama knew that he wouldn’t win the 2024 election, hence disgracing himself by using the prices of foodstuffs as a yardstick in his campaign and indicating that Ghanaians have decided already to maintain NPP in power in 2025.

FreeThe medical lab scientist for Bosuso Health Centre, Benjamin Sarfo Bempong, after receiving the machine, thanked Arafat for his kind gesture.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

The Chiefs and people of Osino in the Fanteakwa South District of the Eastern Region have been given significant relief with the commissioning of a new market square in the area.

The market square was inaugurated by key stakeholders of the district, including the District Chief Executive (DCE), Ernest Ofosu; the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Kofi Okyere Agyekum (popularly known as Arafat); and the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the 2024 elections, Duke Ofori Atta.

Speaking at the commissioning, DCE Ernest Ofosu highlighted that the Osino Market Square project was initiated by his predecessor, Nana Kwasi Nntori Adjabeng and that he had taken up the project to ensure its completion.

He mentioned that market women had requested improvements, including access to water, a toilet facility, storerooms, and a bathroom. He assured them that all their needs were met in the newly completed market to ensure their comfort while conducting business.

Ernest Ofosu further noted that the NPP government, led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has greatly benefited the people of Fanteakwa South, especially Osino, the district capital, with numerous development projects.

The MP, Arafat, on his part, emphasized the NPP government’s commitment to supporting businesswomen across the country.

He mentioned that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has promised, in his manifesto, to establish a Women Development Fund if elected as President of Ghana, which would provide financial support to women entrepreneurs without interest charges.

“Former President John Dramani Mahama says there is famine in the country and asked Ghanaians whether they are able to buy *Konkontey or Kenkay* meanwhile he has not stated a single thing he would do to solve the hardship if he wins the 2024 election and indicates that such a person doesn’t deserve to become President again because all his ideas are archaic and have nothing new to offer Ghanaians,” said Arafat.

Arafat furthered and urged Ghanaians to instead vote for Dr. Bawumia, who promised to create jobs for the youth and work towards a prosperous Ghana.

Additionally, the NPP Parliamentary Candidate, Duke Ofori Atta, commended the outgoing MP, Arafat, for his dedication and leadership in securing infrastructure projects for the benefit of Fanteakwa South.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

The Parliamentary Candidate for Fanteakwa North Constituency on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Eastern Region, Kwame Appiah Kodua, has stated that Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia says, if elected as the next President of Ghana, will prioritize job creation.

“Dr. Bawumia has said that one of the main challenges confronting the country is the high rate of unemployment and something needs to be done about it because it is a security threat to the country,” he stated.

Kodua explained that, to address Ghana’s unemployment challenges, Dr. Bawumia plans to train one million Ghanaian youth in digital skills, enabling them to secure remote jobs from home, work internationally, and earn substantial income to support themselves and their families.

“After doing my calculation, if you divide 1m by 275 constituencies in the Country that means over 35,000 youth in Fanteakwa North would benefit from the initiative,” he noted.

Appiah Kodua made these remarks on Sunday, October 27, 2024, during a mega health walk on the principal streets of Fanteakwa South. The event, dubbed “Walk with Kodua,” attracted hundreds of participants, mainly NPP supporters, energizing the grassroots base ahead of the December elections.

“To make the 1m job creation feasible, we will plead with Ghanaians to give the leadership mantle to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to become the next President of the Country and continue the good works of President Akufo Addo,” he mentioned.

Bringing his speech to an end, the Fanteakwa South NPP Parliamentary Candidate asserted confidently that the NPP will win the 2024 elections, pointing to the party’s performance since taking office in 2017 as evidence of their success.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

The Parliamentary Candidate for the Akuapem South Constituency in the Eastern Region, Eric Apeadu Yeboah, representing the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has urged Ghanaians to embrace the national health insurance scheme and get registered.

According to him, the NPP government has made the program attractive, and it is incumbent upon every Ghanaian to enroll, as one never knows when they might fall sick and require medical care.

Apeadu Yeboah emphasized that with a national health insurance card, individuals can walk into any health facility for check-ups, even when not ill, because “your health is your wealth.”

He cited the Vice President and Leader of the NPP, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who has stated that if elected as the next President of Ghana, he would enroll patients suffering from cancer and kidney diseases onto the national health insurance scheme, enabling them to receive treatment for free.

This highlights the importance of Ghanaians supporting him in the upcoming 2024 general elections.

Eric Apeadu Yeboah noted that everyone is aware of the costs associated with treating cancer, kidney diseases, and other related ailments. He expressed that patients would be greatly relieved if Dr. Bawumia wins the election, stating that “National Health Insurance is now a property for everybody.”

He made these remarks while providing free national health insurance registrations for residents of Ahwerase in the constituency ahead of their 2024 Odwira festival, benefiting over 500 people.

“The NPP government is committed to healthcare, building more hospitals across the country to ensure quality healthcare delivery for Ghanaians,” Yeboah asserted.

The Akuapem South NPP Parliamentary Candidate took the opportunity to highlight the achievements of the NPP government and urged the constituents to support them in the 2024 elections to continue their good work for Mother Ghana.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

The Eastern Regional Secretary for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Anthony Osei Adjei, has stated that the NPP has accomplished a great deal for Ghana.

According to him, the NPP government is dedicated to implementing free policies that improve the lives of Ghanaians.

Osei Adjei highlighted several free policies initiated by the NPP, including free maternity care for pregnant women, free national health insurance, the Free Kufuor Bus initiative, and most notable of all, the Free Senior High School (SHS) program.

“If not for the Free SHS education policy, there would be no Senior High School graduates in some families,” he revealed.

Osei Adjei made these assertions during the launch of the Oyoko NPP campaign team in the New Juaben North Constituency. The newly constituted team is expected to oversee campaign activities in the area while promoting the party’s ideas and policies to residents in hopes of securing votes in the general elections.

He added that since the inception of the Free SHS policy, over 5 million youth have benefited, urging Ghanaians to vote for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President and Flagbearer of the NPP, to ensure its continued protection.

The Parliamentary Candidate for New Juaben North Constituency, Nana Osei Adjei, affectionately known as ‘DeJoe,’ expressed gratitude to the NPP executives in Oyoko for launching the campaign to solicit funds to support his bid to retain the seat for the NPP.

He is optimistic that the residents of Oyoko will give the NPP 90% of their votes to keep the party in power in 2025, allowing them to continue improving Ghana and undertaking more infrastructure projects.

Meanwhile, the outgoing Member of Parliament for the Constituency, Nana Adjei Boateng, noted that all NPP parliamentary candidates have significant work ahead, as ministerial appointments will not be granted easily if Bawumia wins the 2024 elections.

He explained that any parliamentary candidate seeking a position in the next Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia government must secure more votes for him from their constituency; otherwise, they should not expect to receive any appointments.

Nana Adjei Boateng emphasized that the 2024 election is crucial, and the party cannot afford to lose it to the NDC. Therefore, every party member, especially the parliamentary candidates, should work tirelessly to persuade Ghanaians to vote for the NPP to retain power and continue transforming the country.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

The Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN) Ghana Foundation, as part of its social corporate responsibility, has donated digital equipment to the Eastern Regional Hospital, Koforidua, to enhance quality healthcare delivery.

The digital equipment comprises 10 brand-new HP laptops and 2 interactive flat panels or boards.

The Ghana College of Physician elevated the Eastern Regional Hospital and allowed them to train doctors who want to specialize in different fields, such as a surgeon, gynecologist, and pediatrician at the Hospital without traveling a long distance to Accra, and the equipment received would help the training in diverse ways.

Speaking to the cross-section of the media after the donation, the Senior Manager for MTN Ghana Foundation, Robert Kuzoe, stated that the world is going digital and everybody deserves a modern, connected life, so the Foundation is looking forward to providing such equipment to the teaching hospitals to enable them to take good care of their patients.

According to him, the hospital asked for the equipment, and the Foundation saw the need to get it for them to help them save lives and, at the same time, use it to train doctors who wanted to upgrade themselves in the health sector.

Robert Kuzoe added that the Foundation is committed to quality healthcare delivery in the country; therefore, they will continue offering support to the Hospitals when the need arises.

Mary Amponsah-Kwatiah, the administrator of the Hospital, thanked the leadership of the MTN Ghana Foundation for the equipment received, saying that it had come at the expected time.

She added that the Hospital has about 1,000 staff members, and every department uses either a laptop, desktop, or tablet to discharge its duties, but the insufficient digital equipment in the hospital is making their work difficult.

Mary Amponsah-Kwatiah mentioned that the 10 laptops and 2 interactive flat panels received from the MTN Ghana Foundation will help reduce some burden on them and pleaded with other institutions to emulate MTN Ghana Foundation and come to their aid because they needed more digital machines to enable them to discharge their duties accordingly.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

The Headmaster of Oyoko Methodist Senior High School (OMESS) in the New Juaben North Municipal Assembly of the Eastern Region, Seth Darko Odame, has called for infrastructural support for the school, particularly for the teachers’ bungalows.

He mentioned that OMESS has a student population of 5,150, which is the highest in the region.

“However, only 18 teachers, including the headmaster, stay on campus out of 185 teaching staff members and over 90 non-teaching staff, which is very worrying,” he added.

According to him, this unfortunate situation makes supervision, especially in the evenings, difficult.

He stated that the school continues to grow and will need more infrastructure to enhance teaching and learning.

Darko Odame revealed that, with the help of the Student Representative Council (SRC), the school has converted some of the dormitories into residences for hardworking teachers to enable them to stay on campus and teach the students.

Seth Odame made these assertions during the celebration of the school’s 35th golden jubilee anniversary on Saturday, October 19, 2024.

He took the opportunity to appeal for support from the government, philanthropists, institutions, NGOs, and individuals to help address the infrastructural challenges confronting them.

The Dean of Pharmacy at Central University, Professor Kwasi Ohemang, who was the guest speaker at the event, stated that the crises of unemployment, corruption, and galamsey activities are evidence of the failure of the educational system to adequately prepare individuals for societal contributions.

He further noted that religious education has been taught in schools, yet some of the educated elite are the most corrupt segment of society.

This indicates that the university education system has not been producing individuals who are committed to the development of the country.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.

The Member of Parliament for Fanteakwa South Constituency in the Eastern Region, Kofi Okyere Agyekum, popularly known as Arafat, has dismissed the National Democratic Congress (NDC) 24-hour economy policy as mere rhetoric, urging the public not to take it seriously.

He argued that no government institution in the country is capable of operating 24 hours, particularly schools and the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs). 

He further explained that no parent would allow their child to attend school at 10 p.m. and return in the morning, and the same logic applies to all 261 MMDAs.

Arafat emphasized that the 24-hour economy policy could only be feasible in the private sector, and even then, its success would depend on the demand for the company’s products or services. 

He added that if there is low demand, it would be impossible for companies to operate around the clock.

“Former President John Dramani Mahama, in case he wins the election, can’t enact a law to force civil servants to work 24 hours and indicate that already the country is struggling to pay them, and adding additional workers to the ones we are having would worsen the situation,” he opined.

Kofi Okyere Agyekum urged Ghanaians during an interview with Kontihen Kofi Oboh to disregard the lies of the opposition and vote for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the upcoming December 7 elections. 

He emphasized that Bawumia’s leadership would guide the country to a brighter future and create job opportunities for the youth, who are the future of Ghana.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

 

The New Patriotic Party’s Member of Parliament for Fanteakwa South Constituency in the Eastern Region, Kofi Okyere Agyekum, popularly known as ‘Arafat’ has officially commissioned and handed over a six-unit classroom block with auxiliary facilities to Bosuso Presbyterian Basic School to enhance teaching and learning in the area.

He was joined by the District Chief Executive for Fanteakwa South, Ernest Ofosu, the Fanteakwa South District Education Director, Richard Addo, the representative from the E/R Presbyterian Secretariat, the Nananom of Bosuso among other dignitaries.

Addressing the gathering, Arafat stated that the NPP government is committed to quality education by ensuring every Ghanaian child gets a serene and good classroom to study to enable them to perform better in their exams.

The Fanteakwa South Lawmaker added that voting has implications on the lives of the people therefore urging Ghanaians to make a rightful choice in the upcoming 2024 election by voting for a political party that would create jobs for the youth in Ghana.

Kofi Okyere Agyekum then advised Ghanaians not to listen to the empty promises of NDC to vote for them because they have nothing new to offer the country and indicated the next NPP government that would be led by President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia would change the fortunes of the country.

The Fanteakwa South Director of Education, Richard Akosah Addo, thanked the MP and the DCE for the project received, saying it has come at the right time.

According to him, the teachers of the Bosuso Presbyterian Basic School have been crying for Primary School for over 90 years, and now that they have gotten some the teachers have no excuses than to uplift their performance and help the pupils to pass the B.E.C.E.

Furthermore, the District Chief Executive for Fanteakwa South District Assembly, Ernest Ofosu mentioned that education is the bedrock of every country and added that when a government fails to prioritize its education sector, it affects its future generation..

“The NPP government knew that education is the heart of the country, hence making it attractive, building more educational infrastructure, and also paying the teachers well to encourage them to enable raised students who can help develop and transform the country in the future,” he opined.

Ernest Ofosu used the occasion to plead with Ghanaians to maintain NPP in power to continue their good works for the country because a change of government every eight years retard development.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

President Akufo Addo has praised Okyenhene and Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin for advocating for the protection of the lands, forests, and water bodies God has blessed Ghana with from being destroyed by illegal miners.

According to him, when Okyenhene ascended onto the Ofori Panin stool in 1999, he registered his displeasure about the activities of the illegal miners and warned that if measures were not put in place to regularize the mining work, it would hurt the country in some years to come.

President Nana Addo emphatically stated that Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin was the first King in Ghana who spoke against the illegal miners who were destroying our lands, forest reserves, and water bodies*.

The advocacy by Okyenhene to protect these natural resources for future generations has now become a national issue, and many Ghanaians have joined the call to find a remedy to the illegal mining menace.

The Ghana President made these known at Ofori Panin Fie, Kyebi on Saturday, October 12, 2024, during the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin.

Nana Akufo Addo used the opportunity to congratulate Osagyefuo Ofori Panin for his 25th golden jubilee anniversary and also for contributing to the growth and development of Okyenman and Ghana as a whole and asking God’s blessings upon his life to live long.

The Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, on his part, said that the fight against the illegal miners must be a collective responsibility that shouldn’t be rested on the government’s shoulders alone.

“Today because of quick money, some of the cocoa farmers are giving their lands to illegal miners to use them for mining, and this is very worrying,” he noted.

He furthered by saying that one thing about these illegal miners was that they operated at night when everybody was asleep and it would be difficult to arrest or stop them at that time.

The Overload of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council mentioned that should the citizens have a change in mindset and come together as one people, we can fight the canker and save our forest reserves, lands, and water bodies from being damaged to restore the land.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.