NPP youth group calling itself ‘Concerned NPP youth of Asuogyaman’ in the Asuogyaman District in the Eastern Region has warned the Local Government, Decentralization, and Rural Development Minister, Hon. Dan Kwaku Botwe not to impose an alien on the district as a District Chief Executive.
The group at a presser on Thursday, July 15,2021 at Akrade addressed by a convenor of the group and a grassroots crusader, Asare Ronald Alex said its aggitations were based on intelligence picked up indicating that one Owusu Banahene, an alien in the constituency who failed at the regional vetting, somehow found his way to the national vetting and has subsequently been nominated an the new DCE.
The group is kicking against this, warning that it would embark on series of demonstrations if the said alien is imposed on them.
Community Mining at Kwabre in the Jomoro Municipal of the Western Region, which was commissioned on Monday, 5th July 2021 to ensure responsible and sustainable small-scale mining has come under serious scrutiny as youth threatens to block it operations.
The youth group calling itself the Nzema Youth Association and Galamsey Action Group are on the ‘neck’ of the government to halt the operationalization of Kwabre Community Mining to allow proper plans or justification.
According to the youth, any mining at the area would pose a major threat of both health and flooding to all the central parts of Jomoro due to the critical watershed area.
“Many people in Nzema are worried, and rightful so, especially given the devastation that mining in Ghana (community or illegal alike) is disastrous as many as of our water bodies have been wreaked with the Miasma of cyanide and mercury thus causing serious birth defects in some Communities in Ghana”
Speaking at a presser at Awiaso on Wednesday July 14,2021, the Secretary to the group, Mr. Robert Morkeh added that, they cannot sit aloof to look at those who would drink from the river to die from both chemical and other hazardous substances into water-bodies.
Mr. Robert Morkeh said they can never hate mining; but they need properly and regularized mining to ensure that water-bodies and environment are devoid of reckless activities.
“The Nzema Youth Association says the community mining project is another backdoor approach by some “greedy politicians” to amass wealth without preserving the environment”.
“We are also of the believe that, the said Kwabre Community Mining is purely illegal mining in a disguise, therefore, they are calling on President Nana Akufo Addo, Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, the caretaker Municipal Chief executive of Jomoro, Hon. Ernest Kwofie to halt any plans with immediate effect”.
He stressed, the government should rather focus their attention on genuinely solving the significant environment problem that’s been caused by the disastrous management mining in both Ellembelle district and Jomoro municipal.
Furthermore, the Vice President for Galamsey Action Group, Mr Michael Adebbah in a sideline interview with New Day News, on his part is asking the government what compensation made available for the affected land owners whose lands are marked for the community mining project.
Mr. Adebbah again lamented that, many young people are transported from other regions and municipalities to Nzema-land to hold some key employment positions through protocol, adding that, poverty is unleashing on many Nzema youth due to huge number of unemployment.
According to the youth’s vice president, natives on Nzema-land whose lands are blessed with quantum of oil and gas are denied direct benefict from the resources, but sadly suffering from searing heat emanating from the processing of gas from the Ghana Gas culminating in skin rashes and other diseases.
Therefore threatened to organised a demonstration to block all access route leading to the community mining site and prevent movement of government machinery that transport Gas and other resources from the Nzema-land if the government fails to heed to their grievances.
The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has said that the successful launch of the Ghana.Gov digital platform, is a culmination of strategic steps to digitize government sectors over the past four years.
The Ghana.GOV platform, which is available to all citizens, residents and non residents, is the payments and revenue collection platform that provides a single point of access to all services of ministries, departments and agencies of government.
Speaking at the launch of the digital platform in Accra on Wednesday, Dr. Bawumia said, while there had been an attempt by the previous government at a similar exercise, albeit not successful, the Akufo-Addo government knew exactly what it wanted to achieve with Ghana.Gov, so it set out, right from the onset of the administration in 2017, to set up strong pillars which would allow the implementation of an effective and efficient Ghana.Gov.
Dr. Alhaji Bawumia, VP- Ghana
“While Ghana.GOV is not a government’s first attempt at digitizing the provision and delivery of all government services on a single platform (the previous government attempted to do so), the approach this time is novel,” Dr. Bawumia explained.
“We knew from the beginning that certain key pillars have to be in place before a single platform for the effective delivery of government services can be implemented.”
These pillars, which the Vice President stressed the government has evidently established, include providing a unique national identity card for citizens and residents, a digital residential and business addresses, financial inclusion for citizens and residents through mobile money interoperability, the expansion of TIN numbers of tax payers, as well as the digitization of government operations such as the paperless port, passport office, DVLA, NHIA, Registrar General, etc.
“It is only after putting all these key elements in place that we have built this Ghana.Gov platform,” Dr. Bawumia stressed.
The Vice President expressed delight at the successful creation of the Ghana.Gov, saying its operationalisation would be of immense benefits to both citizens and the government.
“Ghana.Gov is a one-stop shop to enable citizens easily access government services, simplify payments for public services, ensure prompt payments for the services and promote transparency and visibility of internally generated funds. It is a real weapon in the fight against demons and principalities in the public sector,” Dr. Bawumia said.
The Vice President also expressed delight that such a remarkable platform was powered by a local consortium (Hubtel, Expresspay and IT Consortium).
“I am excited that we did not have to go beyond our shores to develop and manage a platform like this. Indeed, the spirit of collaboration and innovation exhibited by the local technology companies (Hubtel, Expresspay and IT Consortium) who are powering this payments platform is most admirable.”
The Vice President also commended other stakeholders, including the Ministries of Finance, Communication and Digitalization, the Bank of Ghana, GHIPSS, etc. who worked tirelessly to make the platform a reality
The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Benito Owusu Bio has cautioned persons claimed to be land guards to stay away from their lackadaisical attitude of attacking and beating innocent souls in the country under the guise of guarding people’s land.
Following this, he indicated that they have strengthened the 2020 land act, hence any land guard who found himself guilty would be arrested, fine and jailed in addition to the person who hired their services to protect or guard such lands.
The Deputy Minister who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Atwima Nwabiagya Counstituency in the Ashanti Region noted that anyone who sells lands to more than an individual will also go to prison thus the call of sending this information across board becomes key to enable persons involved into illegality act quit immediately.
Notwithstanding, Hon. Owusu Bio sent strong warning to the sand winners to seek for permit before they start their work because sand winning is also part of mining since they wouldn’t get things easy should the law gets hold of them.
“It is not only the galamseyers and illegal chainsaw operators who are destroying our lands and water bodies but the sand winners are also part of it” he noted.
Hon. Benito Owusu Bio told Kingdom FM’s KONTIHEN KOFI OBOH in an interview during the inauguration and swearing-in of the Eastern Regional new Land Commissioners at the Regional Co-ordinating Council (ERCC)
Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Seth Kwame Acheampong on his part said, a lot of challenges are confronting the land administration within the country which has become a desired to H. E. Prez Akufo-Addo’ administration to support the lands commission to deal with such growing canker.
The Regional Minister continue that, the gov’t of Nana Addo is keen to help solved the challenges facing the land sector by undertaken some interventions, that is; committing to ensure a turn around time for land registration to reduced the acceptable time frame.
Again the Eastern Regional Chairman for Lands Commission, Mr. Kofi Dankwa Osei then urged his colleagues commissioners that the ERCC is expecting a lot from them as development control is concern.
“The new land act 2020,act 10(36) stated that it is our core mandate to ensure the general public understand the requirement of the law and the innovation introduced by the law” he said
However, he added that, it is their core duty as [ commissioners] to collaborate and cooperate with the traditional authorities to succeed in their work since in most cases they’re dominant land owners.
Nana Poku Bosompim, Deputy Manager of Forestry Commission-E/R
The Eastern Regional Deputy Manager of Forestry Commission, Nana Poku Bosompim has stressed that the Region is embarking on H. E. Prez Akuffo Addo’s directives of the entire country planting 5 million trees to revived our collapsing forest due to the activities of the illegal miners in the country.
“Out of the 5 million seedings, eastern region was given 750,000 seedings to be planted. According to Nana Bosompim, they exceeded their target given them by planting 950,000 seedings on that particularly day per their records”.
He added that, day in and day out people come in for some of the seedlings for planting, adding that, they will keep embarking on the project until October to November where the ‘rain’ will stop.
Nana Poku Bosompim revealed these to Kingdom FM’s KONTIHEN KOFI OBOH in an interview on how the project is fairing after a month.
This, he is of the hope that before the raining season stops in the region, over 1 million trees would be planted.
“Prez Nana deserved commendation, because he declared 5million seedings to be planted in one day and as result many Ghanaians took part in the greening Ghana project on June 11, 2021 and it has helped us in so many ways” he noted.
Nana Bosompim further stated that, it is not only eastern region that achieved it target by planting over 9,000 tress but the whole country also planted over 9 million trees on that day instead of 5million.
He adds, because the first gentleman of the land backs this project, many cooperate Ghana also contributed immensely for the progression of the Greening Ghana Project.
Member of Parliament for Wassa Amenfi East Constituency, Hon. Nicholas Amankwah a.k.a Home Boy has urged the Assembly Members of Wassa Amenfi East Municipal Assembly in the Western Region to put aside their political differences and collaborate to accelerate the socio-economic development of the Municipality.
“Let’s all come together as partners and work tirelessly to developed these Municipality” he charged the Hon. Assembly Members.
Speaking at the Municipal Assembly’s meeting on Thursday, 8, which was chaired by the presiding Member of the Assembly, Hon. Ohemeng Kwasi Hayford, Hon Nicholas Amankwah noted that, a well-developed Municipality could only achieved its dreams if the citizenry worked together as one people.
Hon. Nicholas Amankwah assured them of his support, indicating that,a lot of developmental projects are underway to boost human capital in the Wassa Amenfi East Municipal Assembly
The lawmaker also admonished the Assembly Members to be active participants in revenue mobilisation.
This, according to him, will enable them to be conversant with how funds are being generated and used for infrastructure projects for their various communities. The Assemblies uses Internal Generated Fund for every projects, thus urging them to talk to their electoral areas residents to pay their tax for the Assembly to get enough funds to do more developmental projects for them.
However, the MP acknowledged the hardworking Assembly Members for being the force of positive change to transformed the Municipality.
Hon. Amankwah urged the municipal assembly to strengthen the taxforce of the assemblies starting this month with better equipment and uniforms to help in their line of duty.
Mr. Bismarck Tawiah Boateng, Former E/R Chairman- NDC
Former Eastern Regional Chairman for the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Bismarck Tawiah Boateng affectionately called Otafirgya has said, most a times demonstrations come as a result when things fall apart and get out of hands.
He added, demonstration is a collective responsibility of everybody if they realized things are going wrong in the country, workplace or in a society where they finds themselves.
He stated, where Ghana has gotten to as at now is very dangerous. Citing the rate of killings, attacking, and daylight robberies are too much thus Ghanaians doesn’t feel secured under Nana – Bawumia’s governance.
Mr. Tawiah Boateng continue that, with the recent occurrences of insecurity in the country, H. E. the Prez should have fired all heads of security agencies of Ghana, because they are not on top of their task.
He told Kingdom FM’s KONTIHEN KOFI OBOH in an interview about their ‘March for justice’ demonstration that occurred on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 in Accra- Ghana.
This, he commended the Ghana police service for the protection they gave them, describing it as a successful one.
Furthermore he stressed, they have presented their petition letter to Prez Nana Addo and the Parliament.
“Our leaders won’t think twice about it to let us organized regional demonstration to tell Ghanaians that Prez. Akufo-Addo don’t care for their safety if they don’t get an answers to the situation at hand”
Mr. Boateng added, we have had so many murderers in the country but when they are arrested and arraigned before the court, the court delayed their case, meanwhile elections 2020 was declared within 48hrs.
“There is too much hardship in the country. Day in and day out the price of commodities keeps on increasing including the fuel price, the Prez of the republic have to rectify the challenges confronting the country ” he noted.
The MCE for New Juaben South Municipal Assembly of Eastern Region, Hon. Isaac Apaw Gyasi together with the Nanaanom of New Juaben Traditional Area has cut sod for the reconstruction and redevelopment of the Koforidua Jackson Park.
The projects after its completion will see a car park, playing field, event centres, and etc.
Addressing the ceremony, Hon. Isaac Apaw Gyasi stressed the excitement of being part of such memorable occasion since the indigenous of Koforidua had been awaiting for such day to occurred
Hon. Ike Apaw Gyasi,MCE-New Juaben South Municipal Assembly.
He indicated that, the New Juaben Municipal Assembly has been privileged to be part of the 25 Assemblies benefiting from the Ghana Secondary Cities Support Projects in collaboration with the Local Gov’t Ministry because the Assembly once hosted the national launch which was held in 2019.
Hon. Apaw Gyasi continue that, Secondary Cities Support Project is five years development project and it is based on performance of the participating Assembly.
“As an Assembly, we had our support in the year 2020 and we targeted the Nsukwao basin drainage system to minimize as much as possible flooding that have over yrs resulted in destroying a lot of homes throughout the years”.
“Koforiduaman is grateful to H. E. Prez Nana Addo for given us such project to transformed the Municipality” he expressed.
Furthermore, the Omanhene for New Juaben Traditional Area, Prof. Emeritus Daaasebre Oti Boateng II said he and his chiefs will do everything possible under their powers to support such project to developed Koforidua.
Prof. Emeritus Daasebre Oti Boateng II, Omanhene- New Juaben Traditional Area
He again added, gov’t alone can’t do developmental projects in the country neither the CEO’s of individual institutions therefore it is a collective responsibility of everybody.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Seth Kwame Acheampong appealed on persons who in either ways be directly or indirectly affected through these projects to forgive them.
“We will asked them to cooperate with the contractors when work is commenced” the Minister asked.
Hon. Seth Kwame Acheampong, Minister-E/R.
Hon. Seth Acheampong thereby revealed that, the project when completed will create over 400 jobs for the youth of Koforidua.
“I want to end by saying a big thank you to the people of the North East Region, especially to the people of Walewale. You have given me a first-class assistant in the form of the Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia. He has been of great help to me and my government.”
These were the words of the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Tuesday, 22nd June 2021, at a meeting with the Chiefs and people of Wlewale, at the commencement of his 2-day tour of the North East Region.
In his remarks to the gathering, the President indicated that one of the reasons for his tour of the North East Region was to come and thank the Chiefs and people for the big support they gave him and his party, the New Patriotic Party, in the 2020 general elections.
“Of the six (6) six seats there are in the North East Region, NPP won four (4). And, for the first time in the history of the 4th Republic, the NPP Presidential candidate won the absolute majority of the presidential vote in the North East Region,” President Akufo-Addo said.
“Nalerigu and Bunkpurugu did not vote for the NPP. It is a pity, and I am hoping that next time we can do better and get all six seats in the North East Region,” the President said
Even though in Nalerigu, the NPP “lost a woman” in the person of Hajia Alima Mahama, the President indicated that “you, in Walewale, have given me another woman. I have expressed my appreciation not only for the vote, but also for her qualities and abilities in nominating her as the Deputy Minister designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection.”
With several appointees of Government hailing from the North East Region, President Akufo-Addo assured that, upon the completion of the composition of his government, there will be more appointments made from the region.
President Akufo-Addo thanked the Wulugu Naba for his words of commendation for the work undertaken since 2017 in all parts of the country, describing it as very encouraging for him.
“I want to assure him that expanding the road network and the establishment of a tertiary institution in the Region are going to be taken on board and something will be done about it,” he said.
With a few days to the start of the 2021 census, President Akufo-Addo urged residents of Walewale and, indeed, of the North East Region, to participate in the National Census, as the onset of COVID-19 prevented the holding of the Census last year.
“Whatever your tribe, for as long as you are in the country, get yourself counted. This is because if we have an accurate data on the population, and on its breakdown, then we can plan better for its development.,” he added.
The Eastern Regional Deputy Nasara Coordinator for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Musah Adamu Raha has registered his displeasure at which some armed robbers in the country are using muslims names for robbing people.
He said, most of the armed robbers bares muslims name but don’t observed prayers as Muslims, adding that whenever they are being arrested by police they give their identity with Muslims names meanwhile they are not truly Muslims.
Musah Raha recalled once a Kumasi Police Command nabbed an armed robber lady which she gave her name as Fati but through their thorough investigation they found out she got that name way back in SHS as nickname but she was rather a presbytery.
“Those who are using Muslims names for robbery and hooliganism must put an end to it now because we [Muslims] hold Islam in high esteem” he noted.
Musah Adamu Raha who made these known to Kingdom FM’s KONTIHENE KOFI OBOH in an interview stated that the activity of robberss is tarnishing the genuine names of Muslims as well as their religion.
Furthermore, he admitted to the fact that sometimes some of their people also go wayward, we are telling them to remember the principles and the values of the religion that binds them together as Muslims and stop doing those bad things.
“Because Islam doesn’t tolerate robbery, someone may suffered, worked hard to get money and you will use just a day to pull gun on the person to robbed him or her, you will never see peace till eternity” he warned.
Musah Raha added, any decent Muslim lives very well even with Christians. There is peace and harmony amongst them. That’s why we see Vee Dr. Bawumia attending church programmes it doesn’t makes him a Christian but he does that to tell us we are all one people.
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