TIG Post

Tag: Eastern Region

  • Construction of 50 bridges in farming communities underway – Roads Minister

    Construction of 50 bridges in farming communities underway – Roads Minister

    In order to advance socioeconomic activities throughout the country, 50 bridges in farming areas are being built by the government, according to Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Attah.

    These Czech steel bridges, spanning a total of 1,500 meters, were procured through Messrs Knights A/S, with the support of the Czech government.

    The initiative aims to replace dilapidated bridges and provide access to previously isolated communities affected by water crossings.

    During a visit to the Czech Republic, Amoako-Attah led a delegation to discuss the progress of the bridge construction project with Messrs Knights A/S, who were contracted under a Czech export credit facility.

    The minister also negotiated an additional 100 steel bridges to further improve transportation infrastructure.

    As part of the visit, Amoako-Attah held productive bilateral meetings with officials from ČSOB Bank, EGAP (Czech Insurance Company), Raiffeisen Bank, as well as representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Transport, and Trade and Industry of the Czech Republic.

    Highlighting the significance of these bridges, Amoako-Attah emphasized, “The bridges will reduce travel time, enhance accessibility for local communities, alleviate traffic congestion at river crossings, and contribute to the growth of the agricultural sector,” ghanaiantimes.com.gh quoted the minister.

    Out of the 50 bridges, 34 are nearing completion, with 90% of the work finished, while 10 bridges are ready for immediate use. Prominent among the substantially completed bridges are those spanning the Taifa-Dome stream in the Greater Accra Region, the Okurudu Stream in Kpormettey in the Central Region, the Birim River on the Akim Mamponp-Adasawase road in the Eastern Region, the Kokoso-Bohyen Road in the Ashanti Region, and the Kamba River on the Sentu-Girigan-Kpari road in the Upper West Region.

    The minister further explained that once the additional 100 bridges are secured, they will be installed on feeder roads nationwide, enhancing accessibility in farming communities and replacing existing deteriorated steel bridges.

    Expressing satisfaction with the progress made by Knights A/S in installing the steel bridges, the CEO of EGAP, Dr. David Havelicek, assured Amoako-Attah of his company’s continued support for Ghana.

    The contract agreements for financing the project were signed by the Government of Ghana, Knights A/S, and Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Bank on April 2, 2019. Amoako-Attah lauded the longstanding friendly relations between Ghana and the Czech Republic, which date back to 1959, and acknowledged the significant role of Czech investments in Ghana’s economic development.

    He also appealed to the Czech Republic for further support in the supply of steel bridges. Accompanying the minister on the visit were Dr. Abass Mohammed Awolu, Chief Director of the Ministry of Roads and Highways; James Nyasembi; Ahmad Tijani Abubakari, Ambassador and Deputy Ambassador of Ghana to the Czech Republic; Dr. Karl Laryea, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Knight; Mr. Lanka Laryea, President of Knight; and officials from the Ghanaian Embassy in the Czech Republic.

  • Student drowns after ditching school for swimming

    Student drowns after ditching school for swimming

    A 19-year-old Junior High School student has drowned in the Densu River after skipping class to go swimming with friends.

    The incident occured at Oparekrom in Nsawam Adoagyiri municipality in Eastern region Thursday June 15,2023 but body was retrieved next day.

    According to witnesses , on the fateful day deceased student of Tieku Basic School and his friends went to river Densu to swim without asking for permission from teachers.

    While swimming at about 2:00pm , Shadrach drowned as all effort to rescue him failed.

    The body was swept away by the river but retrieved the next morning around 10:30am.

    The body has been deposited at Nsawam government hospital pending investigation by Police.

    According to WHO,drowning is a leading cause of accidental death worldwide.

    Every year, an estimated 236,000 people drown, making drowning a major public health issue globally.

    Viewer discretion advised:

    Student drowns after ditching school for swimming in river

    Drowning is one of the leading causes of death globally for children and young people aged 1-24 years.

    It is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death, accounting for 7% of all injury-related deaths.

    The global burden of death from drowning is felt in all economies and regions, however:low- and middle-income countries account for over 90% of unintentional drowning deaths.

  • 6-day-old baby allegedly missing at Nana Boame

    6-day-old baby allegedly missing at Nana Boame

    A six-day-old newborn girl is reportedly missing at Nana Boame, Teacher Mantey community in the Ayensuano District of the Eastern Region.

    Kwame Amegbetsi and Portia Kemevor parents of the missing baby girl explained that the incident occured Monday June 5, 2023 at about 5:00pm after the mother left the infant who was sleeping in the room to rush out to buy baby diapers from a nearby shop.

    She returned with shock to find that the baby has been abducted and was nowhere to be found.

    All effort to trace the whereabouts of the baby have since proved futile.

    The father, Kwame Amegagbetsi who was in the farm when the incident occurred said official report has been lodged at Teacher Mantey Police Station which search, and investigation continued in subsequent days but to no avail.

    Robert Azaglo, Uncle of the baby told the media the entire family is shocked by the incident and therefore appealed to the police to help the family get the baby alive.

    Some residents claim similar incidents have happened in time past and the children were never found.

    They fear some criminals may have targeted children in the community for money rituals known as “Sakawa “.

  • EU plants 500 trees in Atewa Forest

    EU plants 500 trees in Atewa Forest

    The European Union in Ghana has planted 500 trees in Atewa Forest.

    The indigenous tree seedlings were planted at an abandoned mine site close to the Atewa Forest, adjacent to the Apapam community in Kyebi, Eastern Region.

    The event highlighted the untapped potential for green investments and jobs for local communities without harming the forest landscape, as part of larger efforts to preserve Ghana’s environment and biodiversity.

    The EU’s tree planting supports the reforestation efforts by the Government of Ghana under the leadership of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission.

    This includes the Green Ghana Day 2023, which took place on June 9 on the theme ‘Our forests, Our Health’, as a part of a larger campaign to plant 10 million tree seedlings across the country.

    The EU event brought together representatives of the Government of Ghana including the Forestry Commission, traditional leaders, NGOs and partner institutions as well as the people of Apapam community.

    The activity notably involved youth groups in the Kyebi area and five schools in the Abuakwa South Municipal Area to provide them with knowledge on how to protect and benefit from their local landscape in a green way.

    This was also the opportunity to launch the EU-funded report on Green Development Pathways and Jobs for the Atewa Landscape communities, which identifies viable green development pathways as alternatives to all forms of mining in the Atewa Forest Reserve.

    The study clearly demonstrates that jobs, business and investment that protect rather than exploit the Atewa Forest are viable options that offer genuine alternatives to harmful mining practices.

    These include programmes on Ecotourism development, Landscape Emission Reduction, and Sustainable Botanical Harvest.

    This clearly demonstrates that development in Ghana can be sustainably pursued without the negative repercussions on the environment.

    EU Ambassador to Ghana, Irchad Razaaly, emphasised that “Forests are essential to mitigate climate change and environmental degradation. They restore essential biodiversity, provide us with clean air and protect essential resources for local communities.”

    Daryl Bosu, Deputy National Director of A Rocha Ghana, reiterated the need for all stakeholders, government, traditional authorities and communities to support efforts to secure the irreplaceable forests and ecosystem services that the Akyem Abuakwa area provides, so as to serve as the foundation upon which to hinge a thriving green development agenda, for people, business and nature.

  • Eastern Region records a decline in malaria related deaths

    Eastern Region records a decline in malaria related deaths

    The Eastern Region recorded a total of 14 deaths from malaria in 2022 as against 29 deaths recorded in 2021

    There was a total of 31,489 admissions at the various health facilities across the districts in the region due to malaria in 2021 and 36,285 admissions of malaria in 2022.

    Ms Naomi Hagan, Eastern Regional Focal Person for malaria told GNA there was a significant improvement in malaria control in the region including deaths due to several factors.

    There is improvement in case management, social and behavioural change communication, usage of the Insecticide Treated Bed nets (ITNs) as well as other activities to improve malaria situation in the region.

    The point of mass distribution of the ITNs has been very successful in all the districts as well as the continuous distribution of the ITNs at Ante natal clinics and Child Welfare Clinics to ensure every household owed a bed net to prevent mosquito bites.

    As part of activities to further reduce the malaria burden in the region, she indicated that 10 districts in the region had been identified for Larvae Source Management (LSM) as well as environmental management to reduce malaria infections in those areas.

    The districts are, New Juaben North and South, Abuakwa South, Akuapem South, Asuogyaman, Lower-Manya Krobo, Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Suhum, West-Akim and Yilo Krobo.

    In collaboration with the Zoomlion company Limited, 100 spraying operatives had been trained for the LSM exercise to get rid of mosquitoes scheduled from June this month until the end of the year.

    She noted that that all other activities such as the Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPT) for pregnant women was steadily ongoing and appealed to people to sleep under the treated bed nets in addition to keeping their environments clean to complement efforts of the Ghana health Service to be able to eliminate malaria.

  • FDA steps up training for packaged water producers in Eastern Region

    FDA steps up training for packaged water producers in Eastern Region

    The Eastern Regional Office of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has educated over 60 individuals from 27 different packaged water companies on safe and effective methods of production and sanitation. 

    The participants included Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and representatives of the packaged water-producing companies from the Yilo Krobo, Lower Manya, Upper Manya and Asuogyaman District Assemblies. 

    Ms Anita Owusu-Kuffour, the Acting Eastern Regional Head of the FDA told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that the training was to ensure that packaged water supplied into the market was safe for consumption. 

    “This is to ensure compliance within the packaged water-producing industries, update and give current knowledge of good manufacturing practices. It’s not just to put the product out there,” she noted. 

    She said the training conformed to the Public Health Act of 2012, Act 851, which mandated the FDA to regulate the manufacture, importation, distribution and sale of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices and household chemical substances. 

    Therefore, participants, she noted, were taken through quality assurance, some scientific filtration methods such as reverse osmosis system and Ultraviolet Light Sanitizer, hygienic practices and documentation. 

    Mr. Joseph Yeboah, Head of the Enforcement Unit at the FDA’s Eastern Regional Office, stated that the training was organised due to the non-compliance of packaged water manufacturers in the region with manufacturing practices. 

    He said to evaluate the success of the training, participants were given brief assessments on the knowledge obtained during the training that was to be implemented during the manufacturing process. 

    He observed that the participants demonstrated a high level of engagement in the training session by contributing to and asking questions about the various topics covered to dispel any misconceptions and implement the acquired knowledge with comprehension.  

    Mr. Yeboah added that periodic, unannounced inspections of the various packaged water-producing companies would be conducted to ensure that good manufacturing and hygienic practices were implemented for the protection of citizens. 

  • ECG and Ghana Armed Forces collaborate to repair Somanya roads

    ECG and Ghana Armed Forces collaborate to repair Somanya roads

    As part of ECG’s corporate social responsibility, the management of the Krobo District branch of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has restored some of the roads in the Somanya township in the Yilo Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region in partnership with the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

    The workers of ECG, the GAF and the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly, led by the municipal chief executive (MCE), Eric Tetteh, and the acting Krobo District Manager of ECG, Christopher Apawu, worked on the roads at Djaba through Akweteman, both in the Somanya township.

    They filled the portholes that were creating major problems for road users.

    The Tema Region ECG Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mary Sakyiwa Mensah, who spoke to the media on behalf of the company after the work, stressed the need for roads to be maintained periodically to be more motorable, due to their usefulness to society in general, adding, “without good roads, we all suffer the consequences”.

    Cordial relationship

    She said the issue that came up last year between the company and the customers in the Krobo area had been resolved and there was, therefore, a cordial relationship existing between the company and its Krobo customers as the prepaid meters were installed for the customers.

    She explained that currently, arrangements were being made for customers who did not get the prepaid meters to be served.

    She was grateful to all the players, including the Energy Minister, the Energy Ministry, the Ghana Armed Forces, traditional authorities from both Yilo and Manya Krobo, the religious leaders, the ECG Management from the national, the region and the Krobo District, as well as the media, for various the roles they played to bring the issue to an end during the crisis.

    The MCE of Yilo Krobo, Eric Tetteh, who fully participated in the event, was full of excitement for seeing the military and the ECG workers, as well as some of the assembly workers, working together on the road.

    Political game

    He explained that during the power crisis in the Krobo area, the citizens saw the military as people who were in to beat and brutalise them, adding: “Today, the same military persons are helping to fix our road, which is the source of my excitement”.      

    He lauded the ECG for sponsoring the activity which face-lifted the road in the area and added colour to the May Day event in the municipality.

    Payment for power

    Mr Tetteh said the power that ECG supplied to the customers anywhere in Ghana was bought from energy producers and he, therefore, advised the customers to ensure they paid for the power they consumed for the company to be in good business.  

    The MCE, however, pleaded with ECG to reduce the cost of extra meters that it was supplying to the customers in the area for them to afford the payment.

  • Mentally challenged man kills mother on ‘Mother’s Day’

    Mentally challenged man kills mother on ‘Mother’s Day’

    A 21-year-old mentally challenged man, Tafari Abednego Thompson has allegedly killed his 59-year-old biological mother, Madam Mwassa Tafari.

    The tragic incident happened on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 14, at Obosomase-Akuapem in the Eastern Region.

    The suspect, believed to be mentally unstable, fled into the nearby bush immediately after committing the heinous crime.

    Upon discovering the lifeless body of Madam Tafari, the local youth quickly organized a search party, knowing that the suspect was the only person living with the deceased.

    Led by one David Yeboah, the youth combed the surrounding bush, determined to apprehend the suspect.

    Eventually, they found Thompson at the boundary between Obosomase and Dodowa. Shockingly, the young man had used a metal object to inflict multiple wounds on his mother, disfiguring her face in the process.

    Tunyejah Tafari Thompson, the elder brother of the suspect, disclosed that his brother had been displaying unusual behavior for the past year, causing significant troubles within the family.

    Authorities have taken custody of Madam Mwassa Tafari’s body, depositing it at the Police Hospital mortuary. The police have initiated their investigation into the incident.

  • Accident at Adukrom claims 3 lives

    Accident at Adukrom claims 3 lives

    Three individuals have been killed in a tragic accident which involved a tricycle and a truck at Adukrom-Akuapem in the Okere District, Eastern region.

    The crash occurred on the 16th of May 2023 at about 7:am near the waterworks junction area.

    According to an eyewitness, the tricycle locally known as “Aboboya” was loaded with concrete land demarcation pillars descending from Adukrom towards Aseseeso but reportedly failed brake and collided with a Kia truck with registration number GE 7984 coming from the opposite direction.

    The two persons aboard the tricycle died instantly but the rider died upon arrival at the Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital where eight other victims were rushed to for emergency care.

    Assemblymember for Adukrom- Methodist electoral area Hon Ebenezer Obiri Asare, explained that a total of twelve(12) victims were involved.

    Five were in the tricycle while seven were in the Kia truck.

    He said fire Service personnel, police and civilians worked together to retrieve the bodies and manage the accident situation.

    “We were following the tricycle but when it reached Adukrom water works it crashed into the driver’s side of the Kia. The tricycle was descending with speed it seems there was a brake failure. So two of the five persons on the tricycle died instantly while the other three were rushed to hospital. We are told the rider popularly known as Enkase also couldn’t survive.”

  • Birim North: 17 persons trapped after mining pit collapses

    Birim North: 17 persons trapped after mining pit collapses

    Rescue efforts are ongoing to recover the bodies of 17 individuals who have been trapped after the collapse of a mining pit at Korle Teye Takorso in the Birim North District of the Eastern Region.

    The victims are said to be constructors who were working on the pit.

    According to reports, out of 9 persons who were rescued from the debris moments after the collapse, 7 have been confirmed dead leaving 2 alive.

    It is unclear what caused the collapse of the pit, but some community members suggest the heavy rainfall recorded in most parts of the country on Monday [May 15] is a contributing factor.

    According to reports, the rescue operation is currently being led by the locals and other miners in the area who chased out journalists who went to the scene to cover the unfortunate incident.

    The retrieved bodies have since been deposited at the morgue after a local ambulance was called in by the miners.

  • NPP not for Akans only, allow other tribes to lead – Okyere Baafi

    NPP not for Akans only, allow other tribes to lead – Okyere Baafi

    The period of Akans holding the flagbearership post in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is over, according to Member of Parliament for New Juaben South Constituency in the Eastern region and Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Michael Okyere Baafi.

    According to him, it is now time for other tribes to also take over to lead the party as presidential candidates and to ascend the presidential seat.

    Mr. Okyere Baafi explained that the NPP is made up of members from different ethnic groups and religions, therefore, appropriate for anyone qualified to lead the party regardless of his or her background.

    “What I want to say is that, with the direction of the country, it is not only one community which makes Ghana. We have Ashantis, we have Ewes, we have Gas, we have Krobos and Bonos in Ghana. Some of all these tribes are Members of NPP which means the era where only Akans lead the party is over. Now we need people from all these tribes listed to also lead the party to become president” Okyere Baafi said.

    Hon. Michael Okyere Baafi made this comment when speaking at the official launch of “Women Delegates For Bawumia” in Koforidua, the Eastern regional capital.

    Okyere Baafi described as deceitful and untenable claims that Ghana is a Christian-dominated country therefore a Muslim cannot become president.

    “They say Ghana is a Christian country so some say a Muslim cannot lead the country. This is where I want to speak briefly on. For all those contesting the election, the only one who can be president is called Mr. Mahamudu Bawumia. Among the aspirants the only one who can lead the party into victory, his name is Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia”.

    He continued, “Some Christians who want to deceive you that they are the majority so won’t vote for Muslim must cast their minds to Nigeria. In Nigeria, Muslims are majority but the President is a Christian. In Senegal, Muslims are majority but the President is a Christian. Listen very well! A country with diverse tribes means everyone could become president in future”.

    He said Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has demystified the myth that Muslims cannot fellowship with Christians in church, and has set a standard that will become a yardstick for every Muslim who wants to be President.

    “Christians must listen. For the first time, we are going to have a Muslim as President to serve as standard to every Muslim who dreams to be President. Dr.Bawumia will be the first Muslim to bring that standard because most Muslims don’t enter Churches to fellowship but we have a Muslim (Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia) who attends all-night services, a Muslim who goes to conventions, a Muslim who attends retreats, a Muslim who worships with Christians such a Muslim will become standard”.

    He added “So henceforth, every Muslim who wants to be president will follow the standard. He must be a Muslim who can enter into churches, he should be a Muslim who can attend retreats, that is the paradigm shift brought to Ghana by Dr. Bawumia. He is setting a standard for everybody who is a Muslim who wants to become a president, for the first time he has set the standard for all of us. So don’t let anyone deceive you. Dr. Bawumia is well experienced, he has the will-power, he has the expertise, he has knowledge and wisdom to move Ghana forward.”

    “Women Delegates for Bawumia” is a new political group within the ruling NPP made up of female delegates who have declared support for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to become flagbearer of the party in 2024.”

    The theme for the Women Delegates for Bawumia is “The Strength of a Woman, the force behind Bawumia.”

    The launch was attended by female delegates of the NPP from all 33 Constituencies in the Eastern region.

    The National Coordinator of “Women Delegates for Bawumia” Maame Esi Davenport said the aim of the group is to secure 80% female delegates’ votes for Dr. Bawumia.

    This she said will be done through a vigorous campaign strategy trumpeting the achievements of the Akufo Addo/Bawumia-led government.

    She touted the competence of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in leading the country describing him as an able and exceptional Vice President whose involvement in politics has changed the face of Ghanaian politics.

    She stated that Dr. Bawumia’s experience in both the private and public sectors adds to his credentials as the best presidential material.

    She averred that Dr. Bawumia has been instrumental in the Akufo Addo-led government’s policy interventions impacting positively the country

    Maame Esi Davenport debunked propaganda by opponents that Dr. Bawumia is new in NPP stating that “he has been with the NPP for decades, worked so hard for the NPP to win power through his economic lectures that exposed the incompetence of John Mahama led government” therefore deserves to lead the party.

    On women empowerment, she said Dr.Bawumia has demonstrated in many ways his commitment to empowering women to take leadership roles to change society, using his Wife the second lady Samira Bawumia as an example.

  • Woman meets untimely death after pastor administered ‘spiritual oil’ on her

    Woman meets untimely death after pastor administered ‘spiritual oil’ on her

    A 42-year-old woman has lost her life in a rather bizarre incident. The sad incident occurred after the woman‘s engagement with a pastor who allegedly administered ‘spiritual oil’ on her.

    According to reports, the victim, Ama Nkansah Appiah, suffered from burns caused by the ‘spiritual oil’ during a deliverance session.

    The incident happened on April 25, 2023, at Akyem Asawase, a suburb of Akyem Awisa in the Birim South District of the Eastern Region.

    According to Adwoa Gloria, the junior sister of the deceased, her sister went to the pastor for spiritual consultation and returned home with burns.

    She was admitted to the Oda Government Hospital but later transferred to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, where she eventually died on May 2.

    When the family contacted the pastor, he denied any wrongdoing. However, it was later discovered that the pastor’s left hand and feet were also burnt.

    Further investigations revealed that Pastor Owusu allegedly used a spiritual oil during his usual incantations, which resulted in the fire that caused the woman’s injuries.

    Mrs. Priscilla Asmah, another sister of the deceased, clarified that rumours circulating in Akyem Oda suggesting that her sister had been attacked by a jealous spouse were false.

    The pastor has since been detained by the Akyem Oda Police, as the family of the deceased seeks justice for their departed sister.

    The incident has raised concerns about irresponsible spiritual practices and the need for regulation in the industry.

  • Ritual gone bad as ‘Sakawa’ boys return snake after it failed to vomit money

    Ritual gone bad as ‘Sakawa’ boys return snake after it failed to vomit money

    Chaos erupted at Nkurakan in the Yilo Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region when a group of boys, suspected to be ritualists, abandoned a box containing a snake in the middle of a street.

    The trio, believed to be between the ages of 19 and 25, hopped out of a Honda Civic car to return the snake to the ritualist for failing to vomit money in 30 days as directed.

    Information gathered indicates that the boys confessed to having been given the snake at the same spot they abandoned it with the explanation that it did not produce any money despite the sacrifices they had made.

    They are reported to have said the ritualist ordered them to feed the snake with eggs and other items and in turn, it will vomit money in different currencies. However, after the 30 days had lapsed, there was still no show.

    The sight attracted residents to the spot as the boys managed to escape.

    Meanwhile, a man purported to be the ritualist has retrieved the box containing the supposed money-vomiting snake.

    The police were called to the scene but both boys and the ritualist were nowhere to be found.

    The district police command has launched a manhunt and investigations into the bizarre incident.

  • FDA seizes unapproved drugs, food worth over GHS200k

    FDA seizes unapproved drugs, food worth over GHS200k

    Eight tonnes of regulated food and medication goods that were dangerous and valued more than GH$200,000 have been destroyed by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in the Eastern Region.

    The unwholesome goods were seized during a routine examination by the Food and Drugs Authority from a number of markets and stores in Koforidua and neighboring districts and towns.

    The items included a variety of expired or unregistered food items, substandard medications, bloated foods and beverages, herbal capsules and concoctions, expired sanitary pads, bakery items, date-marked products with tempered dates, dented and rusted items, and cosmetics containing the bleaching agent hydroquinone.

    The destruction of the products is part of efforts by the FDA Eastern Regional Office to ensure that only safe and quality products were available on the market for consumption. ⁠⁠⁠

    Speaking to Ghana News Agency, Madam Anita Kuffuor Owusu, Eastern Regional Head of FDA, disclosed that the items were seized from pharmacies, warehouses, supermarkets, beauty supply shops, provision shops, food retail establishments, over-the-counter medicine shops, as well as table tops in the New Juaben south and north municipalities.

    She warned people against consuming unwholesome products that could harm their health and urged them to always pay attention to the expiration and manufacturing dates of products before buying them from the market.

    She urged people to report any non-compliant products they see on the market to the FDA office so that the necessary regulatory actions could be taken.

    Madam Kuffuor also cautioned regulated companies against disposing of regulated products and medications on their own, emphasising the need for safe disposal of these items per policies and procedures. 

    The FDA Head of Enforcement Unit and other officers from relevant agencies supervised the products being crushed and buried at the Akwadum dumping site near Koforidua. 

  • Eastern region: 6-month-old dies in 8feet polytank

    Eastern region: 6-month-old dies in 8feet polytank

    A lifeless body of a 6-month-old baby has been retrieved in a water-filled polytank at a building site in Nkurakan, Yilo Krobo Municipality, in the Eastern region.

    The baby got missing on Saturday May 6, 2023 but found drowned in polytank erected about 8 feet tall above ground level next day Sunday afternoon.

    The mother is said to have left the now deceased baby in the custody of other children to fetch water. But upon return, the children told her a man came around and picked the baby.

    Frantic search for the baby proved futile on the fateful Saturday.

    Continuous search on Sunday found the baby drowned in a Polytank at a construction site near the house.

    A ladder was used to climb the Polytank to get inside to retrieve the body of the baby.

    The body has been deposited at the morgue of Eastern Regional hospital by Police to aide investigation.

    The Police have not  meanwhile arrested a suspect.

  • Fuel tanker explodes at Mamfe mountains

    Fuel tanker explodes at Mamfe mountains

    On Saturday, May 6, 2023 a fuel tanker exploded at Mamfe in the Eastern region, while descending the mountains.

    According to an eyewitness, the situation is serious as the tanker continues to explode multiple times.

    He said the entire stretch of road has been engulfed in flames hence vehicles plying the road are unable to cross creating gridlock.

    Many passengers are therefore stranded.

    No casualty confirmed so far.

    Motorists are to use Koforidua to Adukrom road to join Mamfe, Aburi and continue to Accra as fire fighters were yet to arrive to extinguish the fire.

    Multiple crashes have recently been recorded on that stretch of the road.

    Scores of passengers were reportedly injured after a Toyota Fish with registration number GX 8555-20 and a Toyota Hiace with registration number GW 6185-16 were involved in a crash on Akuapem Mamfe mountains in the Eastern region.

    The Toyota Fish vehicle somersaulted severally before landing on the side of the road.

    Occupants of the Toyota Fish suffered critical injuries but those in the Toyota Hiace survived with minor injuries.

    They were rushed to Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital.

    The crash occured less than 24 hours after a driver of Xugong Mobile Crane vehicle died in a fatal crash on same stretch of Mamfe to Koforidua road.

    The driver was descending the mountain when he lost control of the steering wheel leading to the crash.

    Personnel of the Ghana Police Service and Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) who went to the scene observed that the Xugong mobile crane with registration number GS 8400-11 was partially in the bush on the shoulder of the road with the occupant (driver or operator) nowhere to be found.

    The driver was later found lying motionless in the nearby bush during a search .

    He was rushed to Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital by the Police but pronounced dead on arrival.

  • St. Peter’s Senior High School gets AI lab

    St. Peter’s Senior High School gets AI lab

    St. Peter’s Senior High School (SHS) in Nkwatia, Eastern Region, is the first SHS to have an Artificial Intelligence (AI) lab on its premises.

    On Saturday, April 29, a cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) lab was launched by Coral Reef Innovation Hub.

    This lab is the result of collaboration between NEIP, Intel, and the St. Peter’s Old Boys Association (PERSCOBA) and represents a significant step forward in the development of AI technology in the student and staff community.

    The AI lab is equipped with the latest technology, including advanced computing resources, state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms, and powerful data analytics tools. A team of expert researchers and scientists are now able to work together with the students and staff to develop new AI applications and systems that can help solve some of the most pressing problems facing the society today.

    One of the primary goals of the AI lab is to support innovation and entrepreneurship by providing entrepreneurs with the tools and resources they need to create new AI-based products and services.

    Through this initiative, the benefactors hope to shape mindsets and release latent potential in the student and staff community.

    The AI lab is also dedicated to advancing research and development in the field of AI.

    The team is constantly exploring new avenues for AI research and developing cutting-edge solutions to complex problems in a range of areas, including healthcare, education, agriculture, climate, finance, and more.

    The launch of the AI lab at St Peter’s Senior High School by Coral Reef Innovation Hub, is a major milestone in the development of AI technology in the PERSCO community.

    They are excited about the opportunities this lab will create for entrepreneurs, researchers, and our community as a whole, and we look forward to the positive impact it will have on their society.

    The Ministry of Education and its agency, Ghana Education Service (GES) are grateful for the support of all stakeholders including NEIP, Intel, and the St. Peter’s Old Boys Association, whose generous contributions have made this initiative possible. They look forward to working together to drive innovation and growth in our community through the power of AI.

    The president of the old students association revealed that the lab was built with contributions from year groups, spanning 1974-2008, Perscoba UK and Perscoba North America as a way of showing appreciation and giving back to their alma mater for its impact on their lives.

    The headmaster of St. Peter’s also acknowledged the efforts of these old students and vouched to ensure that the facility is utilized for its purpose.

    The Managing Partner of Coral Reef Innovation Hub, Richard Osei-Anim, said the core focus of Coral Reef was to increase access, equity and inclusion by introducing Education 4.0 solutions to bridge the digital poverty gap across Africa.

    St. Peters was taking the lead however Coral Reef and its partners will be working with the Ministry of Education and The Ghana Education Service to support efforts at deepening the penetration of these solutions across the education landscape as they jointly built a pipeline of transformation.

    He further explained that the essence of training the youth in Artificial Intelligence is to equip them with skills for the future, as automation replaces routine tasks, innovation presents an opportunity to train students with different types of skills which will prepare them and make them fit for purpose for the future of work.

  • Sakyikrom: Attempts to reinstate destooled Chief causing tension

    Sakyikrom: Attempts to reinstate destooled Chief causing tension

    Sakyikrom, a community close to Nsawam in the Eastern region is in a state of confusion over attempt to reinstate a “destooled” Chief, Nana Osae Duodu Anka IV.

    Nana Osae Duodu Anka IV claim he was legitimately enstooled in 2013 but whilst abroad for medical treatment in 2020, he was informed by  Abusuapanyin Kofi Owusu, that the Queenmother Nana Agyarkwabea,has enstooled a new Chief by name Odeefuor Sakyi Agyarkwa.

    Upon return to the community after the COVID-19 pandemic, Nana Osae Anka IV petitioned the Eastern regional House of chief as well as the Regional Police Command for him to be restored as chief of Sakyikrom to have access to his properties at the palace.

    But the Queenmother insisted Nana Osae Duodu Anka IV was just a caretaker chief who signed MOU to step down when substantive chief nominated therefore blocked his access.

    Armed police deployed by Nsawam Police Command stormed the community at dawn to provide security for reoccupation of the palace by the alleged destooled Chief, however, angry youth and some residents in the community resisted in fierce confrontation which nearly led to deadly violence.

    It took the intervention of Mawerehene of Sakyikrom Nana Takyi Akomea to calm down tempers.

    The process was botched as a result of the confrontation.

    Addressing the aggrieved youth and section of the Buafi gate of the Ayoko Royal family  at Sakyikrom palace, Mawerehene of Sakyikrom Nana Takyi Akomea urged the youth to remain calm and not to resort to violence amidst escalating tension.

    The Mawerehene said clearly, the Ghana Police Service is misinformed on the Sakyikrom chieftaincy matters.

    He said according to customs and traditions of the Ayoko Royal family Odeefuor Sakyi Agyarkwa is the legitimate chief of Sakyikrom therefore it is misleading for the Ghana Police Service to aid destooled Nana Osae Anka IV from Amma Tawia gate of the Ayoko Royal family to occupy the stool.

    Nana Takyi Akomea explained to the media that, “We had information yesterday that police personnel from Nsawam trooped to the palace to aid the installation of a new chief but this is abomination to our tradition , it has never happened before.”

    He explained that, ” there are three gates in the Ayoko Royal family here in Sakyikrom that’s the Buafi gate, Amma Tawiah gate and the Agyakwabea gate .

    So the Amma Tawiah gate have ended their tenure on the stool and is now the tenure of the Buafi gate so nothing should prevent them from handing over to the other gate.”

    The Mawerehene said, the case is pending at the High Court for due legal process to be followed to resolve the impasse therefore called in IGP Dr.George Akuffo Dampare to call the Nsawam Police Command to order so they don’t engage in any illegality that will disturb the peace of Sakyikrom.

    “The case is still pending at the High Court and I believe IGP will call his men to order and ensure that due process is followed .I  also wish to call on the government of Ghana to intervene and bring finality to the chieftaincy dispute in Sakyikrom”.

    Meanwhile, the aggrieved youth clad in black and red apparel with red hand bands chanting and singing war songs said they are poised to protect the Ayoko Royal stool hence they will resist any attempt  to install a new or reinstate the destooled chief whether at night or during the day.

  • Leprosy, other diseases detected in Suhum Municipality

    Leprosy, other diseases detected in Suhum Municipality

    The Disease Control Unit of the Suhum Municipal Health Directorate in Eastern region, has revealed that it has detected many cases of leprosy, buruli ulcer, and yaws in the area.

    Speaking to the media, Kwadwo Agyenim Boateng, Suhum Municipal Disease Control Officer explained that  “when we talk of NTDs in Suhum this is one situation we also face on daily basis as a public health unit because we have cases of leprosy we attend to, we have cases of Yaws in some rural communities and we have isolated cases of buruli ulcer, elephantiasis and  all the other diseases we can talk about.”

    He said this during the launching of Partnership for Elimination of Skin-Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).

    The Municipal Disease Control Officer believes the intervention will help create awareness about the disease and augment efforts in identifying more cases.

    “I believe this project that is running for two years in our municipality will go a long way to augment our routine effort to the control of NTDs in the Suhum municipality. They are not having the right information regarding the condition. They also fear perceive how health staff are going to receive them, some for medical cost reasons and some of them looking at where they are looking at transportation and geographical access if you don’t make the effort of meeting them they will never show up.so In our case identifying skin-NTDs requires an extra effort from the health staff or directorate.”

    Global targets for 2030 and milestones are set out to prevent, control, eliminate and eradicate a diverse set of 20 diseases and disease groups of Neglected Tropical Diseases.

    However, Ghana’s response to meeting this global target has not been encouraging due to financial challenges to whip up awareness, identifying and treating NTDs.

    One hundred and ten (110) Buruli ulcer and 40 yaws cases have been recorded in Upper Manya Krobo District in the since 2017 to 2022. Many more persons suffering from the diseases are however lurking at prayer camps, herbal centers due to misconception that the NTDs are spiritual.

    Eastern Regional Coordinator for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Christian Fiador said the Diseases are prevalent in the region but hidden in communities. He charged health workers in the region to intensify efforts to identify such cases for management.

    “These four conditions which we are talking about are prevalent in the region.We looked for support and lo and behold ark foundation is here to support us .we are not seeing the cases at the early stages that we expect to see them so by the time we see them the deformities will show up and then the people are neglected ,stigma is attached and so when we  have foundation like this to help us it means we can look for the people and stop the stigma and stop the disabilities .People think Leprosy, Buruli, Ulcer yaws, and lymphatic filiriasis is a spiritual something .They think that if you get it someone is bewitching you and that kind of thing,” Christian Fiador said.

    Emmanuel Kwarfo Mintah , Executive Director of Ark Development Organization explained that the partnership for Elimination of Skin-NTDs program by Ark Development Organization funded by Anesvad Foundation focuses on eliminating Buruli Ulcer, Leprosy, Yaws and Lymphatic Filiriasis in Upper Manya Krobo, Suhum, Fanteakwa North,and West Akim districts through multifaceted intervention including treatment and socio-economic support.

    Some members of the community trained together with nurses and other stakeholders for the implementation of the project believe more hidden cases of the skin-NTDs in the communities will be identified.

  • Thieves break into Okuapeman SHS’s visually impaired section

    Thieves break into Okuapeman SHS’s visually impaired section

    Fourteen computers belonging to the Visually Impaired Department of Okuapeman Senior High School (SHS) in the Akuapem North Municipality of the Eastern Region, have been stolen by some robbers.

    The alleged thieves, embarked on the operation during the Easter break at the School Laboratory by taking away 10 desktop computers, four laptops and a sound system used for the Oral English test during the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

    A Police source, who confirmed the incident, said the stolen computers are the only gadgets the students use in training for internal and external West African Examination Council (WAEC) organised exams.

    He explained that the stolen items are going to affect the preparation of students towards WASSCE and the conduct of the exams if not replaced in due time.

    However, information gathered from the school indicated that several students do not know how to use Braille, and the computer is the only medium they are familiar with in writing exams.

    “We are appealing to the Government of Ghana, corporate institutions, churches and individuals to help the school with about 20 desktop computers, 10 laptops and a sound system by July to help students write the exams successfully,” a source said.

    Meanwhile, the Headmaster of the school, Reverend Richard Koranteng Afari, when contacted, said the issue has been reported to the police and investigations are underway.

  • Dusty roads in Akwamu Gyakiti causing eye problems – Doctor

    Dusty roads in Akwamu Gyakiti causing eye problems – Doctor

    Majority of people in and around Akwamu Gyakiti, in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region, have some kind of eye defect as a result of dust deposition caused by the poor roads.

    This came to light during a free eye screening for the residents in the area.

    Hundreds of residents were screened on various health complications and eye-related issues but those with eye defects topped the number of people screened.

    In an interview with Onua TV, Dr. Jerry Agyemang of Rich Life Natural Herbal Centre explained that most of the people with eye defects got them as a result of dust from the bad roads.

    He said those with eye defects were asked to acquire spectacles.

    The wife of Akwamu Gyakiti Chief, Antoinette Adom Bekai, who is also a nurse and facilitated the health screening, was elated such an exercise was organised for the people.

    She said not only the dust from the bad roads but also in various schools affect the eyes of pupils.

    Madam Adom Bekai explained that when these children play in the dusty environments it can affect their eyes.

  • Bryan’s remarks should concern EC and security authorities – Kobby Mensah

    Bryan’s remarks should concern EC and security authorities – Kobby Mensah

    Professor Kobby Mensah, an associate professor of marketing at the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS), has urged the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC), security services, and political parties to take action over the recent comments made by the Minister of Food and Agriculture.

    Bryan Acheampong, last weekend, mounted a platform at Mpraeso in the Eastern Region to address supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), vowing to ensure that the party does not hand over power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) even if they win the 2024 elections.

    He also indicated that the NPP has the “men” to face the NDC if the latter employs violence in seeking to return to power.

    Speaking on The Keypoints on TV3/3FM on Saturday, April 15, Prof Kobby Mensah said the comments by the Abetifi MP is a cause for concern.

    “For me, I think that the EC must be concerned, the security agencies must be concerned, the political parties must be concerned, which the NDC has actually said they are concerned about,” he said.

    Already, the opposition NDC has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to invite the Agriculture Minister for questioning.

    The move, spearheaded by the party’s Director of Legal Affairs, Abraham Amaliba, provoked the NPP to also petition the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to probe 2020 Presidential Candidate John Dramani Mahama and National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia for similar comments.

    But Prof Kobby Mensah said he was scandalised and, indeed, taken aback about the failure of the NPP to apologise for the comments by one of their own but rather backing them.

    “I expected [the NPP] not to give away the Minister but I was expecting them to actually apologise, be remorseful and say that the Minister was carried away [and] we don’t think that this is the appropriate communication and we will have an internal process.

    “In the meantime, we express that regret to the Ghanaian people. That would have been a fantastic political communication,” he stressed.

    He expressed conviction that Mr Acheampong had been chastised in private by his party but expects a public action too.

    For him, this could be a speech act to influence supporters of the NPP in acting untoward on election day.

  • Potholes threatens safety of Adomi Bridge users

    Potholes threatens safety of Adomi Bridge users

    The Adomi Bridge at Atimpoku in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region currently poses a threat to users after developing potholes

    Apart from this, there are cracks on some portions of the road which could damage the world renowned bridge if not worked on.

    This came to light when Onua News Team visited the Adomi Bridge.

    It was observed that the drivers who are joining the bridge from the Juapong stretch veer off into the the lane of oncoming vehicles as they try dodging the pothole and this could lead to head-on collision.

    Some of the drivers who ply the road acknowledged the danger that pothole poses to them.

    They explained that the pothole has been there for years but no one is attending to it.

    The Asuogyaman District Chief Executive, Samuel Kwame Agyekum, when contacted explained that even though the bridge is not under his jurisdiction, the Assembly has taken the matter up.

    He explained that the Adomi Bridge is under the Ghana Highway Authority but the Assembly has written to them to fix the pothole.

    Mr. Agyekum admitted that he has not heard anything from the Eastern Regional Highways and would therefore follow up to ensure the pothole is fixed.

  • NDC executives to be equipped ahead of 2024 campaign

    NDC executives to be equipped ahead of 2024 campaign

    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Party School would be dispersed across the various regions to train and reorient branch and constituency executives on the principles and history of the party, according to former president John Dramani Mahama.

    Speaking at a campaign event in Suhum in the Eastern Region on Wednesday, Mr. Mahama who is expected to lead his party to the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections said, “it is not enough to say you are an NDC executive. You must understand what the party stands for.”

    Mr. Mahama says because the NDC’s 2024 campaign will be anchored around the party’s branch executives across the country, it will require that they are not only resourced to carry out an effective campaign but also equipped with continuous training.

    “We will therefore send all branch and constituency executives to the Party school to learn about the party, our ideology, its origins, Jerry Rawlings and about the Revolution, and the party constitution.”

    According to Mr. Mahama, the plan is to decentralize the operations of the Party School into the regions, adding that the training will also focus on the functions of the executives, the NDC’s policies, campaigning, voter mobilization and canvassing among others.

    The former president is on a three-day campaign tour of the Eastern Region. The ‘Building the Ghana we want Together’ tour is visiting 31 out of the 33 constituencies of the region in this phase of the campaign.

    He has visited 7 other regions and is expected to receive an overwhelming endorsement from the party’s delegates to the May 13, 2023, presidential primaries.

  • Mahama refutes claim of attacking Asantes in campaign speech

    Mahama refutes claim of attacking Asantes in campaign speech

    Former President, John Dramani Mahama has refuted claims of attacking Asantes during his campaign at Eastern Region.

    It was reported in some media circles that the former President made some disparaging comments about the people in the Ashanti Region.

    Mr. Mahama is alleged to have advised residents in the Eastern Region not to learn from their counterparts in the Ashanti Region who are emotionally attached to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and do not think before voting for the elephant-symbol party.

    But rubbishing this claim in a statement on April 14, the spokesperson for Mr. Mahama, Joyce Bawah Mogtari asserted, “The said publication, which has been sourced to UTV, an Accra-based television station is false. President Mahama has not made any such statement, either on his campaign rounds or to UTV”.

    Madam Bawah Mogtari underscored that the former President is focused on his campaign.

    “Mr. Mahama remains focused on his ‘Building the Ghana we want Together’ campaign and will not be distracted by such dirty propaganda,” she noted.

    Read below the full statement by Madam Joyce Bawah Mogtari

    DISCLAIMER

    The attention of the John Mahama Campaign has been drawn to a fake quote attributed to the former President purportedly attacking Ashantis.

    The said publication, which has been sourced to UTV, an Accra based television station is false.

    President Mahama has not made any such statement, either on his campaign rounds or to UTV.

    We believe this is yet another disinformation campaign to cause disaffection for Mr. John Mahama, and demand a retraction and apology from UTV.

    Mr. Mahama remains focused on his ‘Building the Ghana we want Together’ campaign and will not be distracted by such dirty propaganda.

    Joyce Bawah Mogtari
    Spokesperson
    April 14, 2023

  • Grandmother throws out 4-year-old grandson on the streets to care for himself

    Grandmother throws out 4-year-old grandson on the streets to care for himself

    A four-year-old boy (name withheld) has been rejected by his family.

    He was evicted from his home by his grandmother due to a lack of resources to care for him.

    According to the information available, the minor has been roaming the streets despite the dangers associated with it at Kyebi Amanfrom in the Eastern Region.

    According to Agya Dan, who reported from the scene, the minor was discovered sleeping in front of a nearby store.

    The boy is also said to be begging for food in the area, leading some to wonder why he was left to fend for himself.

    Reporting on Nyankontyon Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm, he said per the investigation conducted, the mother of the boy left him in the care of his father, who then left the boy in the care of his [Father’s] sister claiming he was going in search of a job and never returned.

    He stated that the minor’s father had abandoned him three years prior and had not returned.

    He was later placed in the care of the grandmother, but they are both fed up and have asked the boy to leave.

    It is also claimed that they fed the minor leftovers while he was staying with them.

    Meanwhile, the case was reported to the police, who reportedly contributed Ghc50 to buy medicine for the boy because he was sick.

    They have also warned the carers not to abuse him any longer.

  • No fatalities recorded in Ahafo South Mine lab fire incident – Newmont

    No fatalities recorded in Ahafo South Mine lab fire incident – Newmont

    Management of Newmount Africa has revealed that no fatalities have been recorded in the Ahafo South Mine lab fire incident which occurred on Sunday, 9 April 2023.

    “We are relieved that the incident did not result in any injury or fatality to the workforce who remain our most important resource. Everyone is safe and back to work,” Alex Annin, General Manager, Ahafo Mine said in a statement issued by the miner bearing the signature of Mr Samuel Osei, Manager, Communications & External.

    “The regulatory authorities have visited the incident scene and have commenced Investigations. We await the results to understand the cause of the fire and determine the next steps. Safety remains our topmost priority and we look forward to applying the lessons learned from the investigations to avoid a repeat incident,” Mr Annin added.

    Newmont Africa is Ghana’s leading gold producer and operates two gold mines: the Ahafo Mine in the Ahafo region, and the Akyem Mine in the Eastern region.

    It is in the process of establishing a third mine, which is currently at the Project Stage – the Ahafo North Project.

    The company is a subsidiary of Newmont Corporation, the world’s leading gold business.

    Commercial production at Ahafo and Akyem began in 2006 and 2013, respectively, and currently has about 6,700 employees, directly and indirectly across its operations.

    Newmont is actively involved in exploration activities across the African continent, and globally.

  • Lightning strike claims lives of two siblings at Begoro

    Lightning strike claims lives of two siblings at Begoro

    At Begoro, in the Fanteakwa North District of the Eastern Region, a lightning strike has killed two siblings.

    The victims-Selorm Bona,16, and Vivian,14, were struck by ground strike when they reportedly rushed out to pick ripe mango fruits that dropped from the tree while raining.

    Selorm died instantly but Vivian died upon arrival at the Begoro government hospital.

    Lightning kills estimated 24,000 people each year around the world—the majority of the deaths occur in developing countries.

    Scientists say Lightning is a frequent occurrence worldwide with an estimated 50 occurrences per second and 20% of those resulting in ground strikes some causing injuries and fatalities.

    In Ghana, many traditions believe lightening fatality is punishment or curse by the gods over sin committed by an individual or family.

  • God has told me NDC would win 2024 elections – Mahama

    God has told me NDC would win 2024 elections – Mahama

    According to former president John Dramani Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) God has told him the party would prevail in the 2024 general elections.

    Speaking to delegates of the NDC in Okere in the Eastern Region on Tuesday, April 11, he said “By God’s grace we have the experience, we didn’t buy it in the store, we didn’t learn it in school, it is God who gave us the opportunity to gather that experience.”

    He added “Don’t worry about what some people are saying, it is God’s will, I attend church and when I pray God speaks to me and God has said this is the time for NDC, he has given us power. If God decides no one can change it. Let us continue to pray and trust that what has been arranged will come to pass.”

    He further told all Parliamentary candidate hopefuls of the NDC to engage in a decent campaign.

    “Let us not resort to insult because we are one family, this is one party, we are looking for one thing, power.

    “Let us support whoever will be elected parliamentary candidate and when your time comes you will also be supported.

    “It is not only the MP that we have, if we come to power we have board chairmen, we have Ambassadors, DECs, and a lot of appointments and so if you don’t become an MP you will get an appointment.

    “So let us keep the campaign decent and when one person has emerged let us all support that person and let the party come to power,” he said.

  • Mahama to campaign in Eastern region today

    Mahama to campaign in Eastern region today

    The National Democratic Congress‘s (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, prospective presidential candidate will begin a three-day tour in the Eastern Region today.

    Mr. Mahama will visit thirty-one (31) constituencies where he will meet and interact with branch and constituency executives. He has so far toured 7 regions, touching ground in 106 constituencies.

    In the Eastern Region, former President Mahama will speak about his vision of “Building the Ghana we want together,” and why securing a convincing win in the NDC primaries will be a great boost for the 2024 presidential election.

    He will also share his plans towards improving the party’s polling and electoral area campaign, through voter mobilizing and canvassing, and the effective utilization of campaign materials and resources.

    Mr. Mahama has announced a reward scheme to recognize branches of the party that increase their polling station votes in both the parliamentary and presidential elections.

    From the Eastern Region, ex-President Mahama will spend a day touring some constituencies in the Greater Accra Region on Friday, April 14, before heading to the Oti Region.

  • 2 separate accidents claim the lives of 9 in E/R

    2 separate accidents claim the lives of 9 in E/R

    Nine persons have died in two separate gory accidents in the Eastern region.

    Six other persons – three males and two females – suffered severe injuries and are receiving treatment at the Akuse Government Hospital.

    9 die in two separate accidents in the Eastern region

    Meanwhile, the deceased had been deposited at the same hospital’s mortuary for autopsy and preservation.

    The accident happened on Saturday in front of King David’s College on the Kpong-Tema highway.

    9 die in two separate accidents in the Eastern region

    A Hyundai mini bus with registration number GB 4644-20 from Juapong to Tema collided head-on with an articulated truck with registration number GT 6473-21 killing six instantly.

    9 die in two separate accidents in the Eastern region

    Two other persons – the driver of the Hyundai bus and a female passenger- who were in critical condition also died later at the hospital.

    The articulated truck was said to be carrying pavement blocks from Tema heading towards Akosombo.

    The Hyundai driver, according to eye witness attempted to swerve a stationary bus with Registration number GW 6464-22 parked for almost two weeks but crashed into the truck from the opposite direction of the road.

    9 die in two separate accidents in the Eastern region

    Officers from the Akuse police command, the Ghana National Fire Service and the ambulance service played a critical role in the rescue operation.

    In a related development, a 60- year-old woman died at Nyamebekyere after she was crushed by a speeding vehicle driven by an ECG Engineer.

    Credit: Myjoyonline.com

  • No candidate has been stopped from submitting nomination forms – NDC

    No candidate has been stopped from submitting nomination forms – NDC

    The leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Eastern Region has refuted claims that it prevented one of its members from submitting his nomination forms.

    According to Jeff Tetteh Kavianu he has been unable to submit his documentation because the leadership has purposefully shut its office, and refused to return his calls.

    However, the NDC’s Regional Secretary, Baba Jamal Konneh, tells Citi News that the party has no intention of barring any aspirant from running.

    “The NDC needs power, and so we don’t want a situation where someone will feel that we treated him unfairly. We want that kind of unity and cohesion to wrestle power from the NPP so we are actually trying our best. We have entreated every constituency election committee to treat every aspirant fairly without trying to be biased.”

    He also stated that if the former lawmaker so desires, he may seek intervention at the national level.

    “The party has a hierarchy, so he can go to national executives and talk to them. We work on the instructions of national so if they ask us to take his forms we will because we have no option. We are here to serve everybody”, he added.

  • Former GES boss supports over 600 SHS students

    Former GES boss supports over 600 SHS students

    About 600 new senior high school (SHS) students in the Birim South District of the Eastern Region have received support from Prof. Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, the immediate-past Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES).

    For those students who would be attending boarding institutions, he provided supplies and other food items to support them during their stay in school.

    Prof. Opoku-Amankwa provided extra instruction and mock exam writing assistance to the candidates in order to help them get ready for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in 2022.

    Pass

    Many of those candidates have since gained admission to various SHSs and technical institutes, thatnks to favourable grades.

    As they prepared to depart for school, Prof. Opoku-Amankwa presented them with the items as a means to motivate and encourage them in their studies.

    His foundation is also supporting needy brilliant students in the district.

    Presenting the items to the beneficiaries, he said the foundation of every country was on its educational system, and that it was, therefore, incumbent on nations to support the education of their children in order to develop and progress.

    He said it was in that view that President Akufo-Addo introduced the free SHS programme since the development of the country’s human resources was key to its growth.

    President

    “When the President came to office, one thing he did not play with at all was education. Aside from the free SHS, he has also introduced free technical and vocational education and training (TVET) to provide hands-on skills to students.

    “Moreover, he has set up the Ghana TVET Service to separately handle schools offering TVET programmes,” he said.

    He said having taught at the university and served as Director-General for six years, he thought it proper to support the children in this area of their development.

    The support to the children, Prof. Opoku-Amankwa said, would continue.

    Support 

    The Birim South District Director of Education, Henry Sintim, said the support was not the first from the former GES boss, and that it was something he had been doing for some years now.    
    He thanked Prof. Opoku-Amankwa for his support for the children.

    The Chief Executive of the Birim South District Assembly, Asare Danso, also commended Prof. Opoku-Amankwa for his continuous support to the district.

    The beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the former GES boss.

    They said the items would help them in their studies, and prayed for God’s blessings upon Prof. Opoku-Amankwa’s life. 

  • Help us prosecute fake meter syndicates – ECG to public

    Help us prosecute fake meter syndicates – ECG to public

    The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has urged the public and law enforcement organizations to help it apprehend individuals and organizations who sell fake meters to households.

    According to the Company, it was losing millions of Ghana Cedis in revenue due to the activities of those syndicates.

    Dr Mark Owusu Ansah, the Revenue Protection Manager of the Accra West ECG, made the appeal when the Company embarked on an exercise to remove and replace fake meters at Adeiso, in the Upper West Akim District of the Eastern Region, on Friday.

    The exercise, which started on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, has so far witnessed the removal of over 400 fake meters at Adeiso only, replacing them with original ones.

    It formed part of a the “No Fake Meter” campaign aimed at ridding the system of all fake meters and regularising such meter users to maximise revenue.

    Dr Ansah noted that the three days’ exercise, so far, had led to the removal of over 400 of such fake meters, amounting to some 1.2 gigawatt of power.

    He said, monetary-wise, over Gh¢1 million of revenue had been lost as a result of the use of the fake meters over the past one to three years.

    “From 28th February to March 2, 2023, we’ve recovered 400 of them and this 400, when you quantify the loses they’ve created, within these three days, we’ve been able to recover 1.2 gigawatts,” he said.

    The Revenue Protect Manger added that “when you compare this 1.2gigawatts to cash term, it is Gh¢1 million plus within this three days so if we should recover 1000s of them, then you understand the harm they are causing,” he added.

    In 2021, the Accra West Region alone lost close to GH¢4 million in nine months through illegal connection activities.

    Illegal connection activities robbed the Company of some 3.9 million kilowatts per hour (3.9mkWh) of power between the months of January and September 2021, resulting in a revenue loss of GH¢3.9 million to the Company.

    He said the Company was, therefore, collaborating with State security agencies, including the Police and the National Investigation Bureau (NIB) to arrest the syndicates and solicited support from the public.

    “Those who are selling these meters, whoever knows where they are should come to us privately. We will protect your identity, help us to get them so that we put a stop to it. If anybody also think by his own can organise the Police to arrest them should arrest them, let ECG know and we will come for them,” he encouraged.

    Dr Ansah also indicated that the Company would continue with the exercise until it got rid of all such fake meters.

    He urged persons who were using such meters to come forward and help the Company replaced the meters at no cost.

    “We’ll remove and replace it with a genuine meter and recover whatever the customer has used to defray some of our losses but fortunately, ECG, being a good services Company, it has been with people for three years, two years, etc, we are here to correct. So, we’ll replace the meter and recover for only one year because some of them were innocent,” said Dr Ansah.

    “We have some of them that deliberately went for the meters. Some too were swindled, they were duped, they had no idea. Some too took it from SHEP, SHEP is different. This one, it’s not the mode of supply that is worrying us but because it cannot capture any unit,” he added.

    The ECG, in October last year, commenced an exercise in some communities in the Eastern Region to rid the system of fake meters where the situation was prevalent.

    The communities are Daaman, Sakyikrom, Amoakrom, Duadekye, Ntoaso, Kofisah and Newton, are Akwamu, Oparekrom, Nkyenen-kyene, Amanfrom and Adeiso, all in the Nsawam district.

    The exercise was carried out by the Accra West ECG in collaboration with the ECG Nsawam District Office.

  • It is rare to see churches officiating child marriages at Atiwa – Solidaridad

    It is rare to see churches officiating child marriages at Atiwa – Solidaridad

    An International Civil Society Organization, Solidaridad, has stated that the activities of churches in Atiwa East in the Eastern Region that facilitate child marriages are rare.

    The Ghanaian Times in its Wednesday edition reported that activities of churches and other religious centres in mining communities have been cited as being one of the promoters of early marriage and child labour in the communities.

    According to the report, since teenagers could afford flashy marriages and naming ceremonies, church leaders in mineral communities allow and officiate weddings of persons under the age of 18 and naming ceremonies of children of underage parents.

    The report further stated that such social events make illegal mining activities attractive to the teens and the children in the mining communities had led to social competition among them.

    The research, which was conducted within a four-month period between October 2022 and January this year, had respondents mainly from Atiwa East District in the Eastern Region as well as inputs from other stakeholders in mining communities across the country.

    But speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday, Yaw Britwum Opoku said more studies are being done to determine whether churches in all galamsey-prone areas encourage marriages of children.

    “As part of the findings of the consultants, we realised that some churches were trying to facilitate some children getting married and that was one isolated case, but we have to validate that, and we must talk to other stakeholders so that we can then generalise, so, for now, we see it as an isolated case in the Atiwa East District.”

    He, however, confirmed that the study revealed that an estimated 5,677 children were engaging in galamsey activities across the country.

  • Eastern Region recorded 84 fire outbreaks in January 2023 – GNFS

    Eastern Region recorded 84 fire outbreaks in January 2023 – GNFS

    The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has revealed that a total of 84 fire outbreaks were recorded in the Eastern Region in January 2023.

    Under the same period under review in 2022, the Fire Service recorded 154 fire incidents. Fire outbreaks in the region have declined by 70 cases, representing a 45.45% decrease.

    In total, the Service recorded 98 incidents last month. In January 2022, a total of 172 incidents were reported, indicating a 74 decrease in incidents, representing a 43.02% decline.

    According to the Service, “the reason for the decrease can be attributed to two factors, being better favourable weather conditions in relation to the outbreak of bushfires as compared to the same period last year as bushfires accounted for the larger chunk of incidents (110 out of 172), and an intensified anti-bushfire education campaign by the various stations.”

    The high figure recorded last year January was as a result of the astronomical increase in bushfires (110) resulting from the severe intensity of the harmattan weather during the first quarter, the Service noted.

    In reference to vehicular accidents, January 2023 recorded 9 incidents as compared to 13 incidents during the same period last year.

    This decrease can be attributed to the intensified road safety education embarked on by the various fire stations at bus and lorry stations, with transport company owners as well as with private individuals.

  • One dead after clash between herdsmen and locals in Afram Plains

    One dead after clash between herdsmen and locals in Afram Plains

    At Maame Krobo, in the Kwahu Afram Plains South District of the Eastern Region, a clash between farmers and nomadic herdsmen has claimed one life.

    Chairman of the Eastern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) Seth Acheampong confirmed the death after visiting the troubled area.

    The conflict resurged over the weekend between farmers at Maame Krobo and nomadic herdsmen.

    The farmers and residents allege the herdsmen shot one person at his home in the township.

    In a reprisal attack, the inhabitants chased the herdsmen out of the community.

    But the situation is still volatile as the nomadic herdsmen are suspected to be hiding in the bushes and forest areas, putting fear in the farmers who cannot visit their farms.

    Wife of the deceased Rebecca Agbovi demands justice and support for her four children who she says must return to school.

    “My children need to return to school, who would support me do that? Their father has been killed. Government must support me, else I will knock on the doors of the District Chief Executive everyday.”

    A sub-chief at Maame Krobo, Enoch Teye Soda, demanded that the perpetrators must be dealt with.

    “The man was shot in his room. They shot through his window, he only had cloth wrapped around him. This is frightening, we can’t allow this to happen. Those who did this must be dealt with. My farmers cannot even go to their farms again.”

    Security presence is still heavy in the area.

    Mr Acheampong, who is also the Eastern Region Minister, visited Maame Krobo and assured of public safety to enable normalcy to return to the area.

    “It is our mandate to provide public safety for the community. So we are going to work at it. You can never predict that an accident would occur. Nobody thought that this would occur, but it has happened. Once it has happened, the most important thing for us is to demonstrate enough rapid response and I am very happy that the security services and the DISEC ( District Security Council) have rapidly responded to the situation at hand. We are very confident that going forward, we would restore normalcy to the community.”

    He added: “Very disturbing matter for the district and those of us in the region. This is a matter that is recurring. We seek to work at it to ensure it does not recur. Unfortunately as humans we cannot allow some of these things not to occur again. For us managing public safety, our first responsibility is to ensure that there is stability, peace and people are going about their daily chores undisturbed.

    “Our primary call was to restore stability and peace to the community, fortunately public safety is assured, we have enough men on ground patrolling and offering necessary protection to the community members so that they have assurance that government is behind them.”

    Successive government intervention of Operation Cow leg and the provision of ranches has not yielded result in putting an end to the conflict between farmers and nomadic herdsmen in the food basket district.

    The conflict results from destruction of farm crops by the herdsmen to feed cattles and reprisal attack on cattles and nomadic herdsmen, who usually are not owners of the cattles.

  • Road Safety Authority advocates for dualisation of major roads to reduce crashes

    Road Safety Authority advocates for dualisation of major roads to reduce crashes

    The National Road Safety Authority (NSRA|) has urged government to prioritize the dualisation of major roads in the country in order to reduce the frequency and severity of traffic accidents and head-on collisions.

    Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation of NRSA, Martin Owusu Afram stressed the need to take measures including tackling human behaviour to reduce the number of road crashes across the country.

    “When we looked at research on road crashes, we can conclude that over 90 percent of road traffic crashes are due to human behaviour. It is interesting because people think it is the road, but the road contributes a minimal percentage and the condition of the vehicle also contributes a minimal percentage. This is because, if your vehicle is not very strong or has a defect and you the human being behind the wheel is able to adjust accordingly, you will be able to save some lives.”

    Martin Owusu Afram further enumerated a number of factors that are responsible for the substantial crashes on our roads.

    “We have destructive driving, drunk driving, and wrongful overtaking being key contributory factors to road crashes in the country. One other thing I want to add is that the Road Safety Authority has been advocating that our roads should be dualised.”

    According to the Authority, its data shows that dualisation of the Nsawam section of the Kumasi-Accra Highway has massively brought the road crash figures on that stretch down, and wants similar ones to be done on various highways.

    “We did a preliminary study with regard to dualisation of our roads, and we found that by dualising Nsawam to Apedwa Junction in the Eastern Region, it has considerably reduced road traffic crashes, injuries, and deaths on that corridor.”

    “If we are able to dualise Accra to Kumasi road, the number of crashes and deaths we are going to get will be minimized,” Mr. Afram added.

  • 10 persons arrested for engaging in galamsey in Atewa Forest Reserve

    10 persons arrested for engaging in galamsey in Atewa Forest Reserve

    Ten illegal miners have been detained by the Kyebi District Office of the Forestry Commission for their activities in the Asiakwa section of the Atewa Forest Reserve in the Abuakwa South Municipality of the Eastern Region.

    The 10 [ten] who were busily engaging in illegal mining at 2am on Friday [February 2, 2023] dawn were surrounded by the forestry guards who pounced on them after picking up intelligence about their illegal activities.

    This latest arrest comes just a few days after the commission set ablaze an excavator and some mining equipment belonging to illegal miners who invaded the Segyimase portion of the Atewa forest reserve.7

    The Kyebi District Forestry Manager Emmanuel Antwi who confirmed the arrest to Citi News said the commission will stop at nothing but ensure the prosecution of all encroachers.

    “Upon previous encounter with illegal miners, one person died, and we also know that where somebody has died. For illegal miners they believe that the gold will still appear in numbers. So yesterday in the night at about 2:am I dispatched my field team to Asiakwa portion of the Atewa forest, especially where an illegal miner died. When my guys got there, they chanced on these people seriously mining. They were able to surround them, and were able to apprehend them,” Mr. Antwi said.

    Check photos below

  • Farmer allegedly shot dead by police over Fulani menace

    Farmer allegedly shot dead by police over Fulani menace

    At his home in Maamekrobo, in the Kwahu Afram Plains South District of the Eastern Region, 54-year-old farmer Kwasi Ahoku is said to have been shot dead by police.

    The incident occurred on Friday, February 3, 2023, around 6:30am.

    It is alleged that the police are the cause of the death after firing several shots into the house of the deceased in an attempt to force him out for interrogation after a Fulani herdsman claimed that his cattle has been gunned down by a farmer suspected to be the deceased.

    A resident who is the former Chairman of the Afram Plains Farmers Association, Mathew Afrani in an interview on Agoo FM Morning revealed that about fifteen bullets were fired at the deceased residence, leaving several gunshot marks on the wall of the house.

    “After the gunshots, the police forced and broke into the room of the suspect and found him dead with gunshot wounds on his body in a pool of blood,” he said.

    Speaking on the matter, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Kwahu Afram Plains South District Assembly, Evans Kyei Ntiri expressed his displeasure with the devastating incident which has occurred in his district.

    He explained that he had a call from the District Police Commander who informed him of the incident.

    He said, according to the Police, the deceased (Kwasi Ahoku) tried to face off with the policemen when the police got to his residence.

    “He challenged the police that he is also in possession of a gun which escalated the tension and resulted in many warning shots released in the skies. As the police broke into the room, they saw the man dead lying beside his gun. We are still investigating the matter to know the actual root of the incident,” Mr Ntiri said.

    Police say the matter is under investigation and will be receiving persons who are willing to help out with information on the said incident.

  • 72-year-old man who defiled his 13-year-old grand-daughter at Sekesua to spend 7 years in prison

    72-year-old man who defiled his 13-year-old grand-daughter at Sekesua to spend 7 years in prison

    The Odumase-Krobo Circuit Court in the Eastern Region on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, convicted and sentenced 72-year-old Eric Danso, alias Aboloway to seven years imprisonment with hard labor, for defiling his 13-year-old granddaughter.

    The court presided over by Kwasi Apiati Abadu (Esq) heard that the suspect committed the crime on the 8th of December, 2022 when he took advantage of the absence of the victim’s grandmother whom she lived with by luring her into his room and defiling her.

    The court handed down the sentence after the convict pleaded guilty to defilement contrary to section 101 of Act 29/60 as amended by section 11 of Act 544/98.

    Detective Chief Inspector Daniel Apedo, prosecuting, told the court that, the complainant, Regina Amoako, mother of the victim lived at a different location within the Sekesua community in the Upper Manya Krobo District of the Eastern Region while the convict lived in the same community but in a different house with the victim and her grandmother.

    According to him, the convict had been making sexual advances towards the victim, a class six pupil of the Presby Primary School at Sekesua for some time now.

    He furthered that on the 8th of December, 2022 at about 13:30 hours, the victim was alone in the house with the convict who took advantage of the situation by requesting that she helped him find his remote control in his room.

    The victim obliged the request and while searching for the remote, Danso allegedly pushed her onto a wooden structure in the room, forcibly undressed her and had sexual intercourse with her.

    The prosecution furthered that though the victim shouted for help, nobody came to her rescue.

    Detective Chief/Insp Daniel Apedo added that the victim afterward narrated her ordeal at the hands of her grandfather to her biological mother, Regina Amoako and an official report was made at the Asesewa District Police Station.

    A police medical report form was issued to the complainant in respect of the victim, whom accompanied by police, sent the latter to the Asesewa Government Hospital for assessment.

    The medical officer subsequently confirmed the incident in the endorsed medical report form.

    Based on this, the septuagenarian was arrested where he, during interrogation admitted the offence before an independent witness and pleaded for forgiveness.

    After investigations, the accused was charged with the offence and dragged to court.

    The convict was widely known for playing various roles in the erstwhile Akan drama series on TV.

  • Police probe death of NSS person with Cocoa Research Institute

    Police probe death of NSS person with Cocoa Research Institute

    The death of Isaac Dokyi, a National Service member working at the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) in Tafo in the Abuakwa North Municipality, is being investigated by police in the Eastern Region.

    According to eyewitnesses the deceased who was riding his bicycle to church last Saturday was crushed to death by a speeding private vehicle at the Opass Junction on the main Koforidua Bunso stretch.

    Health professionals at the Akyem Tafo government hospital, however, pronounced him dead on arrival after he was rushed to the facility.

    The Akyem Tafo police who have launched investigations into the cause of the accident have one suspect driver, a native of the town in custody to help with investigations after he reported himself to the police.

  • Police officer caught by chief smoking ‘weed’

    Police officer caught by chief smoking ‘weed’

    A uniformed police officer has been caught in the act of smoking ‘weed’ in a community in Akim Etwereso, in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

    The unidentified police officer was caught by the chief of the community, only referred to as Daasebre in the video.

    In a video credited to Angel TV, the police officer is initially seen and heard pleading with the chief and some men he appeared on the scene with.

    But in a very quick turn of events, the police officer switched moods after he had been confronted with the facts of having been caught red-handed.

    This also follows an attempt by the policeman to deny having been smoking ‘weed’ when he was caught.

    “That what? What kind of big offense are you talking about? So will you arrest me, or add this one to me? What are you telling me? I don’t go that way? Do you know where I’m from and the work I came to do here? Or do you think I’m only at the barrier? And you are telling me that you’ll arrest me?

    “Are you done arresting the folks in this village?” the visibly angry policeman burst out.

    Expressing shock at his reaction, the chief, in a very calm way, addressed the questions of the policeman by asking him if he was aware of the directives he (the chief) had issued in his town.

    “Hear me; the people I am walking with are with the National Security… the statement you made that ‘have we finished arresting the people of this community’ is very unfortunate. Do you know the instructions I have issued in this community?” he quizzed the policeman.

    The policeman then pleaded for mercy, acknowledging to the chief that he was at fault, while apologising for the way he spoke earlier.

    The chief of the community has since vowed to ensure that he reports the behaviour of the policeman to the Inspector General of Police, COP Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.

  • Chief accuses NPP E/R first vice chairman of interference in Yilo Krobo chieftaincy matters, violence

    Chief accuses NPP E/R first vice chairman of interference in Yilo Krobo chieftaincy matters, violence

    Divisional Chief of Okper in the Yilo Krobo Traditional Area of the Eastern Region has launched scathing allegations of interference against the Eastern Regional First Vice Chairman of the ruling NPP in the raging chieftaincy dispute in the Yilo Krobo Traditional Area as well as instigating and leading acts of thuggery and attacks on opposing chieftaincy factions.

    Accusing Mr. Twum Barimah Koranteng of “disintegrating, destroying, tearing apart and ravaging” Yilo Krobo, Nene Nanekey Terkpertey Ofori Agor IX at a press conference at Somanya on Sunday, January 15th, 2023 said the NPP first vice chairman was holding the people of Somanya hostage and thereby depriving the municipal of its much-needed development.

    “He is really doing great harm to our land and people… he has labelled himself as Somanya champion and he is really misbehaving and infiltrating into very sensitive areas within Yilo Klo,” noted parts of a statement read by the chief at the press conference.”

    Citing various incidents allegedly perpetrated by Mr. Barimah, Nene Agor accused the politician of being the mastermind behind an attack on the youth of Okperpiem on 15th November 2021 which led to four persons being injured.

    The chief also alleged that the regional first vice chairman days ago sponsored some traditional leaders to invade Okperpiem where they attempted to install Asafoatse, Asafoatse Manye and some youth leaders within the enclave.

    He blamed the continuous acts of lawlessness on the Somanya police who have failed to act on the numerous complaints reported to them pertaining to these incidents.

    Also accusing him of instigating clashes in some chieftaincy issues in Yilo Krobo despite not being an indigene of the area, Nene Agor said, “Twum Barimah Koranteng is the brain behind the Konor chieftaincy problems at Sra. He has money to sponsor the illegality and forcing his preferred choices on the unsuspecting people of Yilo Krobo as traditional leaders.”

    According to him, some chiefs were dependent on the politician for survival and hence were aiding his deeds.

    The traditional leader also called on indigenes of Yilo Krobo not to allow themselves to be divided by the actions of persons he called “outsiders”.

    He also cautioned Mr. Twum Barimah “to send his activities out of Krobo chieftaincy problems,” and “stop infiltrating into places that he’s not needed.”

    Nene Agor threatened to organize a demonstration against the politician if he did not put a stop to his illegitimate activities in the Okper area.

    Mr. Twum Barimah Koranteng when contacted to respond to the allegations denied comment on the grounds that he had referred the issue to his legal team for advice and would respond at the appropriate time.

  • Apeadem village to boast of health center

    Apeadem village to boast of health center

    Barring any hitches, the team working on the Apeadem CHPS compound and the Rural Women and Children Resource Center in the farming community of Akroso in the Asene Manso Akroso District of the Eastern Region will soon handover the facility to the community.

    The facility will serve the community’s population of about 500 people as well as 11 surrounding villages.

    The project, which is fully funded by the Childlift Aid Foundation (CAF), a Christian child development non-profit organisation, is expected to bring quality healthcare closer to the people of Apeadem and surrounding communities who have to travel long distances to access health services.

    Apeadem village to boast of health center
    Rural women and children resource center

    Speaking to Adom news, the founder and senior operations officer at Childlift Aid Foundation, Osei Bawuah, said they started the project because they wanted to reduce the plight of residents in accessing healthcare services.

    “We delved into this area of project because of the inconveniences most of the dwellers in our operational area face in their quest to access health care. Pregnant women and children walk miles [to health centres],” he said

    He further touched on how the foundation mobilised funds for their projects, calling on well-meaning Ghanaians to support them in their humanitarian venture.

    Apeadem village to boast of health center
    Founder and senior operations officer of Childlift Aid Foundation, Osei Bawuah

    “Childlift Aid Foundation is supported by individuals, every month we donate tokens which we pull together for our projects, our doors are open for more support in order to cover more villages,” he stated.

    2023 marks 10 years of CAF’s existence with significant milestones chalked across demanding sectors (education, health, social and economic) in rural communities.

    In these years, they have been able to reach children with quality education, the marginalized (aged, widows, economically displaced women) with sustainable support and quality health services.

  • Residents of Adukrom, Aseseeso suffocating in dust due to road works

    Residents of Adukrom, Aseseeso suffocating in dust due to road works

    Some residents staying along the Adukrom-Aseseeso road in the Okere Distirct of the Eastern Region have expressed concern that they were exposed to health hazards following the generation of dust as a result of rehabilitation works being undertaken on the road.

    Parts of the Adukrom-Mampong road have been entirely scrapped for the spreading of new asphalt even though residents and drivers say the road was in near perfect shape but for a “few” potholes.

    Three months on, works are yet to start on the project, leaving the residents to their fate.

    Works on the Aseseeso stretch which is part of ongoing works on the Koforidua-Adukrom-Somanya road is also exposing the residents to endless dust.

    Though the roads are supposed to be watered regularly to assuage the plight of the people, the residents say this is no longer done.

    The nature of the dusty road now is making life unbearable for residents with the public and road users becoming at risk of respiratory diseases.

    The residents say shop owners were being compelled to close down their shops because selling by the roadside has become risky to both sellers and buyers.

    A few who brace through the heavily- polluted environment are aware of the consequences but explain they have run out of options.

    A common scene to behold is dusty buildings, vehicles and even crops as many people resort to the use of nose masks to prevent inhaling the dust.

    A barber who gave his name as Bongo has his shop located by the dusty Adukrom-Akropong road. Complaining about the problem, in an interview with GhanaWeb, he said, “it’s a big problem for those of us by the roadside. We suffer from catarrh and we can’t stand it. We’re appealing to the authorities to come and address this problem for us.”

    He added that though the contractor used to water the road, this has ceased without any explanation.

    54-year-old Madam Abena runs a table top sewing business at Aseseeso. Wearing a nose mask to protect herself from the dust, she fears she might nevertheless soon develop a dust-induced infection if nothing was done about the situation.

    Motorists, especially commercial drivers who ply the route have their share in the danger. One of them, a taxi driver who plies the Adukrom-Mampong road, Seth Opare told GhanaWeb that the situation compels drivers to send their vehicles for servicing and washing on regular basis at high cost as a result of the bumpy and dusty nature of the road.

    Assembly man for Methodist Electoral Area, Hon Ebenezer Obiri Asare says he raised the motion on the issue in the last Assembly sitting and though assurances were given to water the roads regularly, nothing has been done.

    Describing the state of the problem, the Assemblyman said, “because we are in the harmattan season, we don’t have torrential rain and this has caused us more dust leaving most of the residents at risk of cold and businesses are affected.”

    The affected are thus calling on the government to prevail on the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA), to ensure that the contractors working on the roads executed the projects such that it did not affect their health.

    They are also calling on the contractors to water the road daily to reduce the volume of dust on the roads.

  • Eastern Region records 23 fire outbreaks in first week of 2023

    Eastern Region records 23 fire outbreaks in first week of 2023

    The Eastern Regional Command of the Ghana Fire Service says it recorded 23 incidents of fire outbreaks in the first week of 2023.

    In a release published on the Facebook page of the Fire Service, the institution said the region also recorded three incidents of traffic accidents in the first week of the year.

    “From the 1st of January 2023 to the 7th of January 2023, the Eastern Region has recorded twenty-three (23) fire outbreaks and three (3) accidents.

    “Bushfires topped the category of fires with eleven (11) incidents (due to the harmattan season that has set in), followed by domestic fires with four (4) incidents, and then commercial fires with three (3) incidents. Vehicular fires were two (2), refuse dump fires (others) also two (2) and industrial fires one (1).
    “Six (6) casualties were recorded as a result of the three (3) accidents recorded,” the release said.

    According to the report, the Eastern Regional Fire Commander, ACFO Jennifer Naa Yarley Quaye, has expressed disappointment over the development.

    She has assured that her command is ready and committed to dealing with fires and fire-related incidents throughout the year.

    Incidents of fire outbreaks in Ghana are usually at their highest during the harmattan season.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Parents cautioned against using breast milk to treat eye problems in babies

    Parents have been advised to desist from using breast milk to treat eye problems in babies and rather seek professional medical care to ensure their safety.

    That habit, coupled with the use of herbal preparations for eye treatment, has resulted in children risking visual impairment and other complicated eye injuries, especially in rural communities.

    Mr Emmanuel Osei, the Acting Eastern Regional Director, Department of Children of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, said there had been many instances where such practices had resulted in complications in eye problems of babies and children.

    He said this during an eye screening exercise for hundreds of children at Tutu and Obosomase in the Akuapem North Municipality of the Eastern Region.

    It was organised by the Department of Children, in collaboration with the Social Welfare, and Community Development, and supported by VSIO International, a not-for-profit organisation.

    The exercise forms part of efforts to educate the public on visual health and offer treatment and medications to children with visual impairment.

    A medical team from the Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital at Mampong was at hand to screen the children and offer medications whiles others were referred for further treatment.

  • ECG restores power supply to Nuaso Old Town after five months’ outage

    The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has finally restored electricity to inhabitants of Nuaso in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region after nearly five months of no power.

    The residents had over the months lamented over the lack of electricity in the community after a joint team of ECG and military personnel disconnected the community on August 22, three days after power was restored to the Krobo area after a month of total outage over the installation of prepaid meters.
    A clash between soldiers and some agitated residents during the disconnection led to eight residents sustaining gunshot wounds.

    The affected customers bemoaned that the situation was hindering economic, social and domestic activities in the community.

    Several engagements involving the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the area, Simon Kwaku Tetteh, the National Security Ministry, the Energy Ministry, the Assemblyman for the area, Hon Samuel Torgbor, management of the ECG and some prominent personalities in the community were held towards restoring power to the area.

    Currently, prepaid meters are being installed in various households in the community without any agitations in the final phase of the month-long controversial exercise in the Krobo area.

    Some residents who spoke with GhanaWeb in an interview expressed relief at the restoration of the power supply to the neighbourhood.

    They however lamented that their sources of livelihood were affected with many of them thrown out of business.

    A hairdresser, Tettey Mercy Angmorkie said, “The light out affected our businesses but we are happy to power has been restored. We could not work because we rely on power for our work so we ended up sitting down without working.”

    Another, Bernice Asimeh, a cold store operator said she was forced to close down her shop and only resumed work following the restoration of power to the community. “It affected us because I use the fridge to freeze my drinks so when we were in the dark it affected me so much.”

    Bernice who said she initially opposed the prepaid meters said though she still prefers the postpaid meters, she was nevertheless ready to accept the new meters now. “We have nothing to say, we’re just there so when they bring it we’ll accept it,” she expressed.

    According to her, she has lost many of her customers as a result and it would take her a long time to get them back.

    A manager of a car washing bay, Francis Asimeh said all the 25 employees who worked at the facility before the outage became unemployed, forcing them to join other nearby washing bays to enable them to make ends meet.

    He said though they were making sales of between Ghc150 and Ghc200 a day before the outage, they’re unable to make as many sales now as they notify their customers to return to their base for business.

    The respondents however expressed their preparedness to accept the prepaid meters currently being rolled out in the community but called for further sensitization from the power distributors.

    Assemblymember for Nuaso Old Town, Samuel Torgbor said the people were happy that power supply had been restored to the area and blamed the lack of understanding for the unfortunate incident.

    On her part, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Tema Region, Miss Sakyiwaa Mensah said the company’s decision to restore power to the area followed an agreement reached from engagements with various stakeholders to safeguard ECG interests in the area.

    “There had been ongoing discussions with various stakeholders, aimed at restoring power, safeguarding ECG property and ensuring that work can be carried out in a safe environment. The restoration is part of the consensus reached from these stakeholder engagements with chiefs, opinion leaders and management of ECG,” she said.

    She furthered that the meter installation exercise has been completed at Nuaso New Town and currently progressing smoothly at Nuaso Old Town. “It has been smooth so far. ECG is appreciative of the cordial working environment which has enabled work to go on smoothly,” noted the PRO.

  • Liquid substance was a sludge from pressure testing – BOST on purported diesel leakage

    The Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST) has discounted claims that a liquid substance that was said to have leaked from one of its pipelines located in the Eastern region was diesel oil.

    This comes after a viral video shared on social media showed residents living in the Atimpoku area siphoning the substance after the pipeline located at BOST’s ‘Maame Water’ depot was reportedly damaged.

    BOST in a statement issued on December 18 however clarified that the reported liquid was a sludge consisting of water, dirt and fuel residue which was spilled following a pressure testing undertaken on a refurbished pipeline.

    “The pipeline had been decommissioned from 2015 due to vandalism of the line by unknown assailants. This resulted in BOST resorting to the use of Bulk Road Vehicles, popularly known as tankers in the haulage of petroleum Products from the Tema to the Akosombo Depot for onward transmission using river badges to the Buipe Depot in northern Ghana.”

    “Repair works on the pipeline commenced a year ago and was expected to be completed by the third quarter of the year 2022. Due to the impact of the construction of the Railway Line from Tema to Mpakadan in the Volta region, the line had to be re-routed which affected the completion time,” it explained.

    BOST further noted that it commissioned the installation of a leak and intrusion detection system on the line for the safety and security of its operations after it was recommissioned.

    “For a proper assessment of the degree of damage at the commencement of the repair works, water was pumped up the line to help with the full detection of all leakages for repairs.”

    “After the repair works, the company carried out a pressure testing of the line to be sure all the leakages detected have been rectified. It is this pressure testing which resulted in the pushout of a sludge in the Maame Water area which is being reported in the media. The sludge is a combination of water, dirt and fuel residue formed in the pipeline which was pushed out in the pressure testing,” BOST explained.

    It also emphasized that the tanks at the Maame Water depot have been empty over the last couple of years adding that BOST had not pumped products up the pipeline since the repair works are yet to be fully completed for a hand-over and recommissioning.

    “The exposed content of the line due to the testing has been foamed by the BOST Team with support from the Ghana National Fire Service and works are underway to ensure a clean-up of the area of the spillage,” the statement added.

    The company also assured that has been zero environmental impact as the spilled slop was contained within the drains in the area which happened to be choked.

    “There was no spillage into the waterbodies around the area including the Volta Lake. The spills in the drains have been recovered with the support of the BOST team which has been on site since morning,” it noted.

    The oil storage and transportation company however assured the public that the situation is under control adding that there are no financial cost implications of the said spillage since same was carried out to check the integrity of the repaired pipeline.