SYMBOLIC HANDING OVER OF HAND DUG WELLS TO BMA

Zuuri Organic Vegetable Farmers Association (ZOVFA) with financial support from Oxfam GB has constructed 13 No hand dug wells fitted with 7 NIRA AF 85 and 6 Rope pumps and handed them over to the Bawku Municipal Assembly (BMA) at a ceremony at Bawku in the upper east region.

The beneficially communities included Poayamire, Kompargog, Tansia, Titaka, Zuuri, Komnatinga, and Narangsang,

The Programs Coordinator of ZOVFA Mr. Philip Ayamba who handed the wells over to the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) said, in addition to the provision of the wells, WATSAN committee and caretakers were set up and trained in each community to take responsibility for sustained operation and maintenance of the water points.

Mr. Philip Ayamba said it is the pleasure of ZOVFA and its partners Oxfam GB as partners and actors in fighting against rural poverty, disease and suffering to hand over these facilities to the communities through the Bawku Municipal Assembly as the statutory body responsible for the development of the area.

The Country Director of Oxfam GB Mr. Justin Morgan was happy that the hand dug wells have been successfully completed and their aim of providing portable water to the targeted communities is achieved. He urged the beneficially communities to take ownership of the wells because through this they can manage the wells properly.

The MCE Hon. Abdulai Abanga thanked ZOVFA and Oxfam GB for their kind gestures which will provide portable drinking water for these communities and for dry season gardening. This obviously would eliminate water borne diseases which before now characterized their source of water, he emphasized.

Hon. Abdulai Abanga urged the beneficially communities to take good care of the wells as it will determine the durability of the wells. He appealed to other development partners to support the Assembly in its developmental projects.

Mr. Thomas Atampiiga from, Tateuko community, thanked the providers for the wells. He said it will cut down the long hours their wives and children covered to fetch water because the wells are just close to their households. Children who were late for their classes can now fetch water quickly and be early for school.

He said the communities can now breath a sigh of relieve because they can now drink clean water devoid of diseases and also use the water to support their dry season gardening.

JAMES DORGBETOR
Bawku Municipal Information Officer

BAWKU, CHRISTIANS PRAY FOR PEACE

Christians from all denominations of churches within the Bawku Municipality thronged to the Central Baptist Church and embarked upon a one week fasting and prayer and sought the intervention of God for sustainable peace to prevail in the land of Bawku.

For them, the intermittent occurrence of conflict in the land was enough and was time that they sought for divine help to put an end to all the troubles in Bawku.

According to them, their motivation and inspiration is the theme of the crusade; “Redeeming the land” which is contained in the Holy Bible: 2 chronicles 7:14 “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, them I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land”.

At the climax of the crusade, the host, Rev. John Kojo Atubiga thanked God for the crusade and the astonishing impact it has started making in the lives of the people.

“Most of the people after listening to the main speaker from Nigeria Bishop Tendoo Angbagh and the other preachers, broken down in tears and wept bitterly which is a sign of regret and resolved not to let such a thing happen to them again” he said.

Rev. John Kojo Atubiga said though he is not resident in Bawku but for the fact that he is a native of the place he couldn’t sit down unconcern but had to quickly put this programme together for the healing of the land. This is just the beginning of series of the healing crusades in Bawku he added.

The chairman of the local council of churches in Bawku, Rev. Fr. Dominic Akologo said, though many people might have concluded in their hearts that the end of Bawku is come, but they have always confessed positively.

Rev. Fr. Akologo said this crusade is just the beginning of the many good things to come such that it would not be long when the name of Bawku is mentioned it will be for the good reasons.

The NPP Parliamentary Candidate for the Binduri constituency Mr. Stephen Yakubu said the land needs gatherings like this because is the only way to for the people to live together as one.

“We should not think that one day there will be ethnic cleansing therefore, let us continue to live peacefully together irrespective of our tribes and avoid politicians who preach divide and rule tribal politics” he said.

The Security Agencies in a speech read on their behalf by a member of the Municipal Security Committee (MUSEC) and also the Deputy Coordinating Director Hon. David Naa- Ire thanked the people of Bawku for the level of peace and cooperation so far but still believes that sustainable peace is possible and within the people themselves which they must exhibit fully.

Hon. David Naa – Ire appealed to the public to provide information on criminal activities to the security agencies for proper handling.

The Paramount Chief of Bawku Naba Abugrago Asigri Azoka II in a speech read on his behalf said no ruler can be happy when his area is experiencing bouts of violence including the gruesome killings of women and children, therefore he sees the prayer crusade as most important and very timely .

Naba Abugrago Asigri Azoka II pledged to contribute his quota in every way possible to assist in the preservation of peace in Bawku Traditional Area.
“In exercising my duties as the traditional ruler of this area I will be fair and just with all my subjects and residents of the Bawku Traditional Area, irrespective of their ethnic differences, which appears to be at the core of the current conflict” Naba Abugrago Asigri Azoka II Assured.

The Bawku Municipal Chief Executive Hon. Abdulai Abanga said no place can develop without peace therefore if Christians have come together to pray for sustainable peace in Bawku, invariably they, are bringing development to Bawku.

He expressed optimism that this time round sustainable is possible in Bawku. He however urged the people to continue to maintain peace and observe rule of law.


JAMES DORGBETOR
BAWKU MUNICIPAL INFORMATION OFFICER

BAWKU CENTRAL NDC RECEIVES MOTORBIKE

A former youth activist, Mr. Alhassan Mbalba, now based in the UK as a social worker has donated a brand new Sukida motorbike worth $800 to the Bawku central constituency of the NDC to help the party in their campaigns towards the December elections.

Making the donation at the party office in Bawku, Mr. Alhassan Mbalba said he was compelled by the fact that the party needed a lot of resources to carryout an effective and efficient campaign to ensure resounding victory.

Mr. Alhassan Mbalba who is currently a member of the UK and Northern Ireland branch of the NDC said with this Motorbike and some other resources the party would be providing would enable members of the party to enter every corner of the constituency to enable a landslide victory for both Hon. Mahama Ayariga as MP and Prof Atta Mills.

Mr. Mbalba said the Hon. Mahama Ayariga would make history to become the first MP to retain the Bawku central constituency seat since the beginning of the 4th republic of Ghana.

Though victory is imminent for the NDC, party members should not relent or be complacent in their campaigns rather should work very hard to make the victory an easy one. He added.

Mr. Mbalba advised voters to be mind of desperate politicians who will promise turning every constituency in the country into a district and also setting up a factory in each of them.

“I am calling on the electorate to ignore the false and most times exaggerated comments purported to have been made by the former president Flt Lt J J Rawlings. To me Dr. Kwame Nkrumah is the farther of the nation and Flt Lt Rawlings is the father of democracy in Ghana as far as the 4th republic is concern” he said.

He urged NDC party faithful to rise up and be counted by making generous donations and contributions to support the resource base of the party to ensure a comprehensive victory this year.



James Dorgbetor
Municipal Information Officer

BAWKU, MASLOC RECIPIENTS ADVISED TO PUT LOANS TO APPROPRIATE USE

The Northern Zonal Coordinator of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Mr. Simon Aamwaa Yiryel has strongly advised recipients of MASLOC funds not to divert the loans into other things rather than the intended purpose.

Mr. Aamwaa Yiryel said the loans you are receiving today are meant to assist you in your businesses, so be careful not to misapply the loans.

Citing WA in the upper west region as a bad example where some recipients misapplied their loans and bought motorbikes for pleasure rides and even married additional wife, he said such a bad practice is definitely unacceptable and unthinkable.

“It is better for you not to take the loans than take it only to misapply it and when the repayment time is due you throw your hands in the air” he advised.

Mr. Yiryel said this in Bawku when his outfit disbursed MASLOC loans to the tune of GH ¢56600 to 323 people in twenty one (21) different groups.

Mr. Yiryel said it is not easy for the Government to continue to pump money into MASLOC so therefore when recipients like you are lucky to be selected, you should ensure that the loans are repaid to enable others to benefit.

On his part the Bawku Municipal Chief executive Hon. Abdulai Abanga thanked the government on her decision to assist business women and men in the country with loans to help them grow their businesses.

Hon. Abdulai Abanga said “I am very happy today to see people in Bawku benefit from MASLOC loans because when the disbursement of the loans delayed due to the conflict at the time, some politicians took advantage and multiplied their lies to the effect that the Government had deceived them”.

Hon. Abanga advised the recipients to invest the loans wisely in their business.

On the conflict, Hon. Abanga stated clearly that the Government has no hands in the conflict therefore nobody should politicized it and should allow everybody to join and vote for a political party of their choice irrespective of their tribe, sex, or social groupings.

JAMES DORGBETOR
MUNICIPAL INFORMATION OFFICER

MOVE TO SUSTAIN PEACE IN BAWKU

The Upper East Regional Director of NCCE Mr. Mike Fuoh has asked the people of Bawku to be tolerant of each others view and at the same time be mindful of their utterances.

According to Mr. Mike fuoh, what we say has a bearing on the sustenance of peace in Bawku so anybody who feels like commenting on the situation should use his or her month responsibly to avoid the eruption of violence in Bawku again because “It is difficult to heal a psychological or emotional wound cause by a hurtful expression”

Mr. Mike Fuoh said this at a Stakeholder Information Staring Forum on NCCE planned activities towards consolidating peace in Bawku with sponsorship from National Peace Council.

Mr. Fuoh paraphrased the eighth commandment in the Holy Bible and said thou shall bare withness but not false withness.

He therefore encouraged the people to guide themselves against tendencies that lead to violence because it should not happen that the people of Bawku will go out with a lantern in broad day light looking for peace but must resolve to sustain the prevailing peace.

Commenting on the planned activities of the NCCE, the Municipal Director of NCCE Mr. P.P Apaabey Baba said, the NCCE intends to hold focused group discussions with 20 communities, sensitized 25 schools and organize mini durbars at 7 seven market places.

Mr. P.P Apaabey Baba said the objectives of the move is to educate the citizens on the constitutional provisions on the rule of law and also seek the views of the citizens on how to sustain the prevailing peace in and around Bawku.

“Thus why we see the inputs by the participants at this very forum as valuable which would enrich our discussions when we engage the people in the field” he emphasized.

The opinion leader who represented the kusasis, Mr. Thomas Abilla urged the NCCE to tell everybody in Bawku that if a neighbour wrongs or is disturbing them there are structures for proper redress and should avoid conduct where at the slightest provocation bow and arrows or arms are use to resolve issues. Mr. Abilla advised everybody to live peacefully together.

On this part, the opinion leader of the Mamprusis Mr. David Molli said the education should target eradicating ignorance from among the people in Bawku and also should seek to build trust among the feuding factions. He however decried the way some of the security men in Bawku handle their weapons which sometimes lead to the guns going off and how some would drink and cannot even handle their weapons.

The Bawku church of Pentecost Pastor, James. O. Barnor suggested the inclusion of filmshow and drama in the discussions of the NCCE.
“A religious leader we are always available and willing to assist the NCCE and any other body to disseminate the message on peace because we’ve always preached for peaceful co-existence” Pastor James. O. Barnor said.

Participant after participant at the forum emphasized the need for peaceful co-existence in Bawku. They also entreated everybody to preach peace in their small way and make the conscious efforts to sustain the current peace in Bawku.





JAMES DORGBETOR
(Municipal Information Officer)

REPORT ON PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN

GENERAL: The Information Services Department in Bawku in its quest to educate everybody within the Bawku Municipality on government programs and policies carried the message to the people including the hard to reach communities.

And after an impressive and very productive 14 days campaign, it came to light that a total of 3822 pregnant women have registered with the Bawku Mutual Health Insurance Scheme and are currently benefiting from the free maternal care policy graciously offered by the NPP government.

According to the IT officer of the scheme, Mr. Thompson Abagna, the women upon hearing the good news starting pouring in at the premises of the scheme like “wild fire” to register. He said, for barely a month now, the greater part of the scheme’ work is to quickly register the pregnant women and process their cards same day.

When the Municipal Director Health Services, Dr. Mensah Afful, was contacted, he confirmed it and said the policy has the capacity to reduce maternal deaths because the jinx and critical reasons that prevented some pregnant women to access medical care has been broken and any pregnant woman who fails to take advantage of this policy is simply an enemy to herself and her unborn child. He was however quick to add that if it is cultural and traditional reasons or barriers that prevented some pregnant women to attend antenatal care at the health centers than such women are likely not to take advantage of the policy but with continuous education they may change.

He advised families to plan their families properly and should not think that once there is a free policy they will indulge in multiple births because the policy is not a license to go and impregnate your wife(s)


Also significant, was the flood alert message to communities along the river banks in the Bawku Municipality. The message was timely because it afforded some farmers whose crops were due for harvest to quickly do so and users of the river equally distant themselves on the days the Bagre dam in neighboring Burkina Faso was opened.
These massages averted destruction of crops and lost of lives in the Bawku Municipality.

The impact made by the subsidy of fertilizer can not be over emphasized. At the moment farmers got the message, they rushed in large numbers to the offices of Ministry of Agric to collect their coupons. Many of the farmers we interviewed praised the government and were hopeful of a bumper harvest this year because they can now afford fertilizer for their crops.

On the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), the people in the Municipality are happy to be selected along side few districts to pilot the program, so far 97 people have benefited from a cash transfer of GH¢2092. The beneficiaries were full of praise for the kind gesture of the NPP government. For those who did not benefit from the LEAP funds, though they were some how happy for the beneficiaries they did not minced words when they called on government to source for more funds to cover many needy people in the Municipality.

The school feeding program and how is being managed came under serious critic. The people we interviewed said they were not happy about the conduct of the food contractors /suppliers and some matrons. They have therefore called on government to set up mechanism which will monitor and supervise the program very well. Also, they advocated for the extension of the feeding program to cover many schools.

On peaceful elections; residences in Bawku have called on government to increase the numerical strength of the security and equally motivate them to deliver on purpose to ensure sustainable peace before, during and after the elections.

COMMUNITIES AND POPULATION COVERED; A total of 42 communities and popular spots with an estimated population of about 130,000 population were dutifully covered.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: The campaign was highly successful. On some of the policies such as LEAP and school feeding program which are yet on pilot basis, efforts should be made to extend their coverage.

Finally, for the maximum impact of the policies that need the direct participation of people, the education campaign drive should continue, sustained and well resourced.





JAMES DORGBETOR
(Municipal Information Officer)