Monday, November 24, 2008

NDC RECORDS ONE DEATH DURING THE VISIT OF JJ RAWLINGS TO BAWKU

A 30 years old man Iddi Idrisu died on Saturday at 1:15pm when he jumped off the motor they were riding to welcome the Former President Flight Lt. John Jerry Rawlings.

Idrisu, a farmer by profession who was the Secretary for the National Democratic Congress (N.D.C) for Binduri Constituency in the Bawku Municipal in the Upper East Region was behind the motor rider who was riding on high speed as has been the practice anytime such politicians were visiting the Municipality.

Unfortunately for them the burst front tire and in attempt to escape the looming danger he jumped and fell on the back of his head and when he was rushed to the Quality Medical Care Centre, a private hospital he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Saturday 22 November 2008, could be described as eventful for most people in Bawku and it surroundings towns and villages when the news filtered in the air that the Former President was coming.

As early as 8.0 ‘clock in the morning, the main street was packed with people from all walks of life, with the Youngman and Ladies riding motors in a very reckless manner that suggested that something unpleasant would happen.

When the Former President finally arrived at 2:30pm, most shops and stores were partly closed, market women abandoned their work running everywhere just to catch a glance at him.

By Godwin Nkunu
Journalist- ISD

JJ RAWLINGS URGED FEUDING FACTIONS IN BAWKU TO DEFUSE TENTION

Former President Flight Lt. John Jerry Rawlings on Saturday addressed a mammoth rally at Bawku Community centre and appealed to the fending factious in the center of the Bawku Conflict to defuse the tension handing over politics.

He told the crowd that Kusasis and Mamprusis have inter married over the period and are now one people, therefore, should not let politicians to exploit the conflict to their advantage which would end up impoverish them and their children yet unborn.

“How many Kusasis haven’t married to Mamprusis and how Mamprusis are not married to kusasis, you have uncles, aunties from the both sides so why killed yourselves.

The Former president said that politics was not about tribal lines and ethnicity but development of the nation and the people so he advised them to be united and formed a common solidarity in order to find solution to the stress as the result of the conflict.

Flight Lt Rawlings alleged that during the 2004 election, the New Patriotic Party (N.P.P) filled the boxes with identical thumb print ballot papers, stressing that the stole the election but admitted that the 2000 election was won by N.P.P through the psychology they played on the minds of Ghanaians.

He also alleged that the N.P.P was trying to introduce violence, therefore, advised Ghanaians to be vigilant for the December polls.

The Former President said that the 7th election was crucial for the National Democratic Congress (N.D.C) and was hopeful that victory was sure for Prof. John Evans Atta Mills to “build a strong nation by pooling the nation along not a few because the winds of change is blowing every where they went ”.

According to him, the suffering have increased, tariffs and school fees have shot up making life very difficult for parents to pay their wards fees, “don’t become immune to suffering of the N.P.P, I told you not to give your votes to them, I hope you will not repeat such mistake again” he concluded.

Before, the mammoth rally, the former President paid a courtesy call on Bawku Naba, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II Paramount Chief of Bawku traditional are. After exchanging pleasantries, he told Naba that people turned to forget the progress made during the 1979 and 1981 revolutions, therefore, this election represent the best opportunity for Ghanaians to express their freedom to continue the noble work they began.

He urged Bawku Naba to unit the people devoid of all divisions to prevent politicians from exploiting the people through the conflict.

Flight Lt. Rawlings said billions of old cedi had been spent to resolved the Dagbon conflict and kept the place under state of emergency for two years instead of spending such amount on education and sanitation.

Earlier on Former President visited the families of the late Alhji Oga and Teacher Rokes Yirimea who were opinion leaders of Kusasis and Mamprusis respectively who lost their lives during the just ended conflict to sympathize with them.
Though the former president’s visit was peaceful, some people around the central part of Bawku (Natinga area) Township threw stones at the convoy which broke one of the side glasses of one of the long buses but there was no injury. Earlier on, one Mr. Iddi Iddrisu died on the spot when the motorbike he sat on burst tire. This was part of motorbike display to welcome JJ Rawlings to Bawku.


Godwin Nkunu
ISD- Bawku

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

BAWKU NABA SAYS POLITICAL CLASHES IS UNNECESSARY

The Bawku Naba, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoga II has bemoaned the unnecessary confrontation clashes among political parties’ supporters resulting into deaths and injuries.

He said he felt disappointed at this negative phenomenon which was disintegrating people with common vision and destiny instead of uniting them for national development.

Naba Asigri explained a local adage to the effect that even dogs have now joined forces in their neighbourhood to protect themselves and fight evils that evade their communities so wondered why people who are rational beings would kill or injury themselves in the name of winning power to rule.

He advised political parties’ leaders and their supporters to learn from animals as they co-exist in peace and unity for development.

He made these remarks when a team of pastors were at his palace to pray for the chief and his council for peace before, during and after the general elections considering the just ended tribal conflict in Bawku.

The Paramount chief of the area noted that politics was not a “do and die” affair but a healthy competition to lead the nation and added that God had already chosen who would lead our great nation after President Kufuor’s term expire in January next year so the confrontation and clashes would not change God’s Plan.

He explained that what happened in Bawku would not have happened if majority of the inhabitant were Christians “my name is George and you all know what that means, the Bible has the truth and we must all preach that truth,” he concluded.

The Deputy Co-coordinator of the Bawku Municipal Assembly Mr. David Naa-Ire was full of praise to the effort of the pastors since the eruption of the conflict some eight months that helped in maintaining the relative peace we are enjoying now.

He promised them of the Assembly’s readiness to assist in any direction in order to consolidate the peace as the December 7 elections approaches.

Preaching at the evening session to climax the one week fasting and prayers, a visiting Pastor from Nigeria, Bishop Bernard Ogbedada assured the inhabitants of the land to have faith in the Lord because God has already answered their prayers.

“Don’t be afraid, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, God Himself is fighting for the battle of Bawku”’ he assured.

Quoting Exodus 14:13, from the Holy Bible, Bishop Ogbedada indicated that it had been decreed that Bawku and its environs would be peaceful forever.

He explained that the Bawku conflict went beyond physical battle blaming the Pastors for not doing well spiritually to nip in the bud the conflict.



Godwin Nkunu
ISD- BAWKU

Satellite Market for the People of Missiga near Bawku


A Satellite market valued at GH¢ 400,000.00 will be constructed for the people of Misiga, a farming Community near Bawku in the Upper East Region.

The market which will be completed in eight months will have a 3 set 60 lockable stores, a 3 set 60 stalls, five units ware houses, 3 classroom block kindergarten for children whose mothers would trade in the new market and butchers’ shop.

This was disclosed by the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Abdulai Abanga at a sod cutting Ceremony to commerce works at Missiga.

The project which is the first phase of a market complex is sponsored by the government of Ghana through the Jubilee bond as part of its efforts in reducing poverty, creating wealth and generating revenue.

Hon. Abanga said this was as the New Patriotic Party (N.P.P) determination in sharing the national cake evenly and fairly among Ghanaians as a measure to open the economy and provide firm ground to compete effectively with countries in the sub-region.

He added that the market would serve people from the neighboring countries like Burkina Faso, Togo and Niger because of its strategic location and would increase the revenue base for the Assembly for further developments.

The leader of the Community, Mr. Akakeb Assana described the project as eye-opener for the people in the community, therefore his people were so happy about it.

He said the project would create jobs for the idled youth and upon completion women would not have to travel far distance to market their farm produce.

Godwin Nkunu
ISD - BAWKU

PUBLIC REACTION ON PRESIDENTIAL COMPLEX

Even though majority of people commended the bold initiative of President John Agykum kufour in Building a befitting place of the presidency. Others expressed reservations.

A good number of people said such an edifice was long over due considering the economic status of Ghana as compared to the neighboring countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, Togo, Nigeria etc.

They expressed dissatisfaction about the presidency operating from building (OSU CASTLE) constructed by our colonial masters where our brothers and sisters were carted away as slaves to the detriment of our development.

Notwithstanding, its proximity to the sea, also added a great cost of maintaining “the slaves masters monument”, therefore did not befit the state.

On the other hand, others who did not condemn the project were of the view that there was much needed necessity of life rather than such a luxury for the comfort of the president to the disadvantage of the masses.

They cited the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital where accidents victims and patients died in the process of transfer to Kole-Bu in Accra or Komfo-Anokye Hospital in Kumasi due to lack of qualified doctors and logistics.

They also argued out that qualified doctors refused postings to Upper East and upper west particular as a result of deprivation in terms of quarters for doctors, water and roads.

By Godwin Nkunu
ISD- BAWKU

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

DOUBLE VOTING IS NOT POSSIBLE ON ELECTION DAY





There is no way any electorate can vote double come December 7 , this is because , the EC has already identified some double registration in its register and is taking steps to deal with it , the Bawku Municipal Electoral Officer Mr. Bosco Azuh has said.

“In addition, the indelible ink to be used on the day of the election is highly indelible in the sense that , once applied , it will take more than six months to erase, even in the face of funny methods employed by some unpatriotic people in the past” he emphasized .

Mr. Bosco Azuh has therefore described the forth coming elections as purely one electorate, one vote. He said this at voter education forums organized by the Bawku Literally Society and sponsored by IBIS Ghana, a Non governmental Organization.

Mr. Azuh advised parents especially not to allow their underage children who cheated to register to stay clear off the polls because if they ignore all warnings they would be arrested at the point of voting and it will include the parent.

There is no need to cheat in this election because God has already chosen our leaders so why endanger one’s life in face of very tight security network because anybody who attempts to cheat will surely be arrested and imprisoned for not less than two years. Mr. Bosco Azuh said.

The Deputy Chief Imam Mohammed Mutala emphsaised that Islam means peace so therefore is not proper for any Moslem to engage in violent acts or shameful behavior that will bring Islam in to disrepute and cautioned that anybody who commits crime or destroys in the name of elections will be punished by the law, the same way God will not spare that person.

He admonished the youth who are the future leaders of the country not to allow any boy to deceive them into violent acts during this elections because the resultant effects of violence could ruin their bright future and bring misery to them and the country as a whole.

Imam Mohammed Mutala said God created the human being as one and we must ensure continuity not allowing politics to divide us.

The Pastor of the church of Pentecost in Bawku, James O Banor said democracy is all about people tolerating divergent views and allowing the rule of law to work.

“To make our young democracy work, it is incumbent on us to exhibit maturity as a people by toleranting all views including those of different parties” Pastor Banor advised.

Pastor Banor said if a brother is wearing a party T-shirt that doesn’t necessarily suggest that, that brother will surely vote that party’s candidate because experience have shown that not all such people vote in that line.

He urged the people to fear God, do good and love each other and come December 7, we will elect our leaders and peace will surely prevail.

A member of the Bawku Literary Society Mr. Lukeman Imoro praised the people of Bawku for their comportment and maturity they exhibited during the voters registration exercise and urged them to translate the same into the December 7 elections, this he believes will ensure that peace prevails after the elections.

Mr. Lukeman Imoro thanked IBIS Ghana for their sponsorship and is hopeful that this collaboration with IBIS Ghana will last for a long time to come.

The voter education program took place in some selected communities within the Bawku municipality these included; Pusiga, Binduri, Possum, Gingande, South Natinga, and Sabongari.

JAMES DORGBETOR
MUNICIPAL INFORMATION OFFICER