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Vivo Energy launches Stop, Think & Drive campaign

By
AGNES ANSAH
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The unveiling of the campaign
Participants at the campaign launch

Marketer and Distributor of Shell branded fuel, Vivo Energy Ghana, yesterday launched the “Stop, Think & Drive” road safety campaign in Accra.

The campaign is targeted at training over 1000 high-risk commercial drivers and motorcyclists in Greater Accra, Western, Central, Ashanti, Bono East and Northern Regions.

The initiative is aimed at helping drivers and motorists attain advanced knowledge on driving to ensure their safety and that of their passengers.

The campaign launch was attended by officers from National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Driver and Vehicular Licensing Authority (DVLA), Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana  Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Traffic and Transport Department ( MTTD), Transporters and  Drivers.

Addressing them  at a ceremony at Neoplan Station at Odawna, in Accra, Mr Kader Miaga, Managing Director, Vivo  Energy Ghana said though his outfit is associated with the sale of fuel, the welfare of its clients, mainly the drivers and transport operators, is very crucial  hence the initiative.

Mr Miaga observed that some drivers have no formal education, but are very experienced in the driving of high-risk cars and that there was the need to educate them more, in order to ensure that the right things are always done.

He indicated that his outfit, after taking the drivers through the training will institute a monitoring system that will keep them in check and help measure the rate of accident.

The Head of Regulations, Inspections and Compliance, NRSA, Mr Kwame Kodua Atuahene on his part expressed his appreciation to Vivo Energy for the initiative.

He said the act was a testament to the fact that Vivo Energy is not only after money but also has the welfare of its customers at heart.

Advising the drivers to take the training serious, Mr Atuahene noted that education was very important. “I appeal to you to take the acquisition of knowledge on driving very serious so that you can save lives,” he said.

According to him, the NRSA itself had issued several directives and organised programs aimed at ensuring safety of drivers and commuters.

He noted that even though hundred percent success has not been achieved, there is a 40 percent compliance level among the drivers and hence charged Vivo Energy not to relent on its effort, because it would pay off in future. He charged the GPRTU to also train its members who could not benefit from the program.

The Public Relations Officer for the Greater Accra branch of GPRTU,  Mr Abbas Ibrahim Moro, on his part encouraged his colleague drivers to take the training serious, since it will go a long way to help them save their lives, their families and friends.

He ceased the opportunity to appeal to Vivo Energy to reduce the price of its high quality fuel so they could also patronise it.

The MTTD on their part appealed to drivers to ensure that they are always in good health and the right frame of mind before they drive. It observed that there are people who lose their lives through minor mistakes, which could have been avoided if the driver applied some critical thinking and was in good health.

It again charged the drivers  to be extra careful when driving on new routes and also during festive seasons since these have also been identified to be contributing factors to accidents in the country.

GH¢17,000 bounty placed on suspect in child abuse video 

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Suspect in child abuse video

Givers Herbal, a local herbal medicine producer, has joined the manhunt for the man who was mercilessly flogging his son in a viral video on social media.

The company has, therefore, placed a GH¢5,000 bounty on the head of the man, in addition to the GH¢10,000 by Child Right International, and GH¢2,000 by the Ghana Police Service.

Although it is unknown what may have caused the man to engage in such a despicable and ruthless act, the toddler could be seen and heard screaming helplessly in the video.

Many people who chanced upon the video shared and drew the attention of the police to the abuse.

Speaking to journalists in Accra, the Personal Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Givers Herbal, Mr. Richard Sarkodie, condemned the flogging of the toddler, describing it as despicable.

“In support of the Ghana Police Service’s effort to locate the individual, management of Givers Herbal, through the Office of our CEO, Dr. Solomon Kwabi, is publicly staking a reward claim of GH¢5,000 to any individual who will be able to provide details that will lead to the location of the individual in question to face the full rigours of the law,” he said.

According to him, the reward would be given after the Ghana Police Service had verified the information provider.

He also gave an assurance that the company would be using its platforms across the country to help in the search.

“As a herbal company with a nationwide reach, we have also informed all our customers to help in the search for this man in question, so that we can get justice for the innocent toddler,” he added.

The Ghana Police Service has already commenced investigations into the matter.

Kennedy Agyapong donates to Bawku residents

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Kennedy Agyapong (l) handing over the items
Some of the relief items

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has, once again, shown the way and become the first to heed the appeal for food items for the conflict-ravaged people of Bawku.

As always, he has demonstrated his selfless and benevolent nature with a donation to persons living in the Bawku Municipality, who have been affected by a recent conflict that has led to the death of some people in the area.

The presentation of the items donated, which included 500 bags of 50kg cement and 50 boxes of cooking oil, was made at Bolgatanga, the regional capital of the Upper East Region.

Mr. Agyapong, who doubles as the Chairman of the Interior and Defence Committee of Parliament, revealed that, he wanted to visit Bawku, the conflict area, to acquaint himself with the situation there, but was advised not to do so for security reasons.

According to Mr. Agyapong, he received a request from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman of Bawku to come to the aid of the people, since the conflict between the Mamprusi and Kusaasi factions has put the people in a state of abject poverty.

According to reports gathered from the area, the killing of two men and a woman in the area by unknown assailants had put fear and panic in the people, and this had impeded economic activities, leading to mass hunger.

Ken Agyapong told the leaders not to sideline any of the two tribes, Mamprusis or Kusaasis, in distribution the items, but ensure equitable allocation to all of them.

The Chairman suggested that, there were other tribes in the Bawku area who were not either Mamprusi or Kusaasi, and that, if possible, they should be considered in the distribution of the items, to which Mr. Agyapong agreed.

The Legislator said that, without peace, there could not be development in the country, and entreated the leaders to resolve to ensure that the various tribes lived in peace and harmony.

Editorial: Social Welfare must up its game to protect children

By
THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

A video of a man who was flogging a toddler went viral on social media two days ago.

Several conflicting reports have emerged over the incident, with some saying the purported suspect, who allegedly happens to be the child’s father, has been arrested, together with his wife, on Wednesday afternoon at Akaa Buem, in Jasikan of the Oti Region.

Interestingly, The Chronicle has also sighted a circular purported to be coming from the Ghana Police Service, which said no confirmed arrest had been made in connection with the case, and that their intelligence team and experts from the Police Cyber Crime Unit were working around the clock to resolve the case.

The police said they were counting on the public for further information that could help in the search to rescue of the child and arrest of the perpetrator.  The Chronicle, at the time of going to bed, contacted the Police Headquarters and was informed that no information on the arrest had reached them.

As part of efforts to bring the perpetrator to book, a GH¢17,000 bounty had been placed on the suspect’s head by three entities – the Ghana Police Service GH¢2,000, Child Right International GH¢10,000 and Givers Herbal GH¢5,000.

Sadly, in the midst of all these, the Department of Social Welfare, under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP), which has been assigned the statutory function in the field of children’s rights promotion and protection, has not issued any statement to that effect.

The Department of Social Welfare is supposed to work in partnership with people in their communities, through the promotion of social development with equity for the disadvantaged, the vulnerable, and persons with disabilities.

Meanwhile, what the public has witnessed is one of the unreported cases of child abuse, and it is unfortunate that Social Welfare is mute.

The United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has estimated that the total number of children who have been physically or emotionally abused stood at 3.4 million in Ghana.

It added that the financial cost of child abuse in the country was estimated at more than US$200 million a year, or 1 per cent of Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

These are the very reasons that make us concerned over the Department of Social Welfare’s quietness over the matter. The trauma this child has endured will go a long way to affect him physically and emotionally later in life.

Research has shown that children from abusive homes are likely to become abusive or bullies, as ways to express their anger.

Thus, abusive children stand the risk of a number of developmental, health, and mental challenges, including learning habits relating to peers, internal symptoms (like depression, anxiety), external symptoms (oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, aggression), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

In later life, these children will continue to show increased risk for psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, serious medical illnesses, and lower economic productivity.

It is on this basis that we want the Department of Social Welfare to step up its game and move closer to the people and rescue vulnerable children when the need arises. The Department should be visible and a first point of call in cases of child abuse.

Letter to Senior Opupulepu (204) Tweaaa! After all You no Look Fine! -The Umbrellas

By
admin
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Opinion

Dear Senior Opupulepu,

How are you do? As for and my mine, we are all do fine, fine, thank you.

Senior, I believe you encountered this situation when you were young in your teens, either by experience or by observation.

Senior, those were the days, and it is still in existence, sons of Adam aka akupas, come out like angels of Yahweh, andgo chasing daughters of Eve.

Senior, a typical akupa will describe the baby as the most beautiful on earth by saying, “It was only after you were born, that beauty came into this world. I really want to be always by your side, I need nothing. Hmmm, life without you, will be like Chinese film without karate, like sunshine without keysoap, sorry sunlight”

Senior, this approach would go on and on and on, with the akupa patiently waiting for a Yes answer. In fact, he would go fasting and prayers if this daughter of Eve, tells him, she will think about his proposal.

Senior, here lies the danger. For the daughter of Eve is not going into her room and meditate over the issue, but rather go to meet a female caucus where they will debate the proposal and then put it into vote.

Senior, if this akupa who is suffering in the land, has enemies in the House, then sorry. “Aaaah, Sister, Sister, look a beauty like you, Oba papa bi. You are going for this guy man?

Are you aware that at this his age, he still bed-wets?” “Esi Atta, look at the house you come from, before you make a choice. Someone, whose guy name sef, is not fine. Azaambuja! If you want to be called Mrs. Azambuja then go ahead.”

“Aaooo, my Sister, so you do not know he is a petty, thief-man. In fact, he has started learning how to be a robber, by thiefing, meat and fish that his sisters are using to prepare meals. His former girlfriend, Naa Lameley Akpanye, saw him thiefing ladies under something and bodies on a drying line.

He then, ironed them and wrapped them fine, fine and presented them to her as a gift from the bottom of his heart. If Naa, had not seen him in action, she would have accepted the stolen goods with joy and deep appreciation. If you like, ask him what happened between him and Naa.”

Senior, once the conversation takes this course, then that will be the end of matters arising and it will be a simple situation of “I regret to decline”.

Senior, with this shocking “No” for an answer, scales like fish scales will remove from his eyes and in his confused, clouded and disappointed mind he will see the lady as he thinks, under the circumstances. There will be the need to even the scores, as in“ati-ka, ati-ka, one-one draw.”

Senior, the disappointed son of Adam will go like this, “If you think I love you, I do not. Look at someone like single one that has been sand papered (if the baby is slim and sweet, like a Ghana Most Beautiful)” “You think you are beautiful, I am only doing you a favour, you who look like a baby whale. (If the baby is well endowed, the back, the front, the everywhere) Which of the guys here do you think, will look at you twice?”“My dear lady, but why am I even calling you, lady? My mother wants house-help and you fit in that category. Ah, tweaaa, after all, you no look fine.”

Senior, it is this, “tweaaa, after all, you no look fine,” that has entered into the Umbrella department at the Municipal Police kiosk.

Senior, when, Nana Onsurowuo was begged to come and chop Omanhene again for the second time by the kingmakers of Ogyakrom, he submitted his list of servants he would like to work with, if the House pleases.

Senior, the names included names which to the Umbrella Clan people, so far as community work is concern, they should have been extinct.

Senior, but lo and behold, the Umbrella Municipal Police people, made their heads like lizard head and kept nodding like that at anyone brought in front of them.

Senior, this annoyed some small baby with chainsaw teeth, in the Umbrella clan, call Samsam Jeffrey, who described his own in the Municipal Police kiosks, like people who get up from bed, spray armpit, powder faces and grease skins before stepping into the bathroom to bath with water, sponge and don’t-touch-me soap.

Senior, it became butu-butu in the Umbrella clan. And suddenly, everything went quite and calm and order was restored.

Senior, not knowing, all the Umbrella Municipal Police who nodded their heads like lizards relaxing in the sun doing nothing, had approached our Omanhene’s servants and begged that they should give them hand-downs when they enter their father’s kingdom.

Senior, unfortunately, these servants are not minding them and suddenly we only hear the Umbrella Municipal Police officers, shouting on top of their voices at Omanhene’s servants that, “tweaaa, after all, you people no look fine.”

Senior, I am Dan, sorry I am done. If I continue and one day I have to appear before these lizard-like nodding heads of the Umbrella people, all I have said will be taken against me.

It’s me!

Anyimahene celebrates 10th anniversary

By
FRANCIS OWUSU-ANSAH
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Obrempong Ameyaw Amponsah II, Anyimahene of Anyima Traditional Area

All roads lead to Anyima in the Kintampo South District today, September 7, 2022, for the tenth anniversary celebration of the enstoolment of the Anyimahene, Mr. Isaac Adjei.

The theme for the celebration is: “10 years of Peace and development,” and is expected to attract prominent personalities from the region and outside the country.

The occasion is to be chaired by Mr. Noble Appiah, for Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).

The anniversary celebration would afford the Anyimahene the opportunity to take stock of his stewardship over the past decade, and also present his vision for the next ten years.

The Anyimahene is expected to address issues on land litigation, health, security, education, roads infrastructure, and party politics.

Some major achievements under his reign are the construction of a basket weaving factory and the provision of telecommunication masts for telecom service providers in the area.

The fifty-year-old businessman, Mr. Isaac Adjei, was installed Anyimahene in the Nkoranza Traditional Area, under the stool name Obrempong Ameyaw Amponsem II.

During his installation ceremony in 2012, the one-time Brong-Ahafo Regional Organiser of the Democratic Freedom Party, mentioned technical education, sanitation and afforestation as his key areas to address as Anyimahene.

Obrempong Ameyaw Amponsem noted at the time that since technical education was expected to produce the needed manpower for the nation’s accelerated development, he was seriously going to push for the establishment of, at least, one technical school in the area.

He added at the time that, to protect ecotourism, he would pursue a vigorous afforestation programme in consultation with the relevant authorities to see to the development of tourism in Ghana.

Obrempong Amponsem stressed that sanitation was going to receive adequate attention, since good sanitation practices would ensure a healthy people for community development.

Born on May 12, 1972, Obrempong Amponsem had his primary education at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, and continued at the Boahenkoko Presby Primary School in Sunyani and later returned to Bolgatanga and studied at the Bolgatanga Technical Institute.

After completing his technical studies, Obrempong Amponsem left for greener pastures and on his return established his own business, Addfal F.A. Limited, general business dealers.

Peace Council and DANIDA sensitise Sampa residents

By
FRANCIS OWUSU-ANSAH
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Alhaji Quandah, Bono Regional Executive Secretary of the NPC (3rd l) with participants after the engagement

The Bono Regional Peace Council (NPC) has sensitised residents of Sampa, a community along the Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire border in the Jaman North District of the Bono Region, on emerging issues of terrorism and violent extremism.

The two-day public dialogue and sensitisation workshop, funded by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), was in-line with a project titled; ‘Peace Building for Peaceful Election in 2020,’ being implemented by the council.

It sought to sensitise border communities on critical emerging issues, including violent extremism and terrorism, to empower the residents to identify and help tackle threats of terrorism in the country.

In a welcoming address, Alhaji Suallah Abdallah Quandah, Bono Regional Executive Secretary of the NPC, took the participants through the mandate of the Council, and asked them to join it to preserve the prevailing national peace and social cohesion.

He said though the country had not reported any major terrorist attack, Ghana was not immune from such, saying, “these terrorist attacks are happening around us within the sub-region.”

Alhaji Quandah explained that the workshop was to build the capacity of community leaders and all stakeholders to enable them identify such acts, and report to the appropriate authorities accordingly.

He, therefore, called for a collaborative approach among all stakeholders towards protecting the nation from such.

Mr. Solomon Owusu, Jaman North District Chief Executive, lauded the project, saying, its implementation in the area was of utmost importance, considering the location of Sampa as a border town, which serves as an entry and exit point for all manner of persons.

He said the district and Sampa, the capital, remained peaceful, while admitting that no country or society was immune to acts of terrorism and extremism, hence the need for everybody to remain vigilant.

Mr. Ernest Ansah Lartey, Head, Peace and Security Studies at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) and a facilitator, took the participants through the concept of violent extremism and terrorism.

He also highlighted national approaches towards preventing and countering violent extremism, as well as exploring local and community approaches to addressing these issues.

Berekum-Namasua cassava farmers decry uncompleted processing factory

By
FRANCIS OWUSU-ANSAH
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The yet to be completed cassava processing factory

Cassava farmers at Namasua in the Berekum East Municipality of the Bono Region are crying over the delay in completing the cassava processing factory initiated under the One-District-One-Factory (1D1F) of the Rural Enterprises Programme.

The factory, which is being funded by the government, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and African Development Bank (AfDB), when completed, will provide employment for a number of the youth in Berekum as an Enable Youth Factory, as well as benefit a lot of farmers in the area.

During a visit to the factory site, the farmers said they had the belief that the factory would soon be opened for them to have access to process their harvested cassava, which had been left in their farms to rot.

According to the farmers, because the completion of the factory had been delayed, stray cattle had also taken advantage and consumed their entire yield.

The farmers, therefore, appealed to the Minister for Trade and Industry to come to their aid by completing the project, because what was left was the installation of machines.

“We know what is left is the installation of machines, and when that is done, the factory can start operations and we can have a designated place to sell our cassava, and also enjoy the by-product, gari,” the farmers said.

Currently, the factory only has one security man in charge, while all doors remain under lock.

The youth in the town shared their sentiments that they were eager to see the only 1D1F gari processing factory ready by the end of the year.

I inherited a country at crossroads –Buhari

By
admin
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President Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari says he inherited a country at crossroads with bombs detonating in cities across Nigeria when he assumed office in May 2015.

He, however, said his government has been able to manage Nigeria’s security crisis in the last seven years.

“When this government came in 2015, we inherited a country at crossroads with bombs going off with frightening frequency even in our cities and we came in to manage the crisis,” Buhari said on Thursday in Afaka, Kaduna State at the passing-out parade and commissioning ceremony of cadets of Regular Course 69 of the Nigerian Defence Academy.

A total of 239 cadets including those from sister African countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Niger Republic, Chad, and Uganda are passing out from the Academy as junior military officers.

The President charged the cadets to replicate the spirit of social cohesion they learned at the NDA and be incorruptible models to the society, noting that they emerged in the era of expanding global security threats.

The President again pledged that his administration will fulfill its promise to neutralise Boko Haram terrorism in the North-East.

He acknowledged that the security challenges in the country have evolved and assumed other dimensions in some areas, noting that his government has been deploying both military and non-military methods including amnesty for repentant terrorists to arrest the situation.

Credit: channelstv.com

Govt vs Varsity lecturers: Lawyers fail to reach out-of-court settlement

By
admin
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Labor minister Ngige and ASUU president

Lawyers for the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)on Thursday could not resolve the eight months old strike, despite the out-of-court settlement as advised by the Appellate Court.

The lawyers – James Igwe (SAN) and Femi Falana (SAN) told the Court of Appeal that despite the admonition, they could resolve the dispute.

Presiding Justice Hamma Barka, thereafter stepped down the matter for an hour to enable the counsel to ASUU, Femi Falana file a reply to the counter affidavit deposed to by the Federal government in opposition to the hearing of the appeal.

At the resumption of the hearing, Falana said they had begun consultations which would continue at the end of the day’s proceedings. He suggested that their application challenging the ruling of the Industrial Court, be heard by the three-man panel of the Appeal court.

Both parties agreed that the court should hear the application, as there was no amicable resolution reached as advised by the court.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Wednesday asked the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government to opt for an out-of-court settlement in handling the impasse between both parties.

The court took the decision on Wednesday while hearing the appeal by ASUU over the September 21 judgement of the National Industrial Court, which ordered the university lecturers to suspend their strike action.

ASUU has been on strike since February 14. One bone of contention for academics is the non-payment of university revitalisation funds, which amounts to about N1.1 trillion.

But the Federal Government has said it doesn’t have the money to pay such an amount, citing low oil prices.

Credit: channelstv.com

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