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The Upper West Regional Minister, Hon. Alhaji Alhassan Sulemana has revealed that plans are far advanced for the government to build an agricultural college in Vieri, in the Wa West District of the Upper West Region.  He said, the project which will start this year, would not only facilitate development in the area, but would also help provide agricultural training to the people in the district, region and the country at large.  The Regional Minster revealed this on Monday, at Vieri, during the Seontaa Boor Festival of the Daga-wiile community in and around Vieri.

The festival which was the second of its kind was aimed at promoting the culture of Daga-wiile community as well as the development of the area.  Alhaji Sulemana noted that the government was committed to developing the agricultural sector of the nation’s economy hence the need to develop the technical know-how of the people in the area of agriculture.  The government is also coming into partnership with a technical firm in Agric and I am happy to announce that Vieri is going to get an Agric college this year the minister said.

Hon. Sulemana also identified some major road networks to commence by February 1, this year.  Others, he identified included:  Ga-Wachiau-Dorimon-Wa Road, Wechiau-Balawa road all in the Wa West District.  The Regional Minister also touched on some government policies including: the Planting for Food and Jobs, One-Village, One-Dam, Free Senior High School and the impending Rearing for Food and Jobs, which is geared towards fostering national development.  Hon. Sulemana, therefore urged the people to support the government in the implementation of its programmes and policies; to transform the economy of the nation for the betterment of all.

In a message on his behalf, the Member of Parliament (MP), Wa West Constituency, Hon. Joseph Yiele Chireh urged the people of the Daga-WiIle community to uphold the festival to serve as a medium of cultural transition from the older to the younger generation.  He also cautioned the youth against alcoholism and hard drugs, which he said were inimical to their health and appealed to the people to sign onto the National Health Insurance Scheme to help reduce their cost to accessing to quality health care in the country.

Some students in the area who participated in quiz and debate competitions were awarded with text books and other educational materials for their performance in the exercise, while other people and groups who participated in other activities including dancing and craft were also awarded.

The Upper West Regional Minister, Hon Alhaji Sulemana Alhassan in his interaction with the media during a site inspection of a One Thousand-Metric-Tonne Capacity Warehouse on Monday, 21^st January, 2019 at Bulenga in the Wa East district, revealed that with the right technical know-how provided to farmers in the region, there will be enough produce from farmers to feed the region and other parts of the country.

The Minister during the inspection of the project, described Wa East District as one of the major food baskets in the region and asked the consultant of the project to speed up with work in order to meet the deadline for completion of the project by March 2019.  He indicated that even though there was enough produce, the major challenge confronting farmers in the region was how to preserve what has been produced to prevent post-harvest losses. He added that, the project when completed will serve as a storage facility in preserving food produced by farmers and would also motivate them to produce more since post-harvest losses would have been reduced considerably.

According to him the second year of the Planting for Food and Jobs Program received a significant increase in the number of beneficiaries. As such, there is food in abundance in the region. The provision of a warehouse in the region is therefore apt and timely. “We all know His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana’s vision of building Ghana beyond aid requires progress in all spheres of our lives as a people. If we all contribute our quota greatly within the next few years, Ghana would be a food basket for the whole of Africa and beyond and make us food self-sufficient”, he noted.

Hon. Sulemana described as very satisfactory, the recovery of debts owed the state by farmers under the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) program in the Region. He said, with an average of about sixty five percent (65%) of debt recovered from farmers, the region is well positioned to give more inputs since they are assured of repayment of credit facilities offered to farmers. He however cautioned all defaulting farmers in the various districts to settle their debts to ensure the continuance of the program.

He disclosed that government sanctioned an audit into the activities of the various Municipal and District Chief Executives along with their Directors of Agriculture to ensure that all the inputs were put to judicious use. He said the completed report would be made available to the public to ensure transparency and accountability on the part of government.

Similarly, the Upper West Regional Director of Agriculture, Mr Emmanuel Sasu Yeboah speaking to the media said, efforts were being made to ensure that farmers pay back the inputs supplied under the Planting for Food and Jobs Program. He encouraged all defaulting farmers to pay their debts for the program to continue.

On the region’s food security, Mr Sasu Emmanuel indicated that he was very confident that with the abundance of food in the region, the region in a few years to come, will start supplying the neighboring countries like Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast with food. He said Upper West Region used to be a region with food shortages but since the introduction of the Planting for Food and Jobs Program two years ago, the story had changed and there is no longer food shortages in upper West Region.

The One Thousand Metric Tonnes Warehouse project under construction at Bulenga in the Wa East District is expected to be completed in March, 2019. Another warehouse that the Hon. Regional Minister and his entourage visited was that of Antika Company Ltd where over one thousand bags of maize were stored. The company also employed over hundred women for processing the farm produce for storage in the warehouse. 

Mr Antika took the Regional Minister round his company and commended him for the visit to have an insight of what is happening in his company. Additionally, Mr Antika who is a beneficiary of the Planting for Food and Jobs Program, commended government for the initiative and explained with joy how the program has boosted his company.

The newly elected Upper West Regional Executives of the Ghana Journalists Association [GJA] led by its Chairman Mr. Suala Abdul Wahab and some immediate past executives on Thursday, 18^th January, 2018 paid a courtesy call on the Regional Minister Hon. Alhaji Sulemana Alhassan in his office.

Alhaji Abdulai Abubakar, the Regional Coordinating Director who welcomed the delegation said the RCC was prepared to work closely with the GJA to deepen the cordial relationship between the GJA and the RCC. The Chairman of the Association, Mr. Suala Abdul Wahab said the call was to officially introduce the newly elected executives of the GJA to the Regional Minister and to also pledge their support to the development of the Region.

Mr. B.D. Pobia the immediate past GJA Chairman (a retired Chief Reporter for the Ghana News Agency) appealed to the Honourable Regional Minister for an office accommodation to be used as a press centre to aid the Association organize in- service trainings for upcoming media practitioners to promote professionalism among Journalists.

Madam Judith Bagiro a past treasurer for the Association and a retired GBC Director in the UWR, pleaded with the Hon Regional Minister to be patient with media practitioners in the region in their reportage.

The Regional Minister, Hon. Alhaji Sulemana Alhassan congratulated the newly elected executives for their elevation to the leadership position of the Upper West GJA.

He advised the executives to take their responsibilities seriously and work in the service of members of the Association. He urged the Association to organize special training for their members to sharpen their skills and knowledge.

Alhaji Sulemana appealed to the Association to help sell and market the region. This, the Minister believes will bring about professionalism in the reportage of their members.

Mr. Suala Abdul Wahab responding to the bad reportage of Journalists in the Region said most unprofessional conducts are usually not from GJA members but from other media persons who are not professionals. He assured the Hon. Regional Minister of the support of the Association in the developmental agenda of the Region.

UNICEF Ghana in collaboration with the Government of Ghana under the Child Protection Programme donated five No. AG motorbikes, Five (5) No. computers and accessories under the programme in some selected Districts in the Upper West Region. According to UNICEF Ghana a strengthened child protection system would ensure justice for all children. All children would increasingly grow up in homes and communities that are free from violence, abuse and exploitation.

Addressing participants in a weeklong child protection program on Friday 22nd December, 2017 at the In- Service Training Center in Wa, the Upper West Regional Minister Hon. Alhaji Sulemana Alhassan said Government in collaboration with its development partners and civil society actors has been implementing a range of policies, programs and activities for strengthening the country’s child protection system.

Alhaji Sulemana said 39% of children between 5-17 years are engaged in some form of economic activity, mainly unpaid family works and apprenticeship or in low paid work primarily in agriculture and fishing. Of these nearly 20% (1.27 million children) were engaged in activities classified as child labor.

At the presentation ceremony of the five AG motorbikes to the beneficiary Districts, Hon. Alhaji Sulemana admonished them to take good care of the motorbikes to extend their lifespan.

The Regional Director for Community Development Mr. Moses Anabanga in his remarks said the five beneficiary districts were selected based on a 2016 special training for child protection they undertook.

Mr. Anabanga added that certain tools were developed using a designed Application during the training. According to him, the tools would be used to identify child protection challenges and how best these challenges could be addressed.

He further added that the Application would cover most aspects of child protection such as teenage pregnancies, child neglect and other vices against children.

The beneficiary Districts namely Wa Municipal, Daffiama/Bussie/Issa, Lawra, Lambussie and Sissala East were each given one AG motorbike with computers and their accessories.

Health, nutrition and population policies play a pivotal role in economic and human development and in poverty alleviation. Although many   Regions in the Country have nutrition policies or action plans, most have not been fully implemented and do not have a clear strategic path for implementation.

According to the Ghana Demographic Health Survey in 2008-2014, Malnutrition presents significant challenges to human health, especially in developing Countries. Children under malnutrition are still estimated to cause30% of all deaths of children less than 5 years of age. About 186 million children in the world are estimated to be stunted and 20 million to suffer from the deadly form of severe acute malnutrition each year. The Upper West Region under the community based management of severe acute malnutrition [CMAM] has reduced malnutrition from 13.9% in 2008 to 4.4% in 2014.

This was revealed by the Regional Director of the Ghana Health Services Dr. Teye Nuertey at a Regional Nutrition Review and advocacy meeting at the In-service Training Centre in Wa on Thursday 11^th January, 2018. He disclosed that prevalence of food security has increased from 16% in 2004 to 18% in 2016. Stunting has reduced from 24.6% in 2008 to 22% in 2014.

The Regional Director added that the improved success chalked was as a result of consolidated efforts in maternal and child nutrition interventions. According to Dr. Teye the importance of interventions such as the micronutrients supplementation, growth monitoring and promotion, baby friendly hospital initiative, OFSP recipes, CMAM among others contribute significantly to the gains made in reducing child malnutrition indicators in the region. He commended UNICEF, SNV and JICA for their immerse contribution in the fight against malnutrition in the Districts and the Region at large.

Mr Eric Banye, the Programme Coordinator for SNV revealed in his presentation, the worrying forms of malnutrition according to a research carried out which included childhood stunting, anaemia in pregnant women and overweight adult women.

Rev. Prof. Saa Dittoh Joseph a researcher and a former Vice Chancellor at the University for Development Studies re-echoed the need for strict implementation of the policy document on nutrition and advised the public to stay away from chemicalization of food which is another cause of malnutrition. He however urged all participants to make good use of our locally produced foods whiles reducing the intake of GMO’s.

Speaking on behalf of the Regional Minister, A Deputy Director at the Regional Coordinating Council, Mrs. Fati Koray Issaka mentioned that Malnutrition is a developmental issue and a social canker which affects health, school achievements and sustainable development

Mrs. Koray added that malnutrition was directly caused by inadequate nutritious food intake, high rate of infectious diseases, poor hygienic practices, unclean environments, lack of clean potable water, low education levels and inadequate knowledge on appropriate infant feeding. The eradication of malnutrition in the region and Ghana as a whole will help in the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 which is aimed at ending hunger, achieving food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

She however urged other developmental partners and NGO’s that contribute to improving nutrition at the Local Government level to support by making considerations for nutrition budgetary interventions aimed at improving the nutrition situation in the Region.

Mrs. Fati Koray pledged the support of the Regional Coordinating Council in promoting actions that will reduce the burden of malnutrition and also support whatever initiative that was geared towards kicking malnutrition out of the Region.

The Teachers Fund is a retirement supplement and solidarity scheme for the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) established by a Trust deed (a deed of conveyance creating and setting out the conditions of a trust) in May, 1998. The fund started with a monthly deduction of Ten pesewas as basic contributions from the salaries of GNAT members through a check- off system.

The fund has its largest investment in loans to its members. The tremendous growth in assets is largely attributed to the commitment on the part of members (teachers) to invest towards their retirement.

This was brought to light by the Deputy General Secretary in charge of Education and Professional development Ms. Gifty Anyogbe Apanbil at the launch of the 20^th Anniversary Celebration of the teachers fund on Wednesday, 21^st March, 2018 at the Regional Secretariat in Wa.

In her address, the Wa Municipal Director of the Ghana Education Service, Hajia Fusata Hamidu revealed that members now benefit from the cancer fund that was established a few years ago.

She also used the occasion to appeal to members of GNAT to collaborate with GES in designing some educational programmes to upgrade the skills and knowledge of members to enable them deliver effectively at work.

Reading a speech on behalf of the Ag. Upper West Regional Minister, Hon. Amidu Chinnia Issahaku, a Deputy Director at the R.C.C Madam Fati Koray used the occasion to commend GNAT for the innovation of establishing and operating the fund. The fund she said has grown to provide some services including lifestyle enhancing facilities such as loans, access to credit to purchase household items and in real estate ventures.

She reiterated the commitment of Government to motivate teachers and reward hardworking teachers to enhance teaching and learning in public schools.

As part of efforts to improve teaching and learning, some students of the Wa Municipal Girls JHS were presented with bursaries.

In line with activities for the celebration of the 20^th anniversary, some sixteen (16) selected female teachers who teaches in deprived and remote schools were each given One Thousand Cedis as a form of motivation.

SOURCE: JULIUS DUDIMAH

As part of efforts to increase revenue, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) launched the tax and good governance week to sensitize the populace, especially eligible taxpayers, on the need for voluntary compliance in honoring their tax obligations to the state and filing tax returns.

The programme was launched on Friday 6th April, 2018 at the forecourt of GRA Regional Office with the theme, “Filing your Tax Returns, your Civic Responsibility”.

The “Tax and Good Governance Week” programme is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Finance and the GRA.

The week-long programme is geared towards enhancing tax compliance, with a focus on the filing of income tax returns and also their compliance measures being undertaken by the Ghana Revenue Authority.

The Regional Ag. Assistant Commissioner of GRA, Mr. Ebenezer Mensah underscored the need to file our taxes in accordance with the Incomes Tax Act, 2015 (Act 896) and the Revenue Administration Act, 2016 (Act 915). The law requires individuals and entities to file their income tax returns by the end of April every year.

Mr. Ebenezer Mensah appealed to business owners in the region to register their businesses with the GRA to help increase the filing rate and tax revenue in the region for developmental purposes.

In his address, the Ag. Upper West Regional Minister Hon. Amidu Chinnia Issahaku said the programme was a step in the right direction to the realization of making Ghana self – reliant and a country beyond aid in fulfilment of the vision of the President of the Republic of Ghana.

Hon. Chinnia Issahaku mentioned that revenue mobilization in the country has not kept pace with the ever growing demands of citizens for development projects and better services from government.

He added that Government has declared a tax amnesty to enable taxpayers register, file returns and make any outstanding payments for previous years without the imposition of interest and penalties or prosecution. This is to ensure voluntary compliance by the tax payer.

He stressed that H.E the President has directed that as a sign of good faith, all Ministers of State, Government Appointees and Public Officials are required to file their returns before the deadline of April 30^th 2018.

He encouraged all individuals and business owners to file their tax returns as he has done for the year 2017 to enable government undertake some developmental projects in the Region.

SOURCE: JULIUS DUDIMAH

The Ag. Upper West Regional Minister, Hon. Amidu Chinnia Issahaku has appealed to the coalition of NGOS in health in the Upper West Region to intensify their advocacy works on mental health and teenage pregnancy in the Region.

He said cases of teenage pregnancies are on the rise and it is important to reduce it and if possible stop it. Regarding mental Health, Hon Amidu Chinnia said not much advocacy has been done in that area. He called on the coalition to intensify its advocacy on mental health issues since the human right of mental health patients are been violated especially at homes and treatment centres.

He made this call when he addressed the 2017 annual performance review and learning conference of the Ghana Coalition of NGO’s on health on the theme “mobilizing communities for increase access and utilization of immunization service, the role of CSO in the Upper West Region”. He urged the various CSO operating in rural areas to sensitize the public on the importance of immunization especially against the six [6] childhood killer diseases and other deadly diseases that can be prevented through the use of vaccines.

On his part, the Regional chairman for the coalition of NGOs in health in the Upper West Region Mr. Dintie Tahini Sule said two major activities were carried out in collaboration with Ghana health service.  These were the sexual Reproductive health education and improved immunization program which was carried out in seven [7] districts of the Region.

Mr Dintie Sule said the main aim of the review was to cross fertilize ideas that will bring about quality health care delivery in the Region.

He pleaded with Ghana Health Service to however give the coalition ample room to contribute to the new CHPS policies that will soon be rolled out.

SOURCE:  JULIUS DUDIMAH

A delegation from MTN Ghana led by Mrs. Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications (Corporate Service Division) paid a courtesy call on the Upper West Regional Minister. Hon Alhaji Sulemana Alhassan in his office on Tuesday 12^th December 2017.

Hon. Sulemana Alhassan commended MTN -Ghana for their continuous partnership with government in delivering some social services in the area of education and health as part of their corporate social responsibility. He appealed to them to extend their primary services to every community in the region as it is a major concern to the entire region as criminal activities such as armed robbery and other social vices usually occur in areas where there is no mobile communication network. He said this concern was raised in several meetings with the Regional Security Council (REGSEC). Alhaji Sulemana assured the team of the Regional Coordinating Council’s corporation and collaboration in all activities of the company.

On her part Mrs. Georgina Asare Fiagbenu thanked the Hon. Regional Minister for the warm reception they received even though he had a busy schedule ahead of him.  She said the team was grateful for the security they enjoyed especially when they travelled in at night and realised the police patrol team was on duty at various locations and they felt safe in the region since their arrival and pledged their support in making sure that all communities within the region have network connectivity.

She also requested for list of communities within the region which still lacks network connections to enable them get connected as soon as possible.

Mrs. Asare Fiagbenu also pledged the company’s continuous support and collaboration with government in delivering social services to the good people of the Upper West Region and the entire country at large. Also present at the meeting were the Deputy Regional Minister Hon. Amidu Chinnia Issahaku, the Regional Coordinating Director, Alhaji Abubakar Abdulai and Miss. Fati Koray a Deputy Director.

Source: Dudimah Julius

A total of 44 newly created Municipalities and districts have been inaugurated throughout the Country.

In the Upper West Region, the Sissala East, Jirapa and Lawra districts were upgraded to Municipalities.

This was made known by the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama, who in November 2017, laid before parliament a Legislative Instrument (L. I.) backing the creation of new municipalities and districts in the country.

She disclosed that 14 of them are in the Ashanti Region, 10 in the Greater Accra, two in the Upper East, three in the Upper West two in the Northern, five in the Eastern, seven in the Western, two in the Central and two in Brong-Ahafo Regions.

In his inaugural speech in Jirapa on Thursday, 15th March, 2017, the Ag. Upper West Regional Minister, Hon. Amidu Chinnia Issahaku admonished the municipalities to live up to expectation to bring more development and investment prospects to the Municipalities and the entire Region as a whole.

He added that the creation of Municipalities and Districts is to ensure improved local governance at the local level and also trigger growth in the local economy.

The three Municipalities were inaugurated simultaneously by Hon. Amidu Chinnia Issahaku, Hon Ambrose P Dery and Hon Adongo Frank Fuseini (Deputy UER Minister) in Jirapa, Lawra and Sissala East respectively.

The move was aimed at ensuring an effective administrative system at the local level and drawing the citizenry closer to government.

This was in accordance with the 1992 constitution and Local Government Act, 2016, Act 936.
SOURCE: JULIUS DUDIMAH