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“Be more Nationalistic and Vigilant by Reporting all Criminals we are Shielding in our Communities to the Appropriate Security Agencies” –Upper West Regional Minister to the People of Upper West.

The Upper West Regional Minister, Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih has called on the people of Upper West Region to be more nationalistic and vigilante by reporting all criminals they are harboring or shielding in their communities, to the appropriate security agencies to bring them to book. He also cautioned the security personnel to be disciplined and professional whenever such miscreants in society are reported to them; that is, by shielding the identities of the informants.

“When the identities of such informants are exposed to the criminals, their lives will be put in serious danger. I wish to further state that, for the fear of informant’s identity being revealed, people who know the criminals among us do shy away from giving information to the Police and other security agencies”, he noted.

He reiterated that, without adequate and reliable information, it will be very difficult in fighting crime such as: armed robbery, tribal and chieftaincy conflicts, political vigilantism, terrorism, among others in the region.

The Minister made the call whiles addressing the Regional Coordinating Council Meeting on 14th May, 2019 in Wa.

Dr. Bin Salih indicated that, the Government is aware of the inadequate security personnel and logistical constraints in the country and has embarked on the recruitment of more security personnel in all the sectors. He said, the Ghana Police Service has also been equipped with vehicles and other logistics to carryout highways patrols throughout the country; and the establishment of the Counter-Terrorism Unit, have helped reduce the armed robbery and other criminal cases, of late.

Apart from the general security issues confronting the nation, the Minister used the opportunity to appeal to the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs to use their institution to resolve all pending chieftaincy disputes in the region. He acknowledged the important role that the chieftaincy institution plays in the development of the nation. As such, the smooth succession to thrones, if well codified will help eliminate or reduce the spate of disputes that threaten the peace of the region. He entreated the representatives of the Regional House of Chiefs to take the matter for serious consideration at their next meeting.

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Upper West Regional Minister expressed his disappointment with his MMDCEs and MDCDs over late attendance to the Regional Coordinating Council meeting in Wa.

The Upper West Regional Minister , Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih, expressed his disappointment at his Municipal/District Chief Executives, Municipal/District Coordinating Directors and Heads of decentralized departments for attending the Regional Coordinating Council meeting late.

The RCC meeting that was supposed to start at exactly 9:00am, saw the MDCEs and some DCDs arriving after 10:00am. The Minister, Dr. Bin Salih who doesn’t joke with time management was seated with his Deputy exactly 9:00am with only two DCEs present without any coordinating director.

The Minister in addressing the council meeting, cautioned council members against late attendance to meetings and programs. The Minister urged all Heads of Departments to be time consious and take time Management very serious since it retrogress productivity in the region.

The Council meeting is often organized to discuss on developmental issues in the region, give account on what has transpired over the period, possible ways of improving service delivery and the way forward.
The National Security Ministry used the meeting to sensitize members on terrorism and terrorist attacks. The Ministry was embarking on an awareness creation exercise to prepare the minds of Ghanaians on some precautionary measures to take in the era of terrorism.

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“UDS Lecturers are among the best in Ghana and we Need their Ideas in Reviewing the Regional Development Strategy”-Upper West Regional Minister

The Upper West Regional Minister, Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih has called for suggestions and ideas from the UDS lecturers and stakeholders towards reviewing the Regional Development Strategy (RDS). According to him, the Regional Coordinating Council was working hard towards reviewing the RDS document and that having being an alumnus of the University and knowing the good lecturers the university have, he would tap their ideas to be incorporated into the strategy so that they can together develop the region and move the region forward.

The Minister made the call when the Governing Council led by the Council Chairman called on him in his office on 13th May, 2019 to congratulate him, on his appointment and introduce the Governing Council to him. The courtesy call was also to discuss some relevant issues confronting the University.

On his part, the Council Chairman indicated how excited they were when they heard that Dr. Bin Salih who is an alumnus, was appointed as the Upper West Regional Minister. He said they were proud of him and promised the minister their support in moving the region forward.

The Council Chair also noted that, the university was in a transition period and that a team has been set up by the Council to do all the grounds work in ensuring a smooth transition. He said the Governing Council would do everything possible to ensure that government intentions for making the university autonomous are achieved.

He added that the school currently lack some basic infrastructure such us, library complex and hostel facilities for students that needed serious attention.

Dr. Bin Salih appreciated their visit and indicated to them that UDS has shaped his life in so many ways which he believes contributed to his appointment as the Regional Minister and that he would not disappoint them. He said he would do everything possible to make UDS and the good people of Upper West proud.

The Minister commended the University Council for opening a health facility in the region that has now become a referral point, due to their quality health professional and good service delivery. He assured that, whatever the RCC would do to make the clinic function well to achieve its core mandate would be done. As such, the Council should not hesitate calling on the RCC when they need any form of support that would help the clinic enhance its service delivery.

Touching on the transition of the University, Dr. Bin Salih indicated that the people of Upper West Region are anxiously waiting for the transition and that he prays that it come to fruition. He noted that at the last Cabinet Meeting, the President indicated to them that he wanted all the new universities to become operational this year, 2019.

Responding to the infrastructural needs of the school, the Minister said he has taken note of all the projects the RCC started in the school, and that he would work hard towards the completion of such projects. He asked the University to submit the list of all uncompleted projects so that he can make follow ups from the Ministry to ensure their completion.

The University is expected to furnish the office of the Upper West RCC with the list of all uncompleted projects by next week for further action.

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A delegation from the Naa S.D Dombo Foundation called on Upper West Regional Minister

A delegation from the Naa S.D Dombo Foundation called on Upper West Regional Minister, Dr Hafiz Bin Salih in his office on 7th May 2017. The call was to update the Minister on preparations done so far towards the launching of the Dombo Foundation on Friday 10th 2019 in Jirapa.

The Minister appreciated their visit and indicated that the program was very dear to his heart. He noted that at the launch of the program on Friday, he would be giving a narration of certain things that happened in the past in his presence regarding to Naa S. D Dombo.

According to him, he wrote an article and indicated how Dombo’s name came to add up to that of Dankwa-Bisia and now Dankwa-Dombo-Bisia tradition.

The Hon Regional Minister is expected to deliver a speech as the Guest of Honour and as well launch a book at the Regional launch of Naa S.D Dombo Foundation on Friday 10th May 2019 in Jirapa Royal Cozy Hotel.

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Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwifery Association paid a courtesy call on Upper West Regional Minister

Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwifery Association paid a courtesy call on Upper West Regional Minister, Hon. Dr Hafiz Bin Salih in his office on 2nd May 2019.
The call was to formally congratulate the Minister and to also pledge their support to him in order to succeed as the Regional Minister.

The Regional Minister appreciated their visit and indicated that, he has very high regards for the nursing profession and their contribution towards the forward March of the nation can not be underestimated.

Dr Bin Salih expressed his excitement seeing the Association Executives who called on him hailing from the Upper West Region and commmended them for staying in their home Region to provide valuable services to the people of upper west.

He assured them of his support and that of the RCC in the development of the region. He indicated that the Minister for Health would soon be in the region so that they can together see how service delivery can be improved in our health facilities.

According to him, by mid this year, every district would be getting an ambulance to enhance health care delivery.

Dr Bin Salih noted that, another issue Paramount to him was education. This he said, there is the need to role out more relevant nursing programs in the health institutions in Upper West.

According to him, there is the need to upgrade some of the health institutions to a degree awarding institutions. He said stakeholder consultative meetings shall be held so that they come out with a working document that can be used to lobby for the upgrading.

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Upper West Regional Minister salutes gallant workers in the region and the various roles they played in bringing the Upper West Region this far since it’s creation.

Upper West Regional Minister, Hon Dr Hafiz Bin Salih salutes gallant workers in the region and the various roles they played in bringing the Upper West Region this far since it’s creation. He asked for an unflinching support from workers as he leads the region as Regional Minister.

Addressing the Unemployment situation in the country, Dr Bin Salih revealed that’ll plans were underway to recruit staff for the newly created Districts and regions after successfully exiting the International Monetory Fund(IMF) bailout program. This he said was a clear demonstration of government’s determination to create jobs and improve public service delivery.

Dr Bin Salih urged all workers to ensure discipline at work by minimizing workers absenteeism.

He also assured the security agencies that government would not move their pensions from the CAP 30 they currently enjoy to SSNIT. This was in response to a threat by organized labour to government not to make any mistake moving the security agencies pensions from the CAP 30 to SSNIT, else they would advise themselves by laying down their tools should government goes ahead with such decision.

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Local NUGS UDS Wa Campus Honours Upper West Regional Minister

Upper West Regional Minister , Hon Dr Hafiz Bin Salih honored with a citation from Local NUGS UDS Wa campus chapter on 30th April 2019 in his office. This was part the award ceremony to honour some alumni who contributed significantly towards the growth of local NUGS and UDS as a whole. The Minister appreciated their visit and the honor done him. He indicated that, UDS has shaped his life which makes him a proud alumni. He assured them of his support in anything that need to be done for the growth of NUGS in UDS Was Campus. He advised them to take their books serious as they perform their duties as student leaders so that one day they can rise to become like him.

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Upper West Regional Minister calls for calm and unity in the Jirapa Municipal Assembly

The Upper West Regional Minister, Dr Hafiz Bin Salih has called for the restoration of calm between the Assembly Members and the Municipal Chief Executive. He appealed to the traditional rulers to support him restore peace in the Assembly for government business to run smoothly in the Municipality.

The Minister made this call when he visited the Paramount chief of Ullo at his palace as part of his familiarization visit to chiefs in the region.

The Minister noted that he was worried that for about a year now the Assembly has not held any meeting to deliberate on issues of interest to the people of Jirapa. He called for the restoration of calm in the interest of the development of the region.

The Upper West Regional Minister in his quest to work with the chiefs and people of the region to bring development to the region, continued his familiarisation visit to the Ullo Paramountcy on 28th April 2019 to introduce himself to them and solicit their support and blessings to lead the region. The visit is also to aid the Minister know the people and their developmental needs so that he can work to address them.

Whiles addressing the chiefs and people of Ullo, Dr. Bin Salih indicated that he came to work hard to bring development to the region and not to be worshiped.

“I know by 2020, I would be coming to the Paramount chief of Ullo to canvas for your votes for H E Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo. And I cannot come canvassing for votes for Nana Addo when the government has not done anything in Ullo. So I need to work hard so that the things I would do can reflect in your minds to vote for H E Nana Addo”, he noted.

He assured the people that he would work very hard so that together, they can move the region forward.

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Two Trucks Loaded With 50kg of Fertilizer Believed To Be Smuggled Fertilizer In The Upper West Region was Impounded on By The National Security Laision Officer

Barely a week ago when the Upper West Regional Minister in his bid to fighting fertilizer smuggling in the region meant for the Planting for Food and Jobs Program, urged the people of Upper West to all be vigilant and report any suspected fertilizer smuggling to the police for necessary actions; two trucks loaded with 50kg of fertilizer believed to be smuggled fertilizer in the Upper West Region was impounded on by the National Security Laision Officer on 26th April 2019 in Wa.

The tracks which contained two thousand bags of unapproved fertilizers were intercepted by the National Security in the Upper West Region.

Two articulated trucks carrying 50 kilogrammes of fertilizers from a vendor John Dor Ventures at Nkoranza to B.B. Slow, a distributor at Gwollu in the Sissala West District were both impounded.

Interacting with the media after the seizure, the Regional Security Liaison Officer Ben Suuri said government had banned the transportation of fertilizers meant for the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) to the five regions of the north to prevent smuggling.

The Regional Security Liaison Officer Ben Suuri said only fertilizers weighing not more than 25 kilograms can be transported to the northern half of the country.

Transporters must first inform the Regional Coordinating Council which will in turn inform the District Assembly where the fertilizers are destined for.

The District Assemblies, led by the District Agriculture Officers are also expected to confirm that the entities receiving the fertilizers in the districts are licensed to distribute fertilizers for the Planting for Food and Jobs Program.

The Upper West Regional Minister whiles addressing a gathering of chiefs and people of Takpo in the Upper West Region two weeks ago indicated to them that, the fertilizer that comes into the region is enough for farmers to enjoy the subsidy. He entreated all stakeholders in the region to be alert and vigilant so that unscrupulous people do not divert the fertilizer to other areas for sale.

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Upper West Regional Minister Urges All Teachers To Put in Their Best and Be Results Oriented

The Upper West Regional Minister, Hon Dr Hafiz Bin Salih graced the 3rd congregation ceremony of Tumu College of Education on 27th April 2019. He charged graduands to distinguish themselves by their hard work and good attitudes. He urged all teachers toteachers in other to improve the fallen standard of education in the region

He indicated that, as professionals in the educational sector, it was very important that they understand the professional ethics in their field in order for them to succeed and impact positively in the lives of students.

“Ethics are set of principles that people use to decide on what is right and what is wrong. For example, in the Ghana Education Service, it is against the code of ethics to come to work drunk; and also for a teacher to get into sexual relationship with a student”, he noted.
He added that, there were many professional conducts one must follow to excel as a professional. This he said, they need to know the code of ethics of their profession and it should be their guide at all times.

According to Dr Bin Salih, one of the aspirations of government is to have a robust human resource base to propel the development of the country.

“We believe in the ability of the Ghanaian youth to achieve whatever they set their minds on. That is why the President wants every Ghanaian of school going age to enroll in school for free, and basic education has being redefine to include secondary education. This reform and several more in the education sector is to ensure quality in our schools and also to ensure the teacher is motivated and resourced to deliver”, he explained

The Minister used the opportunity to urge all teachers to support these government’s policies and programmes for the growth and development of this country.