Journalistic Works - News Articles, Features And More of P. ATOGEWE WEDAM

By Peter Atogewe Wedam, journalist GAMBAGA- East Mamprusi OCTOBER 17, 2008 Disasters have been with us for years now even though they are an unpleasant part of our history. It will be recalled that within the first quarter of 2007, a number of districts mostly in the three northern regions were hit by floods as a result of torrential rains. Government alone could shoulder the responsibility of providing for the immediate needs of flood victims. It took the combined efforts of NGOs and philanthropic individuals to mitigate the adverse effects brought by these floods. One of such efforts gave birth to the Lively Empowerment Against Poverty, LEAP programme. Thus in close collaboration with the World Bank and the World Food Programme, the social welfare department, SWD has disbursed GH¢37,500 to 1,085 beneficiaries in five communities in the East Mamprusi district of the Northern region. The communities included Porigon, Chirifoyiri, Kulgana, Nanori an

REPORT BY_Peter Atogewe Wedam, Journalist GAMBAGA [Information Serv. Dept.] OCTOBER 25, 2008 Headmaster of Nalerigu Senior High Mr. S.B. Awari [middle front row], stands up for the school's anthem The Nalerigu Senior High School, NASS situated in the East Mamprusi district of the Northern region has held its maiden speech and prize giving day at Nalerigu under the theme “Discipline- the basis for academic excellence”. This is the first time the school has organized such a programme in its 36 years of existence. The headmaster of the school Mr. S.B Awari, in his welcome address revealed that the staff strength of NASS stands at 52 comprising 47 male teachers and five females teachers. This number handles a student population of nearly 1,369. Meanwhile, 55 non-teaching staff also perform various roles in the smooth running of the school. The senior high school programmes offered at NASS include general arts, general science, general agric, home economics and business. According to Mr

A cross section of the chiefs during group discussions PETER ATOGEWE WEDAM'S REPORT JOURNALIST, GAMBAGA OCTOBER 15, 2008 A two day workshop on peaceful co-existence and peace building organized by the Northern Regional House of Chiefs, NRHC and the National Commission for Civic Education, NCCE for chiefs, their elders and youth group leaders has ended at Gambaga in the East Mamprusi district. The chiefs were mainly drawn from the Bunkprugu-Yunyoo traditional area because the area has experienced some ethnic clashes a few months ago. Various ethnic groups residing in the district were aptly represented at the workshop sponsored by the Sustainable Peace Initiative Programme. However, four chiefs including Mangno Rana- Kpamka Bissa, Kpeg-yala Rana-J.K Parimah, Naagu Rana- E. Adam Laar and Gbingbalachet Rana- Gbingber Matuk Laar failed to participate in the workshop citing security concerns among other reasons. The main objectives of the wo

WEDAM’S FLOCK[A PRAISE POEM TO MY DAD] I am a sheep A sheep among the flock The well-guarded flock Of a hardworking shepherd Hmm Dad, I didn’t know your capabilities Until now You have worked harder than the “male cow” I always ask myself – “how”? How are you able to do all these? I dance with joy like a praying mantis In receiving your uncountable gifts A poor shepherd who feeds His flock with a queen’s diet You always hold tight To your words Oh, poor shepherd, you are But in people’s eyes You are richest I never met a caring shepherd like mine Once, I was lost, you searched and found me I pray you live long to reap the benefits Of your sweat For it is you they befit

MAY 12, 2007 A nutrition centre to help raise the standard of meals for children under five years has been inaugurated at Navio in the Kassena-Nankana [now the Kassena-Nankana West district] district of the Upper East region. The Japan International Co-operation Agency, JICA voted GH¢1000 for the implementation of the project with the Kassena-Nankana district assembly providing roofing sheets whilst the Buru-Navio community provided labour. The assembly member for Buru-Navio. Mr. Thomas Alua Asangchira in a speech said it was in 2004 that a community health compound was built for his community but as at May 2007, the facility was yet to be connected to the national electricity grid. This situation he noted made it impossible for the storage of vital drugs for the community’s use. Mr. Asangchira said the community is pulling together resources to rehabilitate an old clinic block and appealed to the Ghana Health Service to post a midwife to man the facility when work is completed. He als

APRIL 27, 2007, NAVRONGO The first copy of a book that inspires young girls to rise above abject poverty to achieve academic excellence has been sold for a bull at Navromgo in the Kassena-Nankana district of the Upper East region. Conservative estimates put the price of the bull at GH¢700. The book, “Kadi- the Barefoot Girl” was bought by Achelisiwine Anyanah, a businessman from Vunania, a suburb of Navrongo. The unusual sale took place as the book was re-launch at an impressive ceremony in Navrongo during the Kassena-Nankana youth homecoming. The author of the book, Santuah Niagiah said he wrote “Kadi- the Barefoot Girl” to inspire young children especially girls to greater academic achievements and to prod society to work to assist in making this a reality. The writer who said he was pleasantly surprised at the atypical sale, the significance of the book being bought in kind signifies a turning point in the way education was being viewed. Later in an interview, Anyanah, the unique bu

BY PETER ATOGEWE WEDAM, ISD, GAMBAGA OCTOBER 02, 2008 The East Mamprusi Community Bank, EMCB at Gambaga in the Northern region has presented a cash donation of GH¢ 200 to the Baptist Medical Centre at Nalerigu on the occasion of the hospital’s golden jubilee. The bank also presented two table-top refrigerators, three sewing machines and two 14 inch LG television sets all valued at about GH¢1,140. The Manager of the EMCB, Mr. James Acquaye who made the presentation at a brief ceremony in Nalerigu said the gesture forms part of the bank’s social responsibility to the community within which it operates. He further observed that the BMC is a major corporate customer of his bank and that he and his staff share in the joy of the hospital’s golden jubilee. Mr. Acquaye also disclosed that the bank during the first quarter of 2008 made a similar donation of GH¢1,400 to the water and sanitation development board

APRIL 24, 2007 A solemn pontifical high mass service under the theme “Go home to your people and tell all that the Lord in His mercy has done for you”, has been said at the Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Minor Basilica at Navrongo in the Kassena-Nankana district, Upper East region. The mass marked the climax of the centenary celebrations of the Tamale Ecclesiastical province. The main celebrant of the mass was Cardinal Ivan Dias, who represented Pope Benedict the XVI. In his homily, he asked Christians to look at past with gratitude, the present with joy and the future with hope bearing in mind the blessings of God in their lives and in the Tamale Ecclesiastical province in general. Cardinal Dias prayed to God to continue showering His grace. He said in looking at the past, Christians must give thanks to God for His uncountable graces poured on Northern Ghana over the past 100 years. The Cardinal urged catholic faithful to always pray for those who have lost their lives through the propagat

NHRC HOLDS SEMINAR ON ADOLESCENT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH MARCH 18, 2007 The Navrongo Health Research Centre., NHRC has held a dissemination seminar for stakeholders from the Ghana Education Service in the Kassena-Nankana district, the district health management team and local community. The purpose of the seminar was to brief the stakeholders on key findings of research survey conducted in 2005 by the Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health ASRH project. The survey covered all junior high school students in the Kassena-Nankana district. Giving an overview of the ASRH project intervention, Mr. Fabian Sebastian Achana said it sought to develop and implement a package of interventions that will provide accurate and reliable information, skills and services to rural adolescents. Mr. Achana said the survey will then evaluate the impact of the intervention package on adolescent sexual behavior and reproductive health as well as the community’s acceptance and participation in the interventions.