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

NATIONAL URBAN POLICY IN THE OFFING July 28, 2010 BY P. A. WEDAM ISD-BOLGATANGA MUNICIPAL A workshop aimed at soliciting views and suggestions from stakeholders in the Upper East region for incorporation into the Draft National Urban Policy has taken place at Bolgatanga. Participants included traditional rulers, religious bodies, persons living with disabilities, planning officers from the districts and other representatives from decentralised departments. The workshop was organised by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. A leading team member from the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research [ISSER] of the University of Ghana, Professor Paul Yankson noted in a presentation that urbanisation is irreversible as far as populations keep increasing and called for appropriate planning on the part of government to meet especially the housing needs of urban populations. Professor Yankson observed that in 1921, Ghana’s estimated population of

SHS GET ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE July 23, 2010 BY P. A. WEDAM A number of different infrastructural projects including classroom blocks, dormitories, staff bungalows and science laboratories are under construction on several senior high school campuses in the Upper East region. This is in line with government’s resolve to adequately position second cycle institutions throughout the country for the smooth intake of fresh students by September 2010 when the next academic year begins. The Upper East regional minister, Mr. Mark Owen Woyongo who went round with the media and the regional planning officer to inspect the progress of work on these projects noted with worry the slow pace of work on the part of a few contractors. He therefore directed the Northern Consultants, a consultant overseeing many of the projects, the regional planning officer and the Architectural and Engineering Services Limited [AESL] to terminate contracts which fall far behind schedule and re-awar

July 12, 2010 STAKEHOLDERS SCHOOLED ON WATER RESOURCES BY P. A. WEDAM ISD-BOLGATANGA MUNICIPAL The Water Resources Commission [WRC] has held a day’s awareness workshop at Bolgatanga in the Upper East region to educate stakeholders on water laws in Ghana and integrated water resources management in the White Volta Basin and in Ghana at large. Journalists, representatives of non-governmental organisations, district assembly staff, youth groups and district information officers attended the workshop which was sponsored by the European Union. In a presentation on integrated water resources management [IWRM] in Ghana, the Public Relations Officer of the WRC in charge of public education and awareness, Mrs. Adwoa Dako explained that the benefits of managing water in a sustainable manner will ensure that there is enough water for domestic, industry and for agricultural uses to increase food productivity. It is also to ensure the availability of adequate water for hydropower generation. Mrs. D

572 CPA RECRUITS END TRAINING July 09, 2010 BY PETER ATOGEWE WEDAM ISD-BOLGATANGA MUNICIPAL A total of 572 Community Protection Assistants [CPAs] under the National Youth Employment Programme [NYEP] have passed out after six weeks of training at the Upper East Regional Police Training School at Pwalugu. The recruits who were selected from districts across the country comprised 465 males and 107 females. The passing ceremony is the second in the series. The first batch of 516 CPA recruits passed out a couple months ago. In an address at the passing out ceremony, the National Coordinator of the NYEP, Mr. Abuga Pele disclosed that the NYEP has the objective of training 5000 recruits to augment the number of police personnel in the country. This he said, will reduce minor duty schedules on personnel who could be reassigned to carry out other pertinent police duties. Mr. Pele said government has pumped a lot of resources into the community protection programme with a

TB HITS ONE-THIRD OF WORLD’S POPULATION July 02, 2010 BY PETER ATOGEWE WEDAM ISD-BOLGATANGA MUNICIPAL The Upper East Regional director of health services, Dr. John Koku Awoonor-Williams has stated that about one-third of the world’s population is affected with tuberculosis [TB]. Also, one in every 10 people will become sick with TB in their life time while if left untreated, more than 50 per cent of those affected will die from the disease. Dr. Awoonor-Williams made this statement in an address he delivered at Paga in the Kassena-Nankana West district of the Upper East region to mark this year’s World TB Day. He said a person with active TB will on the average pass it on to between 10 and 15 other persons in a year if not treated. According to the regional director of health, TB which is contagious and spreads through the air affects all parts of the body but TB of the lungs is the most common. The disease also affects children and adults alike with 60 per cent of reported

MORE VEHICLES FOR HEALTH July 02, 2010 BY PETER ATOGEWE WEDAM ISD-BOLGATANGA MUNICIPAL The Health sector in the Upper East region has been given a boost in the area of transport. The regional health directorate on Thursday presented 21 four-wheel drive Wingle pick-up vehicles and nine tri-cars to some hospitals, clinics and health centres to assist in their daily schedules in the discharge of health services. Beneficiaries of the vehicles also included health facilities under the Christian Health Association of Ghana and health training institutions. Upper East regional health director, Dr. John Koku Awoonor-Williams in an address said 33 per cent of the vehicles have been earmarked for the sub-districts because his office considers them as the pivot of the health delivery system where major health needs exist. He added that the region has the highest number of such vehicles bought on hire purchase and this indicates the commitment of the Ghana Health Ser

RM INSPECTS BLOCK FARM SITES AT TONO,FUMBISI July 06, 2010 BY PETER ATOGEWE WEDAM ISD-BOLGATANGA MUNICIPAL The Irrigation Company of Upper Region [ICOUR] headquartered at Tono in the Kassena-Nankana East district of the Upper East region has engaged a total of 236 youth under the government youth in agric block farm programme. They comprise 203 males and 33 females. Each of these youth, who are mainly into rice cultivation is expected to earn gross income of 2,640 Ghana Cedis over a period of four months. The Managing Director of ICOUR, Alhaji Issah Bukari made this known to the Upper East regional minister, Mr. Mark Owen Woyongo when the latter called at the ICOUR offices for a brief about progress made in the 2009/2010 crop season. Alhaji Bukari said the youth under the block farm programme have been given a total land area of 300 hectares to cultivate and are expec