By Michaella Turkson  (michaellaturkson@yahoo.com)

The Kingdom Power Family International, (KPFI) has dedicated its newly built cathedral for its headquarters in Odorkor-Tipper, Accra.

The church, which was started in 1999 by Apostle Justice Kojo Bentil at Abofu, Achimota, has had her own stories to tell, as far as place of worship is concerned. The church, which started with only a handful of people, had a member’s living room as her first meeting place.

And since then, the funding to rent or acquire a properly sheltered place of worship for the church moved from the living room to a garage and then a porch before the Lord provided us enough funds to rent an abandoned warehouse.

In that warehouse the church stayed and grew.  Just as the numbers of the church grew and were filling up the warehouse, the owners of the warehouse ejected the church.

And having been unexpectedly ejected, raising money to rent or acquire a new place of worship became pretty challenging. But the church was to learn God’s plan for her in terms of moving us into our present permanent location at Odorkor-Tipper.

It was an abandoned swampy piece of land which was once used as a graveyard. A typical ‘forbidden forest’ kind of land, that no one would want for anything.

It was a land on which people performed all kinds of rituals. The church got a fair share of the troubles associated with land acquisition in Accra, but through it all the Lord proved himself faithful to the church and even gave them adjoining lands to acquire in addition.

Since occupying the land the church has been worshipping in a make-shift temple till early last year when she decided to put a proper edifice to house the ever growing congregation of the church in Odorkor-Tipper.

That magnificent building has duly been dedicated unto the Lord in a ceremony that also marked the 15th anniversary on the church. The ceremony which was chaired by Mr. John Kofi Mensah, the CEO of the First Capital Plus Bank, had the reverend Ransford Obeng, senior pastor of Calvary Charismatic Centre, Kumasi, delivering the sermon.

The man of God, in his message, charged pastors to “let church be the church” and focus on molding the moral fiber of the nation rather than be organizational and business oriented. He further said that God is counting on his people; who are called by his name to pray to Him to heal the nation. Christians should therefore pray to God for the nation instead of just criticizing.

Pastor Ransford, as he is affectionately called, called on the Body of Christ in Ghana to do well to project the name and person of Jesus Christ to the world by all means, since that is the only way to tell the world that we believe and cherish his name.

Drive down the street of any town, and chances are you’ll run across multiple fast food restaurants. Americans eat out an average of four to five times a week, and a significant portion of those meals come from fast food restaurant chains ranging from McDonald’s to Applebee’s. Families choose these restaurants because they are fast, cheap, and convenient… but at what cost?

Here’s the list of the unhealthiest fast food items and substitutions you can make.

1. Soda

Acidifying, chemical-laden, and loaded with either HFCS or artificial sweeteners (diet varieties), avoid all sodas at all costs. Instead, have some plain water or bring your own.

2. Fried chicken

Made from conventional chicken laden with hormones and antibiotics, covered with gluten-containing breading and chemicals like MSG and salt, and fried in cheap, rancid oils, fried chicken is high in calories, fat, and other chemicals that can make you sick. Skip it altogether. Please, please just never eat fried chicken.

3. Egg and sausage sandwich

Hormones, salt, antibiotics and dairy make that breakfast sandwich a non-healthful choice. Instead, start your day with a Glowing Green Smoothie. You can make several and keep them in your freezer so you can always defrost one and still have one in a bind.

Bacon cheeseburger

Where do I begin? Fat, calories, and cholesterol are only part of the problem with bacon cheeseburgers, which also contain HFCS (in the buns and condiments), dairy, salt, hormones, and antibiotics. It’s just plain nasty. Instead, opt for a veggie burger or an avocado sandwich.

What Are The Top 10 Healthy Foods?

9 – Avocados

Many people avoid avocados because of its high fat content; they believe that avoiding all fats leads to better health and easier-to-control body weight – this is a myth. Approximately 75% of the calories in an avocado come from fat; mostly monosaturated fat.

Avocados are also very rich in B vitamins, as well as vitamin K and vitamin E. Avocados also have a very high fiber content of 25% soluble and 75% insoluble fiber. Studies have shown that regular avocado consumption lowers blood cholesterol levels.

Avocado extracts are currently being studied in the laboratory to see whether they might be useful for treating diabetes or hypertension.

Researchers from Ohio State University found that nutrients taken from avocados were able to stop oral cancer cells, and even destroy some of the pre-cancerous cells.

Recent developments on the benefits of avocados from MNT news

Avocado consumption may be associated with better diet quality. Consuming avocados may be associated with better diet quality and nutrient intake level, lower intake of added sugars, lower body weight, BMI and waist circumferences, according to a study published in Nutrition Journal.18

10 – Oatmeal

Oatmeal is meal made from rolled or ground oats. In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, the term “porridge” or “porridge oats” are common terms for the breakfast cereal that is usually cooked.

Interest in oatmeal has increased considerably over the last twenty years because of its health benefits.

Studies have shown that if you eat a bowl of oatmeal everyday your blood cholesterol levels, especially if they are too high, will drop, because of the cereal’s soluble fiber content.

When findings were published in the 1980s, an “oat bran craze” spread across the USA and Western Europe. The oats craze dropped off in the 1990s.

In 1997, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) agreed that foods with high levels of rolled oats or oat bran could include data on their labels about their cardiovascular heart benefits if accompanied with a low-fat diet. This was followed by another surge in oatmeal popularity.

Oats is rich in complex carbohydrates, as well as water-soluble fiber, which slow digestion down and stabilize levels of blood-glucose. Oatmeal is very rich in B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, folate, and potassium.

From Michael Boateng, Sunyani.

THINK HEALTH, a Non-Governmental Organisation, is calling for a more coordinated, integrated and inter-sectorial approach in Ghana, in the fight against Hepatitis B, in view of the devastating effects of the disease on the socio economic fortunes of the country.

A statement signed by the Executive Director of Think Health, Richard Kofi Boahen, further called for intensive education on the disease, especially in the media, to drum home the need for all hands to be on deck in dealing with the Hepatitis B virus which, according to the WHO, is hundred times more infectious than the HIV virus.

The statement, which was issued in Sunyani to commemorate this year’s World Hepatitis Day, appealed to the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service and other stakeholders to step up their efforts at controlling the disease. As a result of the high prevalence of Hepatitis B in Ghana, Think Health is proposing a free Hepatitis B test in all public health facilities across the country, as a way of encouraging more Ghanaians, especially the poor, to know their status as far as the disease was concerned.

This would further encourage people to adopt healthy lifestyles and avoid acts that could put them at a higher risk of being infected with the disease. The results of the free test would also ensure that those who test positive would be put on treatment. Think Health is also of the view that government should set up a special fund to financially support organizations which are into Hepatitis B control programs in the country.

According to Think Health, Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease, adding that the virus is transmitted through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person.  It continued that more than 780, 000 people die every year due to the consequences of hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is an important occupational hazard for health workers.  Hepatitis B is preventable with the currently available safe and effective vaccine.

“Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. It is a major global health problem. It can cause chronic liver disease and chronic infection and puts people at high risk of death from cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer.

“More than 240 million people have chronic (long-term) liver infections. More than 780 000 people die every year due to the acute or chronic consequences of hepatitis B. In addition, the Hepatitis Society of Ghana also reports that out of every hundred Ghanaians, 13 may test positive for Hepatitis B, which is far more prevalent than HIV/AIDS.”

From Alfred Adams, Takoradi.

THE MPOHOR District Assembly (MDA) has set up a Public Complaint Unit (PCU) to investigate the conduct of Assembly and Unit Committee members in the Adum-Banso electoral area.

They have reportedly inflated the fixed sum of money paid as penalty for stray animals impounded in the Electoral area.  The setting up of the Complaint Unit comes after a group of indigenes at Adum Banso, who describe themselves as ‘Concerned Citizens’ petitioned the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Mr. Anthony Bassaw, over the conduct of the Assembly and the Unit Committee members.

The group, in their petition, had drawn the DCE’s attention to how the Assembly and the Unit members had adjusted the GH¢ 10 penalty for impounded stray animals to GH¢25 without any justification.  That apart, the Assembly members were issuing their own ticket to cover for the payment of the penalty, instead of the Assembly’s approved ticket for the exercise.

The MDA, which was carved out of the then Wassa East District had instituted GH¢10 as penalty payment for stray animals impounded in all the communities in the District, including Adum Banso.  The Assembly and the Unit Committee members were charged with the responsibility of enforcing the compliance of the penalty which was part of the assembly bye laws.

The DCE for the area, Mr. Anthony Bassaw, who confirmed the story in a telephone interview, added that he had set up the PCU to investigate the allegation of inflation of the fixed fee by the Assembly and the Unit Committee members. The setting up of the Complaint Unit, according to the DCE, was premised on a petition he received from a group of indigenes in the Adum Banso area.

He added that the PCU would be chaired by the Presiding Member (PM) of the Assembly and would go into the root of the allegation brought against the Assembly and the Unit Committee members.  According to DCE Bassaw, apart from the tickets approved by the Assembly, neither Assembly nor Unit Committee member has the right to issue his or her own tickets.

Meanwhile, Hon. Isaac Minyimsah, one of the Assembly members for the Adum-Banso electoral area, speaking in a telephone interview argued that the decision by the Assembly members to charge the GH¢ 25 as penalty payment for impounding stray animals was not their own decision.  According to him, the Assembly had adjusted the money to GH¢ 25. He said though the penalty was GH¢ 10, it had been adjusted upwards to GH¢ 25 through an ‘amendment’.

He said the Assembly would receive GH¢ 10 out of the penalty charges, with the rest of the money going to the community development fund and those who caught the stray animal. Assembly member Minyimsah denied that the Assembly members were issuing fake ticket to cover for the penalty payment. He said the tickets were issued in the name of the Community Development Fund and cannot, therefore, be described as fake.

From Issah Alhassan, Kumasi.

THE CONSTITUENCY Congress of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) took off across the country last Saturday but not without controversies.

Investigation by The Chronicle indicate that some disgruntled leaders and supporters of the party are not happy with the way and manner the processes are being handled by the leadership of the party and are threatening to go to court. The paper gathered that in the Ashanti Region, for instance, most potential aspirants were prevented from taking part in the contest whilst most of the petitions presented by some aggrieved candidates, seeking redresses have not been attended to.

The Regional Executives were said to have brushed aside, several complaints presented to them by some disqualified candidates, challenging the legibility of their disqualification from the ongoing contest. The party has up to the end of August this year to complete all Constituency Conferences to pave way for the regional conferences to be followed by the national one.

But the party’s electoral calendar could be seriously disrupted in the coming days unless the leadership moves to avert possible court injunction.  On Saturday, the party successfully conducted elections in three constituencies; namely Suame, Manhyia North and the Asawase constituencies and followed it up on Sunday with Manhyia South and Kwabre East with popular acclamation.

The Chronicle has, however, gathered that the Ashanti Regional executives have resolved not to entertain any petition and are threatening potential candidates with expulsion from the party, should they consider taking any legal action against the party.  In the Kwabre East constituency, the former Parliamentary Candidate, Hon. Fatawu Illiasu and other potential candidates were disqualified from contesting in the elections, thanks to the alleged instrumentality of the regional and constituency executives.

A popular acclamation was scheduled to be held, at the time of filing this report, for the incumbent chairman, Mohammed Awal Azziz and other executives.  Meanwhile, confusion erupted at the Dichemso M/A Junior High School where the Manhyia constituency congress was held after some members raised objection concerning the decision to allow all incumbent executives to go unopposed with the exception of the Constituency Youth Organizer position.

The Chronicle also gathered that a formal petition has also been presented to the party regional hierarchy by some aggrieved party loyalists in the Atwima Kwanwoma constituency.

From Issah Alhassan, Kumasi.

ROBBERS and other unscrupulous elements are reportedly operating freely on the main Kejetia terminal and its surroundings, thus unleashing terror on residents who pass through the area during the night and depriving them of their possessions.

Series of reports received by The Chronicle in recent times speak of how innocent and unsuspecting commuters are robbed and deprived of their precious belongings such as mobile phones and cash. The victims of these robbers, the paper gathered, have been commuters who transit or pass through the terminal from outside Kumasi or other regions, during the night. Walking through the terminal during the night has therefore become dangerous as one would be lucky to scale through without being attacked or hurt.

With no security patrols on the terminal during the night, the robbers are said to be having a field day and operating with impunity, making hundreds of Ghana cedis on daily basis from innocent people, talk less of belongings such as laptops, mobile phones and other electronic gadgets.  Some of them, who narrated their ordeal to the paper, said they were quietly attacked by some gang of two or three wielding offensive weapons such as knives and machetes.

According to them, the modus operandi of these robbers, who appear to be taking advantage of lack of security presence on the terminal, is simply to approach as if they want to make enquiries and then in the process, quietly ask you to hand over your belongings or risk being killed or attacked.  Since the taking over of the terminal by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), following the eviction of the management of Freko FD Limited, residents have been complaining about disorderliness and lack of proper structures on the terminal, including the absence of security.

The former management used to deploy its trained personnel on the terminal to provide security during the night, but since their exit residents say security on the terminal is virtually non-existing, creating the enabling environment for criminals to engage in illicit businesses.

This unfortunate development, according to them, is yet to attract the attention of the police as they hardly see any personnel in police attire on the premise during the night. Residents are, therefore, appealing to the police and other security agencies to increase patrol activities on the terminal during the night in order to nip the activities of these criminals in the bud and make the place safe for business.

KMA PRESENCE
The Public Relations Officer of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Mr. Godwin Okumah Nyame, told The Chronicle that the assembly is not directly in charge of security on the terminal.

He said though the assembly was initially dispatching men to the premise when it took over management on the terminal, he was not sure if it was still being done.  According to him, the provision of security on the terminal and any other place in the city is the responsibility of the police and this he said, necessitated the establishment of a permanent police post on the terminal.

He argued that the duty of the KMA is just to compliment the effort of the police, stressing that he is fully aware of the presence of the police within Kejetia and its environs.  “You know our duty as assembly does not include security much more during the night; I know there is a police post at the Kejetia terminal which is supposed to take care of security there,” he emphasized. Nonetheless, Mr. Okumah Nyame said he would bring the matter to the attention of authorities, particularly the security department for the necessary action to be taken.

THE ASHANTI REGIONAL POLICE COMMAND
THE CENTRAL District Police Commander, Chief Supt. Laar Bama, declined to make any official comment on the matter when reached for his reaction, preferring however that the paper referred to a press conference held earlier the day by the Regional Police Commander, DCOP Nathan Kofi Boakye, during which issues about security at the Kejetia terminal was also addressed.

DCOP Kofi Boakye, at the press briefing, made an appeal to traders and people operating on the terminal to volunteer information about criminal gangs operating within the area for police to deal with them.  He promised them not to hesitate in reporting these individuals as the police were bent on ridding the area of these unscrupulous elements and make it safe for business activities.

5. French friesFries are simply salty unhealthy fat bombs fried in the worst possible rancid oil. Many fast food places now offer alternatives to fries such as a side salad (no dressing!) .

6. Milk shake
Loaded with saturated fat, sugar, conventional dairy, and often chemicals for flavoring, milkshakes can leave you feeling sluggish and sick. Skip them and try one of the smoothie recipes in The Beauty Detox Solution,instead.

7. Deep fried cheese sticks
Take cheese (loaded with fat, salt, hormones and antibiotics), bread it, and deep fry it. How does that even sound as if it might be “food”? Skip them and have some veggie sticks with hummus, instead.

8. Fish and chips
Many people select this as a “healthy” alternative in fast food, but it is anything but that. Fish serves as a sponge that mops up all of the toxic chemicals from the sea. Bread it in wheat flour (gluten) and fry it up, and you’re looking at an unhealthy meal. Avoid fish unless you know where it comes from, and opt for a salad instead.

9. Pepperoni pizza
Cheese and white flour combined with nitrosamine-containing salty processed meats, pizza is toxic and unhealthy. Why not try some brown rice or quinoa pasta with tomato sauce instead?

10. Tuna melt
Tuna contains mercury, while other additions to the sandwich contain HFCS, dairy, salt, and gluten. Combined with the processed bread it comes on and possibly cheese throw in the mix, it truly is a toxic horror. How about a veggie wrap, instead?

11. Caesar salad
The salad part is okay – it’s everything else, the dressing, cheese, and croutons that are a problem. Caesar salad dressing likely contains salt, HFCS, eggs, and lots of fat. Instead, opt for a naked salad and add a squeeze of lemon and some tomato and mashed avocado for dressing.

12. Hamburger chili
The main concern with hamburger chili is the beef, which is very likely laden with hormones and antibiotics. Fast food hamburger may also contain E. coli and some pretty gross ingredients including artificial color. Instead, have some vegetarian chili or vegetable soup.

13. Nachos
Corn chips loaded with cheese, meat and beans and then dipped in sour cream? Really?? Dairy, hamburger, salt, and GMO corn are just a few of the health issues associated with this high fat, high calorie snack. Instead, have some vegetable sticks dipped in salsa.

14. Popcorn shrimp
Shrimp is like other fish, a dirty toxic dumping ground in the ocean for chemicals like PCBs and mercury. Take those chemicals and dip them in flour and salt, and deep fry them and you have a very unhealthy meal, particularly if you dip them in HFCS-laden cocktail or tartar sauce. If you really want fish, try some wild caught Pacific salmon.

15. Churros
These sweet bits of dough contain wheat (gluten), sugar, salt, and high-fructose corn syrup. Avoid them and have a piece of fruit.

16. Cheesecake
Dessert in fast food places isn’t much better than the main meal. Cheesecake is particularly bad because it not only has sugar, salt, and chemicals, but also hormone-laden dairy. Avoid it, and try some yummy Chia Pudding.

17. Hot dog
Have you ever read what’s in hot dogs? They are created from “meat trimmings” which may include organs that have been mechanically separated into a paste, blended with salt and other chemicals, and shaped into a hot dog. High in sodium, many hot dogs also contain HFCS and other unhealthy ingredients. Instead, try a veggie sandwich.

18. Teriyaki chicken
Many people believe this is a very healthy option because it is low in fat and calories, but teriyaki chicken contains high levels of sugar, sodium, genetically-modified soy, MSG, and other unhealthy chemicals. Try vegetables and brown rice, instead.

19. Fish fillet sandwich
These sandwiches have the same problems as fish and chips – mercury and other chemicals, HFCS, breading, and lots of fat. Opt for a salad with some avocado or a sliced veggie burger on top.

20. Beef burrito
The biggest problem in a beef burrito is the beef and cheese. Dairy, hormones, antibiotics – they’re all in there. Instead, have a heart veggie burrito with some rice and beans (hold the cheese) if you are hungry.

21. Taco
Beef, chemicals in seasonings, cheese, and fried GMO corn all contribute to how unhealthy this food is. Make a taco salad with black beans and salsa, instead.

22. Chicken nuggets
The mainstay of children around the world, chicken nuggets are terrible for you. First, they are made from mechanically separated conventional chicken (hormones, antibiotics)and then breaded with flour and salt (gluten), and contain copious amounts of corn bi-products. These are going to harm your kids’ health. Instead, offer them almond butter on celery sticks or a hummus sandwich.

23. Milk
Many parents select milk for their kids as a healthy fast food choice. Milk is filled with hormones and antibiotics, and is very difficult to digest. Instead, drink plain water.

24. Cold cut sandwich
Cold cuts have all kinds of chemicals, lots of sodium, and contaminated animal protein. They are also high in fat, and if you add cheese, dairy. Instead, have a hummus and veggie wrap.

25. Chef’s salad
Eggs, lunch meat, and fat laden dressing make this “healthy” salad a really unhealthy choice loaded with fat, salt, sugar, and all of the bad stuff that comes in meat. Instead, opt for a hearty green salad with some quinoa or avocado on top.

From Ernest Best Anane, Kumasi

DCOP Kofi Boakye, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, has observed that in order to maintain peace and order, the Police Service must be supported by every concerned citizen,  to enable them deliver on their core mandate.

He cautioned politicians, especially those of the major political parties in the country, to desist from interfering in police investigations, as the state of robbery in the region and beyond had recently changed into a different dimension. He said with women getting into the center stage of various kinds of robbery in the country, the police would have to go the extra mile to rid society of criminals.

He stated that Police Service is not meant to do politics, and for that matter. politicians must leave them to embark on their core mandate to make sure they protect lives and properties without fear.  Briefing the media on a series of arrests by the police command in various operations, DCOP Boakye explained that on the August 4, at about 12.40, a suspect, Elizabeth Konadu, a 20-year-old footballer, and two other males left a handbag with a witness to take some drinks at a bar.

He said later, the female suspect alone went demanding the handbag, but the witness refused to hand it over to her without the other two. Refusing to bring the two others, witnesses detained her and informed the police, and revealed that the bag contained a toy pistol and ammunition, adding that her accomplices were lodging at Nana Poku’s Hotel at Abrepo Highways.

He indicated that on the strength of that information, the police went to the hotel, where suspect Emmanuel Ofori, alias Ofori Appiah, 25, Yaw Addae, 12, Kofi Kyei, a 22-year-old ex-convict, and Amina Lardi, 25, were arrested in three different rooms.
A black bag containing 3 masks, 1 wig, 1 cutter, 1 pair of pliers, 1 tester, 1pair of scissors, 1 screwdriver, 1 car jack, 2 small torchlights, and GH¢390 were retrieved from suspect Kofi Boakye’s room.

According to suspect Boakye the items belonged to suspect Emmanuel Ofori, alias Akwasi Yeboa, who denied it. He said the handbag containing a toy pistol, a mobile phone and other personal effects was handed over to police by the witnesses.  An amount of GH¢605 was also found on suspect Emmanuel Ofori when he was searched.

From Ernest Best Anane, Kumasi

The National Pensioners Association, in collaboration with Liberty Mutual Health Insurance, has launched the pilot registration for the Pensioners Medical Scheme (PMS), a top-up medical scheme which provides senior citizens with the treatment for ailments that are beyond the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

It is expected to improve upon the health status of the senior citizens, in making sure they access quality healthcare without humiliation, while according them the due respect at the designated health facilities.  Mrs. Asaa-Peasah and Franklyn Gonyoe, Head of Stakeholders and Corporate Affairs mangers of the insurance scheme respectively, explained at the launch in Kumasi that the PMS would enable retirees who are faced with large and unexpected medical costs, to still undergo any treatment when they cannot afford it.

Mr. Edward Ameyibor, General Secretary of the National Pensioners Association, explained that the launch of the pensioners medical scheme is aimed at helping them access quality medical care in respect and dignity.  He said the intensive public education in the media, and town hall meetings all over the country by the regional executive committee at the local or district levels, had helped in the increase of the registered members to about 57,000.

According to him, the PMS is a home-grown product of the National Pensioners Association for pensioners under the Social Security National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) scheme, who have voluntarily agreed to form an association to fight for their rights like better indexation, and to support each other in bereavement, ailments and other challenges. He said some of the members had died from illnesses that they could have survived if they had received financial assistance to perform surgery or buy a particular medicine, or gone through a certain medical regime happily.

“The PMS is, therefore, a solution to all these challenges, thereby taking our destiny into our own hands by contributing GH¢0.13p of pension a day, or GHc4 a month to start a top-up scheme to the National Health Insurance Scheme,” he said.\ He said in many areas that the NHIS fell short of addressing their medical needs, they would support each other.  The PMS, Mr. Ameyibor said, is an insurance scheme believed to be able to cover many of their health needs beyond the NHIS.

He stressed that it was their scheme which had grown from conception to actualisation, and did not belong to SSNIT or the government, or anybody else. The scheme, he said, will officially be launched in February 2015 to provide healthcare to the extent of GH¢4,000 per annum for those who would be on admission, and GH¢1,000 for Out-Patients Department (OPD) attendance.

He indicated that the PMS covers a range of diseases, from hypertension and diabetes to prostrate in men and breast cancer in women, and would also cover ambulance services, surgeries, MRI and other scans, laboratory service, physiotherapy and hospital accommodation, among others.

Mr. Ameyibor recommended that every pensioner goes for a medical check-up, at least once, a year, to know their health status to make informed decisions as to working habits, lifestyles that must be abandoned immediately, forms of exercises, and eating habits that would be helpful to senior citizens.

From Samuel Agbewode

The Volta Region has been identified as the most suitable region where investors can take advantage to explore the various investment opportunities. They range from tourism to agriculture, but unfortunately, this has not been the case, as the numerous potentials in the region have been left undeveloped over the years to the disadvantage of the people.

The region, described by many intellectuals, as well as leaders, as the only region in Ghana where all manner of vegetation in the country could be found, is the longest region in the country, with a number of water bodies such as the Volta Lake, River Oti and River Dayi among others, and stretches from Keta in the coastal belt, to Krachi with semi-savannah vegetation.

The Volta Region has been identified as the only region where all Ghanaian languages spoken could be found, with more than 36 ethnic groups and over 136 dialects spoken, which is the home of the highest mountain in Ghana called Mountain Afadza, popularly known as Afadzato. The highest human habitat at Amedzofe, the only place in Ghana where snow falls all year round, is privileged to accommodate Mount Gemi.

In view of this and many other reasons that the first female Volta Regional Minister, Madam Helen Adwoa Ntoso, stressed the need for investors to turn their attention to the region and help in the development process. Madam Ntoso, a citizen of the region, in an exclusive interview with this paper, explained that the region is fertile for all forms of agricultural activities, from Keta in the southern part to Krachi in the northern part, saying the people of the region were hard working, but needed some form of support.

The Regional Minister gave the assurance that the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) was on top of development issues in the area, and that it would continue to play its monitory roles, as well as provide the needed leadership directions to the 25 Municipal and District Assemblies to deal with development issues more effectively to help improve the living standard of the people.

Madam Ntosu whose vision for the region was to see the area develop without too much dependency on central government, pointed out that agriculture and tourism were the two main areas, which, when supported by private sector investment, would go a long way to turn the economic fortunes of the region. According to the Regional Minister, investors could take up the challenge to make good use of the arable land in the region, to grow both food and cash crops such as grains, rice, cocoa and mango.

She stressed that because people in the region practicing agriculture did not have enough to invest in big projects, they continued to only grow and feed themselves, which had led to the high unemployment situation among the youth. Madam Ntosu said the region lacked investment in irrigation to make good use of the various water bodies to promote all year farming.

She further enumerated that this would engage the youth in what she described as group farming, not only to reduce the ever increasing unemployment among the youth, but to eradicate it completely. She observed that there was an irrigation project at Krachi some years back, which was used for state farms, saying the structures for the project were still there, and that only the roofing sheets were out of use, which could be taken up by investors as well as the development of other irrigation projects at districts where the Volta Lake passes, such as North, Central, South Tongu, and even Keta as well.

The Regional Minister said it was important for investors to take advantage of the Volta Lake, River Oti and other water bodies to invest into fish farming. Madam Ntosu explained that fish farming was very expensive, and that no individual would be able to embark on the expensive but lucrative business. She revealed that information made available to her indicates that the preparation of one cage for fish farming cost GH¢80,000 and said it was beyond an individual to venture into.

Touching on tourism, Madam Ntosu observed that it was a very important area that investors could take advantage of by helping to develop the many sites such as caves and waterfalls that have not been developed over the years. She spoke of tourism sites like the Tafi-Atome Monkey sanctuary and Wli Waterfalls, which would help create more employment for the youth.

Madam Ntosu was optimistic that resources for development abound in the region and were enough to address the development needs of the people, but this called for collaborative efforts by the various stakeholders, particularly local and international investors.

“I am, therefore, inviting all investors locally and internationally to come to the Volta Region to engage in profitable business activities, because the Volta Region has enough land that can be used for all forms of projects, particularly irrigation farming, on commercial basis and fish farming. Come to the Volta Region and invest in the huge tourism potentials, for the people are hospitable, and you would never regret,” the Minister stressed.

Madam Ntosu said development of the region should not be politicised because the development of the area could not be effective when issues on development were limited to politics. The Regional Minister, therefore, appealed to the people from the region living abroad to come home and do businesses that would contribute meaningfully to the development process. She stated that the region is very peaceful and had natural resources, and was as well endowed with human resources.

By Daniel Nonor

IF THE positions of candidates on a ballot paper hold any significance to an elite electorate in any election, then the perceived underdogs in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearership race have been handed a head start with their frontline positions on the ballot for the Special Delegates Congress, slated for August 30, 2014.

The National Vetting Committee of the party, earlier on Monday, cleared all seven presidential aspirants to contest the election.

The aspirants are Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, two times presidential candidate of the party; Mr. Alan Kwadjo Kyerematen, a former Minister of Trade and Industry; Mr. Francis Addai Nimoh, Member of Parliament (MP) for Mampong and Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, a former Minister in the Kufuor administration.

The rest are Mr. Stephen Asamoah Boateng, a former Information Minister; Mr. Joe Ghartey, Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for Essikado-Ketan, and Mr. Kofi Osei Ameyaw, MP for Asuogyaman.

The balloting for their placements on the ballot paper presented very interesting outcomes, and the candidates have since been relishing their positions and giving various interpretations to them.

After balloting, Dr. Konadu Apraku appeared first, followed by Stephen Asamoah Boateng, then Mr. Francis Addai Nimoh, Osei Ameyaw, Alan Kyerematen, Nana Akufo-Addo, with Joe Ghartey taking the last slot on the ballot.

Some of the candidates have since been sharing the significance and giving philosophical interpretations of their positions on the ballot with The Chronicle.

Dr. Apraku says he is hopeful that his position, as the first on the ballot, will carry him through the process to emerge as the eventual flagbearer of the party.

“I am pleased that I am number one on the ballot, it gives me hope. I pray to God that it will carry me through the process, so that in the end, I will be number one in the race.” He is of the opinion that he has done more than enough to merit that position.

Mr. Francis Addai Nimoh, who appears third on the ballot, sounded more philosophical.

“In terms of symbolism, I would say that third position represents the three letters of NPP, and biblically, it represents God the father, God the son, and God the Holy Spirit.

“As a UP tradition, we formed our first government in 1969 led by Prof Busia, and the second government by the tradition was formed by John Agyekum Kufuor, so the third government from this tradition would be formed by Francis Addai Nimo,” he stated with confidence.

According to him, he had worked hard with a sense of commitment to duty to lead the Elephant Family.

The Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman, Mr. Kofi Osei Ameyaw, told The Chronicle that his position signifies unity. “I am in the middle, embracing the three on the left and the other three on my right, and together, we are marching to 2016 for victory.”

He was confident that come what may, he would be counted among the five candidates to contest the top position of the party.

“The other significant thing is that, whichever way you count, I am in the five. If you count from the bottom, I am in the five, and if you count from the top, I am in the five,” he noted.

Meanwhile, the fore-runners in the race, Nana Akufo-Addo and Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, are at their peak in a contest of wits, convincing delegates to give them a chance to lead the party, either for the first time, or the third.

By Bernice Bessey: bbessey@yahoo.com

The Namibian delegates in a picture with officials of the National Service Scheme.

The National Service Scheme (NSS) has led the Namibia National Youth Service Delegation, who are on a visit to Ghana, to some agriculture projects embarked upon by the scheme in Accra.The Four member delegation from Namibia, who came to the country to learn about Ghana’s example in youth management immediately after completing school, toured the Dawhenya farms, where service personnel and volunteers cultivate 300 acres of maize, 50 acres of vegetables and fish farm.

The visitors also went to the Nungua livestock farm, where there are over 6000 poultry birds, guinea fowl, turkey, ostrich, ruminates, grasscutter, rabbit, etc.

The NSS board members and Directors also showcased equipment like Combined Harvester, six roll fertilizer plunger, boom trailers and other farming items that have been acquired to enhance the work of the youth in agriculture.

The Greater Accra Regional Coordinator, Nana Odiasempa II, disclosed to the delegation, who were overwhelmed with the programme’s progress that the project is run in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

He said the farm is able to produce over 6000 mini bags of maize, which are processed into feed for the poultry birds.

The NSS youth in agriculture project is one of Ghana’s success stories in agriculture, since it doesn’t only sell livestock to the general public, but also adds value by processing the meat into mixed meat and sausages.

“The purpose of the farm project is for learning and training purposes. It provides service personnel with additional skills and also to assure them that farming is a lifelong enterprise that can create jobs,” the regional coordinator said.

The leader of the visiting delegation, who also doubles as board member of the Namibia Youth Service, Mr. Charles Kabajani, was thrilled with the professionalism and modern technology of farming displayed by their counterparts in Ghana.

Mr. Kabajani, while addressing the service personnel indicated that Africa is blessed with good soil and other mineral resources that must enable her to produce to feed the continent and export the rest, but that has not been the case.

He said instead of Africa concentrating on production, she rather goes on her knees begging for aid from countries that cannot even match her rich natural resources. “We have the potential but yet go on our knees begging for food, meanwhile a beggar has no choice and is not respected”, he stated.

He wished that the new generation will take up the mantle to make a difference, as well as foster what they have learnt from the old folks into projecting the pride of Africa.

 Dr. Bernard Otabil, General Manager of Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Wednesday challenged journalists to develop interest in economics and financial reporting.

He asked them to discard perceptions that the subject is “technical” and explore opportunities in the sector. Dr.Otabil was speaking at the closing ceremony of a two-day oil and gas/economics and financial reporting training for journalists at the GNA Press Centre in Accra.

The training, a second in a series organised by GNA with support from KOSMOS Energy, aimed at building the capacities of journalists in the oil and gas sector and economics and financial reporting.

Dr.Otabil said though journalists across the globe are more into political reporting, they stand the chance of helping improve the economies of their countries if they pay attention to economic issues.

He said for instance, in Ghana, the refusal of the people to use coins is contributing to high inflation and the situation could be corrected should the media educate the public on the need to use the money.

Dr.Otabil asked the participants to use their skills to impact society positively while GNA consider the option to organise similar trainings for journalists in the regions.

Mr. Kofi Opoku, Deputy Finance Director, KOSMOS Energy who took participants through the overview of the oil and gas sector said Ghana netted $562.48 million oil revenue for the first half of 2014 and is expected to make about one billion dollars for the rest of the year.

He said the amount consist of $410.44 million from “lifting proceeds and $152.04 in taxes, royalties and surface rentals” among other interventions. Mr. Tally Ansah, a participant, commended GNA and KOSMOS Energy for the initiative and described the training as “timely”.

The participants were taken through topics like CSR, Auditing and Reporting in the Oil and Gas Industry-a new Frontier for financial and business journalism, the dynamics of downstream oil marketing and financing.

The rest are the role of Oil Marketing Companies, Bulk Distribution Companies and National Petroleum Authority, Risk Assessment and Emergency Response System.

GNA

Daniel Nonor

(danielnonor@gmail.com)

When the history of how businessman and known financier of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Alfred Agbesi Woyome, managed to perpetrate the single most largest successful fraud against the state is written, the opinion of Ghana’s first deputy speaker of parliament and former Deputy Attorney General, Ebo Barton-Odro, on the matter will feature prominently.

Mr. Barton Oduro’s earlier defense of the legitimacy of Mr. Woyome’s claim of GH¢ 51million in judgment debt against the state would not have rattled feathers, as it has with his ‘unrepentant’ stance on the matter recently.

The Supreme Court of the land has unanimously ruled on the matter and impugned fraud in Mr. Woyome’s claims and thus ordered him to refund the money to the state.

But when asked a hundred times, the former Attorney General says he would defend his earlier stance that the state would have been delved a bloody blow in court, in an attempt to defend itself from paying the money to Mr. Woyome.

He based his argument on the fact that a default judgement was given in favour of Woyome by an Accra High Court in May 2010, in the case involving Woyome Vrs the Attorney General, after government had failed to honour an earlier settlement reached between the two parties.

He emphasized that his earlier interview on the matter was after judgement had been delivered and a number of attempts had been made to set aside that judgement had proved futile.

“That is when I said you don’t need to be a lawyer to see that since there was an agreement to effect payment, you don’t have a good case to go back to court to set aside that judgement …I don’t think you need any legal training to give that kind of opinion”, he explained.

But what seems to have left a sour taste in the mouths of many Ghanaians; many of whom are seeking the head of the First Deputy speaker is his undaunted position on the matter, despite the public uproar on the lack of deep thinking on the part of the government, in dolling out such huge amount to Mr. Woyome.

“I still stand by it. If you ask me a hundred times, I would say that as far as that particular case was concerned, government’s case was not good,” he emphasized.

This statement has since rattled feathers and there is an increased pressure on Mr. Barton Odro to resign his post as Deputy Speaker, for not protecting the public purse.

Vitus Azeem, Executive Secretary, Ghana Integrity Initiative is demanding the immediate resignation of the Deputy Speaker, citing his complicity in the case . “It is a case of conflict of interest. He should resign,” Azeem noted in an interview with Joy News.

Pressure group, Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) says all actors in the Woyome saga, including Mr. Barton Odro, “individually and collectively contravened SECTION 62(1) (b) of the Financial Administration Act 2003 (Act 654)”, and has thus called  on the Privileges Committee of Parliament to relieve him of his position as the Deputy Speaker of Parliament.

The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) in a statement issued on the matter have also made similar calls for his resignation from office

“We are calling on the Honourable Member of Parliament for Cape Coast North and First Deputy Speaker of Parliament – Hon. Barton Oduro to resign immediately and never return to public service”, the party noted. The party believes that his resignation would restore dignity to Parliament, especially to the position of Deputy Speaker.

“Mr. Barton Oduro should resign as MP, as a sign of respect and remorse for his actions against the State when he was the Deputy Minister of Justice and Attorney-General.

“We also want Parliament to investigate his conduct as a colleague who was involved in the payment of huge sums of State money to undeserving individuals and institutions. This will go a long way to purge the House of such individuals, especially from the leadership of the House,” the party further noted.

The heat is on, but as to whether he would be the first Ghanaian politician to resign his position in acceptance of failing to effectively discharge his duty as a public official, only time will tell.

By Stephen Odoi-Larbi

President Mahama has instructed the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Julius Debrah, to immediately embark on a major nationwide cleanup campaign to arrest the recent cholera outbreak.

The recent outbreak of cholera in parts of Accra has been linked to the deteriorating waste management and sanitation situation in the capital. Accra and its environs have seen a growing number of garbage dump sites on several street corners, posing a health threat to several communities.

The Vice President, Kwesi Amissah Arthur, in a bid to ensure that the work is done, will be visiting major dump sites in the country, especially, those in the cities. The cleanup exercise will be undertaken by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, and will cover 18 dump sites.

The Vice President is scheduled to visit the Agbobloshie, ICGC, and Kokomlemle dump sites in the course of the week to ascertain their capacity in containing garbage generated in the city. The closure of the only landfill site in Accra a couple of months ago has led to indiscriminate dumping of waste, and coupled with the recent rainfalls, has created ideal conditions for the spread of cholera.

“We are determined to prevent the cholera outbreak from spreading, and will do so by ensuring that those responsible for waste collection and disposal do their job,” noted Vice President Amissah-Arthur. At La, 197 people reported sick for cholera, 20 of which have died. Mr. Debrah also spoke about the Ministry’s plan for a long-term communications campaign, aimed at encouraging an attitudinal change on the part of the citizenry.

“Our efforts at resolving this problem will not gain much traction without the involvement of people. We will use communications to educate them on the right thing, and constant reminders will affect people’s behaviour,” he is quoted as saying.

By Daniel Nonor

A lead partner would soon be selected to partner the government in the conversion of the Achimota Forest into a world class eco-tourism facility. 

The Forestry Commission has hinted that it had so far received six proposals and is in the process of constituting an evaluation team to ensure a transparent selection process. Under a private partnership arrangement, the private sector would have a 45 per cent stake, while the Forestry Commission takes up the remaining 55 per cent in equity.

In furtherance of this, a ten-member committee has been inaugurated by the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Barbara Serwaa Asamoah, to oversee the smooth implementation of the conversion of the forest into an economically-viable and eco-friendly facility.

The Achimota Forest reserve is the largest remaining urban green-belt in Ghana, and like most government lands in Accra, is under serious threat due to encroachment and the possible conversion of the reserve to other non-environmentally friendly land use. The initial forest cover of 500 hectares has since been reduced to 360 hectares due to encroachment.

“The conversion of the Achimota Forest into this ecotourism facility is, therefore, a timely intervention to save the forest from further destruction, and also an opportunity to generate revenue to the government, as well as providing a first class recreational centre within the city of Accra,” Barbara Serwaa Asamoah noted The committee has Mr. Samuel Afari Dartey, Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, as Chairman.

The members are Nana Kofi Adu-Nsiah, Executive Director Wild Life Division; Mr. Raphael Yeboah, Executive Director, Forestry Services Division; Mr. Amlalo, Executive Director Environmental Protection Agency; Mr. Charles Osei Bonsu, Ag Executive Director Ghana Tourist Board; Mr. Andy Okrah, Director, Human Resource, Forestry Commission; Mr. Joseph Osiakwan, Prin. Planning Officer, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources; Mr. Felix Brown, Dep. Regional Manager, Forestry Services Division; Mr. David Kpelle, Commercial Manager, Wild Life Division, and one representative of the lead partner.

She tasked them to execute their mandate with fairness, transparency, professionalism, efficiency and cost effectiveness. Mr. Samuel Afari Dartey, Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission and Chairman of the Committee, gave the assurance to the effective implementation of the project in accordance with laid down guidelines.

Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, immediate past Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, about a year ago, inaugurated a seven-member Eco-park Strategy Development Committee.

From Issah Alhassan, Kumasi

False alarms and unnecessary calls by unidentified people are said to be hampering efforts of the police to deal with emergency cases in the Ashanti Region.

A source within the Police Information Unit in Kumasi has lamented to The Chronicle that personnel of the unit have in recent times become objects of insults and vilification from unidentified persons who call the unit on a daily basis. According to him, the unfortunate development is making the work of the information unit extremely difficult and frustrating. He indicated that the unit had become he target of hoaxers who call to create false alarms, whilst others call just to rain insults on them for no justifiable reasons.

“Sometimes they call here and you ask them what is the matter and then they start insulting you, it’s almost becoming impossible to differentiate between genuine calls and fake ones, it makes the work very difficult,” he lamented. According to him, the Information Unit, also referred to as the Emergency Unit, is strategically placed to deal with distress and emergency cases, and must, therefore, not be abused by the public.

He stated that the development usually frustrates and discourages personnel in their resolve to ensure peace and order in society. The police personnel also deplored what he said was the unethical attitude of some broadcast media houses in the region, which are fond of unjustifiably inciting the public against the police.

“It is appalling that sometimes the radio stations, when they need numbers, they will call here and request for it, but when they have information concerning the security, instead of calling and alerting us, they will sit on air and lambast us, as if we are aware and have not done anything about it, it’s very unfair,” he bemoaned.

As part of the development of Ghana’s second major oil field, TEN, four employees of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) have joined Tullow Oil plc on secondment.

The four – George Asigbi, Abdul-Mumin Iddris, Kwasi Boadi and Uzziel Tetteh – will be based in Tullow Oil’s London headquarters, helping to manage subsurface aspects of the development of the Tweneboa, Enyenra and Ntomme (TEN) fields, which lie sixty kilometres off the coast of the Western Region of Ghana.

They are the first secondees to start the programme, and will be joined by more GNPC colleagues later this year. The two year duration of their assignments means they will be with Tullow Oil all the way through to First Oil, which is scheduled for mid-2016.

The secondment programme is part of the skills and knowledge transfer element outlined in the TEN Development Plan, which was approved by the Government of Ghana in May 2013. The TEN Project development is being packaged to ensure that Ghana and Ghanaians benefit from the oil development.

TEN Project Director Terry Hughes commented:

“It has been my great pleasure to welcome our first four GNPC secondees to Tullow in London. I believe these secondments are mutually beneficial to both Tullow and GNPC; we are getting bright people with experience in Ghana’s oil industry and the secondees will gain knowledge of Tullow’s world class tools and methodologies which they will take back to Ghana.

Ghana is near the beginning of its oil lifecycle, so skills and knowledge transfer is vital. Who knows:  in the not too distant future, I hope we will see people from other countries coming to Ghana to learn about the oil industry.” Drilling Cost Engineer Uzziel Tetteh, who holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, commented:

“Moving from a relatively different background with no experience in Project Controls, on this secondment I am keen to learn how costs are controlled and managed on a major project. I also aim to get a good understanding and overview of other areas such as planning and risk management.  The intention is to be able to plan and manage GNPC’s own projects from start to finish with little or no supervision.”

Production Technologist Abdul-Mumin Iddris, whose role at GNPC included production monitoring for the Jubilee Field, Ghana’s first major oil project also operated by Tullow Oil, commented: “My assignment to the TEN Project will involve well completion design, planning and execution as well as production system modelling and flow rate allocation.

At the end of this programme, I will be able to apply Integrated Production Modelling (IPM) using the specialist software available here. I also hope to gain an understanding of the fundamentals of well completion and to build competency in pay-zone and well bore architecture. I am looking forward to a productive and memorable time with the team.”

Geophysicist Kwasi Boadi, who has worked with GNPC since 2007, commented: “At the end of my secondment I will have gained invaluable experience in creating velocity models, learnt different approaches to creating time-depth conversion in a deepwater turbidite environment and become proficient in reservoir internal architectural interpretation. The skills I gain will be highly transferable to my work when I return to Ghana.”

Reservoir Engineer George Asigbi, who holds a degree in Geological Engineering from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and a Master’s of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Turin, Italy, commented: “At the end of my secondment, I hope to develop competence in all software relevant to my career as a reservoir engineer, learn to confidently build and work on dynamic reservoir models and also be able to comfortably perform  well  test analyses.’’

Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI, Osu Mantse and President of the Osu Traditional Council, has invited all to support the 2014 Homowo Festival of the Osu Traditional area, which ends in September, 2014.

The theme for the celebration is: “Traditional Festival as Vehicle for Accelerated Development.” The occasion would coincide with the launch of a five year short-term development plan for the people and the community.

A statement issued in Accra by Mr. Theophilus Chuasam, Registrar, and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Monday, said the festival, which is expected to bring together people from all over the country and the diaspora, would also provide a forum, not only to discuss developmental projects under the five-year plan, but to help consolidate Osu Homowo as a globally-competitive annual event to attract investment.

It said the Planning Committee of this year’s Homowo Festival would invite corporate institutions and companies within the traditional area as stakeholders and partners to be actively involved in the celebrations, to leverage the festival platform to promote their products, brands and corporate entities.

It noted that in this regard, the committee is directed to offer institutions and companies, the unique opportunity to be associated with the 2014 Homowo Festival as a media partner to contribute generously in various capacities towards the organisation of this year’s events.

It stated that the Osu Mantse has directed all tenants and companies or institutions operating on Osu land, as their corporate social responsibility, to support both in kind and cash for a successful organisation of the celebration of this year’s festival and other projects under the five year development plan.

Some of the activities outlined for the programme are lawn tennis competition, health walk with the Osu Mantse and Stool Open Day, a football gala of the various Osu clans and a street carnival from the Osu Salem School Park to the Oxford Street.

Other activities of the Homowo Festival are the sprinkling of Kpokpoi, Homowo Awards Ceremony and a Thanksgiving Service.

GNA

From Richard Attenkah, Tema

The people of Kpone-Mlitsakpo have heaved a sigh of relief, following the decision of the elders and kingmakers of the area to finally install a new chief, who would see to the day-to-day running of the divisional area.

Nii Tetteh Oglie II, known in private life as Mr. Emmanuel Oglie, a building contractor by profession, was unanimously selected by elders of the Appiah We clan, after the demise of his father, Nii Tetteh Oglie I, who passed on into eternity five years ago.

The installation of the new chief was not without the colourful display of the culture of the people of Kpone, who came from far and near to grace the ceremony.  Nii Tetteh Oglie II, who is the Presiding Elder of the Divine Apostolic Church, since the passing on of his father has held the fort as regent of the town.

It was not immediately possible for the Presiding Elder to be installed as chief of the town, because of some teething problems which had to do with the performance of the traditional rites of the would-be chief.

The kingmakers in Kpone wanted the traditional rites to be performed before he could be made chief of the town, but the man of God insisted that he would have none of that, and that the rites be done in the Christian way.

This brought about a long delay in his installation, until the Paramount Chief of the Kpone Traditional Area, Nii Tetteh Otu II, called to inform him to get preparations underway for his installation.

The new chief, who is married to Mrs. Patience Oglie, with whom he has six children, holds a Diploma in Psychosocial Counseling, and has been in the service of God for several years.

Nii Tetteh Oglie II said he was going to blend his knowledge and experience in the service of God with that of the traditional know-how to rule his people, to ensure that everything moves on successfully for the town.

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, who was the Special Guest of Honour called on the new chief to blend well the religious experience to help bring comfort to his people.

The Regional Minister called on chiefs in the country to release lands for developmental projects to help the masses, and desist from selling stool lands for their personal interest.