REGIONAL MINISTER HOLDS LUNCHEON FOR SENIOR CITIZENS IN SUNYANI

The Regional Minister Hon. Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo on Thursday the 1^st of July which is the Republic day of Ghana held luncheon for senior citizens at the Residency in Sunyani. The programme was part of activities marking the 50^th anniversary celebration of Ghana`s Republic gained from the British on 1st. July 1960.This day has therefore been set aside every year to reward senior citizens of the country who have used their knowledge, strength and time to work to improve the lot of our motherland Ghana in one way or the other.

The luncheon took place in all the regions in the country with the national one being hosted in Accra by His Excellency President Mills. Welcoming the senior citizens to the luncheon, the Regional Minister Hon. Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo thanked the senior citizens for their immense contribution to the Brong /Ahafo Region and Ghana as a whole. He used the occasion to appeal to the youth to emulate the good example of the senior citizens by contributing their quota to the development of the Region and their motherland. The Minister was not happy with the way some

People in the region have been castigating those in the leadership of affairs in the region and blow issues out of proportion on radio. He added that at times the way issues are blown out of proportion and decent people are maligned and castigated on the radio if you don’t take care, you will break your protocol and react. He advised for attitudinal change by the people in the region, especially the youth who use the air waves to insult the elderly so that together they can unite to develop the region. After that, inspirational speech by the Minister, the senior citizens led by the Regional Minister, Nananom and some District and Municipal Chief Executives who attended the function queue to collect the food of their preference..

There were so many different kinds of foods and drinks for the senior citizens to choose from so they formed the queues according to their own preference. As they sat to eat ad drink ,they were entertained with music by Asuobisi band from Sunyani Odumase who played them some nice

old timers. Also in attendance was the Agromma Cultural troupe who also played “Kete” for them. The old men and women danced their hearts out. One could easily see from the faces of these aged people that they were actually in high spirits. “I think we the senior citizens are honoured and we thanked the organisers, especially the Regional Minister and his outfit for the honour done us”, were the words of Maame Yaa Badu a former chief farmer of the Brong Ahafo region. Nana Nimpong “We thank the Regional Minister and the Regional Cordinatig Council for recognizing us”.

During optional speeches the senior citizens had a lot of advice for the people of the region, especially the youth. “Our region has gained notoriety in the writing of anonymous letters to the castle for some people in positions in our region to be removed”. “That is not the way to build a decent and prosperous society and we must stop that bad attitude”, were the concerns of Hon. Juana Abebrese, Assembly woman (Appointee) for Tain District. Maame Gladys Esando alias Maame

Donkor was of the view that former President Jerry John Rawlings has done a lot for Ghana and if people will not praise him, they should not castigate him as it has been happening everyday in the media. She added “if I am to tell you what Rawlings did to me during his Revolution, you may not believe it”. “He nearly killed my business here in Sunyani but upon sober reflections later; I saw that there was something good in that young man so I had to follow him”. “We should impart our knowledge and wisdom to our small ones and advise them when they are going wrong, so that tomorrow when we are not there they can take over from us”, was the advise of Nana Nimpong. Attendance was very high as people were selected from different parts of Sunyani. People I spoke to, told me that this year`s ceremony has been successful than any other year

because this year`s one unlike previous ones which had been overtaken by the youth was limited to only the aged. My checks actually revealed that truly people who had gathered

there were only the aged. Young people I found there were either drivers, people from the media or somebody who have been assigned a special duty there but even that the senior citizens had to be served first before the young ones. Security was very tight at the Residency as the police and the military were present to ensure that these aged people had their peace of mind to enjoy their day.

REPORT ON THE REPUBLIC DAY SOCCER GAMES AND CLEAN UP EXERCISE IN SUNYANI

As part of activities marking the Municipal Celebration of the 50^th Anniversary of Ghana`s Republic, the Sunyani Municipal Assembly in conjunction with space FM a local radio station in the city put up a soccer game competition for various institutions, organisations and associations in the city at the coronation park in Sunyani. In the past years it had been the space FM which has been organising such games on such occasions. But this year the Sunyani Municipal assembly decided to lead the way. The assembly therefore contributed GH¢1,000.00 while space FM also gave GH¢500.00 towards it. In all eighteen (18) teams made up of the Sunyani municipal

assembly team, citizen Kweku, space FM, Space Fitness, National Lotteries, Abafresh, Sam Bennet hardware, Mobile Phone Technicians operation Boys, S.D.A Hospital, Emmanuel Otto Furniture, C.P.C, Regional Hospital, Taxi Drivers, Gyan Farms, Jollome designers and P.W.D teams competed. Addressing the teams at the Coronation Park in Sunyani the MCE Hon. Oppong Ababio said there is the need for private public partnership for growth hence the decision by the assembly to team up with Space Fm to organize the soccer games as part of activities to mark the Republic day. “He added sports unite people and as we start these games I want you to see

yourselves as brothers”. “If your brother mistakenly steps on your toes, please don’t reply him so that at the end of the games we will leave here as one people. After his inspirational speech he

kicked the ball for the games to start. The MCE was tipped to feature for the Sunyani Municipal assembly team but when the games started he was not even in the reserve team. When I contacted him about it he said “I am a very good footballer but as I was rushing here I forgot my boots at home so next time you will see me in action”. Surprisingly, Sunyani Municipal and Space FM organisers of the games were both kicked out at the group stages.

While Sunyani Municipal managed to win their first match against the Jollome designers and lost their second match against citizen Kweku, Space FM lost their first match against Sam Bennet Hardware team. The captain of the Space FM team , Papa Abisah a popular presenter of the radio station said “we did our best but the best team won”. He added that they were going to prepare and come back next time. The deputy coach of the Sunyani municipal assembly team who is also a one man supporter of the black stars Mr. E.K. Asoi said “we have a good team made up of experience players including Ayoma Moro, former goalkeeper of Bofoakwa but we did not train hence the defeat”. He added that they were going to train hard and come next time to win over which ever team that comes their way.

Earlier that morning, Mr. E.K Asoi who is an accountant at the Assembly had told this reporter that God had revealed to him that the Assembly team was going to win the cup and the Black stars were also going to defeat the Uruguayans and reach the finals of the FIFA World Cup underway in South

Africa. He will not comment about why the Assembly team was not able to win the trophy but about the Black stars defeat to the Uruguayans this is what he had to say “we won but the devil Louis Suarez denied us of that glory”. At the end of the games, citizen Kwaku a team at the Estate in Sunyani came first followed by Sam Bennet Hardware team. They were presented with the cup by the Hon. MCE for Sunyani Municipal Assembly Kwasi Oppong Ababio. The second and third (3^rd) teams were given hampers. It was all fun at the coronation park through out the day. There was a sound system which provided music and these young chaps did not spare their waste at all. Attendance was very high and there was no incident or accident.

Earlier that morning there was a clean up exercise at Abesim organised by the Chiefs, Assem

blymen, area council, unit committee and opinion leaders in the town which the MCE for the Sunyani Municipal Assembly Hon. Oppong Ababio who hail from the town participated in. the exercise was named "clean up exercise in support of the Black

Stars defeat against U.S.A and praying for them to win against Uruguay". It was very well attended and many areas in the town were cleared of weeks and filth. It was surprising to see that a Ghana @ 50 toilet in the town which is not completed has been abandoned and has been overtaken by weeds.

When contacted to know why the Assemblymen in the town told me that the contractor working on it has abandoned it and bolted for almost a year now.The MCE assured that they were making efforts to get the said contractor to go and finish the work.