THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF INFORMATION PAYS WORKING VISIT TO SUNYANI

The Deputy Minister of information Hon. James Agyenim Boateng on Monday the 5th of July 2010 paid a familiarisation visit to Sunyani. The visit is as part of a seven (7) day working visit to some districts in the region for him to learn at first hand the situation on the ground as far as government policies are concerned so that he could inform government for informed decisions to be taken on them.

The MCE Hon.Oppong Ababio and the Presiding Member of the Assembly Hon. Otu Essel warmly welcomed the Minister to the Assembly. The MCE used the opportunity to explain to the minister development projects being under taking by the Assembly including the purchase of a bulldozer and a Grader to take care of roads in the municipality, donation of cement to the Sunyani Municipal Hospital, Sunyani Prisons, and Yawsae Methodist Clinic to help in development projects in those institutions, the building of classroom blocks for some schools in the municipality among others. The MCE was however not happy about the delay in the release of the assembly’s common fund and the high deductions at the common fund secretariat which makes what they finally receive insufficient for projects they have planned for.

The Deputy Minister then took time to address the august House. He touched on all facets of human endeavour and explained what government is doing in every area from the economy, Agric, Education, Security, sports, Health among many others. On the economy for instance he said the Mills Government had done well by stabilising the economy and reducing inflation to about 10% from the more than 18% they inherited. He hoped that by December this year his government would have achieved a single digit inflation rate .On Agric he said government is doing well to help farmers with subsided fertilizers, construct irrigation dams across the country. He also mentioned the youth in Agric policy that the government is implementing seriously. On education he said government has increased the capitation grant by 50%, school feeding programme has been extended and the free exercise books and uniforms to pupils in deprived communities in the country is on course.

He said the promised by the NDC to establish a public funded university in the Brong-Ahafo Region is also on course and that a team has been put up by the President to do a feasibility studies on the sighting and the acquisition of land from Nananom. On security he said today unlike some time past armed robbery in the country has been reduced drastically and the slogan “cocaine here, cocaine there has also reduced. On sports he was full of praise for the gallant black stars for the honour done the country in the ongoing FIFA world cup tournament in South Africa.

From the Municipal Assembly at 3:00 pm the Minister paid a courtesy call on the Omanhene of Sunyani Traditional Area Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri III and his elders at his palace. The Minister conveyed the greetings of His Excellency President Mills and his government to Nananom. He said he was in the palace to seek the approval and blessing of Nananom in his seven (7) days tour of the region. He then explained some policies of the government to them including the university to be built in the region, the STX Korean Housing deal among others.

The Omanhene Nana Bosom Asor Nkrawiri III thanked the Minister for the visit. He said they were waiting for the university that the president had promised them. He asked the Minister to remind the President that they had not forgotten the ring road in Sunyani that he promised them

Whe he (president) visited the palace, adding “we want to put some names on the ring road and the President should not let those names stuck in our mouths”. The Minister then presented assorted drinks to Nananom. He was accompanied to the palace by the MCE for Sunyani Municipal Hon. Kwasi Oppong Ababio, the Regional Information Officer Mr. Seth Aboagye, Municipal Co-Ordinating Director Mr. Gyamfi Ameyaw, Mr. Steven Blay PPME Officer at the Information Ministry,Mr. Kelly Kwarteng of the office of the deputy minister and others. The Minister also visited the Regional Information Office
Where he visited all the offices and interacted with the workers. On the poor state of the Regional Information Office, the Minister advised the Regional Information Officer Mr. Seth Aboagye to start working on it in bits saying “that way you can get help from the Ministry but if you submit budget on the whole building, trust me it will not work”.

During open forum the Assembly members from these three (3) assemblies asked questions about issues bothering their minds.Others made very useful suggestions which if implemented will go a long way to help improve the various assemblies. Hon. Okoh Tetteh an assembly man (appointee) said most cars in the municipality have turned to the usage gas hence the frequent shortage of the commodity in the municipality. He wanted the government to take a critical look of the situation else the government could become very unpopular. Hon. Bafo Ocrah assemblyman for penkwasi did not agree that the university to be built in the Brong-Ahafo seemed science bias. He wanted other courses to be added just like it pertains in other public universities like Legon, UDS, KNUST and others. Madam Comfort Ackah Municipal Director of the Non- Formal Education Division of the assembly wanted to know whether the single Spain Salary Structure will take off this month as announced and whether issues raised by Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana CLOSAG have been addressed.

Hon. Margret Addae, Assembly woman for Nkwabeng wanted to know why caterers
at the school feeding programme have not been paid for some months. The minister and the MCE did justice to all the questions.
Later in the evening the minister and his entourage toured some radio stations in the town including radio B.A.R and Sky Fm. At these two radio stations he explained government policies to the people. The Minister expressed his happiness at the versatility of Akosua Gyamaa of B.A.R and Kuku Aban of Sky Fm who hosted him.

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.

INAUGURATION OF MELCOM SHOPPING MALL AT SUNYANI

The inauguration of the 23^rd shopping mall of Melcom Ghana Limited has taken place at Sunyani. The three (3) storey building shopping mall is located in the heart of the Sunyani Township behind the coronation park. The mall has offices, ware houses and places of convenience in it.

The inauguration drew a large crowd to the premises of the mall They included the Omanhene of Sunyani, Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri III who was the chairman for the occasion and his elders, heads of departments of the municipal assembly, workers and the public. Also in attendance was the Deputy Minister of Trade and industry, who had come to the region to deputize for the minister of Trade and industry Hon. Hannah Tetteh in the open ceremony of the Trade Fair of the Brong-Ahafo at 50 celebrations, the regional minister Hon. Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo and the MCE Hon. Kwasi Oppong Ababio.

In his acceptance speech as chairman for the occasion, the Omanhene Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri III expressed delight to melcom for the project. He promised that he and his elders will always release land to investors who will like to invest in the municipality. He appealed to the company to employ people in the area so that the rate of unemployment especially among the youth which make them to indulge in social vices like armed robbery will come down.

The managing Director of Melcom Limited Mr. Mahesh Melwani thanked Nananom for releasing land to them when they asked for it for the project. He said melcom is building shopping malls in various parts of the country because they want to bring buying to the door steps of the people. He said melcom currently employs 1,500 people in the country and intends to increase the number as the years go by.

The regional minister on his part thanked melcom limited for expanding its operations in the region. He appealed to them to employ people from the region so that the idea of the youth in the region to migrate through the Sahara desert to Europe to look for greener pastures which eventually results in their deaths on the desert will come down if not completely eradicated.

The Deputy Minister of Trade and industry Hon. John Guetuah advised melcom to as part of its social responsibility build schools in the districts they operate in and name after the company. He promised that his government will continue to give the private sector the needed support for socio-economic growth in the country.

The three (3) storey building had from the first floor to the third one goods of all kinds on display. People trooped to the building to see things for themselves. My interview with them revealed that they were very happy that melcom has opened such a big shopping mall in the municipality and they will not have to travel to Accra or Kumasi to buy there any longer.