UER: M-CODe leadership familiarized themselves with Minister, as he confirmed the issue of OD needs attitudinal change
The Upper East Regional Minister Hon. Stephen Yakubu has described Open Defecation (OD) in the Upper East Region as a big issue that needs to be corrected by themselves through attitudinal change. The Minister pointed this out when the Upper East Regional Branch leadership of the Media Coalition against Open Defecation (M-CODe) led by Madam Fatima Astanga the Regional Convener and Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen the Regional Organizer paid him a courtesy visit at his office on Tuesday, October 10, 2022. Even though, the M-CODe leadership visit was planned to officially introduce themselves to the Regional Minister and as well explained their motive and objective as M-CODe representatives in the region, the visit also allowed leadership to interact with the Regional Minister, especially on the performance of the region with regards to Open Defecation. During the engagement, the Regional Minister described Open Defecation (OD) as a big issue. “I think our main way of overcoming this, is to change people’s attitudes. Because the toilet facility may even be there and they will not use it because of that cultural thing. If somebody sees you there and everybody is passing, the name it’s gives to the region. If you moved from this lane, there is a small forest on the right-hand side, people normally go there with their motors to do Open Defecation as if is okay and you won’t even see someone cautioning them to stop such acts, because of those things, are accepted in the society”. According to Minister Yakubu, “Some even believe that it is some kind of fertilizing the land. That’s why the attitude thing is the most important in this fight. I know a lot of people who died in this country as a result of the cholera outbreak in this region” he stressed He appreciated the efforts and ideas brought on board by members of M-CODe in the Upper East Region as he confirmed it as a good call’ However, also seeking some support from the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) to enable M-CODe members to perform their function accordingly in the region, the Minister said: “If we have money we can put in to support but we don’t generate any income. Is the district that generates income and I would encourage you to speak to the private companies, shops, and also the telecoms and any person who wants to contribute. But is something we all know and we all agree that we need to do something about it. I think you can find time to talk about it and am sure some of these radio stations if you talk to them they will be ready to give you some air time to talk about it and that will help educate the people. I think we are together in this, the problem is that we can’t help financially”. The Minister told the Regional leadership of M-CODe. He acknowledged that a lot of NGOs are also doing their best in the area of Open Defecation. Adding that “Government is also building toilets facilities for all the schools because some of the schools don’t even have toilet facilities therefore what do expect if the school is not walled, people come inside the school and do free range”. In the Upper East Region, over 60% of its population or citizens are defecating in the open, and Upper East is 68.4% in terms of Population and housing census. it must be a matter of great concern. It is revealing that 92% of the population of the people of the Upper East Region don’t use toilet facilities at their homes. However, M-CODe, was first introduced in 2018 to help develop the capacity of the media as advocates for improved sanitation, especially with the agenda to eliminate Open Defecation (OD) across the country. Source: Apexnewsgh.com|Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com
“Is that the work of the RCC??”– Paul Danka questioned Reg. Minister Involvement between Shaanxi and Small Scale miners
John Paul Danka, One of the astute communicators of the Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has questioned the involvement of Upper East Regional Minister Stephen Yakubu following the alleged One Million dollar equivalent he is said to have received to settle miners whose concessions were taken by a Mining Company initially known as Shaanxi and now Earl International. Apexnewsgh.com report According to Mr. Danka, “Another problem is the regional Minister, look at what is happening in my area. You have people who came to this republic in the name of supporting mining services called Shaanxi, fast-forward 2008 that law reviewed. Then, there is somebody holding a lease, a concession permit in that area, that Company changed itself to Earl and there is a lease given to them in the name of large-scale mining. How on earth can you give a lease upon a lease or concession upon a concession and you have that minister coming to that enclave. What is in that pot? He quizzed Mr. Danka questioned the Minister’s involvement on a local radio station Dreamzfm in the Bolgatanaga Municipality monitored by Apexnewsgh.com on Friday, October 7, 2022 “Your regional Minister took over, asking those who have issues and those who have gone to court to come out for out-of-court settlement. As we speak today, what has happened to that one? The alleged One million dollar ($1 million) equivalent that the Upper East Regional Minister is said to have received and see how he would be able to help those whose concessions have been taken, to help actually paid them off as we speak we have issues. Is that the work of the RCC?? “You have not seen anything yet, as for the time bomb in Talensi, is still hanging is just a matter of time because once we have realized that government is complicit, the youth of Talensi are not going to sit down, and allow the government because we cannot trust the NPP administration with regards to our natural resources, we cannot. Is like those who benefitted from the pot are okay, but the rest of the people who are there nobody cares about them”. “We know what galamsey has done for our people, is a matter of we making sure we let them follow the due process, let them know the parties that can help them. Most of the roofing and the good building you see hitherto were not there, most of those proceeds are from there. People have worked at galamsey in Talensi and helped their brothers and sisters go to school, and advance their education. So, if you come and you are taking that thing off and you don’t handle it well, is just a matter of time when it explodes, we will then see how the national security issue will be handled”. He laments Source: Apexnewsgh.com|Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com
Stephen Yakubu leads National fitness day in Bolgatanga
Hundreds of residents from the Bolgatanga Municipality, Bolgatanga East and the Talensi Districts today joined the Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Stephen Yakubu to mark the maiden edition of the National Fitness Day. The over four hours Walking Exercise which started from the Bolgatanga Astro-Turf Park, popularly known as ‘Mobile Park’, saw residents walk on some principal streets of the Regional capital, Bolgatanga. The exercise brought together officials from the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Fire Service and some selected school cadets within the Municipality. At the end of the walk, the participants reconvened at the start point and underwent some aerobics. Addressing participants after the exercise, Hon. Yakubu said there was the need as residents and citizens of the nation to keep fit, “Remember that the exercise is a national activity that involves all 16 Regions as well as Municipalities and Districts.” The Minister was impressed about the turnout, as he underscored its importance, and observed that some officials after the exercise, realised “old age is catching up.” Source: Apexnewsgh.com For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com
Bawku conflict at its peak– Upper East Regional Minister
The conflict in Bawku and its environs has reached its peak with incidents of attacks and counter-attacks perpetrated on the daily basis, Chairman of the Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC), Hon. Stephen Yakubu has said. The disturbances, he noted, posed threat to the future of children in the area, stressing that “Posterity will not forgive all those who contributed in one way or the other to this catastrophe. I am sad to admit is getting out of control.” Addressing this year’s maiden staff meeting of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), the REGSEC Chair, who is the Regional Minister, reiterated his appeal to sons and daughters of the area to lay down their arms and chart the path of dialogue to resolve the conflict. Apart from the RCC staff, the meeting attracted members of REGSEC and other Heads of Departments and Agencies in the Region, and afforded them the opportunity to deliberate on issues of development. Hon. Yakubu, however, commended the factions in the Doba-Kandiga conflict for their show of maturity in managing the conflict, and gave the assurance that REGSEC would continue to partner with all stakeholders in the area to find a lasting solution to the impasse. He assure residents in and around the Regional capital, Bolgatanga, that REGSEC would work to stem the growing insecurity over the past weeks for residents to go about their daily activities without fear. Touching on other sectors of the economy, the soft-spoken Minister and former Ambassador, said the agricultural sector employed about 80 percent of residents with a comparative advantage in the production of rice, maize, sorghum and groundnuts. Under the Planting for Food and Jobs programme, he said a total of 693,799 bags of NPK fertilizers were received and distributed in 2021, while a total of 280,000 bags had so far been distributed this year. Hon Yakubu attributed the reduction in the quantity of the fertilizers between 2021 and 2022 to the Russian-Ukraine war. On education, he said it was the pivot around which every facet of development evolved, and indicated that for the region to catch up with her peers, the issue of education should be taken seriously. He said the Akufo-Addo-led-government regarded education as a major priority, and therefore introduced the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy which had over the years increased enrollment in public SHSs. He added that the region chalked some marginal improvement in maternal deaths, saying maternal mortality reduced from 24 deaths in 2021 to 15 deaths in 2022 half-year. He said functional CHPS had increased from 87.6 percent in 2021 to 92.7 percent in 2022 half-year, and described the increase as good news to the people of the region. Hon. Yakubu said as part of strategies to increase the number of Medical Doctors in the Region, he charged the Municipal and District Chief Executives to identify and sponsor Medical students within their jurisdictions and bond them to return and serve upon completion of their course. Source: Apexnewsgh.com For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com
UER: REGSEC Chair Commissions Office Edifice For Ghana Police Service
The Upper East Regional Minister, Hon Stephen Yakubu Thursday, commissioned an office edifice for the Bolgatanga Divisional Command of the Ghana Police Service in the Bolgatanga Municipality. The eight-room office building has six toilet facilities and a canteen for personnel, who hitherto managed to carry out their duties in a three-room office space which was expanded through the initiative of the former Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Dr. Gariba Sayibu Padi who solicited support from members of the public for the expansion project. Apart from the expansion, the edifice was fitted with modern interior decorations, air-conditioners, office desks and modern communication gadgets. At a ceremony to commission the facility, Hon. Yakubu appealed to the residents and the media to help fight the emerging crimes in the region, “Just a week or two ago, criminals have started criminal activities. “Four have been arrested, and security personnel are on their heels for others. l can assure you that Bolgatanga will soon return to its normal state,” the Minister, who is also the Chairman of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) assured. The REGSEC Chair further urged residents to be on alert for the threat of Jihadits’ owing to the Region’s proximity to other countries. He said the government was working to resource all the security agencies, especially the Police Service with the necessary logistics, adding that 183 specialized trained officers of the Service would soon be deployed to complement the efforts of officers in the Region. Hon. Yakubu commended DCOP Dr. Padi for the initiative and the benevolence of philanthropists who supported the completion and furnishing of the edifice and continued to appeal to members of the public to extend support to the Police to provide the needed maximum security in the region. The Bolgatanga Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Dela Dzansi said the old structure and its obsolete equipment demoralized the officers, and indicated that the moral of the personnel was high with the new facility. The Commander also expressed gratitude to all who supported the expansion work and appealed for more support for the Service to enable them to deliver on their mandate. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
JUST IN: Fumbisi Rice Factory not under One District One Factory—Regional Minister
The Upper East Regional Minister Stephen Yakubu has revealed, that the party removed the Fumbisi Rice Factory from the President’s itinerary because it wasn’t part of government One District One Factory. Apexnewsgh.com report Mr. Yakubu made the revelation during an exclusive interview with Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen of Apexnewsgh.com on Sunday, August 7, 2022. A few days before President Akufo-Addo’s arrival in the region, a lot of interviews were granted to some members of the governing New Patriotic (NPP) on various local radio stations, print and online media in the region to ascertain plans and where the president will be going and the role he will be performing at the programme venue. Then, in their individual responses, Fumbisi Rice Factory, Commissioning of Tono expansion water project, and Visit Bolga East Kantaga Agenda 111 were all mentioned by party executives who were creating awareness ahead of the President’s coming. In fact, at one of the radio stations, the issue of the Fumbisi Rice factory became a tough debate between the NPP representative and the Opposition NDC representative. The NDC was of the view that the Fumbisi Rice Factory has nothing to do with the 1D1F policy initiative, whiles the NPP representative claimed strongly that the Rice project is part of 1D1F. However, barely a day after the President’s Visit to the region, the Fumbisi Rice Factory was removed from the original itinerary plan for the president tour. That has raised some kind of questions, especially from members of the opposition NDC who are still asking questions upon questions about why the President could not visit the Fumbisi Rice Factory as planned. Meanwhile, when Apexnewsgh.com engaged the Regional Minister for some clarification on the numerous questions asked, he said “Initially we thought that it was part of the One District One Factory though. I think they are working on it, they are not fully part of the 1D1F. Therefore, we didn’t want to go and commission a private person’s factory”. Reg. Minister told Apexnewsgh.com He confirmed, “The factory came up because President went there in 2018, went to the Fumbisi area and a lot of people there and saw the rice farm and that actually brought a lot of investors there and therefore, is as a result of that this has come up”. Meanwhile, when Apexnewsgh.com contacted the Builsa South District Chief Executive (DCE) Daniel Kwame Gariba, he claimed the owner of the factory was the one who requested that the President should come for the Rice Factory commissioning. Source: Apexnewgh.com/Ghana/ Fumbisi Rice Factory/President Tour/Upper East Region
UER: Continue to trust in the lord for giving you a great leader like Akufo-Addo– Cecilia Abena Dapaah
The Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah has tasked the people of the Upper East Region to continue trusting in the lord and thank him for giving them a great leader such as with certain qualities of honesty, truthfulness, and integrity. Apexnewsgh.com report According to her, the water Project shows the intervention of the government is to improve potable drinking water and also deepen the water for all agenda set out by the President. The Sanitation Minister made the pronouncement on Friday, August 5, 2022, during the commissioning ceremony of the Tono water expansion project. She said, “This project is a welcome intervention as it is in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 to ensure universal access to safe and affordable drinking water for all by the year 2030. Madam Dapaah revealed, that the commissioned water project in Navrongo goes beyond 2030 into the year 2040. However, mentioning some other water projects executed and ongoing by the Akufo-Addo’s Administration such as the Navrongo water Project, Sunyani water project, Keta water project, Damango water project, and wenchi water project. She said, In line with the vision, she can safely declare that they in the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources will have their year of water. I entreat us all to continue to trust in the lord and thank him for giving us this great leader with certain qualities of honesty, truthfulness, and integrity. Source: Apexnewgh.com/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen/President Tour/Upper East Region
UER: Fifteen Municipal and District Mining Committees Inaugurated
Fifteen Municipal and District Mining Committees from four Regions have been inaugurated in Bolgatanga, capital of the Upper East Region with the sole mandate to ensure responsible mining activities. The Regions were the Upper East and West, North East and Savannah Regions with six members in each Committee led by Municipal and District Chief Executives. The beneficiary Municipalities and Districts in the Upper East Region include the Bolgatanga and Kassena-Nankana Municipalities, Talensi, Nabdam, Bongo and the Bawku West Districts. In the North East Region, the Committees would be in the Mamprugu-Moagduri District, East and West Mamprusi Municipalities, while the Upper West Region, the Committees would be in the Nadowli-Kaleo, Jirapa, Wa, Sissala East and Wa East Districts. The Savannah Region had only one Committee in the Bole District. In his address, the Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Stephen Yakubu tasked members in the respective Committees to work diligently to justify the confidence reposed in them. He said the inauguration was a rare opportunity to help the four Regions in the North to elevate its present unenviable status to different levels, adding that the task of the Committee was very important, and if handled well, the benefits would bring development to the unemployed teeming youth. He said the teeming unemployed youth, often migrated to the Southern part of Ghana, especially in the dry season to engage in illegal mining activities popularly called ‘Galamsey’ to earn a living. The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Mining, Hon. George Mireku Duker who inaugurated the Committees, charged them to support President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the sector Minister to achieve the aim of the Committees. He said globally, countries such as Australia, South Africa among others, that were blessed with gold deposits, encountered challenges in regularizing the mining sector. “The onus is on us to get ourselves organized, be monitoring the activities of ‘galamseyers’ even more so, those who have been licensed to mine,” he said. The Deputy Minister noted that some licensed mining companies were engaged in irresponsible mining, and charged the Committees to work to ensure illegalities within the sector were stopped. As part of efforts to check the pollution of river bodies, Mr Duker said some speed boats were procured and would soon be commissioned by the President with river wardens to do intermittent patrols on the rivers. Apexnewsgh.com
Churn-out credible and development oriented information –Stephen Yakubu to GJA Executives
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Stephen Yakubu has called on journalists in the Region to churn-out credible and development-oriented information to help propel development in the Region. He said the citizenry depended on the media for credible information on happenings in the country to enable them make informed decisions. “For this country to move forward and develop, journalists are the ones to let everyone know what information is good or bad and how to put it out there,” he noted. Mr. Yakubu made the call when the newly elected executives of the Regional chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), led by its Chair, Mr. William Jalula called on him to introduce themselves. The Minister called for collaboration and support from the GJA to work as development partners, saying “We need to work together as a region to find solutions to the problems that face us.” He said the problems in the region were self-induced, including the politicisation of every development issue, tribal conflicts, and cited the Bawku, Doba and Kandiga intermittent conflicts that drained the coffers of the respective Assemblies and retarded development. Mr. Yakubu said the Region had enough resources that could be tapped to solve the development needs of the people, and therefore urged the media to rally behind the government to achieve the development agenda of the country. Mr Jalula on his part, urged journalists to be circumspect in their reportage, and avoid taking sides in the course of their work. He appealed to the Regional Minister to pay attention to some road networks, the street and traffic lighting systems which he noted were faulty and did not befit the status of the Regional capital, Bolgatanga. The GJA Chairman proposed that drivers and motorists who knocked down the street and traffic lights should be arrested and made to pay for the damage caused. He appealed to the Minister to practice an open door administration, and encourage the various Municipal and District Chief Executives across the Region to practice same, so that journalists could cross-check their stories before they published. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Upper East Regional Minister begs teachers unions to temper justice with mercy
The Upper East Regional Minister Stephen Yakubu has appealed to striking Teacher- Unions to temper justice with mercy and return to the classroom while government resolves their concerns. He noted that government appreciated their concerns and would endeavour to resolve the problem, adding that the timing for the strike action was not right, considering the Russian- Ukraine conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic that has negatively affected the global economy. The Minister made the appeal when he visited the Bolgatanga Girls’ Senior High School (BOGISS) and Bolgatanga Senior High School (BIG BOSS) to ascertain the impact of the strike on the students. Hon. Yakubu assured the teachers that the relevant authorities scheduled to meet the union leaders would work to resolve the impasse, and therefore urged the unions, especially the kitchen staff to consider the plight of the students and cook for them. He used the opportunity to call on parents to support their children in second cycle schools while school authorities fashion out other alternative ways to cook for them. He commended the Head teachers who in the midst of the challenges, ensured the students were fed to enable them concentrate on their own private studies while they waited for their teachers to resume from the strike. Source: Apexnewsgh.com