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Tag: Tamale

  • Tamale: Over GHS700k-worth Tramadol impounded by Watchdog committee

    Tamale: Over GHS700k-worth Tramadol impounded by Watchdog committee

    Over GHS 700,000 worth of Tramadol 120 and 225 have been intercepted and destroyed by the Aboabo Pilots-Fong, a local organization dedicated to the elimination of illicit drugs in Tamale.

    There has been a surge in incidence of Tramadol and other drug abuse cases in the greater Tamale metropolis over the past years.

    Speaking to journalists in Tamale, chairman of the watchdog committee Jamal Yahaya Iddi narrates how they intercepted the drugs.

    “We had information and have to track the ‘pusher’ who is from Accra for over a week before getting him at his house on arrival with the drug.”

    He assured the committee is poised on flushing out drug pushers in the metropolis.

    “Tamale is becoming a hub for drug trafficking which is a looming disaster and that’s what we are fighting. If not in the next five years this town will be doomed.

    “We are committed to doing the work and insha Allah we will fish them out and make sure they are properly punished.”

    He laments how Tramadol abuse is destroying the youth.

    “Tramadol is killing the youth. They are all going mad and behaving abnormal and this we must all work to stop.”

    The illicit drugs eradication committee was constituted in January this year by the Gulkpe Naa of Tamale with approval from relevant stakeholders.

    The formation of the committee was premised on the alarming rate of intake of Tramadol and other related hard drugs.

    Several quantities of drugs have since been destroyed by members of the committee.

    The Aboabo forest in Tamale has in recent times become a hub of illicit drug activities.

    In Ghana, only 50 and 100 grams of Tramadol has been approved for use.

    However, there is a surge in the use of 120 and 225 grams by the youth which is seemingly destroying them.

  • Consuming ‘dawadawa’ reduces chronic diseases — Nutritionist

    Consuming ‘dawadawa’ reduces chronic diseases — Nutritionist

    A Nutritionist at the Tamale Central Hospital, Issahaku Yakubu, has advised Ghanaians to incorporate ‘dawadawa’ into their regular diet to mitigate the prevalence of chronic diseases in the country.

    He said dawadawa was “A good source of plant-based protein, which is essential for the growth and repair of body tissues, production of enzymes, hormones and overall health.”

    Mr Yakubu made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Tamale.

    He said it was unfortunate that most families, restaurants, and other food vendors were patronising more imported ingredients and other food seasoning products to the neglect of Dawadawa,which has superior nutrients and plays an integral part on health and wellness.

    He said regular intake of dawadawa was also beneficial for weight management because it was rich in natural dietary fiber, which aids digestion and helps maintain a healthy digestive system.

    Mr Yakubu said “When we make consumption of dawadawa part of our meals, we will avoid most of the chronic diseases, which are medically expensive and claim more lives.”

    He called on members of the public to disregard the erroneous impression that dawadawa was meant for the poor, lower class people and the uneducated.

  • Make our working conditions better to stop us from going abroad – Nurses to gov’t

    The government has been urged by the Union of Professional Nurses and Midwives (UPNMG) to improve the working conditions for nurses in order to stop the migration of nurses to different countries.

    According to the union, the current economic situation in the country is not encouraging nurses to stay and give off their best.

    National President of the Union, Maxwell Oduro Yeboah at the first-ever meeting of the regional council in Tamale said members of the union remain committed to the service of humanity.

    “As a union, we are confident that our members will continue to render the best quality service while we expect government to give better working conditions and services,” he said.

    “We shall continue to engage our members who have the intention of leaving the country just as we expect that the economic hardship is lessened.”

    UPNMG began operations in 2017 and can already boast of over 15,000 members nationwide, with 4,693 members in the northern region alone.

  • Police arrest football coach who attacked female referee in Tamale

    Police arrest football coach who attacked female referee in Tamale

    The Police have arrested suspect Napari Suheru, a football coach, for attacking a referee during a Division 1B football match on a pitch near the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale on 17th June 2023.

    The injured referee was rushed to the hospital for medical assistance following the attack.

    The suspect who is currently in police custody will be put before the court to face justice.

    Meanwhile, as Police investigation into the attack continues, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, has engaged the Chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Mr. Kurt Okraku and the Director-General of the National Sports Authority, Professor Peter Twumasi on the matter.

    They have been urged them to notify the Police ahead of all football matches in the lower leagues as is being done for the Premier League in order for the Police to put in place adequate measures that will ensure security, law and order during these matches.

  • Police manhunt coach who assaulted female referee at Tamale

    Police manhunt coach who assaulted female referee at Tamale

    A manhunt has been initiated by the police in Tamale to locate the coach of a Division Two football club who reportedly carried out a vicious attack on a female referee named Mohammed Sakina Nasara.

    The appalling incident unfolded on Saturday at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium Annex 3 during a match between Tiyumba Ladies and Soccer Missionaries Ladies in the Northern Region Women’s Division Two League.

    The coach involved, identified as Iddrisu S. Napari, is currently evading authorities as he is wanted by the police following a formal complaint filed by the referees’ wing of the Northern Regional Football Association, as confirmed by findings from Joy Sports investigations. Efforts are underway to apprehend him and bring him to justice.

    “The police visited his residence twice, but they haven’t found him. He is currently on the run. The Northern Regional FA has visited Nasara at the hospital, and she is in stable condition,” Tamale-based sports journalist, Sey Mubarak, told Joy Sports.

    Nasara reportedly incurred Napari’s wrath after awarding an indirect free kick against Tiyumba Ladies when a teammate passed the ball to the goalkeeper, and she picked it up.

    The coach then instructed his players to leave the field and would only continue the game if the decision was reversed, but the referee stood her ground.

    Nasara was subsequently assaulted by Coach Napari – who is said to be known for his involevement in such incidents.

    The referee has sustained various injuries of varying degrees and is currently receiving treatment at the Tamale Technical University Medical Hospital.

  • 21 suspects involved in Daboya police station attack granted bail by District Court

    21 suspects involved in Daboya police station attack granted bail by District Court

    The District Court, Tamale on Monday granted bail to 21 suspects arrested over an attack on the Police Station at Daboya in the North Gonja District of the Savannah Region.

    The court, presided by Mr Justice Amadu Issifu, upon listening to arguments from the defence counsel, granted the suspects bail of GHc6, 000 each with one surety to be justified.

    The case was adjourned to June 23, 2023.

    The suspects were charged on four counts of conspiracy to commit crime, to wit rioting with weapon, rioting with weapon, conspiracy to commit crime to wit causing unlawful damage and causing unlawful damage.

    On Friday, June 02, Police arrested about 118 persons for attacking the Police Station at Daboya.

    The attack on the Police Station was triggered by the recent conflict at Lukula in the district.

    The conflict at Lukula was believed to have stemmed from a land dispute between Gonjas and the Mamprusis at Lukula.  The suspects were taken to Tamale for screening, where 87 of them were released, and the rest put before the court.

  • Renewed clashes at Yong Dakpemyili leaves one dead, others injured

    Renewed clashes at Yong Dakpemyili leaves one dead, others injured

    One person has died, and several others injured following renewed clashes at Yong Dakpemyili, a suburb of Tamale.

    According to the Assembly member for the area, Abdul Wahab Dawuda, there was a reprisal attack on Saturday dawn after Thursday night’s shooting.

    The incident on Saturday saw about three homes burnt. Some residents have fled the community as a result of the incident.

    Police have moved in to calm the situation.

    Police in the Northern Region are already investigating an earlier shooting in the area.

    Sources in the community say there were gunshots in the town on Thursday, May 18, 2023.

    They attributed the incident to a long-standing chieftaincy dispute between two brothers in the community.

    The Assemblyman for the community, Abdul Wahab Dawuda confirmed the incident in a interview, disclosing that some residents sustained injuries.

    “There were some gunshots as a result of two brothers feuding over a chieftaincy title. One side was to perform some particular traditional activity and some people sustained some injuries, but there is currently calm in the community, but we don’t know what may happen next.”

  • NYA trains officers on revenue mobilisation

    NYA trains officers on revenue mobilisation

    A workshop has been held in Tamale to equip municipal and district officers of the National Youth Authority (NYA) with skills to effectively mobilise resources to support youth growth and development. 

    The Northern Regional Secretariat of the NYA organised the workshop, which brought together various municipal and district officers from the Northern, North- East and Savannah regions. 

    Participants were trained in how to write successful grant proposals to solicit funding support from organisations to complement the government’s efforts at addressing challenges confronting young people. 

    Mr Mumuni Sulemana, the Northern Regional Director of NYA, said the development needs of young people were multifaceted and required support from other stakeholders to adequately equip them to participate in national development. 

    He urged participants to implement the knowledge gained to ensure that youth development in their specific areas was not compromised.  

    Madam Habiba Seidu, the Sagnarigu Municipal Director of NYA, lauded the initiative, saying: “Youth development requires collective support. Depending on the Central Government only will not enhance speedy execution of youth-led organisations.” 

    The participants are expected to share the knowledge gained with their subordinates to ensure holistic capacity building for effective revenue mobilisation.  

  • My appointees will be exempted from ex-gratia – Mahama

    My appointees will be exempted from ex-gratia – Mahama

    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, has indicated that if he is elected the next president of Ghana he will ensure that ministers and other appointees are exempted from ex-gratia.

    The former president during his acceptance speech after his election as the flagbearer of the NDC, said he will not repeat the mistakes of the NPP government.

    He said he will not bloat his government size.

    Speaking at the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale, Mr. Mahama said he will appoint less than 60 ministers in his next government to protect the public purse.

    “Ladies and Gentlemen, our nation is still at the crossroads with crippling debt, and an inefficient and wasteful government. We cannot continue this pathway. It is a betrayal of the people, as a leader, to keep doing things the same way when the results leave them poorer”.

    “I am committed to operating an effective government with not more than sixty (60) ministers. These Ministers together with other appointees of the government will not be entitled to ex-gratia payments after their tenure, as they will commit to that undertaking even before the necessary constitutional amendments, including a review of the controversial Article 71.”

    Mr. Mahama in March 2023, during his campaign launch at the Cedi auditorium at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho in the Volta Region first disclosed his decision to assemble not more than sixty ministers and deputies should he win the 2024 presidential elections.

  • Akufo-Addo conquered by corruption – Mahama

    Akufo-Addo conquered by corruption – Mahama

    Former President John Dramani Mahama has slammed President Akufo-Addo for failing to combat corruption throughout his six-year tenure in office.

    Mr Mahama told supporters of his party on Monday, May 15 that President Akufo-Addo has failed in his fight against corruption.

    For him, the 5th President of the Fourth Republic no longer makes ‘corruption’ his pep topic in his public utterances.

    “[This is] because corruption has defeated him hands down.”

    Mr Mahama was speaking at the University of Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale, Northern Region a day after he was overwhelmingly re-elected Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

    The former President polled a whopping 98.9 percent to beat Kojo Bonsu and Dr Kwabena Duffuor, who withdrew his candidature a day before the polls.

    Mr Mahama said his fight against corruption will see him look further into the Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng report on the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) if elected in 2024.

    He said the report of the respected heart surgeon has opened a can of worms.

    The potential four-time Presidential Candidate of the NDC suspects the current government will sweep the report under the carpet as Mr Akufo-Addo usually does.

    He called him a “clearing agent”.

    “We shall pursue this matter further and make sure justice is done,” he stressed on the IMCIM report penned on Friday, March 19, 2021.

  • Former NDC communicator who assaulted journalist fined GHS3,600

    Former NDC communicator who assaulted journalist fined GHS3,600

    Former National Democratic Congress (NDC) Northern regional communications officer, Hardi Pagzaa and Mumuni Osman have been fined GH3,600 by the District Court in Tamale for attacking a Radio Presenter at Dagbon Radio, Tamale.

    The two who on Monday 8 May, were arrested and kept in police custody for two days appeared before the court on Wednesday.

    The accused persons who were charged on four counts pleaded guilty to all charges.

    The charges include; Conspiracy to Commit Crime to wit Assault, Assault, Unlawful entry, and Threat of Death.

    The 4th Count of Threat of Death was however later withdrawn by the Prosecution.

    The defence counsel told the court that the accused persons have shown remorse and prayed for a non-custodial sentence.

    Before his ruling, the Judge cautioned the defendants not to repeat such unlawful acts. He further urged hosts of political shows and their guests to be circumspect in their pronouncements and actions.

    The magistrate noted that such acts have the tendency of igniting conflicts, citing the Rwanda genocide and its devastating impact on citizens as an example.

    The court then sentenced the accused person to a fine of 300 penalty units, amounting to 3,600 or in default, serve 18 months in prison.

    On May 3, a radio presenter with a Tamale-based Dagbon FM, Sadiq Gariba was assaulted verbally and physically by a former NDC Northern Regional Communications Officer, Hardi Pagzaa during a live radio program.

    In a video that went viral on social media, Mr. Pagzaa and Osman were seen storming the studio of Dagbon FM. The two men held up the presenter who was at the point hosting a show and threatened to slap him if he makes a comment.

    The incident happened on World Press Freedom Day.

    The host then stood up and in the process went out of the studio with the attackers.

  • Investigate assault on Dagbon FM journalist – Police told

    Investigate assault on Dagbon FM journalist – Police told

    The Information Ministry has urged the Ghana Police Service (GPS) to conduct an investigation into the assault of one journalist in Tamale.

    In a statement issued by the Ministry, Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, unequivocally condemned the act and said such conduct should not be condoned in the country.

    “Attacks on journalists should not be countenanced”, the ministry insisted.

    It comes on the back of an assault on a presenter with Tamale-based Dagbon-FM, a subsidiary of Class Media,

    In a video circulating on social media, the presenter who captured hosting a show live on radio when the programme was suddenly distorted by an ex-NDC Communications Officer who walked in with a ‘macho man’.

    Mr Sadiq Abubakari Gariba, was hosting his political talk show in Dagbanli dubbed Panpantua on Class Media’s Dagbon FM when the visibly angry former Deputy Communications Officer, Iddrisu Hardi Pagazaa, stormed into the studio with a macho man to attack him while the programme was broadcast live on Radio and Facebook.

    The attack coincidentally happened on World Press Freedom Day when Ghana dropped to 63rd on the Press Freedom Ranking by Reporters Without Borders.

    Reacting to the matter, the Ministry in the statement called for “speedy response from law enforcement agencies” to prevent “copy-cat acts and maintain Ghana’s status in upholding press freedom.”

    The Ministry further indicated the Minister’s commitment to support the Journalist if he will require any.

  • GHANASCO toilet saga: NDC accuses govt for failing to address infrastructural challenges in schools

    GHANASCO toilet saga: NDC accuses govt for failing to address infrastructural challenges in schools

    A member of the National Democratic Congress‘ (NDC) publicity team, Margaret Ansei, has accused government of failing to address infrastructural challenges in Senior High Schools (SHS).

    Her comment comes after it was reported that a toilet facility at the Ghana Senior High School (GHANASCO), a coed second-cycle institution in Tamale, Northern Region, has been converted into a dormitory.

    According to her, accommodation challenges in schools have long existed, but the coming of the Free SHS should have prompted the government to address the infrastructural deficit before implementation.

    “So, if today there is a policy that all children must go to school, it is a good thing. But in seven years, at least we should put all the parameters in place,” she said.

    To her, the headmaster of GHANASCO acted to convert the toilet into dormitories because there wasn’t enough infrastructural development in the school as promised by the government.

    “I don’t know how many dormitories the government under the Ministry of Education has built for the school in question and I do not really think that there will be a dormitory lying there and a rational person will convert toilet cubicles into dormitories for pupils,” she said

    “I really think that the headmaster, as rational as he is, gone through the process to become a headmaster, will not just get up and say I am converting toilets into dormitories for human beings to go and sleep there” she went on to say.

    Margaret Ansei further added that the government, prior to coming into office, promised to address the education challenges in the country, but it has failed woefully over the years.

    “I remember prior to 2016, when Nana Addo was campaigning, he said he was going to build 350 schools from scratch. John Boadu amplified it, Nana Akomea also said the same thing. So, the 350 schools, if they are built, they are in their seventh year now at least… Ghanasco could get at least a 10-unit dormitory which can contain 50 students each. If we are seeing this today, then there is a challenge,” she added.

    Margaret Ansei said this on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana, monitored by
    Ghanaweb.

  • Toilet cubicles are not being used as dormitories – GHANASCO headmaster refutes claims

    Toilet cubicles are not being used as dormitories – GHANASCO headmaster refutes claims

    The headmaster of Ghana National Senior High School (GHANASCO) in Tamale, Douglas Yakubu, has denied claims that the school’s washrooms are being utilized as dormitories.

    According to him, there is no iota of truth in the report and must be disregarded.

    His comment comes on the back of a widely circulated video which showed students using toilet cubicles as dormitories, causing concern among parents and the public.

    But speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr Yakubu said the video was indeed from GHANASCO but the report does not reflect reality.

    He explained that, the facility though abandoned toilet cubicles are being used as store rooms for chop boxes.

    “We have a lot of dormitory facilities in my school and recently, we took over a facility that can accommodate about 800 students so it is very ridiculous. I can’t imagine it.

    “Where you saw is a box room and used to be an old washroom right from 1960 to the 80s but we stopped using it many years and every old student can attest to that. It has never been converted to a dormitory but a store room where students keep their chop boxes when going on vacation and another contains cleaning materials,” he claimed.

    To him, the video is a deliberate attempt by some persons to run down the image of the school, adding it was recorded at the blind side of management.

    The headmaster said some students might have taken their mattresses there to relax after learning.

    “What students do is that occasionally they go and learn there because it is conducive. I even did that as a student,” he noted.

  • Contrary to popular belief, northerners are not violent – Kennedy Agyapong

    Contrary to popular belief, northerners are not violent – Kennedy Agyapong

    Kennedy Agyapong, a member of parliament for Assin Central district in the Central region has spoken out against the notion that people from the north are violent.

    Kennedy Agyapong who claims to have family ties to that part if the country stated that northerners are simply quick to defend themselves and their rights when they are being cheated or taken advantage of. Hence, the stereotype that they are violent is untrue.

    In a video shared by Oman Channel on April 7, 2023, and sighted by GhanaWeb, the NPP flagbearer hopeful while speaking to members of the party in the Ayawaso East Constituency of the Greater Accra region, explained that because bortherners are quick to defend themselves, they are often labeled as violent. However, he stressed that this is not an accurate characterization of the people from the northern region of Ghana.

    “…and the truth is, for my household, I celebrate both Salah and Christmas, in fact, my grandmother was a Muslim before she married. So, she was ‘Asante kremo’ but all my grandfathers are Muslims, I have Seidu, Abass, Siaka, and Yakubu, and all of these people are in my family who are Muslims.

    “They settled more at Ajumako Anyan Asiam, whereby one of them married a Muslim there, so, all my family people are full of Muslims, except a few of us whose grandparents married Christians.

    “You don’t know where I got my braveness from, my father used to teach at Wa, so I was always fighting and there was a certain day when I went to beat a certain lady. So, my mother was crying lamenting about what a man gave her during her pregnancy to mix with her meals and eat.

    “So, I asked her about what she was lamenting about? and she replied that a certain man used to give her some powder to mix with her porridge and drink so that her son will become strong after delivery.

    He added “So, for me, I am a ‘Wawula’ person, I come from Wa, and that is where the braveness comes from. That is why whenever I see the Northerners, I become happy because we all have the same character, we all hate nonsense … if you want to cheat us and we don’t give room for such things then you conclude we are not good.

    “Do you understand? I know you don’t like cheating, so when it happens then you just say your mind, then they will conclude that they are violent people. So, I should sit down for you to cheat on me and go scot-free, no, is not possible. So, for me, I am one of you,” he said.

    The race for the NPP flagbearership slot has top party members including Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; former trade and industry minister, Alan Kyerematen; former food and agric minister, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto; former NPP General Secretary, Kwabena Agyapong among others.

    November 4, 2023, has been slated as the date for the NPP presidential primaries to elect a flagbearer for the general elections in 2024.

  • Toilet facility at Ghana Senior High School converted into a dormitory

    Toilet facility at Ghana Senior High School converted into a dormitory

    The toilet facility at the Ghana Senior High School (Ghanasco), a coed second-cycle institution in Tamale, Northern Region of Ghana, has been converted into a dormitory.

    Reporting from the school, Rainbow Radio’s Prince Kwame Tamakloe said the students who sleep on the water closet toilet keep their trunks, chop boxes and others items in the toilet where they also sleep.

    Some of the students who spoke with him claimed that a lack of space in the school had forced them to sleep in the lavatory.

    When asked if they disinfected the toilet before sleeping inside, they said no.

    Aside from that, the students are also engaging in open defecation due to the lack of access to enough toilet facilities.

    According to them, several of the students had suffered from Malaria and typhoid fever due to the situation.

    They have therefore appealed to authorities to intervene and immediately construct a dormitory and toilet facility for them.

    When confronted, the headmaster told our reporter said he was unaware of the situation and it was news to him.

  • NPP stalwarts were transported to Tamale to hoot at Mahama in Damongo – NDC

    NPP stalwarts were transported to Tamale to hoot at Mahama in Damongo – NDC

    Reports that former president John Dramani Mahama was recently hooted at in Damongo when he attended the enskinment of the new Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jawu Soale, on Monday, March 20, 2023, have been refuted by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Savannah Regional branch.

    This comes after a video went viral showing a section of the audience allegedly cheering as Mahama and other dignitaries, such as Vice President Dr. Bawumia and the Jinapor brothers, descended from the stage they were on to address the crowd.

    The persons who were hooting, even though were a small section of the crowd, could be seen clapping and screaming “away, away, away”.

    A statement from the NDC stating the facts of the incident alleged that the booing party were NPP supporters bussed from parts of the northern region for the specific purpose.

    Adding that despite their unruly behaviour, Mahama “was welcomed with cheers and a loud applause as his brilliant speech touched the hearts and minds of his tribesmen, chiefs, and elders at the ceremony.

    “There was absolutely no reason or cause for anyone whatsoever to hoot at President Mahama. The false narrative of being booed must be treated with contempt,” the statement read in part.

    Explaining the source of the unruly crowd, the statement continued: “It was observed that a small group of people who were part of an unruly and uncouth supporters of the NPP were on the blind side of President Mahama and his delegation, shouting and recording themselves. In the process, the detachment of police and military personnel ensured that they remained where they were, without the people at the durbar hearing whatever they were saying.

    View Koku Anyidoho’s tweet plus the booing incident below:

    Please watch this clip in detail: JJ was never hooted at in Volta; Kufuor was never hooted at in Ashanti; Atta-Mills was never hooted at in Central; Nana Addo has never been hooted at in Eastern; Someone has been hooted at in his own Gonjaland – Damango. Hmm! pic.twitter.com/m86LpN38kf— Samuel Koku Anyidoho???????? (@KokuAnyidoho) March 22, 2023

  • Akufo-Addo has made unprecedented investments in sports facilities – Minister for Youth and Sports

    Akufo-Addo has made unprecedented investments in sports facilities – Minister for Youth and Sports

    Contrary to assertions made by some people that the government has not done enough, Mustapha Ussif, Minister of Youth and Sports, asserts that President Akufo-Addo’s administration has made unprecedented investments in the development of sports facilities.

    Addressing the media in Ho and Koforidua after inspecting on-going construction works on the Ho and Koforidua multi-purpose sports centres, Mustapha Ussif provided data on a number of renovation works and new sports facilities the Akufo-Addo government has invested in,to buttress his point of unrivalled investment by the government, running into millions of US Dollars.

    “There has been recent talk of lack of Government’s commitment to developing sports infrastructure in the country, but the data and incontrovertible evidence on the ground rather points to the contrary, especially under the Government of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo,” Mustapha Ussif told the media.

    “Until the Government of Nana Akufo-Addo assumed office, our national stadia in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and Essipong were deteriorating, as they had not received any serious attention for some time. However, in the past six years under this government, these facilities have undergone major renovation works, which are continuing, to bring these facilities up to standard.

    “Also, this Government has invested massively in community sports infrastructure by building close to 100 astro-turfs across the country. Before the Government of President Akufo-Addo, there were only two public astro turfs in the country. To have close to 100 astro turfs, fairly distributed across communities in the country, is a remarkable feat never seen before, which demonstrates a government committed to developing sports infrastructure.”

    The Sports Minister continued: “In addition to this, the government has also embarked on the unprecedented nationwide development of multipurpose facilities across the country – that is the 10 National Youth Centres. This audacious, national scale sports infrastructure development has never been witnessed in our country before.”

    Concerns have been raised over the slow pace of work for the completion of the 10 multi-purpose sports centres, but the Minister reiterated government’s commitment to completing a project it conceived, beginning with six, which he said are on Phase 2.

    “Even though the project (10 multi-purpose stadia) is behind schedule due to several factors, government’s commitment to completing it is never in doubt,” Mustapha Ussif assured.

    “We have focused on completing six of the youth centres as soon as possible and work is progressing steadily, as the Ho Stadium shows. Indeed, no one can be more committed to seeing the completion of these projects than the very government which conceived the idea and started it.”

    The Sports Minister added that in addition to the on-going renovation of the national stadia, the community astro turfs and the 10 multi-purpose sports centres, government is also investing heavily in sports infrastructure at the University of Ghana and Borteyman, in readiness to host the African Games.

    “Government also decided to bid and host the African Games in Accra, in order to offer the country an opportunity to develop more sports infrastructure. Currently, construction works are ongoing at the Borteyman Stadium as well as at the University of Ghana Stadium in Accra. For these projects alone, Government has committed over $200 million.

    “This is unprecedented in our nation’s history, and this is a clear demonstration of our government’s commitment to developing sports infrastructure.”

    The Minister added that government’s investment on sports infrastructure he has outlined, excludes the government’s collosal funding of national sports teams, especially football, which runs into millions of US Dollars.

  • Anbariya Islamic Institute loses legal battle against Tamale Technical University College

    Anbariya Islamic Institute loses legal battle against Tamale Technical University College

    The legal tussle between the Tamale Technical University College and the Anbariya Islamic Institute has been settled by a High Court in Tamale.

    The Court has ordered the Anbarriya Islamic Institute to vacate with immediate effect their illegal occupation of the structures of the Technical University College located at Viting off the Salaga road.

    The Court also found four members of the Islamic Institute guilty of contempt for organizing and leading a mob attack on the staff and students of the university college.

    Presided by Mr. Justice Richard Mac Kugyaphaw, the court ruled that the occupation of the university’s properties by the Islamic institute has no basis in law, hence Anbariya must vacate the premises pending the outcome of the substantive case of a land dispute between the two institutions.

    Tamale Technical University College wins court case against Anbariya Islamic Institute

    The case between these two institutions started in 2010 after years of being together.

    The Ambariya Islamic Institute after the death of its leader filed a case at the High Court following a disagreement over the ownership of the land and other properties of the university.

    However, whilst the case was ongoing, some alleged disgruntled members of the Islamic Institute in April 2022 reportedly claimed that the court was delaying in bringing finality to the matter, and therefore mobilized themselves to attack and forcefully eject the staff and students of the university.

    The attack was organized via Whatsapp where all Anbariya faithful were called upon to invade the university. 

     It all started on Saturday the 26th of June, 2022, when two individuals were sighted digging within the premise of the university. 

    The University’s Principal Dr. Osman Al-Hassa, and the Registrar, Mumuni Alaru, who were both on campus that day, decided to confront the individuals to establish their identity and mission. 

    Tamale Technical University College wins court case against Anbariya Islamic Institute

    The two men who were later found to be members of the Anbariya Islamic Institute got infuriated that the principal and his administrator came to ask them why they were digging on the university land when the matter was still in court.

    Suddenly, the two men began to behave violently which attracted other members of the Islamic Institute in the neighborhood to mass up at the school.

    Soon, the marauding Anbariya Islamists began to flinch stones and other offensive objects at the Principal and his Registrar who had to flee the scene to save their lives. 

    The same day, a senior imam of the Islamic Institute put out a voice recording on Whatsapp asking inviting the followers to come out in their numbers to attack the university and its staff and students.

    The police were informed but no practical action was taken against the attackers.  The police however only invited the leadership of the Institute, including the originator of the voice recording, and admonished them to desist from carrying out their planned illegal action on the university. 

    Then on Monday, the 28th of June, while students were waiting to start writing their end-of-semester exams and despite the warning by the police, a huge crowd of Anabariya followers, including students, violently descended on the university from all directions. 

    They staged a rampage in the school, attacking everything on site whilst chanting ‘Allah Akbar, Allah Akbar.

    Tamale Technical University College wins court case against Anbariya Islamic Institute

    Soon, they were able to chase out the students and staff and proceeded to occupy the classrooms and other structures of the school.

    In the process of the attack, the Anbariya mob destroyed the properties of the school and also committed physical abuses against the principal and his staff.

    The Principal although rescued by the police through the firing of multiple gunshots, it was not until the mob broke his nose and severely damaged his medicated spectacles.

    Days later, some old students of the school from the south of the country who unknowingly went to the school to ask about their certificates were kidnapped and brutalized.

    After several backchannel attempts to resolve the stalemate, including the involvement of chiefs and other opinion leaders, the university sued the Islamic Institute for contempt demanding their eviction from university land and punishment against the attackers.

    On Monday, the 30th of January, the High Court presided by Mr. Justice Richard Mac Kogyapwah, found four persons guilty of contempt for the violent attack and legal occupation of the university’s properties.

    “I find 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 7th Respondents liable in contempt”, the judge ruled. “I find them GHc3,000,00 each and in default two months’ imprisonment each”.

    Justice a Kogyapwah also ordered the restoration of the status quo ante which means that Anbariya pending the outcome of the substantive suit filed by the Islamic Institute.

    “I further order the Technical University College Tamale premises occupied by the Anbariya senior high school to be vacated and all destroyed property restored for the Technical University College Tamale students to resume habitation pending the determination of the suit”.

    Speaking to JoyNews, the Principal of the University, Dr. Osman Al-hassan, described the ruling as a victory for democracy and rule of law.

    “It is a win for democracy”, Dr. Osman stated.

    He added that “the cardinal principle of any democracy is the rule of law, and when citizens begin to take the law into their own hands, democracy suffers. So, this is an excellent ruling by the High Court”.

    He also said the ruling was crucial for the survival of the university as he bemoaned the challenges the university has had to go through following the illegal occupation by Anbariya Islamic Institute.

    “All our equipment for training our nurses, students information, and certificates are situated there. The instruments for the student to do their practicals are locked in there, so this is a fantastic ruling and we are so pleased with the court’s decision”.

    The Principal says he expects immediate enforcement of the ruling.

    “They have to leave the place”, the Principal declared. “It is a court judgment and they cannot do anything about it but abide by the judgment of the court”.

    The illegal occupation of the university has resulted in the displacement of the students now forced to relocate to a satellite campus located at Dungu off the Tamale – Bolga highway.

    Here, the classrooms and other training and learning materials are acutely in short supply. The students are forced to share desks and study in poorly ventilated halls.

    They are therefore happy about this judgment of the court and appealed for its immediate enforcement.

    This ruling will also grant the way for the proceeding of the substantive suit to resume.

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • More than 70 children in Northern Region infected with Measles

    More than 70 children in Northern Region infected with Measles

    Over 70 confirmed cases of measles in children have been reported in the Northern Region since October of last year, and the situation is becoming worse.

    The region currently has run out of measles vaccines.

    So far, the cases have been detected in four districts including, Karaga, Sagnerigu, Tamale and Gushegu where it was first detected.

    According to Citi News sources, even though there has not been any death as a result of the outbreak, there have been severe cases where children had to be put on oxygen in some health facilities.

    Sometime last year, the central hospital in Tamale had its Paediatric unit closed down due to an outbreak of measles.

    Meanwhile, Health officials in the region are tight-lipped on the outbreak. Nonetheless, a release issued by the Regional Health Directorate and addressed to all Districts Health Directors and sighted by Citi News confirmed cases of measles.

    “Given the current season, which presents one of the greatest risks for the transmission of measles, Districts Health Directorates and Facilities (both public and private) are urged to intensify surveillance on measles and other diseases of epidemic potential for prompt action should they occur.

    “Districts and facilities are kindly requested to conduct prompt investigations and collect blood samples for laboratory confirmation. You are also expected to continue to intensify public education on the prevention of measles and other epidemic-prone diseases.”

    The memo continued “All MM/DDHS must ensure that their epidemic preparedness and response (EPR) plans for measles are updated accordingly and copies submitted to the Regional Health Directorate through the Disease Surveillance Unit on or before Friday, February 10, 2023.”

    General vaccine supply to the northern region has been erratic since the middle of 2022, checks in the region reveal, out of the thirteen (13) vaccines for routine immunization, only two, that is Tetanus and Tuberculosis are currently in stock.

    The situation exposes children to the risks of severe illness and disabilities from diseases like measles, Pneumonia among others.

    According to research, Measles is a viral infection caused by the Rubella virus and transmitted through direct contact and air. It has the tendency to cause blindness, brain inflammation, flu and fatality mostly among children under 14.

    As such, routine measles vaccination is recommended for children under 12 and 15 months of age.

  • Irate NDC supporters storm radio station, beat up deputy General Secretary over Haruna Iddrisu’s removal

    Irate NDC supporters storm radio station, beat up deputy General Secretary over Haruna Iddrisu’s removal

    Some irate supporters of the National Democratic Congress on Wednesday, January 25, 2022, stormed the premise of Radio Tamale and inflicted harm on the Deputy General Secretary of the party Mustapha Gbande.

    Details of the incident revealed in a publication by the radio station show that the incident happened during a live interview by Mustapha Gbande over the changes in the leadership of the party’s caucus in Parliament.

    Mustapha Gbande is reported to have justified the decision by the National Executive Committee of the party on grounds that the changes were necessary for victory in the 2024 elections.

    He is said to have explained that the NDC boasts competent members for leadership positions and that whenever the party feels it is suitable for changes, it will make such decisions.

    According to the reports, just when Mustapha Gbande was about to wrap up his interview, some supporters believed to be from the camp of ousted Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu stormed the premises and attempted to force their way into the studio but they were repelled.

    The angry supporters stayed around the premise and when Mustapha Gbande who is the deputy to Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, the man who signed the controversial release came out after the interview, they pounced on him and assaulted him before he could be whisked into his car.

    The decision by the NEC of the NDC to remove Haruna Iddrisu has been expressly rejected by the supporters of the party in Tamale.

    On Tuesday, the coalition of NDC supporters in Tamale gave the party an ultimatum to reverse the decision or face its wrath.

    “We were warned that Asiedu Nketiah will destroy the party if he becomes the national chairman, and the changes he has made clearly show. I know that Asiedu Nketia dislikes Northerners and this development proves that indeed he dislikes us,” Alhaji Rauf, the Tamale South Constituency chair of the NDC said.

    Meanwhile, close to fifty Members of Parliament (MPs) from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have signed a petition calling on the party leadership to reverse the changes made to their leaders in parliament.

    Background

    A former deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has been appointed as the Minority Leader, as replacement for Haruna Iddrisu.

    Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has also been named as the new Deputy Minority Chief Whip.

    Kwame Agbodza takes over as Chief Whip.

    Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the First Deputy Minority Chief Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the Second Deputy Minority Chief Whip.

    This was contained in a letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, from the National Democratic Congress dated January 23, 2023.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Tamale Teaching Hospital CEO resigns

    Dr. Kareem Mumuni, the temporary CEO of Tamale Teaching Hospital, has resigned.

    According to a statement released by the facility’s administration, Dr. Adam Atiku, who is in charge of medical affairs, has been requested to take over as interim CEO.

    However, the statement did not specify why he resigned.

    Dr. Mumuni took over as temporary CEO after the prior CEO, Dr. David Kolibilla, was accused of procurement violations.

    Despite the investigation’s findings exonerating Dr. Kolibilla of any wrongdoing and recommending his reinstatement, the recommendation

  • Bawumia’s previous commercial flight on Africa World Airlines

    When Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia was observed on a commercial jet while traveling within the country, social media users immediately began to remark in droves.

    According to a picture posted on social media by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, the flight to Tamale took off early on Saturday, November 26.

    Manasseh captioned the photo thus: “This morning, those of us on board Africa World’s Embraer 145 commercial flight to Tamale were joined by an unexpected passenger.

    “I don’t know how often it happens, but this is the first time I have heard or seen Ghana’s president or vice president on a local commercial flight,” the post added.

    Dr Bawumia is buckled up on an Embraer 145 aircraft operated by Africa World Airline. He is alone in the double row of seats, and his security assistant is seated just behind him.

    The image has drawn mixed reactions, with some admiring his gesture and others criticizing it as mere theater.

    Others are reminded of how many leaders in other jurisdictions go to and from work on bicycles, buses, and trains.

    Investigations by GhanaWeb shows that it is not the first time the Vice President has flown on a commercial flight locally.

    Bawumia’s trip to the same Tamale in early November 2022 was via the Togbe Afede-owned Africa World Airlines. He flew to the Northern Regional capital for an event organized by the Northern Development Authority (NDA).

    Photos shared exclusively on Twitter by a user @nie_gh, showed the Second Gentleman in a queue waiting his turn to board the flight. He is also pictured in one of the photos waving to some people.

    We further corroborated whether he indeed had an engagement in Tamale within that time and our search returned a Ghana News Agency report on what he went to do in Tamale.

    The November 3 report read in part:

    Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has launched the Medium-Term Development Strategy for Northern Ghana (MTDS) to create economic growth and improve the livelihoods of the people in the area.

    The MTDS, which will be implemented within the next five years (2022 – 2027), focuses on promoting socio-economic growth and climate change adaptation whilst unlocking the potential of the northern savannah ecological zone by building synergies of actors, and building the resilience of the people to create wealth and restore the environment.

  • Tamale: Private hostel at UDS gutted by fire

    A private hostel the University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale, has been gutted by fire.

    The incident which occurred on Thursday destroyed almost all 18 rooms at the hotel.

    According to the property owners, only two students were in the hostel at the time of the incident, as the university is currently on its trimester break.

    A visit by Citi News to the hostel saw the properties of students burnt completely.

    Some carpenters were also seen at the scene removing the damaged roofing.

    “The whole building, aside from three rooms that were salvaged was caved in already,” Northern Regional PRO for GNFS, ADO II, Baba Hudu, said to Citi News.

    “That was because the inhabitant did not call the fire service in time. When they called the fire service too… It took the first pump to arrive at the scene after 14 minutes,” he added.

    Source: Citinewsroom

  • Today in History: A ball of Kenkey in Northern Region costs GH¢3 cedis – Report

    Last year, the price of a ball of kenkey shot up to 3 due to the increase in the price of maize after a shortage was experienced.

    According to some Kenkey vendors, the price of a 100kg bag of maize sold for GH¢600 cedis, from almost half of it in the previous year.

    This was a 100 percent increment in the sale of the price of a bag of maize.

    • The increment in bag of maize is the cause of the high cost of Kenkey

    • A usual ball of kenkey in Accra is GH¢2 cedis

    • Kenkey is one of the most consumed food in Ghana

    The price of a ball of Kenkey in Tamale in the Northern Region costs GH¢3 cedis, a report by TV3 Ghana has revealed.

    The price hike in demand for Kenkey is a result of maize shortage in Ghana which has resulted in increases in food prices.

    According to some Kenkey vendors, they now buy a 100kg bag of maize for GH¢600 cedis, a price which was half of it a year ago. This is a 100 percent increment in the sale of the price of a bag of maize.

    The region which is known as the food basket of Ghana is gradually becoming an expensive place to live.

    According to the report, consumers often buy two balls of kenkey since the size of Kenkey hasn’t been appreciated.

    Meanwhile, the price of Kenkey in Accra is GH¢2 cedis, with others going for GH¢1.50 pesewas at most food joints.

    The staple food is one of the most consumed food in the country which is considered for the common.

  • Agrihouse Foundation opens pre-harvest exhibition in Tamale

    Agrihouse Foundation has opened its 12th annual pre-harvest agribusiness exhibition and conference to connect people involved in agricultural value chains.

    The event, currently underway is taking place at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale with the aim of encouraging business partnerships.

    It is in partnership with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), and Northern Regional Coordinating Council, with sponsorship from from Yara Ghana, Ecobank, Agricultural Development Bank and GIZ.

    The exhibition has the theme: “Connecting the Unconnected – The Farmer, the Buyer and the Market”.

    It featured over 100 dealers who exhibited agrochemicals, seeds and farm machinery and inputs.

    The three-day event includes commodity break-out sessions for farmers, processors and other participating categories to receive capacity building training.

    Miss Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, in her welcome address, said over the years, Agrihouse through the exhibition platform had linked small scale enterprises to buyers at local and international levels.

    She said the platform had connected many agriculture value chain actors, generated substantial revenue, and urged participants to use the opportunity to build long lasting relationships with other businesses.

    Mr Yaw Frimpong Addo, Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, said the Ministry acknowledged that pre-harvest conferences over the years had provided unique platforms for effective communication of plans and programmes.

    He said agribusiness had also contributed to the country’s agricultural system, by eliminating gender biases, insecurity and promoting seasonal farming that had transformed and given practical meaning to agriculture in the country.

    He stated that MoFA, since 2017, had set out strategic initiatives such as the Planting for Food and Jobs to tackle the fundamentals of agriculture.

    Alhaji Shani Alhassan Saibu, Northern Regional Minister, commended Agrihouse Foundation for sustaining the event that connected agricultural stakeholders in the region.

    He described the theme as apt and said poor market access during bumper harvest was becoming a major challenge militating against farmers in the country, adding that farmers would be disconnected from their markets if the situation persisted.

    He urged stakeholders to invest in improving the state of market channels within the agricultural sector to halt challenges such as post-harvest losses, poor pricing and transportation issues.

    Mr Danquah Addo-Yobo, West Africa Regional Director of Yara International encouraged participants to pursue opportunities and take advantage of Yara’s initiatives to grow their businesses.

    He noted that as part of the Yara Grow Ghana initiative, the organisation would donate 300 bags of fertilizer each, to women in the Saint Cecilia Cooperative and the Northern Widows Association by the close of the event.

    Source: GNA

  • Akufo-Addo opens US$173.9-m, 330-kV Kumasi-Bolga transmission line for power export to Burkina Faso

    The French Development Agency (AFD) financed the project at a total cost of US$173.9 million.

    President Akufo-Addo on Sunday, the 16th of October 2022, opened the 330-kilovolt Kumasi-Bolgatanga Transmission Line project at the start of his four-day tour of the Ashanti Region.

    The project, which is an integral part of the West Africa Power Pool Project, seeks to reinforce the Ghana Transmission System, and ensure the export of, at least, 100 megawatts of electricity to Burkina Faso, as well as increase the reliability of the Ghana-Burkina Interconnection project.

    To help achieve this objective, GRIDCo also constructed a 330kV Transmission line from the Aboadze Power Generation enclave through Prestea to Kumasi.

    The 330 kV Kumasi-Bolgatanga Transmission Line Project consisted of the construction of approximately 550km of 330kV Transmission Line from Kumasi to Bolgatanga, the construction of 330kV substations at Kumasi, Kintampo, Tamale and Bolgatanga, as well as the expansion of the existing 161kV Substations at these locations, and the implementation of Environmental Mitigation Measures and a Resettlement Action Plan for the Project.

    The French Development Agency (AFD) financed the project at a total cost of US$173.9 million.

    Not only has the project succeeded in supplying 150 megawatts of power to Burkina Faso, but it has also increased transmission capacity to meet growing demand in Ashanti, northern Ghana and beyond.

    The Minister of Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, also noted that the projects have also contributed to the reduction of transmission line overloads and associated high transmission losses and improved voltages, particularly in Ashanti, Bono and Bono East regions.

    He stressed that the 330kV transmission lines have also helped to improve the quality and reliability of power supply in the country.

    History of WAPP

    The West Africa Power Pool ( WAPP)projects commenced with the Coastal Transmission Backbone Projects (CTB) which involved the construction of 330kV Aboadze-Volta (Tema)-Momehagou (Togo) Transmission Line and associated substations as well as the upgrade of Power Generation facilities in Ghana.

    The projects were jointly implemented by the Volta River Authority (VRA), Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) and Communauté Electrique du Bénin (CEB) of Togo/Benin and completed in 2014.

    The developmental objective of the CTB project was to increase access of WAPP “Zone A” coastal states (Cote-d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin & Nigeria) to more stable and reliable electricity to alleviate power supply deficits and to reduce their collective vulnerability to drought-induced power supply disruptions.

    The subsequent project was the Interzonal Hub Transmission Project. The development objective of the first phase of the project was to reduce the cost of and improve the security of electricity supply to Burkina Faso while increasing Ghana’s electricity export capacity.

  • Mob Justice: Woman, 37, battles for her life after torture

    Nsor Catherine, a 37-year-old lady who was wrongly accused of stealing GH12,000 from a businesswoman in Tamale, is demanding justice.

    She claims that the beatings and torture she endured have left her bedridden since the occurrence.

    Nsor Catherine until that faithful day of the assault was residing in Damongo.

    She narrates how she suffered her unfortunate attack after a woman accused her of stealing her money.

    “I was walking in the market and all of a sudden a strange woman held me, pulled me to a shop at the Aboabo market, and accused me of stealing GH¢12,000.

    “They did not allow me to talk but rather called some men who came there and started beating me. They stripped me naked and beat me till I couldn’t breathe again.

    “As if that was not enough, they took me to their house, locked me in a room, whipped me with a cable, and also plugged an electric iron and used it on my back and my legs all for me to confess for a crime I didn’t commit.”

    According to her, her assailants also arranged lorry tyres with petrol to burn her.

    “When they wanted to burn me, one of them asked me to call someone I know to tell the person I was going to be burnt alive so I called my sister and she came with the police to rescue me.

    “I spent all my life savings treating myself and I don’t have anything again. I have been relying on local treatment for the past two months and I need support to go back to the hospital.

    Her younger sister, who went to her rescue with the police, told 3news.com that life has not been easy for the family since the incident.

    “After the incident, the people came to the police station to beg, they came to our house to beg my sister to forgive them and promised to compensate her. We gave them an amount to pay with the police and the court as witnesses but since then they haven’t said anything and my sister’s health keeps getting worse.

    “She is mentally unstable and behaves weirdly since the incident.

    Mob justice is also known as instant justice in Ghana serves as an indictment on the 1992 Constitution.

    It creates a heightened sense of fear among citizens that they could become victims and also undermines the legitimacy of the police and legal authorities.

    Like Nsor Catherine, several other women have suffered certain forms of mob action.

     

     

  • Constituency Watch: Tamale Central gets fair share of national cake

    Tamale Central is one of the constituencies that have received their fair share of the national cake.

    Without doubt an urban constituency, it has witnessed significant development since its creation in 2004.

    The benefits for Tamale Central, which is our focus for this week, include an interchange, a number of roads, new school blocks and agricultural support.

    With a voter population of about 100,000, per the 2020 general election, the Tamale Central Constituency in the Tamale metropolis is bordered by the Tamale South Constituency to the south, the Tamale North Constituency to the north and the Sagnarigu Constituency to the west.

    Carved out of the then Gukpegu/Sabongida Constituency in 2004, Tamale Central is one of the largest and fastest developing constituencies in the Northern Region.

    Voting pattern

    Since its creation, the constituency, one of the 18 constituencies in the region, has politically become the traditional seat of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), as it has since been voting for the NDC in both parliamentary and presidential elections.

    Although the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has never won the seat, it made some advances in the 2020 general election, garnering about 44.83 per cent of the total valid votes cast.

    Its current Member of Parliament (MP) is Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, who won the seat on the ticket of the NDC in 2020. He is the third MP of the constituency.

    His predecessor, Inusah Fuseini, who was in Parliament for three terms, from 2006, voluntarily bowed out of contesting the seat for the fourth time.

    Alhaji Fuseini became an MP through a by-election in 2006 after the then incumbent, Wayo Seini, defected from the NDC to the NPP.

    Although it is considered a traditional seat of the NDC, the incumbent MP had a tough time slugging it out with the NPP parliamentary candidate, Dr Ibrahim Anyars Imoro, who pulled a surprise by garnering 44.83 per cent of the valid votes, the highest votes polled by an NPP candidate in the history of the constituency.

    Demographics

    The constituency has a mix of both formal and informal workers, made up of traders, teachers, civil and public servants, farmers, nurses, security officers, among others.

    It is also a busy constituency, with fever-pitch economic activities that draw hundreds of people from far and near on a daily basis.

    Prominent markets and business centres in the Tamale metropolis, such as the Aboabo Market, bus terminals and a number of banks can all be found in the constituency.

    Developments in detail

    The constituency is a beneficiary of the Tamale Interchange, the first to be constructed in the northern part of the country.

    The structure, which has been dedicated to the memory of Naa Gbewaa, the Founder of the Mole/Dagbon Kingdom, was constructed to ease traffic congestion and give a facelift to the metropolis.

    The two-tier interchange, which was opened to traffic in March 2022 by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, formed part of what the government described as its commitment to address congestion in urban centres and also help improve travel times on major arterial roads.

    The Naa Gbewaa Interchange links the road from the Dakpema Palace through the ‘Point 7’ road, the Central Taxi Rank and the Central Market Intersection to the Sakasaka Road.

    Aayalolo buses

    Just last Monday, the state-owned commercial bus service, popularly known as Aayalolo bus services, was launched in Tamale to boost intra-city transport in the area.

    The bus transport service is set to start operation with five 40-seater buses plying designated routes, much of which can be found in the Tamale Central Constituency.

    The areas include the Interchange to the Tamale Polytechnic, Point 7 to Vittin and the Anbariya Senior High School, P.K. Gombillah to Savelugu, Quality First to the UDS Tamale Campus and Aboabo Commercial Bank to Nyankpala.

    Roads

    A number of road projects have been completed in the constituency, with others at various stages of completion.

    So far, about 40 kilometres (km) of roads have been asphalted within the Tamale Central constituency, out of the 100km earmarked by the government to be constructed in the Tamale metropolis and the Sagnarigu municipality by 2024.

    During a recent tour, the Daily Graphic observed that some road networks and drainage systems in Nyanshegu, Tishegu, Aboabo, Zogbeli, Lamankara Gbewaa and other areas were under construction.

    Challenges/facelift

    In spite of the significant infrastructural development, parts of the constituency, such as the Warizehi and the Agric/Mohiyabihi electoral areas, are still grappling with poor roads, inadequate drains, bridges, perennial flooding and faulty streetlights.

    Other challenges include congestion, insecurity and youth unemployment.

    Some residents who spoke with the Daily Graphic — Adam Hardi, Saani Mustapha and Hamida Salifu – said in spite of the challenges facing the constituency, it had witnessed significant development in the past five years.

    They mentioned the construction of the interchange and a number of link roads, which they noted had given a major facelift to the metropolis.

    The Assembly Member for the Agric/Mohiyabihi Electoral Area, Salifu Mohammed Mutala, said the main challenge was the poor drainage system which contributed to the perennial flooding in the area.

    He said aside from a mechanised borehole and a clinic that had been constructed in the area by the MP, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, the area had not benefited from any government intervention for some time now.

    Mr Mutala, therefore, appealed to the authorities to turn their attention to the electoral area and help fix the drainage, roads and other developmental challenges.

    Opinion leaders

    Some opinion leaders — Sumani Alhassan, Yusif Danaba and Ibrahim Adam — commended the government for initiating some projects which were impacting on the lives of the people in the constituency.

    They also urged the government and the assembly to decongest the central business district, which had been taken over by hawkers and people who had erected unauthorised structures.

    Wanton encroachment

    The Metropolitan Chief Executive for Tamale, Sule Salifu, lamented the wanton encroachment on public school lands in the metropolis and said if not checked, the practice could pose a threat to future development projects on school premises.

    He indicated that the assembly was taking stringent measures to reclaim and protect all public school lands that had been encroached upon by some private developers and individuals.

    MP’s intervention

    The MP for the constituency, Alhaji Murtala Mohammed, told the Daily Graphic that when he assumed office, he undertook an assessment to identify the pressing needs of the constituents.

    He mentioned the drilling of 20 mechanised boreholes, the construction of an Astro turf, clinics, payment of fees of about 20 medical students, organising extra classes for students, among others, as some of the projects he had undertaken in the constituency.

    “One of my main focus areas is education, so I have decided to pay the fees for 10 medical students each year. Last year I started with 10 students and this year the same,” he said.

    “I have also been organising extra classes for Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates. I started with about 1,200 students and this year about 1,700 students have benefited,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

    Aside from that, the MP indicated that he had supported a number of farmers with farm inputs and funds to improve on their farming activities.
    Alhaji Mohammed, who is a former Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, expressed concern about the poor road network and drainage systems in parts of the constituency.

    He pledged to continue to use his influence to lobby the authorities to work on the roads and drains.

    “I have also been embarking on regular visitations to understand the needs and challenges of the people so that I can know how to use my share of the common fund and also lobby for projects for them,” he added.

    Other projects

    Aside from the road infrastructure, the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly has been installing streetlights in some communities and principal roads, including those in Tamale Central, to improve night visibility and help fight crime in the metropolis.

    Recently, it installed over 400 streetlights in areas such as Aboabo, the central business district, Zogbeli and Lamankara.

    It has also been embarking on a decongestion exercise within the central business district to clear traders who have erected unauthorised structures along the pavements.

    The move forms part of efforts to ensure sanity and the free flow of traffic in the city.

    Poor performance

    While acknowledging some of the infrastructural projects witnessed in the area, the Constituency Communications Officer of the NDC, Umar Abdul-Razak, said the government had performed abysmally in the constituency.

    He said even in opposition, the MP had been able to initiate more life-changing projects than what the government had done in the past six years.

    As Election 2020 approaches, one of the constituencies to watch is Tamale Central.

    This is mainly because of the inroads the NPP made in the last elections, closing the gap from previously landslide victories the NDC chalked up.

    Therefore, any slip on anybody’s part can tilt the outcome. We will keep an eye on happenings in the Tamale Central Constituency.

     

  • PCG inaugurates psychiatric hospital in Bolga

    The Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), has inaugurated a 43,000 euros psychiatric hospital in Bolgatanga, capital of the Upper East Region to provide mental health care for patients in the 15 municipalities and districts.

    It is the first of its kind in the region.

    The facility which has come as a saviour to the region would help curtail the inconvenience and financial burden families of mental health patients bore in transporting patients to the southern parts of the country to seek treatment.

    Speaking at the inaugural ceremony in Bolgatanga on Monday, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the PCG, Rt Rev. Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, explained that the facility was in response to government’s call to complement its effort in expanding health delivery services in the country.

    He stated that the PCG has been the third major contributor to the development in health delivery, aside government and the Catholic Church.

    “The dedication of this mental health facility is in line with the church’s readiness to support government expand and improve service deliveries in all parts of the country and this time mental health services,” the moderator stressed.

    Rt Rev. Prof. Mante indicated that the county’s mental health policy made it clear that good mental health contributes positively to physical health, family life, education, social participation and economic development.

    The moderator said the church had built over 59 health services registered under the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) in the 16 regions of the country.

    He indicated that the PCG established the first mission healthcentre in the then Gold Coast, in 1885 at Aburi in the Eastern Region, stressing that, “since then the church has expanded to other countries including Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria”

    “While establishing hospitals, the church saw the need to also deliver Primary Healthcare Services (PHC) in rural areas. In collaboration with government, the first PHC programme was started at Asante Akyem and later on extended to Dormaa, Bolgatanga, Bawku, Salaga, Afram Plains, Sandema, Tamale and Enchi,” he stressed.

    The Moderator noted that the PCG has also contributed to education by providing over 2,500 basic schools, 34 senior high schools, five colleges of education, two private chartered universities.

    It also includes several community based rehabilitation centres, seven  agricultural stations, relief services, four vocational schools, five lay training centres and water projects.

    He stated that the Upper East, North East and Upper West regions are hosts to the largest number of these social intervention programmes.

    He added that the church would monitor the growth of the mental health facility in region.

    The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Bolgatanga, Mr Rex Asanga, who represented the Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu lauded the efforts of the PCG for initiating considerable number of social intervention programmes and projects in the region which, he noted, had contributed significantly to improving the lives of the people in the area.

    Source:ghanaiantimes.com

  • Transport Ministry backs Airport company’s service charge review

    A Deputy Minister of Transport, Hassan Tampuli, has backed the Ghana Airport Company Limited’s (GACL) request to have their user fees and services reviewed upwards to enable them to maintain the new airports that are springing up across the country.

    “The government is committed to improving the aviation sector to ensure that the country becomes an aviation hub, however, one of the critical agencies responsible for planning, developing, managing and maintaining all airports and aerodromes in Ghana -GACL is pushing for a review of its Airport Passenger Service Charge (APSC) in order to properly maintain and manage effectively the new airports being developed in some of the regions”, he said.

    Speaking to the press on the sidelines of a day’s visit to the Kumasi and Tamale airports by the leadership and members of the Select Committee of Parliament’s Roads and Transport, and officials of GACL, led by the sector minister, Hassan Tampuli, he said “now revenue from APSC for Accra is also a subject of a loan facility so payment more or less goes to amortise those loans, so we need excess funds to be able to maintain these facilities.”

    He, therefore, underscored the need for a sustained revenue stream, even itemise them in the budget and the purpose it was going to be used for.

    He said the ministry was excited that leadership and members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport appreciated the fact that the GHC5 that was in the price buildup of domestic air travel was woefully inadequate.

    Mr Tampuli said “ so we appreciate the fact that they recognise it needs to be reviewed, so they have asked that we come with a justification paper for us to be able to go through the numbers and see whether there is a justification.”

    Expected benefits

    Mr Tampuli also explained that “we have not moved into these facilities yet, in order not to get to a point where it would be difficult to maintain the facility, we need to be proactive and get revenue stream put in the price build up way before the opening of these airports.”

    “We need to be ahead of the curve and get a stable revenue stream and I believe when Parliament resumes from recess, these are matters that would be considered in the next meeting”.

    The Chairman of Parliament’s Road and Transport committee, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, urged the ministry and officials of GACL to submit the law mandating them to review the user fees and charges to the committee.

    He expressed concern about the paltry amount GACL charged for domestic passengers “now they use to charge GHC5 for all our domestic airports, [Ho,Wa, Tamale] every passenger passing through domestic airport.

    “All international passengers are charged $200 at Terminal 3, and that is the money they are using to support the domestic airports, how can you have a domestic facility so viable and vibrant’’? He asked.

    “I have instructed them to bring back the law so we will be able to amend it, they should not be charging less than 50ghc to maintain this airport. But we want them to run the numbers with us and justify it.

    ‘‘I can assure you that if we don’t look for revenue stream to maintain it, in less than a year, all these beautiful edifices would go down the drain”, he said.

    GACL

    The Managing Director of GACL, Pamela Djamson Tettey, indicated that the company was resolved to push through with the APSC and also work closely with the sector minister to ensure that GACL met with Parliament when it resumed to attain the objective.

    Ranking member of the Parliament’s Select Committee, Kwame Governs Agbodza, advised the GACL to be more innovative to raise funds to sustain the domestic airports without recourse to the government.

    Both Kumasi and Tamale airports are nearing completion and are expected to be fully handed over sometime next year, according to management of GACL.

  • Northern Regional Minister launches Ayalolo in Tamale

    The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Saibu, has launched the Rapid Bus Transit Services (Ayalolo), a state initiated public transport, to formally begin operations in the Region.

    The move is to help reduce public transportation challenges facing residents of the Tamale Metropolis.

    There are five 40-seater buses, and the pickup points for the buses will be beneath the Tamale Overhead to T-Poly, Point 7 to Vittin and Anbariya Senior High School, PK Gombillah to Savelugu, Quality First to UDS Tamale Campus and from Aboabo Commercial Bank to Nyankpala.

    Northern Regional Minister launches Ayalolo in Tamale 

    The operations will be piloted for three days before full commercial services will begin on Friday, October 14, 2022.

    Alhaji Saibu, speaking at a brief ceremony to launch the service in Tamale on Monday, said it formed part of the Government’s commitment to improve the transportation system in the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.

    He said it was to also ensure that the safety of the people was not compromised whilst enhancing productivity.

    Northern Regional Minister launches Ayalolo in Tamale 

    Mr Sanusi Aleim Charles Kayode, Northern Regional Coordinator of Ayalolo, assured residents of Tamale to deliver effective transportation system for the benefit of all.

    Mr Ivan Yartey, Assistant Planning Manager at the Northern Regional office of the National Road Safety Authority, emphasized the need for professionalism and regular maintenance of the buses.

    ;

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • Workers to be laid off at Local Government Service

    Administrative Officers in the Local Government Service are likely to lose their jobs in the coming days, Head of the Local Government Service, Dr. Nana Ato Arthur has disclosed.

    According to him, the Service is taking steps to undertake an exercise to lay off some Administrative Officers because the sector is bloated and the number of Administrative officers in the various Assemblies has resulted in ‘poor quality service delivery’ within the sector, the Chronicle reports.

    He further noted how worrying it is that sometimes, such officers numbering up to 10 or more are employed to work in one District or Municipal Assembly alone, leaving a situation where there are more staff than work to be done.

    Dr. Ato Arthur disclosed this in a speech read on his behalf at the third National Conference of Ghana National Association of Local Govt Service Administrators (GALGA) at Tamale in the Northern Region recently.

    Reacting to this, however, immediate past Secretary of GALGA, Andrew Asare Bediako indicated that the Association will resist any such attempts to dismiss its members from work, the Chronicle reports.

    According to him, the Administrative Officers cannot be blamed for over employment considering they have no hand in the employment of Local Government Service workers and therefore should not bear the brunt.

    Mr. Asare Bediako further suggested that training workshops are rather organized for Administrative Officers to ensure productivity and enhancement of their skillset.

     

  • Adopt security measures to deal with violent extremism – Northern Regional Minister charges MMDAs

    The Northern Regional Minister, Shani Alhassan Shaibu, has charged metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) to put in place effective security measures to help deal with possible violent extremist activities and other crimes in the region.

    “The threat of terrorism is real and those of us at the realm of affairs should intensify efforts to create awareness in our communities on the need for vigilance and support to our security agencies who are well poised to deal with any situation” he said.

    Alhaji Shaibu made the call while addressing a meeting of members of the Northern Regional Coordinating Council (NRCC) in Tamale last Friday.

    The meeting brought together various heads of institution, metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives(MMDCEs) and development partners among others to review activities, projects and programmes in the region.

    It was also to create opportunity for collaboration between the council and development partners.

    Work hard

    Alhaji Shaibu, who is the chairman of the council, charged the MMDCEs not to allow power to take away their responsibilities but rather work hard to develop their areas.

    “It is also important that we continue to remind ourselves of the enormous responsibility reposed in us, as members of this august body and also I urge all to demonstrate selfless commitment and dedication to work so that we can accelerate the pace of development in this region,” he said.

    He indicated that eight districts had so far benefited from the agenda 111 hospitals policy by the government to help make the provision of quality health care available and accessible to the people.

    He added that a number of road projects had been completed, while others were ongoing in the region, saying “the government of the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration has given a major facelift to many roads in the region, particularly the Tamale Metropolis through asphalting and upgrading of major roads.”

    For his part, the Chief Director of the Northern Regional Coordinating Council, Alhassan Issahaku, lauded the MMDCEs for their commitment to work and urged them to do more.

    Writer’s email: mohammed.fugu@graphic.com.gh

  • US$70 million Tamale Airport Phase two project completed – Regional Minister

    The construction of the Phase two of the Tamale Airport Development Project has been completed at a cost of US$70 million and awaiting commissioning by the end of this year.

    The 5,000-square metre airport, with an annual passenger throughput of 400,000 capacity, is expected to boost the local economy, tourism and investment drive to the Northern Region.

    The expansion works included the construction of a modern terminal, VIP Lounge, two boarding gates, four self-service check-in kiosks and eight check-in desks.

    Other ancillary facilities were airline offices, commercial retail area, a multi-purpose terminal for Hajj travel facilitation, 350-capacity car park and a five-kilometre road network.

    Alhaji Shani Alhassan Saibu, the Northern Regional Minister, announced this in Accra on Sunday when he took his turn at the Minister’s press briefing.

    The Minister updated the public on major physical infrastructure and social services undertaken by the Government over the past five years, especially on health, transport, agriculture, One- District, One-Factory and projects being implemented under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP) by the Northern Development Authority.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on August 15, 2019 cut the sod for the construction of phase two of the Tamale Airport Development Project and scheduled to be completed within 26 months.

    “It is on record that the Tamale Airport can boast of the best Tarmac in the country. It could be a major hub for air cargo for exporting agricultural produce in the West African Sub-region,” Alhaji Saibu emphasised.

    The interchange would boost the local economy, create employment and add to the beauty of the city, the Minister stated.

    Six flagship programmes under the “One-district, One-factory” were in operation in the Region, employing more than 1,000 permanent and 3,000 casual workers respectively, he said.

    Alhaji Saibu stated that a total of 353.79 kilometres of road projects were ongoing in the Region, with 60 per cent of them at various stages of completion.

    Also, the Ghana Highway Authority had undertaken various road maintenance works such as regravelling, rehabilitation, resealing and sectoral rehabilitation works on roads across the Region including Salaga-Bimbilla road, Tamale-Daboya road and Kpatinga-Gaa road as well as rehabilitation of the Barwah Barracks, the Minister said.

    Under the $2-billion-dollar Ghana-Sinohydro Master Project Support Management, the Minister said the first-ever Interchange in the northern sector of the country was constructed-Tamale Interchange- which was opened to traffic on March 29, 2022 by President Akufo-Addo, thereby opening up the local economy and creating many employment avenues for the teeming youth.

    On health, he said, a total of 118 projects were ongoing including CHPS compounds, health centres, clinics, maternity wards, accommodation for health workers and administration blocks, with 82 of them completed, representing 72 per cent.

    The Minister said although there had been tremendous progress in infrastructure facilities in the Region a lot more needed to be done to enhance the living standards of the people and eradicate poverty from the Region.

    Source: GNA

  • Tamale residents demonstrate over economic hardship

    Hundreds of residents of Tamale in the Northern Region last Saturday hit the streets to register their displeasure with what they described as “economic hardship and mismanagement” of the country.

    The peaceful demonstration, dubbed : “miisim demo” to wit hardship, was to draw the attention of the government to the current economic hardship in the country.

    Holding placards with inscriptions such as “President Akufo-Addo has failed us”, “Ghanaians are suffering, do something”,

    “Farmers can no longer buy fertiliser” among others, the demonstrators walked through the principal streets of Tamale before converging on the Jubilee Park to address the media.

    The protest march was organised by a group calling itself the Coalition of Progressive Forces on the theme : “we are citizens not spectators”.

    Addressing the media after the protest, one of the convenors of the demonstration, Professor Jaspa Ayelazuno, said the demonstration was aimed at bringing the attention of government to the numerous challenges confronting the nation for immediate redress.

    He indicated that it also sought to highlight grievances of “misgovernance and mismanagement of the economy on specific issues such as: unbearable costs of food, fuel, electricity, transportation, water, rent, high cost of farming inputs (fertiliser, seeds, tractors, etc).”

    Promise

    He noted that prior to the 2016 general election, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) promised Ghanaians good living, but it was now doing the opposite in power.

    Prof. Ayelazuno called on Ghanaians not to leave the responsibility of putting the government on its toes to only the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Minority group in Parliament, but speak up to drum home their concerns.

    For his part, the Northern Regional Secretary of the NDC, Mohammed Abdul Salam, blamed the current economic situation on the what he described as “failure of the NPP government to live up to expectation”.

    He, therefore, urged Ghanaians to rally behind the NDC to enable it to rescue them from the shackles of the NPP.

    Some of the demonstrators, who spoke to the Daily Graphic, said they participated in the protest because they were bearing the brunt of the current economic condition.

    The exercise was initially scheduled for last month but it was postponed to last Saturday following the death of the Northern Regional Chairman of the NDC and Chief of Tugu-Yepala, Naa Ibrahim Mobila, and the Paramount Chief of the Mion Traditional Area, Naa Abdulai Mahamadu V.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • One person dies in a renewed Yong Chieftaincy clash

    One person died with three others sustaining various degrees of injuries in a renewed chieftaincy clash at Yong Dakpema Yile, a farming community in the Tamale Metropolis of the Northern Region.

    The Ghana News Agency gathered that four houses belonging to the combatants were set ablaze.

    Mohammed Chimsi, one of the contestants for the skin in the dispute, and his wife were among the three injured, and are receiving medical attention from the Tamale Teaching Hospital.

    Sporadic gunshot exchanges in the community between the feuding sides allegedly forced some community members to desert the community for safety.

    Police personnel detailed to the scene to bring calm were allegedly attacked by unknown fighters who fired uncontrollably targeting the men in uniform, although none of them sustained any injury at the time of filing this report.

    The Northern Regional Police command has deployed more personnel to the community to ensure the peace and safety of properties.

    The Yong Dakpema Yile community has been nursing a protracted dispute between two brothers over who is the rightful heir to the Yong skin.

    The community for a long time has experienced protracted Chieftaincy conflict leading to fatal clashes and destruction of property.

    Northern Regional Crime Officer, Superintendent Bernard Baba Ananga explained that the police had initiated investigations into the incident to establish the immediate cause of the renewed clash and to help factions get lasting solutions to the conflict.

    Source: GNA

  • Tamale Interchange is not a flyover – NPP MP clarifies

    Deputy Majority Chief Whip who doubles as Tolon Member of Parliament Habib Iddrisu has maintained that the Tamale Interchange is not a flyover.

    He explained that the project is an interchange and the first of its kind in Tamale, for that matter.

    To him, it will boost trade, decongest the area and enhance the movement of vehicles.

    “The Tamale interchange is the first of its kind in the Northern Region and will not only improve trade and regional integration because of the proximity to neighboring Burkina Faso but also improve traffic management in Tamale,” he said.

    He commended the President for the project adding, he has done so well for the country.

    To him, the achievements of the President is unprecedented.

    He touched on the free Senior High School saying it has also provided opportunities for several people to access secondary education.


    The interchange has about 1.1km of bridge and ramps, drainage works, streetlights, and 10km of Asphalt overlay around it.

    In 2019, President Akufo-Addo, cut sod for the commencement of the multi-million dollar Tamale Interchange project, funded under the $2 billion China-Synohydro deal.

    The project is aimed at enhancing inter-urban and national traffic flow, reducing the cost and risk of doing business, thereby enhancing trade within the regions.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Police in Tamale declare manhunt for 15 suspects in attempted murder of chief, four others

    The Northern Regional Police Command has declared a manhunt for fifteen persons suspected to be involved in the Monday shooting incident that led to the hospitalisation of a chief and four people.

    On Monday, March 7, the chief of Dakpemfong, Naa Bawa Fuseini, and four others sustained gunshot wounds after his palace (Dakpemyili) was attacked by unknown gunmen.

    Sources who narrated what happened to GhanaWeb said the house was attacked on Monday dawn.

    According to a source, the gunmen boarded a Toyota Hilux pick up and shot indiscriminately which resulted in the chief and the other four sustaining various degrees of injuries.

    In an interview with  GhanaWeb, the Northern regional police crime officer, Superintendent Bernard Baaba Ananga, confirmed the incident and said the police was yet to make an arrest

    He said the police command has declared a manhunt for the fifteen persons who are suspected to be involved in the matter

    “The police have declared a manhunt for the 15 persons on board of the Toyota Hilux, we are in search of them, and wherever they are, we will get them,” he said

    He noted that the chief and the other four, were at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) responding to treatment, and urged residents not to take the law into their own hands as police work towards unraveling the cause of the matter.

    For about two months now, there has been an uneasy tension between the Dakpema and other chiefs in the Metropolis over who rightfully owns Tamale.

    The Dagbon Traditional Council (DTC) in its efforts to find a lasting solution to the matter, recently directed the Dakpema, to stop using all traditional materials he was not supposed to use.

    The Chiefs in the Metropolis, earlier last week, also petitioned the Northern Regional Security Council(REGSEC), and the Metropolitan Security Council(METSEC) to intervene in the matter within 3 days by ensuring that the Dakpema complies with the DTC and the overlord of Dagbon

    Meanwhile, calm has returned to the area and businesses have started their operations.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Tamale residents share thoughts on coronavirus vaccine

    Some residents of Tamale have expressed mixed feelings on the Covid 19 vaccines which the government of Ghana has procured for the citizens.

    The first consignment of the vaccines which is about 600,000 doses has already hit the shores of the country since yesterday, February 24th, 2021.

    This batch is expected to cater for the front-line health workers, the judges, the legislators, and the executives, and also with the front-line security personnel.

    Speaking to the residents, some of them said they are willing and ready to go for the vaccination as and when the vaccines are ready.

    They said, despite the negative rumors making rounds about the vaccine, they are not perturbed by the scary news.

    “The disease is already killing us, so if the vaccines weren’t good, government wouldn’t go and spend money procuring it for us.” Ishawu, a resident of Tamale told GhanaWeb.

    They also said they trust the government and believe whatever decision he takes is in the interest of the Ghanaian populists.

    “Taken the vaccine is good, if it wasn’t good, government wouldn’t say we should go for it,” said Abdul Rashid, another resident.

    They said if the said vaccine is approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other countries have accepted to use it, why should Ghanaians be scared of going for the vaccination? They asked.

    Meanwhile, some residents have also said though they wouldn’t go for the vaccination but would rather stick to the protocols in other to remain safe.

    “I wouldn’t go for the vaccination, I would rather protect myself against the disease by strictly adhering to the safety protocols; washing hands, wearing of the face mask, regularly used of sanitizer, and also avoid overcrowded places.” Said Mohammed Firdaws, another resident of Tamale.

    Firdaws, however, urged the general public to take advantage of the vaccination as and when the opportunity presents itself.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Supporters of former NPP PC in Tamale on rampage, destroy journalist’s motorbike

    The Northern Regional Correspondent of the Ghanaian Observer News Paper, Mohammed Bondirigbum has narrowly escaped mob attack at the premises of NTV, a television station based in Tamale.

    The angry supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Tamale South constituency believed to be loyalists of Yakubu Ussif, the 2020 parliamentary candidate of NPP invaded the office of the television station to attack the seasoned journalist for independently sharing his views on corruption allegation levelled against the parliamentary candidate.

    Some polling stations executives in the Tamale South constituency after the declaration of the 2020 general elections accused the party’s immediate past parliamentary candidate, and some constituency executives of pocketing monies meant for them.

    The polling station executives revealed that, the party’s national treasurer allocated GH¢600 for each polling station, but the defeated PC and some of the constituency executives gave each centre GH¢200.

    As a result, the aggrieved polling officers formed a coalition to register their displeasure. Among other things, the coalition petitioned the constituency secretariat to investigate the matter.

    Mohammed Bondirigbum who was invited to the station as a panel member to discuss rising issues in the region reasoned with the aggrieved executives, and called on the leadership of the party to intervene.

    He also questioned why Yakubu Ussif should be lobbying for Tamale Chief Executive position, if he can’t be transparent to polling station executives.

    After confirming the allegations by the polling station executives, he tasked the accused person’s to refund the money to the frustrated executives.

    Mr Bondirigbum pronouncements during the live program, NorthernWebGh.com understands angered the former PC supporters which led to the attack.

    After realizing danger minutes after the program, Mr Bondirigbum disappeared upon seeing the former PC supporters invading the television station.

    The supporters unable to unleash their venom on Mr Bondirigbum, destroyed his motorcycle beyond repairs.

    Mr. Mohammed Bondirigbum has since reported the case to the police for the necessary action to be taken.

    Meanwhile, the petition of the Collation of the Concern Polling Station executives further accused the former PC of diverting campaign item’s for his personnel gains.

    Source: Ibrahim Nurudeen, Contributor

  • NDC supporters mass up in Tamale to protest against EC

    Supporters of the National Democratic Congress have hit the street of Tamale in the Northern Region to protest against the declaration of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as president-elect in the just ended polls.

    The demonstration which is currently ongoing in the city central recorded huge turnout as partakers chanted war songs.

    The National Vice-Chair of the opposition National Democratic Congress Chief Sofo Azoka was pictured holding hands with some supporters as they went around town.

    Others were seen with placards on motorcycles while others burnt car tyres at some parts of the city.

    Security Personnel were also spotted in their vehicles to ensure a chaos-free protest.

    Meanwhile, this is not the first demonstration held by members of the opposition since results of the December 7 elections were announced by the electoral body.

    The first of many was after Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu told supporters the NDC does not accept the results of the presidential elections as announced by the Chair of the Electoral Commission (EC) Jean Mensa

    At a press conference, Haruna Iddrisu expressed reservations about the way and manner in which the polls were conducted hence, the rejection.

    “We reject the presidential elections as announced by the chair of the Electoral Commission. And we also want to serve notice that the blatant effort even to deny us of a parliamentary majority will be fiercely resisted,” the Tamale South lawmaker said.

    In Bolgatanga and Tamale, for instance, hundreds of supporters were seen on the streets burning car tyres in disapproval of the election results.

    Also, Ashiaman supporters and NDC Women wing also hit the street yesterday to express their displeasure as well as protest against the EC.

    The NDC, however, maintained that they intend to continuously hold a peace protest until their votes counts.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Tamale NDC supporters engaged police in a gun battle – Police

    The Northern Regional Crime Officer Supt, Bernard Baba Ananga has disclosed to GhanaWeb that, some people believed to be sympathizers of the NDC who was found burning tires on the streets of Tamale last night, engaged the police in a gun battle when the police went to clear them off from the streets.

    Speaking to GhanaWeb, Supt. Bernard narrated that, the incident happened after the former president John Dramani Mahama finished addressing the media around 9:40, some people took to the streets of Tamale and started burning tires at intersections.

    He added that, when the incident came to their notice and realizing it could escalate, they immediately mobilized to support the already limited number of police duty to patrol in the night to manage the situation after the election.

    “More police were sent to the streets as the protesters also increased in numbers, and so, we had to go and clear the street but some of them resisted”

    “Some of them fired at us from unknown locations,” Supt Bernard said, citing “Changli” and “Tishegu” as some of the communities the firing was coming from, adding that, with the assistance of the military, they were able to overpower them.

    Supt Bernard noticed that, the guns that were been used by the protesters sounded like that of machine guns, AK47, pistols and snippers.

    He proceeded that, “when we tried to clear the burning tires off on the streets some hidden snippers fired at us again, which we also fired back.”

    Supt. Bernard noted that, as the military increased their numbers, they were able to manage the whole township from Tamale to Savelugu. “the situation was brought under control, and calm and peace was restored.”

    He also said no arrest has been made but the police have intensified preparation and surveillance to ensure such a thing doesn’t repeat.

    He, therefore, call on the general public to always feel free to volunteer information, adding that, it is the only way the police can track down those miscreants.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Dr Anyars given thumbs-up by Tamale Zongo Chief

    The Spiritual Leader of Ahlulbayt Mission in Northern Ghana and Zongo Chief of Tamale, Shehu Dalhu Abdul Mumin, has advised young politicians to learn from Dr Ibrahim Anyars.

    According to him, Dr Anyars is very tolerant, humble, brainy, sincere and development-oriented.

    “For some time now, there has been a positive change in the political atmosphere in the Tamale Central Constituency. Under his leadership, the Constituency has enjoyed more civil and peaceful political activities devoid of violence and unnecessary disturbances,” he stated.

    He extolled the achievements of Dr Dikumya, as Dr Ibrahim Anyars is affectionately called, as a person who relates very well to people in all political divides, very submissive, accommodating, visible and accessible.

    He called on the youth of the Northern Region to emulate his good attributes and appealed to Tamale Central constituents to support his candidature.

    “People like Dr Anyars will not only facilitate human development but will vehicle of a quick transformation of our community,” Shehu Dalhu said.

    He also appeals to Dr Barhama and the NABCo office to create additional jobs for the youth.

    Shehu Dalhu Abdul Mumin further commended the Vice President, Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, for paying critical attention to the Zongo development.

    According to him, more than ever, Muslims in the country have attained their identity and pride as Zongo inhabitants under the government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his able Vice President, Alhaj Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

    He indicated that it was through the efforts of the Vice President that their children gained scholarships to study medicine in Cuba.

    Shehu Dalhu Abdul Mumin made this statement at a durbar for Zongo chiefs in Tamale Central Constituency.

    He commended the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government for not only establishing Zongo Ministry but also honouring them with Zongo Development Fund, an action that has accelerated development in Zongo communities.

    He further expressed gratitude to the Vice president for being there for his Muslim brothers and sisters.

    He also advised all Ghanaians to embrace peace as the nation gets closer to the elections and entreated all to keep the nation at heart.

    “We cannot afford to lose each other because of political differences. Our anger should be directed to poverty, ignorance and absence of development and not against our brothers and sisters in other parties. We chose democracy together. It is about ideas and not guns. It is about development and not war.”

    Source: 3 News

  • Rains submerge 522 Tamale households, displace 1,355

    The Tamale Metro Director of NADMO, Abdul Rahaman Abdul Razak has disclosed that 522 households have been affected by floods as a result of the heavy downpour which occured on October 4, 2020.

    Some of the affected areas include; Waterworks, Gumani, Kalariga, Nalong Fong, Gumbihini, Asawaba, and Gurigu.

    Mr. Abdul Razak, told Ghanaweb’s Northern Regional correspondent, Alidu Abdur Rashid that 203 out of the total number of affected persons were males and 382 were females.

    Also, a total number of 770 children were affected.

    “There was no death or injuries recorded ….,” He intimated.

    Mr. Abdul Razak however attributed the cause of the floods to the narrow nature of gutters in the metropolis.

    “In Tamale, the gutters constructed are very small, and People would sweep their houses, though they have dustbins in their houses they will leave it and go and dump it into the gutters……So the gutters were chocked and because the gutters are also small, and when it rains, it finds its own ways.people have built on the waterways, blocking the water channels and when you confront them, they tell you, it is their land, so you should leave them.Somebody will build a house, instead, there is a gutter behind him, they will go and project another room called chamber and hall.” This is our main problem, he said.

    Mr. Abdul Razak further expressed gratitude to NADMO for being able to rescue victims from the incident.

    “with the help of the skills acquired from the training, the team were able to rescue somebody and his motorbike, who was about to be carried away by the flood.”

    Watch the video HERE

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Notorious car snatcher nabbed in Tamale

    A 38-year-old Tema-based suspected car snatcher, Alhassan Imrani, has been arrested by the Tamale Divisional Police Command at Banvim in the Tamale Metropolis.

    The arrest, which took place on Saturday, September 5 at 1100 GMT, was upon a tip-off, according to police.

    The suspect is said to have been involved in cases of robbery reported at the Tema Regional CID.

    A search conducted at his residence revealed 3 pistols, 4 mobile phones, 1 black HP laptop, 1 AK47 assault rifle bat and 1 G3 empty magazine.

    Other items retrieved include 6 registered vehicle number plates, 1 plier, 98 auto 45 live ammunitions, 165 auto 389 live ammunitions, 4 pistol empty cartridges and 1 white Toyota Highlander with registration number GW 3241-20.

    “Enquiry was extended to a spraying shop and one ash colour Toyota Highlander recovered,” a police statement said.

    Source: 3 News

  • Speeding driver runs into police checkpoint, kills officer

    Driver of a DAF bus, with registration number GT 1089 F, is currently on the run after he ran into a police barrier and killed an officer in line of duty.

    The driver was carrying 13 passengers onboard the vehicle and travelling from Bolgatanga towards Tamale.

    According to a police report sighted by Angelonline.com.gh, “the suspected driver was signalled with torch lights to stop about 50 metres away by the personnel on duty but he disregarded and ran into the crash barrier destroying them and killing No 47508 G/L/cpl Agoha Nelson.”

    According to the report, the driver bolted after driving 100 more metres away from the scene.

    The report said the deceased was on duty with three other colleagues who had just finished checking a vehicle coming from Tamale.

    As stated by the report, the Savelugu District night patrol team, led by DSP Emmanuel Twumasi-Ankrah, found the body of the deceased badly mutilated upon reaching the scene.

    The police was able to gather the remains of the deceased to the Tamale Teaching Hospital Morgue for preservation awaiting autopsy, the report said.

    Meanwhile, the accident vehicle has been impounded while the police are making efforts to arrest the runaway suspect to assist in investigations, the report further said

    Source: angelonline.com.gh

  • Tamale police hunt for unknown murderer

    The police in Tamale has launched a manhunt for an assailant who shot dead a man at Nyanshegu, a suburb of Tamale in the Northern Region.

    According to the Northern Regional Police Crime Officer, Superintendent Kwabena Acheapong Otuo, the unknown gunman went to a house and attempted to rape a young woman (name withheld).

    “In the process of struggling, the gunman shot the woman on the right thigh,” he said in an interview with the Ghanaian Times here yesterday.

    The crime officer added that while fleeing the scene, the assailant shot Abdul-Halim who came to rescue the woman.

    The body had been deposited at the Tamale Teaching Hospital mortuary.

    The crime officer said the police would conduct autopsy on the body to establish the cause of death.

    Supt Otuo said the woman was responding to treatment, adding that the police crime scene management team had begun investigations into the matter and appealed to the residents of Nyanshegu to assist with information that would lead to the arrest of the culprit.

    Source: ghanaiantimes.com.gh

  • Two arrested for not wearing nose masks at Tamale police headquarters

    Two persons have been arrested for failing to comply with the wearing of nose masks at the Northern Regional Command on July 2.

    The two suspects Isaiah Sunrise 25yrs, Ibrahim Musah 60yrs, were arrested at the forecourt of the Regional Police Headquarters, Tamale.

    The Northern Regional Crime Officer, Supt. Otuo Acheampong who confirmed the arrest to DGN Online said the suspects were cautioned, charged and released on bail to appear before the Tamale Circuit Court on July 3.

    President Akufo Addo signed an Executive Instrument (E.I. 164) as part of measures to help prevent the spread of Covid-19 pandemic and failure to wear face masks in public is an offence with a prison sentence of 4-10 years or a fine of GH¢12,000-GH¢ 60,000 or both.

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • Manhunt for 2 coronavirus patients in Tamale

    The Northern Regional Health Director, Dr. John B. Eleeza, has disclosed to DGN Online that the regional health directorate is in search of two Covid-19 patients who have gone into hidden in Tamale in the Northern Region.

    According to the health director, the two are part of the 12 cases involving nine males, two females and one child whose samples were sent to the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR) on April 22, 2020 for testing before a testing center was established in Tamale.

    He lamented that efforts to pick up the two have proved futile as they have abandoned their homes and cannot be found.

    “We are still tracking those people and like I said we have traced 10 out of the 12,” he said.

    Dr. Eleeza assured that the directorate is doing its best to locate the two in order to prevent them from spreading the virus in the region.

    He appealed to the general public to ensure that they adhere to all the health directive to help prevent the spread of the virus.

    The Northern Region has recorded 36 confirmed cases with one death.

     

    Source: Daily Guide Network