Let people feel the Better Ghana Agenda promise - Asantehene tells Minister

Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, is charging new Ashanti Regional Minister, Eric Opoku to work towards achieving government’s aspirations for Ghanaians for improved quality of life.
The Otumfuo asked him to collaborate with all interest groups and individuals to bring progress to the region. He made the statement when Mr. Opoku paid a visit to the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Tuesday.

Mr. Opoku, a native of Bekwai Kokofu in the Ashanti Region, was re-assigned from the Bono Ahafo Region to Ashanti by President John Mahama, in his recent shuffling of Regional Ministers.

He assumes duty at a time when residents face serious security concerns especially armed robbery and the involvement of Chinese nationals in illegal mining known locally as ‘galamsey’.

Mr. Opoku pledged to team-up with all stakeholders to continue the work initiated by his predecessors in the region, to curb such menace.

He called on agitated NDC supporters, in particular, to exercise restraints as President Mahama addresses the socio-economic challenges of the country.

Mr. Opoku said immediate familiarization with chiefs, party executives and other stakeholders in the region, would be a key factor for smooth administration.

Meanwhile, his out-going colleague, Samuel Sarpong, who heads for the Central Region, has handed over.

ECG cuts power supply to Atwima Kwawoma District Assembly

Official business at the Atwima Kwawoma District Assembly has come to a halt due to power cut for non-payment of bills.

The Electricity Company of Ghana disconnected supply last week to demand payment of over seven thousand Ghana cedis (Ghc 7,000) outstanding debt.

Nhyira Fm’s Kofi Asante visited the assembly and reports the situation has rendered workers redundant as they idle about on the premises.

Atwima Kwawoma District is one of the young districts created by the NPP Administration in 2007.

It has since been grappling with infrastructural and other challenges, after a long battle over the location of the capital ended.

The latest development has brought productivity to almost zero as all administrative activities have come to a standstill.

Some assembly members in the district are blaming the Chief Executive Officer, Tony Nyame for mismanaging the assembly.

The Assembly man for Aburaso Electoral Area, Joseph Asamoah says Mr. Nyame has not been reporting to the office to perform his official duties since the demise of the late President Mills.

But Mr. Nyame in an interview with Nhyira News refuses to be drawn into an argument with the members on what he describes as an “unfortunate situation”.

He however says immediate steps are in place to restore power supply.

Passport applicants in Kumasi frustrated as Centre runs out of power

Hundreds of passport applicants were stranded at the biometric passport application centre in Kumasi after work was suspended due to unavailability of electricity.

The situation resulted in an unusually long queues of frustrated applicants.

Checks revealed that the development begun in the latter part of last week when the office reportedly run out of electricity pre-paid credit.

The local passport office was reportedly dormant on Thursday and Friday, leaving over 800 passport applicants stranded and frustrated while workers idle about in their offices.

Nhyira News’ visit to the office on Monday revealed that applicants were uncertain as to when the situation would be addressed for work to resume.

Some of them describe the development as “embarrassing”.

Ashanti Regional Manager of the Passport Application Centre, Peprah Ampratwum, will neither deny nor confirm the unavailability of electricity pre-paid credit, though he admitted there were some technical challenges.

Contrary to official explanation however, Nhyira News investigation revealed that the office has exhausted their internally generated funds to meant for the purchase of prepaid electricity credit.

Until the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Accra releases funds to the Kumasi Passport office, processing of passport from the region will continue to be in limbo.

Story: Kofi Asante Ennin/Nhyira Fm-Kumasi/Ghana

Gov’t calls for a minute’s silence for Prez Mills on Tuesday at 2:15 pm

In honour of President John Evans Atta Mills, the government directs that all should observe a minute’s silence on Tuesday, 31st July, 2012 at 2:15pm (14:15 GMT).

The said day and time marks one week and the exact time that President Atta Mills passed away.

A statement signed by Deputy Information Minister James Agyanim Boateng on Monday said, wherever people find themselves throughout Ghana at 2:15pm on Tuesday, 31st July, 2012, they are to observe a minute’s silence as directed.

The statement also admonished Ghanaians to say a prayer afterwards for the soul of President Atta Mills, who worked selflessly towards bettering the lives of Ghanaians.

Government further encouraged the electronic media, as far as is reasonably possible, to also observe the minute silence.

President Mills funeral slated for August 8-10, Accra

The controversy that has surrounded the final resting place of President Mills has been laid to rest with an announcement by the family that he will be buried in Accra.

The family has slated August 8-10 for the funeral of the departed President.

According to Kwesi Amissah, a brother to President Mills, the family in consultation with government reached an agreement that the late President be buried in Accra at a special cemetery which will be announced soon.

Mr Amissah, who was speaking on Metro TV Friday afternoon from Prof Mills' family home in Akamfua in Cape Coast, said all the confusion surrounding his burial has been cleared.

He said initially, certain people had tried to demand that he buried somewhere else; those at Cape Coast had wanted him to be buried at Otuam but after meetings with government in Accra, they had agreed on the capital.

Mr Amissah stated emphatically that all the final funeral rites would be held in Accra adding there would be no other ceremonies anywhere else.

He said they were now waiting for the government to communicate the date for the funeral rites and burial.

Mr Amissah also revealed that President Mills' one week would be held at his Regimanuel Gray residence at the Spintex Road on Tuesday, July 31.

Asokore Mampong Affordable Housing Site houses criminals. 16-07-12

         

It is now clear the abandoned Affordable Housing Project site at Asokore Mampong has completely been taken over by squatters, creating a hide-out for criminals and other notorious gangs.

The projects involves construction of 800 flats of 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms on 50 acres of land was initiated by the erstwhile Kufuor administration.

Like other locations in other parts of the country, the project was discontinued following a change in government. 

Nhyira FM’s Kofi Asante visited the Asokore-Mampong site after residents of Adukrom, also in Kumasi, complained members of a gang which attacked them last Saturday live there.

Residents of Aboabo, Sepe-Timpong, Manguase, Asokore Mampong and its surroundings for some time now have been leaving a state of fears following what they describes as “sporadic” attacks by some notorious gangs who are now using the abandoned affordable housing as their hideout. Police am told last month was here for some swoop but they missed their target due to their time of visit.

The facility, which is engulfed in bushy surroundings, is now a safe haven for over 1,000 squatters, mostly traders who were displaced from the Kumasi Race course recently.

My intrractions with some people l met reveals the squatters have allotted to themselves the responsibility of caring for the abandoned housing units, and that each block has a caretaker, who takes some form of rent from them.

Residents in the neighbourhood complained that criminals, including wee smokers and armed robbers, had taken advantage of the vulnerability of the squatters, mainly women and children, and unleash inhuman treatment on them.

The helpless women are constantly subjected to rape and molestations.

Meanwhile, a four unit block and two other rooms are now serving as classrooms for a local Islamic School (Makaranta)

Story: Kofi Asante Ennin/Nhyira Fm-Kumasi

A farming community in Ejisu-Juabeng Municipal gets police station 03-07-12

Residents of Akyinakrom in the Ejisu-Juabeng Municipality of Ashanti can now heave a sigh of relief from activities of miscreants with the inauguration of a new police station to serve the community. 

The community has over the years served as hideout for armed robbers and other social deviants.

Municipal Chief Executive, Afrifa Yamoah Ponko has charged residents to avoid the temptation of inducing security officers in carrying out their routine operations.

He believes proper collaboration between the community and the police will help maintain peace and order in the area.  

Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Augustine Gyenning called on the residents to serve as watch-dog to help flush out criminals in the area.

He assured residents of police professionalism and urged them to regard the police as friends, especially as the country move into Election 2012.

Story By: Kofi Asante ennin