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‘Aborbi’ more expensive than lands in Volta Region – Amewu laments

Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 08:54:32 +0000

Lands and Natural Resources Minister, John Peter Amewu, has fingered land ownership disputes as contributing to the challenges of socio-economic development of the Volta Region.
He said businesses in the region are among the most frustrated due to protracted land ownership disputes.
Mr Amewu made the comment during the inauguration of the Volta Regional Lands Commission at Ho, Friday
According to the minister, lands in the Volta Region are being disposed of like dried anchovies (known locally as Keta School Boys or Aborbi) far exceeds the cost of lands because of private and political interests.
He has however urged the members of the newly inaugurated members of the Lands Commission to ensure issues of lands in the region are treated with urgency.
Volta Region Minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa, who chaired the event urged the Commission to deliver on its mandate.
The Chairperson for the new Commission, Mama Dzidoasi, Queen mother of Gbi Abansi, Hohoe pledged her commitment to making sure everything is done in accordance with procedure.
One of the members of the newly inaugurated Commission, a quantity surveyor and a parliamentary aspirant in the South Tongu District, Maxwell Lukuto, on behalf of his colleagues pledged to make sure that the Commission delivers.

Volta Region: Bomigo Basic School cry for help

Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 16:59:45 +0000

The deplorable state of infrastructure at the Bomigo Basic School in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region is affecting effective teaching and learning.
The school which was built in January 1951 has not seen any major renovation a situation which is worrying to both teachers and the residents.
A teacher in the school, Daystar Hozi tells Joy news that the structure is a death trap and has appealed to government to come to the aid of the school.
According to him, calamity can befall the school if nothing is done about the situation as early as possible.
“We don’t want any calamity to befall the school and we are pleading with government to come the aid of the school” he said.
Bomigo is an Anlo fishing settlement on an island and lies north of Anyanui and teachers and pupils risk crossing the river with canoe on daily basis to attend JHS at Anyanui.
Several accidents have happened on the river with pupils and teachers risking their lives crossing the river.
“Our lives are at risk always crossing the river on daily basis as we don’t even have life jackets and to use” MrHozi lamented.
He said lack of feeding program in the school is also having negative impact on teaching and learning as students normally leave for the house during break hour and never return until the following day.
“We need the school feeding program in the school to enable the pupils stay in school”he pleaded.
According to history, in January 1951, a primary school was opened on the island by the EP Church and since then the pupils, after completing primary 6 have to commute daily to the middle school at either Galo-Sota or Anyanui which is about 6 kilometers away.
It was in the process of crossing the river across the Angaw Lagoon between Tunu and the island on 17th November 1997 that the canoe conveying the pupils capsized which resulted in the loss of innocent lives.
The situation gets worse during the raining season and the crossing of the lagoon in stormy weather becomes very risky.
A female teacher of the school also complained bitterly about lack of toilet facilities in the school making it difficult for both teachers and pupils to attend natures call especially during the raining season.
“We don’t have toilet facilities in the school and we plead with the authorities to do something about the situation for us” she pleaded.
Meanwhile, MP for Anlo, Clement Kofi Humado says he has for several times fought for the construction of Bailey bridge through Galosota to the island to make crossing easier for the people.
Tenders were done and evaluated in November last year but change of Government has stalled the award of the contract.
The MP also undertook a massive drinking water supply project for the Bomigo community with assistance from the Australian Embassy in Ghana.
Funds are earmarked this year for rehabilitation of the school structures.

Volta region tops HIV ‘league table’

Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy — Fri, 12 May 2017 08:30:40 +0000

The 2016 HIV sentinel survey report has revealed that Volta and Brong Ahafo Regions jointly top the list of prevalence rate.

According to the report, the two regions recorded the highest prevalence rate of 2.7 per cent for 2016 which is above the national HIV prevalence of 2.4 per cent.

The Northern Region registered the lowest prevalence rate, recording 0.7 per cent prevalence rate.

Figures for other regions

The prevalence rate for the other regions are:

Eastern 2.6 per cent,

Ashanti a 2.6 per cent,

Western -2.5 per cent,

Upper West 2.5 per cent,

Greater Accra 2.4 per cent,

Central 1.8 per cent and

Upper East 1.7 per cent.

HIV prevalence was higher in urban areas hitting 2.5 per cent, compared to 1.9 per cent for rural areas.

The 2016 HIV sentinel survey report revealed that the young population between the ages of 15 and 24, a proxy for new infections remained unchanged at 1.1 per cent.

HIV among pregnant women increase

The National AIDS Control Programme said the report shows an increase in prevalence rate among pregnant women representing a second consecutive time of rising incidence among the Ghanaian pregnant women.

Second consecutive upsurges

According to the report, the HIV prevalence for 2016 of 2.4 per cent represents a second consecutive upsurge from the 2014 prevalence of 1.6 per Cent and 1.8 per cent in 2015.

HIV prevalence among ages 45-49 highest

It revealed that HIV prevalence by age group 45-49 is highest at 5.69;?) followed by 35-39 with 15-19 being the lowest at 0.6 per cent.

Agormanya, Sunynai top urban sites

The highest prevalence within urban sites was 4.2 per cent in Agormanya in the Eastern Region and Sunynai in the Brong Ahafo Region with Wa in the Upper West Region with 3.7 per cent.

Rural prevalence highest at Fanteakwa

Rural prevalence ranged from 0.5. per cent in Builsa in the Upper East Region, Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo Region and Salaga in the Northern Region to 3.3 per cent in F anteakwa in the Estem Region.

Types of HIV recorded in 2016

According to the report, the proportion of HIV subtype 1 is 98.5 per cent compared to 1.5 per cent for dual HIV type 1 and 2 infections while there was no HIV type 2 infection.

Syphilis figures

It said median syphilis prevalence for 2016 is 0.2 per cent and the regional syphilis infections ranged from zero in Brong Ahafo and Upper East regions to 0.8 per cent in the Central Region.

The HIV sentinel survey is a cross sectional survey targeting pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in selected areas in the country.

In the last 11 years, health officials say, the HIV Sentinel Survey data have been used as the primary data source for the National HIV and AIDS estimates.