DISTRICT ELECTION TASKFORCE INAUGURATED

A Seven (7) Member District Election Taskforce has been inaugurated at Bechem in the Brong Ahafo Region.

At  a swearing-in ceremony which held at the Conference Hall of the Tano South District Assembly, the Presiding Magistrate of the Bechem Distrrict Court, Her worship Yakubu Hajia Memunatu Jebuni, told the  members to be uphold, preserve and  ensure that, peace prevailed and maintained before, during and after the 2016 Presidential and Parliamentary elections and urged the taskforce  members to keep matter discussed at their level which is not for public consumption to themselves for the necessary action to be taken on them.

Her worship Yakubu Hajia Memunatu Jebuni said, as part of their job, the taskforce is to identify flash points in the district and find mechanisms and solutions of meeting the challenges that may arise before, during and after the elections and urged the taskforce to ensure that all election materials are well protected and secured on election time.

 The Tano South District Chief Executive and DISEC chairman, Hon.  Bukari Zakari Anaba in a speech commended the Taskforce and told them that the task ahead of them is not a mere one so they should play their part well as expected of them. He said the District Security Committee (DISEC) as has always been ensure the security of the District is paramount and see to it that, the peace that has existed in the district over the years is maintained before, during and after the elections to complement the work of the taskforce.

Hon. Anaba said, the Tano South District Assembly will collaborate with the District Peace Council and all well- meaning citizens of the District and organizations to ensure that proper mechanisms are put in place for the conduct of the elections in the District. 

The chairman of the Taskforce, DSP Emmanuel Baah in a speech on behalf of the members thanked the authorities for the post entrusted in them and said the taskforce will do all it takes to ensure that they do the assigned duties. DSP Baah said, the work of the taskforce will not be complemented without the collective support of all and sundry and called on all to give the taskforce their maximum support in the discharge of their duties and called on politicians not to interfere in the work of the taskforce but to complement their work.

Dignitaries at the swearing-in ceremony were the DCE for Tano south District, Hon. Bukari Zakari Anaba, The Tano South District Magistrate, Her worship Yakubu Hajia Memunatu Jebuni, and the Presiding Member for Tano South District Assembly, Hon. Anthony Opoku.

MP DONATES ITEMS TO INSTITUTIONS IN THE TANO SOUTH DISTRICT

The Member of Parliament for the Tano South Constituency of the Brong Ahafo Region, Hon. Dr. Hannah Louisa Bisiw has donated a number of items including Computers and its accessories, set of Jerseys, footballs, a photocopier machine and exercise books to seven Educational Institutions and the Bechem Traditional Council in the Tano South District.

In a presentation Ceremony held at Bechem, the MP and Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Dr. Hannah Louisa Bisiw said the use of the items presented would go a long way to facilitate the work of the beneficiaries. She said, the government is investing in education to ensure that all schools under trees are eradicated and that the parents must also play their part by sending their children to school to enable them benefit from government initiatives.

Hon.Dr. Bisiw said, on assumption of office as the Substantive Member of Parliament for the Constituency, she has been able to initiate a number of development projects through the use of her share of the MP’s Common Fund to better and improve the lives of the people.

Hon. Bisiw said, the government is putting measure in place for the release of an Ambuiance to the Techimantia Polyclinic to help improve the conditions at the Polyclinic and used the occasion to catalogue some of her achievements.  She disclosed that, she will arrange for a free Medical Screening Exercise for the people in the district and urged all to take advantage of the exercise and know their health status as soon as the exercise takes off.

The Tano South District Chief Executive, Hon. Bukari Zakari Anaba in a speech thanked H.E John Dramani Mahama for releasing five (5) vehicles to three (3) Institutions in the District in order to alleviate the transportation problems facing the Institutions and thanked the Member of Parliament for the Constituency for accounting to the people on her stewardship as the MP for the area.

Hon. Anaba said the Tano South District Assembly in collaboration with the Member of Parliament has been able to award a number of scholarships to many brilliant but needy children in the District to further their education and called on all and sundry not to politicise the work of the MP.

Hon. Anaba said, the Bechem town roads project is dear to the heart of the government and as a result of it has been awarded on contract and called on all and sundry to help make the project a living testimony. He said, the government through the policy of investing in the people has made strides for others to help and it is in one of such strides that the MP for the Constituency through the Lordina Mahama Foundation has been able to donate a number of sewing machines and carpentry tools to graduate apprentices in the sewing industry as a start-up kit to start business.

A Minister of State at the Presidency, Hon. Anarfi Mensah also in a speech thanked the President for the numerous projects carried out across the length and breadth of the Country.  Hon. Anarfi who is a product of the Bechem Presbyterian Senior High School hinted that the school will be celebrating its fiftieth (50) anniversary and that the government has committed itself  to put up a modern Library Facility for the school.

The Chairman for the occasion, Nana Fosu Darkwah, the Sompahene of the Bechem Traditional Council on behalf of the Omanhene of the Bechem Traditional Area, Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II thanked the MP and the DCE for their contributions towards the upliftment of the District and asked them to extend their hands to the remaining schools and other institutions which did not benefit from the items donated.

DERMA COMMUNITY DAY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL RECEIVES SCHOOL BUS

A sixty six seater bus and a Mahyindra pick up vehicle inaugurated by His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, as part of a fleet of vehicles to be released to Educational Institutions in the country has been handed over to the Derma Community Senior High School at a ceremony at Derma by the Tano South District Assembly.

At the handing over ceremony, a Deputy Director in charge of Finance and Administration at the Tano South District Directorate of Education, Mrs. Philomina Owusu Boampong who stood in for the Tano South District Director of Education, Rev. Robert Opoku in a speech expressed the Directorates gratitude to the President for making it possible for the Derma school to have a means of transport and hinted that, the vehicles would go a long way to help in the running of the school.

She said, since education is an important tool in human building, there is the need for parents to send their children to school and stressed that since success is not achieved on a silver platter ,students should take their studies seriously so  that they can achieve greater heights in future and advised that, the School Authorities, Students and Nananom should ensure that the proper maintenance culture is adhered to in the use of  the building and its environment.

In a speech, the Tano South District Chief Executive, Hon. Bukari Zakari Anaba commended those present for honouring the invitation and welcomed them to the handing over ceremony .He said, the MP for the Tano South Constituency, Hon. Dr. Hannah Louisa Bisiw through the her share of the Common Fund has undertaking a number of development projects in the District to improve the lives of the people and congratulated her for also  honouring her 2012 campaign promises.

Hon. Anaba said the government through the Tano South District Assembly has been able to implement a number of projects and programmes which have helped the District to attain more infrastructural developments and called on the people to look at the works of the   government and vote massively to retain the government in power in the up-coming general elections.

The Tano South District Chief Executive said, peace is the key to development and urged all Civil Society Organizations, Political Parties, Nananom , Opinion leaders  and all Well -meaning Citizens to ensure that peace is maintained before, during and after the 2016 general elections so as to move the country forward.

He advised that, we should all refrain from the politics of insults which he said does not auger well for our democratic dispensation and also pleaded with Nananom and the school authorities to see to it that proper care is taken on all the schools properties so that children yet unborn will come and enjoy them.

In an address, the Member of Parliament for the Tano South Constituency and Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Dr. Hannah Louisa Bisiw  said, the   NDC government is committed to do more development  projects to improve and better the lives of Ghanaians and hinted  that the Bechem – Techimantia road and many more in the District including the Derma – Asuoso  road have been awarded  on  contractors by the government and when  completed , they would open up to the transportation of goods and services and also foodstuff in all parts of  the district and called on all and sundry to give the contractors working on our roads in the district the needed assistance and support to enable them complete their work on schedule.

Touching on the Accounting to the people tour currently in progress by H.E John Dramani Mahama, the MP said, it is significant since it provides a platform for the president to let Ghanaians know of his achievements  and the way forward and urged all and sundry to support  programmes and policies of the government.

Hon. Bisiw concluded by cataloguing her achievements in the District during the 8 years she has been the Member of Parliament for the  Tano South  Constituency.

The Sanaahene of Derma, Nana Opoku Baah who chaired the function on behalf of the Dermahene thanked the government of Ghana, the Member of Parliament and the District Chief Executive for their roles in getting the Derma Community Day Senior High School project completed and commissioned on schedule and handing over of the two ( 2 ) vehicles to the school and promised that  Nananom will do all that it takes to see to it that the school’s properties are well taking care of and maintained. 

MUSLIMS IN THE TANO SOUTH CELEBRATE EID- UL -FITR

A prayer Session led by the Chief Imam of the Tano South District, Alhaji Ibrahim Gariba was held at Bechem to mark the celebration of Eid- Ul- Fitr.

In a prayer session, Alhaji Ibrahim Gariba called for peace since he said without peace a Nation cannot develop and prayed that all Political Parties, Civil Society Organization must preach peace before, during and after the 2016 elections.

Alhaji Gariba in his sermon said, politics of insults also undermine Ghana’s democratic dispensation and urged all party supporters to refrain from such acts to enable the Tano South District continue to enjoy its peaceful co-existence that it has enjoyed over the years .

He called on muslims youth to be extra vigilant and not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to create confusion during political campaigns and elections but to be of good behaviour and play positive roles in their respective areas.

He also stressed that since education contributes to personal building and Nation, there is the need for parents to send their children to school to ensure that they become good future leaders.

The Member of Parliament for Tano South Constituency and Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Dr. Hannah Louisa Bisiw who joined the Muslims  to celebrate the day, in a speech wished all the Muslims ‘’Barka de Sallah’’ and on her own behalf and that of the President of the country and said, it was imperative as the MP for the Area to be part of the celebration to give Allah the glory.

Hon. Bisiw called on all to be law – abiding as the Koran teaches and also for the district to enjoy the peace it has always enjoyed. She later made a personal presentation of 100 creates of eggs, 400 bags of cements, 50 pieces of mats, 15 pieces of cloth and sum amount of GH 500 to the Chief Imam to be presented to Muslim widows and orphans to  enable them also enjoy the occasion and feel at home.

Hon. Bisiw used the occasion to also catalogue some of her achievements as a Member of Parliament for the Constituency.

SENIOR CITIZENS DAY MARKED IN TANO SOUTH DISTRICT

As part of activities to mark the 56^th Anniversary of Ghana’s Republic Day celebration, a Senior Citizen Day was marked in the Tano South District of the Brong Ahafo Region.

To mark the day at the residency of the District Chief Executive at Bechem, over four hundred Senior Citizens, Opinion Leaders, Nananom, Assembly Members and Representatives of Political Parties drawn from all parts of the district were invited to a get – together and an interaction session with government officials.

In a welcome address, the Presiding Member of the Tano South District Assembly Hon. Anthony Opoku expressed his gratitude and that of the Assembly to all gathered for honouring the invitation to attend the day’s activity. He said, the day has been set aside to honour the role senior citizens have played in the developmental efforts of the country and also to wish all senior citizens well in the days ahead.

Hon. Opoku said, the day also gives the older generation the opportunity to share their past experiences with the younger generation and also discuss matters of national interest.

The Tano South District Chief Executive, Hon. Bukari Zakari Anaba in his anniversary speech used the occasion to welcome each and everybody at the function and expressed his profound gratitude and appreciation for honouring the invitation.

He said, the day marks an important day set aside to pay homage to the sons and daughters of this Republic whose life and vision has brought the country this far and said, it was through the efforts of these selfless Senior Citizens that ensured the realization of the Republican Status on 1^st July, 1960.

Hon. Anaba said, it saddens his heart that many of us today have so soon forgotten about the sacrifices, sufferings, humiliations and difficulties our fore bearers went through in other to attain freedom and self – rule for us to enjoy and reiterated that indeed, the actions and inactions of the cross – section of the current generations make him wonder why we have become so individualistic and are only interested in means to achieve our parochial interest at the detriment of the country.

Hon. Anaba said, many people who led the struggle for self-rule were better placed in the society and every opportunity was available to them during the Colonial Regime but they were more interested in the betterment of the majority of Ghanaians and not of a few and asked how many of us today are willing and ready to do a quarter of what our exemplary senior citizens have done and why this negative attitude on the part of the current generation.

Hon. Anaba said, no individual can solve all the challenges this country is confronted with and said it requires collective efforts from each and every one of us to be able to surmount the numerous problems, otherwise Regimes will come and go but the obstacle will still exist and said a fundamental question we should ask ourselves is what Legacy are we going to bequeath to the generation yet unborn so that we could be celebrated in future as well.

Hon Anaba said, the current government being mindful of the numerous challenges affecting our country has taken the necessary steps to improve the well- being of Ghanaians and cited many infrastructural projects ranging from roads, hospitals, education, and provision of portable water and host of social interventions policies of which our District is a beneficiary.

Hon Anaba said, the District experienced some fire and rainstorm disasters during the last quarter of 2015 and first quarter of 2016 in which 59 people were affected and appealed to all present to guard against actions that could bring about the repeat of these disasters in the District.

 Hon Anaba called on Nananom, the Clergy, all political parties and all and sundry to play a lead role to ensure peace before, during and after the 2016 elections and finally ended up by calling on all to also play an active role and participation in the National Sanitation Day Exercises.

The senior citizens were feted with drinks and meals amid music and dancing whilst experiences, suggestions, and contributions on the development of the District and the Nation were shared and as questions were also asked during the open forum.

In his remarks, the chairman for the occasion Nana Awuah Boadi who stood in for the Omanhene of the Bechem Traditional Area said, the senior citizens day has been set aside to mark Ghana’s Republic Day Celebration and used the occasion to pay glowing tribute to our fore – fathers who through blood and toil fought to attain independence and Republican Status for the country.

Touching on the Tano South District, Nana Awuah Boadi said, through collective efforts many things could be done to develop the Tano South District and urged all and sundry to contribute their quota towards the development of the district.

Nana hinted that the district during the early part of the year experienced some armed robbery cases and urged the District Police Command to take steps to fight this crime wave.