By Nurudeen Salifu
A very engaging atmosphere took charge of the Tamale Jubilee Park last Monday night when performers from the National Theatre resident groups thrilled fans to a heart-throbbing performance in dance, drama and music.
It was a night that Tamale had never witnessed and owed its gratitude to the organisers of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC), 2010, who put together the show as part of activities for the week-long event that got off to a smooth start last Saturday.
The National Symphony Orchestra opened the show with some insightful songs that sought to throw light on the current societal trends and the adulteration of Ghanaian culture.
The National Drama Company, with its assemblage of experienced actors, was the next to perform as it set the stage for an evening of humorous and educative drama appropriate for an occasion like NAFAC.
The actors performed a play entitled “Short arms and the Baobab,” written and directed by Dzifa Glikpoe, who is currently the Acting Artistic Director of the National Theatre.
The Baobab in the play, as explained by Madam Glikpoe, stood for motherhood and that the play talks about the responsibilities that come along with being a teenage mother.
“In fact, the message that this play seeks to convey to young people is that it is not easy being a parent and that they should take their time and take up such responsibilities when they are matured and well prepared,” she stated.
As expected, the actors gave off their best in communicating this message as a young man and woman got caught up in a teenage relationship that ended them in a quagmire of troubles.
With a baby, who finally passed away due to lack of care and the teenage father who shirked his responsibilities and escaped to the city, only to meet his death, the message was succinctly delivered for the youth to appreciate.
At about 9:30pm, the Ghana Dance Ensemble then took the stage with a highly energetic rhythmic performance, which depicted life at Bukom. It was this performance that revived the apparently tired and sleepy crowd as they watched the performers mime and dance, while the backing drummers and singers produced sounds to match the actions.
The main thrust of their performance was to educate the youth on the effects of juvenile delinquency and how single parenting could impact negatively on children’s growth.
After such an exhilarating artistic display, it was now the turn of the cultural group at the Centre for National Culture (CNC) in Tamale, called ‘Tiyumba’, which performed a drama piece titled: “When the king is dead.”
The import of the play, written and directed by Antoinette Kotoko and delivered in the Dagbani language, was to throw more light on the chieftaincy institution of the Dagombas, with particular focus on the funeral and succession activities that take place when the chief dies.
It also sought to show avenues for peace-building in times of crisis during the search for a new king. With the appropriate traditional regalia, movements, dance and speech, the actors beautifully rendered the play to bring an exciting evening to a close.
For some people, who witnessed the show, it was such a wonderful performance that needed to be sustained and given more support to thrive.
“For me, these performances were not just about music and dance, but the role that theatre arts could play in national development, such as communicating for positive social change,” the Director of the Centre for National Culture in the Upper East region, Mr Kombat Fuzzy told Graphic Showbiz.
He described the programme as fantastic and well-co-ordinated, adding that “we have been able to entertain, educate, inform and transform at the same time.”
Thursday, November 25, 2010
ASHAIMAN ASSEMBLY STRATEGIES TO INCREASE REVENUE (PAGE 42, NOV 25, 2010)
THE Ashaiman Municipal Assembly is adopting effective strategies to improve revenue generation to finance development projects in the municipality.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Numo Adinortey Addison, made this known at the passing out parade of newly recruited city guards.
He said the concept of grassroots development was vital to the country’s middle income objective as well as the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on poverty eradication.
The eight female recruits underwent a six-week intensive training programme at the Ghana Police College where they were taken through foot drills, criminal law, public relations and the local government act.
Mr Adinortey stated that the city guards unit of the assembly was created to assist in its revenue mobilisation drive and to also assist police personnel on traffic duties, decongestion and maintenance of law and order.
He entreated the recruits to ensure that residents in the municipality were accorded the needed respect and courtesy in the discharge of their duties, stressing that they should also work hard to ensure the criminality tag associated with the municipality was a thing of the past.
The MCE expressed concern about street-hawking which had taken a new dimension in the municipality, although the assembly had in the past spent a huge chunk of its revenue on decongestion.
Mr Adinortey appealed to the residents to co-operate with the assembly and the guards in revenue mobilisation to help improve the assembly’s developmental drive.
A Member of the Council of State, Mr Adjei Annang, who represented the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashittey, challenged the guards to live above reproach as they contribute their quota towards the development of the assembly and the community as a whole.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Numo Adinortey Addison, made this known at the passing out parade of newly recruited city guards.
He said the concept of grassroots development was vital to the country’s middle income objective as well as the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on poverty eradication.
The eight female recruits underwent a six-week intensive training programme at the Ghana Police College where they were taken through foot drills, criminal law, public relations and the local government act.
Mr Adinortey stated that the city guards unit of the assembly was created to assist in its revenue mobilisation drive and to also assist police personnel on traffic duties, decongestion and maintenance of law and order.
He entreated the recruits to ensure that residents in the municipality were accorded the needed respect and courtesy in the discharge of their duties, stressing that they should also work hard to ensure the criminality tag associated with the municipality was a thing of the past.
The MCE expressed concern about street-hawking which had taken a new dimension in the municipality, although the assembly had in the past spent a huge chunk of its revenue on decongestion.
Mr Adinortey appealed to the residents to co-operate with the assembly and the guards in revenue mobilisation to help improve the assembly’s developmental drive.
A Member of the Council of State, Mr Adjei Annang, who represented the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashittey, challenged the guards to live above reproach as they contribute their quota towards the development of the assembly and the community as a whole.
GAF BUILDS ROAD AT TSUI BLEOO JUNCTION (DAILY GRAPHIC, PAGE 23, NOV 25, 2010)
WORK has begun on a two-kilometre road to link Teshie Tsui bleoo Junction to Agblaze, both in the Ledzokuku Krowor Municipal Assembly (LEKMA).
The project is being funded by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) at the cost of GH¢4,500 as part of its social responsibility.
When completed, the road would reduce traffic congestion and promote viable commercial activity in the predominantly fishing community.
Speaking at an inspection tour of the project site, Lt Stephen Karbo, a project officer at the 48 Engineers Regiment indicated that the GAF institution was committed to building a congenial atmosphere between the soldiers and the communities they operate in, the general public, as well as government agencies.
“And whereas GAF celebrates 60 years of military excellence, reshaping of the link road to create convenience for the community would also go a long way to help in crime reduction in the municipality,” he stated.
The Municipal Chief Executive for the area, Mr Daniel Amartey Mensah, commended the 48 Engineers and the Military High Command for the initiative, which he said would go a long way in complementing the assembly’s developmental goals.
He said the assembly was soliciting for funds for the construction of a dual carriage to link the Spintex Road and the Tema Motorway interchange project.
“It is our hope that the needed funds would be raised for the commencement of the project in March 2011,” he stated
Mr Mensah assured that LEKMA would not hesitate to award 20 per cent of its contract to the GAF after it had cleared the necessary processes from the National Procurement Authority.
The project is being funded by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) at the cost of GH¢4,500 as part of its social responsibility.
When completed, the road would reduce traffic congestion and promote viable commercial activity in the predominantly fishing community.
Speaking at an inspection tour of the project site, Lt Stephen Karbo, a project officer at the 48 Engineers Regiment indicated that the GAF institution was committed to building a congenial atmosphere between the soldiers and the communities they operate in, the general public, as well as government agencies.
“And whereas GAF celebrates 60 years of military excellence, reshaping of the link road to create convenience for the community would also go a long way to help in crime reduction in the municipality,” he stated.
The Municipal Chief Executive for the area, Mr Daniel Amartey Mensah, commended the 48 Engineers and the Military High Command for the initiative, which he said would go a long way in complementing the assembly’s developmental goals.
He said the assembly was soliciting for funds for the construction of a dual carriage to link the Spintex Road and the Tema Motorway interchange project.
“It is our hope that the needed funds would be raised for the commencement of the project in March 2011,” he stated
Mr Mensah assured that LEKMA would not hesitate to award 20 per cent of its contract to the GAF after it had cleared the necessary processes from the National Procurement Authority.
SPILLAGE CUTS OFF FISHING COMMUNITY (BACK PAGE, NOV 20, 2010)
ABUVIE-Kpong, a fishing community near Asutsuare in the Dangme West District of the Greater Accra Region, has completely been cut off following the spillage of excess water from the Akosombo Dam.
The spillage, which was done a fortnight ago, inundated 50 acres of farmland and the main road connecting the community to other areas, bringing economic activities there to a standstill.
The situation has affected schoolchildren who often trek over a mile daily to school at nearby Jorkpo because they cannot afford the daily transport fare of 40Gp charged by boat operators to ferry them across to school.
When the Daily Graphic visited the community on Thursday some residents were seen idling, while others sat in groups discussing the effects of the spillage on their livelihood.
An elder of the community, Mr Amey Havor, told the Daily Graphic that residents had to abandon their fishing activities, while those with resources travel to Asutsuare, Kpong and Dzemeni to procure fish for sale to residents of the town.
The Greater Accra Regional Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Winfred Nomotey-Tesia, who toured the community, expressed worry over the situation and appealed to the district assembly to, as a matter of urgency, provide a boat to help convey the children to and from school.
The Dangme West District Chief Executive, Mr Emmauel Odoi Anyemi-Lartey, said the assembly would move in to provide boats to convey the pupils as a temporary measure, while sustainable strategies would be developed to provide a respite for the people.
The spillage, which was done a fortnight ago, inundated 50 acres of farmland and the main road connecting the community to other areas, bringing economic activities there to a standstill.
The situation has affected schoolchildren who often trek over a mile daily to school at nearby Jorkpo because they cannot afford the daily transport fare of 40Gp charged by boat operators to ferry them across to school.
When the Daily Graphic visited the community on Thursday some residents were seen idling, while others sat in groups discussing the effects of the spillage on their livelihood.
An elder of the community, Mr Amey Havor, told the Daily Graphic that residents had to abandon their fishing activities, while those with resources travel to Asutsuare, Kpong and Dzemeni to procure fish for sale to residents of the town.
The Greater Accra Regional Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Winfred Nomotey-Tesia, who toured the community, expressed worry over the situation and appealed to the district assembly to, as a matter of urgency, provide a boat to help convey the children to and from school.
The Dangme West District Chief Executive, Mr Emmauel Odoi Anyemi-Lartey, said the assembly would move in to provide boats to convey the pupils as a temporary measure, while sustainable strategies would be developed to provide a respite for the people.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
TTI WINS KOREA PRESIDENT'S CUP (GRAPHIC SPORTS, NOV 19, 2010, PAGE 11)
TEMA Technical Institute for the second time emerged winners of the bi-annual Korean Residents Association (KRA) President’s Soccer Cup after securing a 2-0 victory over Manhean Secondary Technical in the final at the Tema Stadium last weekend.
Both teams beat 38 other public and private senior high schools drawn from the Tema and Ashaiman Metropolis to reach the final, with the winner taking home GH¢1,500 and a giant trophy donated by the association. The second and third placed teams took home GH¢1,000 and GH¢500 respectively.
The event also saw Tema Secondary School clinching the first position in the girls division after beating Manhean Secondary Technical on a 3-0 aggregate.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Korea Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Sang Hak Lee, said the bi-annual football gala and marathon instituted four years ago has served as a platform of friendship between the two countries and also promoted education through sports, complementing the teaching and learning He commended the Ghana Education Service (GES) for immensely supporting the event, and was optimistic that the programme would unearth football and athletics talents to take Ghana to higher heights.
The Chief Executive of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), Mr Kempes Ofosuware, commended the association for putting up the programme which does not only serve as a platform to promote goodwill between the two countries but also seeks to promote youth development in sports.
Mr Ofosuware proposed for a collaboration between the TMA and the Harbour City of Korea for a sister city partnership that would go a long way to promote development between them.
Earlier in his welcome address, the President of KRA, Mr Do Jae Kofi Yim, stated that, work on a multipurpose sports complex currently under construction at Tema Community 3 the cost of $1million was far advance.
According to him, the complex which comes with a volley ball and basket ball courts, swimming pool, conference hall amongst other facilities would go to effectively build the capacity of the youth in the country in the area of sports.
Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, Mr Nii Nortey Duah pledged his ministry’s support to the association and charge corporate institutions to redefine their social responsibility programmes that would incorporate the development of talents in the area of sports, saying, “their contribution would go a long way to promote sports development in the country as government alone cannot do all,” he stated.
Present at the ceremony was the Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Krakue II and the Tema Metropolitan Director of Education, Mr Kwesi Hutchful was called on the wining schools to put the cash prizes into the teaching of physical education.
CAPTION: Deputy Sports Minister, Nii Nortey Duah presenting the GHC1500 cheque to Collins Quarm, team captain of Tema Technical Institute
Both teams beat 38 other public and private senior high schools drawn from the Tema and Ashaiman Metropolis to reach the final, with the winner taking home GH¢1,500 and a giant trophy donated by the association. The second and third placed teams took home GH¢1,000 and GH¢500 respectively.
The event also saw Tema Secondary School clinching the first position in the girls division after beating Manhean Secondary Technical on a 3-0 aggregate.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Korea Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Sang Hak Lee, said the bi-annual football gala and marathon instituted four years ago has served as a platform of friendship between the two countries and also promoted education through sports, complementing the teaching and learning He commended the Ghana Education Service (GES) for immensely supporting the event, and was optimistic that the programme would unearth football and athletics talents to take Ghana to higher heights.
The Chief Executive of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), Mr Kempes Ofosuware, commended the association for putting up the programme which does not only serve as a platform to promote goodwill between the two countries but also seeks to promote youth development in sports.
Mr Ofosuware proposed for a collaboration between the TMA and the Harbour City of Korea for a sister city partnership that would go a long way to promote development between them.
Earlier in his welcome address, the President of KRA, Mr Do Jae Kofi Yim, stated that, work on a multipurpose sports complex currently under construction at Tema Community 3 the cost of $1million was far advance.
According to him, the complex which comes with a volley ball and basket ball courts, swimming pool, conference hall amongst other facilities would go to effectively build the capacity of the youth in the country in the area of sports.
Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, Mr Nii Nortey Duah pledged his ministry’s support to the association and charge corporate institutions to redefine their social responsibility programmes that would incorporate the development of talents in the area of sports, saying, “their contribution would go a long way to promote sports development in the country as government alone cannot do all,” he stated.
Present at the ceremony was the Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Krakue II and the Tema Metropolitan Director of Education, Mr Kwesi Hutchful was called on the wining schools to put the cash prizes into the teaching of physical education.
CAPTION: Deputy Sports Minister, Nii Nortey Duah presenting the GHC1500 cheque to Collins Quarm, team captain of Tema Technical Institute
Thursday, November 18, 2010
CHURCH OF CHRIST LAUNCHES HANDWASHING CAMPAIGN (PAGE 23, NOV 18, 2010)
THE Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), in collaboration with the Rural Water Development Programme of the Church of Christ, has launched a handwash campaign at Ashaiman aimed at improving upon the hygienic conditions of households within the municipality.
The wash day initiative sought to mobilise thousands of women in the community and its environs to wash their hands with soap in consolidation with global commitments.
The campaign dubbed, “Ashaiman Wash Day”, was to help break the cycle of disease transmissions while using women as agents of change for the adoption of hygienic behaviours and personal health conditions.
Speaking at the launch, the Extension Services Co-ordinator of the CWSA, Mrs Theodora Adomako-Adjei, indicated that studies conducted revealed over 2million children worldwide died of diarrhoea while 3.7million others died of respiratory infections annually.
According to her, 80 per cent of such infections leading to high incidence of deaths were caused by germs transferred into the body by hands, owing to the inability of majority of Ghanaians to wash their hands with soap at critical times, that is (during and after visiting the toilet), waste disposal amongst other tasks.
She said hand washing with soap was the most effective and inexpensive ways towards the prevention of diarrhoea and pneumonia, amongst other respiratory diseases.
It was for this reason, “We as an institution would not want to wait for an annual celebration of handwashing days before embarking upon campaigns aimed at improving sanitation and healthy life,” Mrs Adjei stated.
She challenged society to be inspired towards the adoption of simple but cost effective acts of washing with soap as a way of life.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Church of Christ Rural Development Programme, Mr Nathaniel Adams, said studies within Ashaiman and its environs revealed that, washing with soap at critical times was rarely practised.
He appealed to the general public to transform the idea of handwashing with soap from an abstract one to an automatic behaviour performed at homes, schools, communities to reduce deaths.
That, Mr Adams said, would make a significant contribution towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) on death among children below the age of five by 2015.
Gospel Musician, Grace Ashly, who is leading the campaign as a water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) ambassador, charged the market women to vigorously campaign against unhygienic practices in their homes and work areas.
That she said would be a major contributor to the well-being of consumers who patronise their products.
The wash day initiative sought to mobilise thousands of women in the community and its environs to wash their hands with soap in consolidation with global commitments.
The campaign dubbed, “Ashaiman Wash Day”, was to help break the cycle of disease transmissions while using women as agents of change for the adoption of hygienic behaviours and personal health conditions.
Speaking at the launch, the Extension Services Co-ordinator of the CWSA, Mrs Theodora Adomako-Adjei, indicated that studies conducted revealed over 2million children worldwide died of diarrhoea while 3.7million others died of respiratory infections annually.
According to her, 80 per cent of such infections leading to high incidence of deaths were caused by germs transferred into the body by hands, owing to the inability of majority of Ghanaians to wash their hands with soap at critical times, that is (during and after visiting the toilet), waste disposal amongst other tasks.
She said hand washing with soap was the most effective and inexpensive ways towards the prevention of diarrhoea and pneumonia, amongst other respiratory diseases.
It was for this reason, “We as an institution would not want to wait for an annual celebration of handwashing days before embarking upon campaigns aimed at improving sanitation and healthy life,” Mrs Adjei stated.
She challenged society to be inspired towards the adoption of simple but cost effective acts of washing with soap as a way of life.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Church of Christ Rural Development Programme, Mr Nathaniel Adams, said studies within Ashaiman and its environs revealed that, washing with soap at critical times was rarely practised.
He appealed to the general public to transform the idea of handwashing with soap from an abstract one to an automatic behaviour performed at homes, schools, communities to reduce deaths.
That, Mr Adams said, would make a significant contribution towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) on death among children below the age of five by 2015.
Gospel Musician, Grace Ashly, who is leading the campaign as a water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) ambassador, charged the market women to vigorously campaign against unhygienic practices in their homes and work areas.
That she said would be a major contributor to the well-being of consumers who patronise their products.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
GRACE ASHLY IS WASH AMBASSADOR (SHOWBIZ, PAGE 31, NOV 11, 2010)
By Della Russel Ocloo
GOSPEL musician, Grace Ashly, who was outdoored as a water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) ambassador during the recent celebration of the global hand wash day, last Tuesday educated traders and the general public at the Ashaiman central market on the essence of hand washing with soap.
The programme, put together by the Community Water and Sanitation Programme in collaboration with the Church of Christ Rural Water Development Programme, saw the gospel diva performing a special Wash Your Hand With Soap song she has recorded to promote the campaign which has been necessitated by the high incidence of morbidity, with children under five being the worst affected.
Speaking to Showbiz after the programme, Grace indicated that the apparent increase in the rate of diarrhoea and other respiratory diseases could be attributed to germs transferred into the body by the hands.
According to her, being a musician affords her the opportunity to effectively take the message about proper hand washing to the public.
Asked if she didn’t fear engaging in such altruistic activities which could affect her career as a gospel musician, Grace said the ability of a nation to progress depends to a great deal on the contribution every individual was willing to make.”
“For me, affecting the lives of people positively through music is a fulfilling task.”.
Touching on whether fellow gospel artistes feel jealous of each other’s successes, Grace said she rather preferred to describe some of her colleagues as hypocrites out to seek the downfall of fellow acts. She charged her colleague musicians to do away with pettiness and support causes that promote the development of Ghana.
GOSPEL musician, Grace Ashly, who was outdoored as a water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) ambassador during the recent celebration of the global hand wash day, last Tuesday educated traders and the general public at the Ashaiman central market on the essence of hand washing with soap.
The programme, put together by the Community Water and Sanitation Programme in collaboration with the Church of Christ Rural Water Development Programme, saw the gospel diva performing a special Wash Your Hand With Soap song she has recorded to promote the campaign which has been necessitated by the high incidence of morbidity, with children under five being the worst affected.
Speaking to Showbiz after the programme, Grace indicated that the apparent increase in the rate of diarrhoea and other respiratory diseases could be attributed to germs transferred into the body by the hands.
According to her, being a musician affords her the opportunity to effectively take the message about proper hand washing to the public.
Asked if she didn’t fear engaging in such altruistic activities which could affect her career as a gospel musician, Grace said the ability of a nation to progress depends to a great deal on the contribution every individual was willing to make.”
“For me, affecting the lives of people positively through music is a fulfilling task.”.
Touching on whether fellow gospel artistes feel jealous of each other’s successes, Grace said she rather preferred to describe some of her colleagues as hypocrites out to seek the downfall of fellow acts. She charged her colleague musicians to do away with pettiness and support causes that promote the development of Ghana.
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