Posted on October 10th,2024

TEPA: WORKERS DIVIDED OVER ABORTED ORGANIZED LABOUR STRIKE

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Some public sector workers in the Ahafo Ano North Municipal of the Ashanti region have expressed varied opinion on the 10th October aborted strike by Organized Labour (OL).

Opinions are divided over the decision by organized labour to call off its intended strike action over galamsey. The strike was intended to pressure government to ban all forms of mining in river bodies and forest reserves; repelling of the Legislative Instrument (L.I.) that opens the forest reserves for mining. But, according to organized labour, government has responded to the above demands and given a roadmap in resolving the galamsey issue; something they (Organized Labour) are satisfied with, hence the reason to call off the intended strike action.

This action by OL has been met with mixed reaction from a cross section of public sector workers here. Some workers are blaming the leadership of OL for compromising “ look, I don’t trust these guys, just that I was giving them the benefit of doubt this time, and they have disappointed me” said by one of the workers. Another worker that the ISD spoke to also said that “I strongly believe some monies have exchanged hands, else it doesn’t make sense to call off this strike action at this 11th hour” she said.

However, there were few staff who sided with OL to call off the strike. According to these workers, the government has shown some commitments and needs to be given some credits, “ the galamsey fight is not a one day issue, therefore, we need to exercise patient with the government.” Says by one staff. Some others says that, galamsey fight can not be left in the hands of the government only “ as citizens, we all have responsibilities towards the environment, therefore, we have to collaborate with government to solve this menace and definitely striking is not the way to go, dialogue is the way” said another worker.

However, there were few staff who sided with OL to call off the strike. According to these workers, the government has shown some commitments and needs to be given some credits, “ the galamsey fight is not a one day issue, therefore, we need to exercise patient with the government.” Says by one staff. Some others says that, galamsey fight can not be left in the hands of the government only “ as citizens, we all have responsibilities towards the environment, therefore, we have to collaborate with government to solve this menace and definitely striking is not the way to go, dialogue is the way” said another worker.

Posted on September 20th,2024

AHAFO ANO NORTH MUNICIPAL ELECTION TASK FORCE INAUGURATED; ISD HEADS MEDIA SUB-COMMITTEE

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Eight-member election task force for the Ahafo Ano North Municipality of the Ashanti Region has been inaugurated in Tepa.

The mandate of the tasked force is to ensure peace, before, during and after the December polls. As part of this mandate, the task force has designed programmes to engage all stakeholders in upcoming general elections. Among such engagements includes meeting with the two parliamentary candidates - honourable Eric Nana Agyemang Prempeh for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and honourable Akwasi Adusei for the National Democratic Congress (NDC); the executives of these parties are all identifiable groups in the municipality.

The chairman of the Task Force Superintendent Martin Asenso, in his introductory remarks urged members to give out their best in maintaining peace in the municipality. The chairman also commended members for a good work done in the previous exercises and hoped that this task force will also deliver on its mandate.

He also brief the house towards an arrangements leads to the December 7 polls. Municipal Electoral Officer, Madam Betty Mensah stated that; during the registration exercise and voter exhibition has been peaceful and successful. The Electoral Commission (EC) also commended the Municipal Security Agencies for their effort in ensuring a smooth run of these exercises. She added that all challenged cases have been resolved amicably. Inconclusion, Madam Betty Mensah says, the processes leading to the compilation of the register for the general elections is almost through with the certification by the court.

Information Services Department (ISD) heads the Media Sub-committee

Six sub-committees have been set up by the Task Force to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the work ahead. The committees are, Personnel Mobilization headed by the Police; Ballot Security headed by the Police; Intelligent Gathering headed by the NIB; Finance headed by the Municipal Assembly; Media headed by the ISD; and Transport headed by the Municipal Assembly.

The aim of this is to educate and give timely and accurate information on the elections to the electorates. The target of the media sub-committee is to reach out to all and sundry with the messages on the elections across the municipality.

The membership of the Ahafo Ano North Municipal Electoral Task Force comprise of the heads of the following institutions; the Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service , Ghana Immigration Service, National Investigation Bureau (NIB), Information Service Department(ISD), National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Electoral Commission and the Ahafo Ano North Municipal Assembly.

Posted on August 28th,2024

Election 2024: Interparty Dialogue Committee inaugurated in Tepa.

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Towards a peaceful general elections in December, an interparty Dialogue Committee has been inaugurated in Tepa to ensure violence free elections.

The committee tasked to ensure peace, before, during and after the general elections within the Ahafo Ano North Municipality. The committee has also resolved to settle any issues that may arise among the political parties in the elections.

The Municipal Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) hosted this interparty Dialogue Committee Meeting at the Tepa Community Centre. The meeting brought together representatives of the two main political parties- the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Others include, the Information Services Department, the Media, Traditional Authorities, the Religious organizations, the Security agencies, Electoral Commission and representatives of the people with disabilities.

Addressing the gathering, the Municipal Director of the NCCE Mr. Musah Sulemana highlighted the dangers of money politics, and mis/disinformation. The director stated that, using money to influence voters is illegal and not the best and must be discourage.

On miss/disinformation, Mr. Suleman appealed to the political parties and the public not to be deliberate about it “peddling falsehood can build tension that may at the end ruin the very peace we want to protect.” He said.

As part of the workings of the committee, five-member executive body has been elected to steer its affairs. The executive is made up of Nana Okufu Owusu Ansah from the Tepa Traditional Council as its chairman, the NCCE director as the Secretary, Municipal chief imam, chairman of the Municipal Christian Council and the Municipal Crime Officer as members. The task of the executive would be to organize programmes geared towards peaceful elections.

The political parties’ representatives pledged their support and commitments to violence free elections.

Posted on July 24th,2024

Tepa Host Professional Examination for 105 Apprentice Dressmakers.

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Last Saturday Tepa Zone 1 of the Ghana National Tailors and Dressmakers Association (GNTDA) conducted a crucial professional examination for its 105 apprentices.

Marking this significant milestone in their journey towards formal certification, tthese apprentices underwent intensive three-year training to prepare for this examination aimed at standardizing and formalizing the operations of Tailors and Dressmakers in the country. During a center tour by the ISD the Chairman of Tepa Zone 1 GNTDA Mr. Ibrahim Aziz Bright, stated the importance of diligent learning from masters. He advised apprentices to take their masters' teachings serious to ease the examination process, urging them to listen and obey their instructors.

The Coordinator of GNTDA in Tepa Zone 1 Mrs. Margaret Nartey appealed to the government and Local Authorities to outsource school uniforms and other attire directly to the apprentices for sewing. She argued that this would reduce youth unemployment and benefit the local community, as the association pay revenues to the Local Authority.

An examiner from the regional office Mr. Kwadwo Frimpong supervised the examination; Mr. Frimpong encouraged apprentices not to rest after the exams but to continue working until their certificates are issued. He highlighted the global value of their certifications, emphasizing that they could utilize them not only in Ghana but also internationally, even for sewing uniforms in security services.

Mr. Frimpong also emphasized parental support for children in craftwork, lamenting that parents tend to prioritize those in senior high schools over those pursuing vocational skills. He urged parents to equally care for and encourage their children in craft professions.

Posted on June 12th,2024

Election 2024: Ahafo Ano North NDC Invokes Curses over Alleged Voter Transfer Scheme.

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The Ahafo Ano North branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has taken a dramatic step in response to allegations of voter transfer manipulations by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) by publically invoking curses on the latter.

This move comes amid accusations that, the NPP is involved in buying non-resident voters into the constituency to influence upcoming elections. According to the NDC, reliable sources have informed that, the NPP to transfer votes from Kumasi to Ahafo Ano North Constituency. In a public display of their outrage, NDC members performed a ritual involving the pouring of libations and invoking deities to curse anyone attempting to transfer their vote to Ahafo Ano North Constituency without being a resident of the area.

The NDC has issued a stern warning to the NPP leadership, urging them to chase any efforts to manipulate the voter register by buying people into the constituency. The party expressed their readiness to battle anyone who would want to thwart the will of the people and called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to avoid being complicit in such actions.

The NPP has however denied this allegation and stated that if the NDC has a case, the party should resort to any legal means available to them. The NPP are satisfied with the EC over the exercise so far.

Posted on May 28th,2024

Ahafo Ano North Municipal marks world Menstrual Hygiene Day with establishment of pad bank for Schools girls.

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TThe Ahafo Ano North Municipal office of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has marked Global Menstrual Hygiene Day with the establishment of pad bank.

The pad bank is to afford needy schoolgirls who may not have the financial access to purchase sanitary pads to have one at no cost. This according to the District Coordinator for the School Health Education Program (SHEP), Mr. Foster Afedemenyo would serve as a relief to these girls who are always troubled every month.

This he believes would end the use of unhygienic materials by these girls in their menstrual cycle. This was announced at Anyinasuso where the Municipal GES marked this year’s world Menstrual hygiene day. Sustaining the pad bank, the SHEP coordinator has called on philanthropists, individuals and cooperate organizations to donate to the bank.

Mr. Afedemenyo lamented about lack of education on menstrual hygiene by most parents to their girl child; on that note, he called on parents to take the menstrual health of these children seriously, by guiding them on how to carry themselves in that period of the month.

In the Ahafo Ano North Municipality, its was a first time to observed world Menstrual hygiene day. Among the dignitaries from the Municipal Education Directorate who attended the event included the Deputy Director for Supervision and Monitoring Mr Justice Lumor, the Assistant Director EM/Examination Coordinator Mr. Suleman, Circuit Supervisor for the Anyinasuso Madam Susana Animah and Early Childhood Education Officer Madam Baah Vida. At the event, some pads were distributed to school girls present. They expressing their gratitude for the gesture, some of the girls called on the government to help reduce the cost of sanitary pads.

Posted on April 24th,2024

STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT ON INTEGRATED SOCIAL SERVICES DELIVERY SYSTEMS.

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The Municipal Coordinating director and again a facilitator of the ISSD Mr. Abdul Hussein in his welcome address said that, all the stakeholder should coordinate in the successful implementation of the ISSD. Among the stakeholders’ present were the DOVVSU, CHRAJ, GHS, NHIS, PLANNING, GES BIRTH AND DEATH, SOCIAL WELFARE, GIS and many more.

The stakeholders discussed in the need for working together for a successful implementation of the ISSD and they all came to the agreement that; they should all assist themselves with needed information and again with DATA when requested for by a stakeholder to assist such department in the preparation of its reports.

The acting director of SWCD, Mr. Frimpong Isaac briefed the stakeholders on SWIMS and how it is important for the stakeholders to assist the Social welfare Department with the needed information when requested for, so that the social welfare Department can successfully prepare the SWIMS forms and forward it to Accra.

They again discussed issues on referring of cases and concluded that, the social welfare department should make copies of the referral forms to be given to the stakeholders to assist on the referral of cases.

A lot of suggestions from the various stakeholders were raised and among some of them was

1, the birth and death officer suggested on collaboration with DSWCD in the free birth and registration in some of the villages in the municipality.

2. the immigration officer suggested that, with the child labour, the communities should be educated on it before any other action is been taking on the defaulters.

3 the NHIS suggested on the intensity of the leap beneficiaries’ cases by the DSWCD to the NHIS .

Mr. Abdul Hussein the Municipal Coordinating Director, in his closing remarks commended the department of Social Welfare and Community Development for organizing the program and urged the stakeholders to be united and committed to the course of using multi-dimensional approaches in making services accessible and responsive at the local level and closer to the people to ensure effective coordination of the child and family welfare system at all levels.

Posted on March 7th,2024

Ahafo Ano North Municipal Celebrate 67th Independence Day at Agyemang Prempeh Stadium.

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The nationwide Independence Day celebration has been marked with a spectacular march pass parade at Tepa by school children.

The event that lasted for 2 hours was well participated by 13 schools comprising six public basic schools, five private basic schools and two public senior high schools. The parade was augmented by Tepa Seventh Day Adventist Basic School, Tepa Senior High School and Maabeng Senior High School Cadets as well as the Tepa Methodist Brigade.

The 11 basic schools were drawn from Tepa west Circuit of the Ghana Education Service namely Tepa SDA school, Tepa Methodist School, Tepa R/C School, Tepa Presby School, Tepa Islamic, and Tepa Anglican for the Public Schools. The private Schools were made up Ancila Basic School, Fountain of Life Basic School, Deeper Life Basic School, and King Jesus International School.

Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Ashanti Regional Coordinating Director representing the Regional Minister, Mr. I.K. Acheampong underscored the importance of the celebration of such a national event. He mentioned that, event such as the Independence Day, do not remind us of our freedom from colonialism but our pride as Ghanaians.

Mr. IK Acheampong touching on the Ghanaian pride reminded us to protect the democracy that has given the country economic and social stability since 1992. He cautioned Ghanaians to safeguard it by not jeopardizing it in anyway. He took turn to remind Ghanaians to continue to pray for the peace of the nation as we prepare for the polls in December.

Mr. IK Acheampong together with the Municipal Police Commander Mr Martin Asenso, and the Municipal Director of Education Mrs. Grace oppong Agyapong received the match pass salute. All the participating schools and groups received certificates of participation from the organizers. All the three parade commanders from the Municipal Fire Station were also honoured with certificate of recognition.

The occasion was well attended by the following dignitaries, the Tepa Traditional Council with its president Nana Darko Antwerewa Ampem I, the Director General of NADMO Nana Eric Agyemang Prempeh, heads of Departments and Agencies and their staff. The theme for the celebration this year was “Our Democracy, Our Pride”.

Posted on February 12th,2024

CORDINATING DIRECTOR OF AHAFO ANO NORTH MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY ON THE OCCASION OF THE INAUGURATION OF THE 9TH ASSEMBLY OF THE MUNICIPAL HELD AT THE FORECOURT OF THE ASSEMBLY, TEPA - ASHANTI

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I am deeply honoured and humbled to, on behalf of the Ashanti Regional Minister, the Acting Municipal Chief Executive of Ahafo Ano North Municipal Assembly, welcome you all to the inauguration and installation of the Ninth Assembly of the Ahafo Ano North Municipal Assembly.

On behalf of the good people of the Ahafo Ano North Municipality, Members and staff of the Assembly, and on my own behalf, I wish to thank you all, especially the Hon Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development and members of his team, for coming to add glamour to this very important national event. The Ahafo Ano North Municipal Assembly, with Tepa as its capital, was one of the first batch of 110 District Assemblies established in 1988 per PNDC Law 207.

The Assembly was elevated to the status of a municipality per Legislative Instrument (L.I) 2264 in November 2017 and currently has a total membership of 58 – comprising thirty-nine (39) elected, seventeen (17) Government Appointees with the Municipal Chief Executive and Member of Parliament inclusive. The Assembly boasts of Seven (7) Zonal Councils and 195 members of the Unit Committees.

Nana Chairman, I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate the Hon Assembly Members, who have won the mandate of their people to represent them in this Assembly. To you Hon. Members, I say congratulations and Ayekoo! Again, I would also like to congratulate those whose expertise, knowledge and rich experience have been endorsed by His Excellency, the President to serve this Assembly as Government Appointees. By committing yourself to be a member of this noble and distinguished family, one is convinced that you are determined and poised to help the Ahafo Ano North Municipal Assembly achieve its vision and goals, which are geared towards ensuring the socio-economic development of the municipality.

Nana Chairman, the Local Governance Act 2016, Act 936, underscores the importance of local Assemblies in planning, implementing, and managing development projects. It envisions a governance structure where the needs of our communities are not only identified but also addressed with urgency and efficiency. As we inaugurate the newly elected members, we entrust into their hands the responsibility of aligning their actions with the aspirations of the people, ensuring that no community is left behind in our march towards progress.

Beyond the legal framework, we must acknowledge the crucial role played by our traditional leaders, community elders, and various stakeholders in fostering a conducive environment for the democratic process. Their guidance and support have been instrumental in the success of the District Level Elections. We, therefore, extend our profound gratitude to them for their unwavering commitment to the well-being of our communities. To the newly elected members of this Assembly, I offer my heartfelt congratulations. Your election is not merely a victory for individuals but a triumph for the collective will of our communities. Your role is pivotal in ensuring that the dividends of democracy reach every doorstep, addressing the unique challenges faced by each locality and promoting inclusivity in decision-making.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, as we witness this momentous occasion, let us reflect on the significance of our local governance system. It is a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and shared responsibility. It is a commitment to fostering unity, understanding, and the equitable distribution of resources. It is a testament to our belief in the power of communities to shape their own destinies. To our re-elected Assembly Members, it is my hope that you will share your time-tested experiences about the Assembly procedures with your new colleagues. To the newly elected and appointed, it behoves you to quickly master the processes and procedures of the Assembly as enshrined in the Model Standing Orders, Local Governance Act 2016, (Act 936) and other statutes to integrate yourselves well into the Assembly system. I encourage the newly inaugurated members to approach their responsibilities with dedication, humility, and a profound sense of service. May your tenure be marked by visionary leadership, collaborative governance, and an unwavering commitment to the welfare of our people. Concluding my remarks, I wish to thank the Hon. Minister of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development and his entourage for making time to be part of this auspicious event. My profound appreciation also goes to the Hon. Member of Parliament, the Director General of NADMO, Hon. Assembly Members, Heads of Departments, and indeed, all those who have taken time off their busy schedules to come and grace this important event.

Posted on January 27th,2024

NPP Primaries: NADMO DG wins Ahafo Ano North parliamentary bid.

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The Director General (DG) of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) Nana Agyemang Prempeh has emerged victorious in just ended NPP parliamentary primaries in Tepa.

The NADMO Director General pulled 393 votes to secure a win over his close contender Fosu Frimpong who pulled 311 votes of the total ballot of 706 cast, a total of two ballots were rejected by the Electoral Commission. The Saturday 27th January election was peaceful here. Earlier, observers were divided over who the victor could be; whilst some were calling it out for Agyemang Prempeh, others too mentioned that Fosu Frimpong can pull a surprise.

After, the polls, those observers who supported Agyemang Prempeh’s bid expressed disappointment over the outcome. In their estimation, these observers expected over 70% win for the NADMO DG. On the other hand, those who supported Fosu Frimpong’s bid were also disappointed that their candidate didn’t win the primaries.

The Municipal Electoral Officer Berthy Mensah has since declared Nana Agyemang Prempeh as the Parliamentary Candidate Elect for the New Patriotic Party in the Ahafo Ano North Constituency in the Ashanti Region.