Christmas Songs - We Wish You a Merry Christmas Lyrics

CAMBODIA ARRIVES HOME TONIGHT

The Director of Education for the West Mamprusi District will be arriving in Ghana tonight at about 9:30pm with the British airline . The Director has been in abroad for three months to study, and will finally be landing at the Kotoka International Airport tonight.

Talking to some officers and teachers about what they expect of his home coming, this what they got to say.

"Alhaji is a man we believe will help improve the educational discipline of teachers, students and even we at the office. This is because, the man lead by example. He respect time a lot and have no believe for what is known as "Ghanaian Time", and does why I called him a man of example. I remember very well that the first time I met him was at a meeting in Tamale, and I tell you what, he was there even before the organizers, so if you happen to find such a man in your district, then it means improvement in everything".

Mr. Mahama Yahaya
G.E.S Walewale

"For me I believe his coming home will help in gaining more idea about simple methods of teaching and learning, because I believe he has acquired more experience in the UK educational curriculum and would like to implement them here in Ghana and Walewale for that matter to see some changes in our schools.

Mr Thomas Mejida
Gbimsi R/C J.H.S

CAMBODIA'S VISIT TO WORTHING

As part of the District Director of Education for the West Mamprusi visit to England, he visited Madame Janet, her husband and her school in Worthing on 12th November. Madam Janet was once a volunteer at the District Education Service in Ghana-Walewale, which she served under the leadership of Alhaji Mohammed Haroon now in England. He went with Michael Stark and some officers from the Department of Education in England, to present the school with an Investors in People Gold Award.

Cambodia & some staffs

He was given a chance to address the whole staff and pupils of Broadwater C E School, of which Madame Janet is the Principal. He was also taken around the school as well as the town, Peter and Janet also took him to an old town called Arundel with a Castle and a Cathedral.





The Director also had an English Cream Tea in a quaint coffee shop where he enjoyed his first Cream Tea!"


According to the Director, it is nice meeting people you have leaved with in another land and therefore promised to deliver all experiences gain from the trip into the Ghana educational Service most specially Walewale.

Cambodia & Janet Sharp

Meanwhile, the Director will be visiting the Cashman's on Wednesday

C.I.C I.C.T CLUB JOINS FACEBOOK

The Walewale Community Information Centre I.C.T Club has joint facebook to link its members to other clubs globally. The patron of the Club, Mr. Mahama I Mashood, in a speech to students of the Nazoori Junior High School in Walewale, stated that this will develop more passion for students to learn how to use internet in finding friends and other educational websites.

He added again that, the C.I.C will be introducing an I.C.T quiz competition for schools in the Walewale, and encouraged I.C.T teachers to give the C.I.C a helping hand when the time comes.

CAMBODIA ARRIVES IN LONDON

The District Director of Education for the west Mamprusi District Alhaji Mohammed Haroon arrived in London with a very warm welcome from the Cashman family.

Alhaji Mohammed Haroon popularly known as Cambodia, will be staying for 3 good months. Being new at the place, the Cashman family decided taking him round to see how London looks like. So Oxford was the place to go since it has one of the most recognized university in the world of which one of the Cashman's is attending. So they went on a two hours drive on bus heading to Oxford.

In arriving at Oxford, Dan Cashman who studies at the university welcomed both the Director and his family and took them to some of the most beautiful places in the campus and around the town.

CAMBODIA AND DAN CASHMAN

CHARLOTTE CASHMAN & CAMBODIA

CAMBODIA & MIKE CASHMAN


CAMBODIA, THE CASHMAN FAMILY & A FRIEND

Facebook founder times big schools gift with unflattering movie release

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg--who placed as the 35th richest person on the just-released Forbes 400 list-- is giving troubled schools in Newark, N.J., an enormous $100 million gift on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" on Friday. As it happens, that's the same day an unflattering and much-buzzed-about movie premieres in which he's portrayed as a power-hungry and socially awkward genius.

"The Social Network" premieres Friday at the New York Film Festival, and is already being compared to "Citizen Kane" and "The Godfather," two iconic portraits of powerful men felled by their own ambition.

[Facebook execs' efforts against upcoming movie]

The 26-year-old hasn't engaged in much high-profile philanthropy so far -- unlike fellow tech billionaire and education reformer Bill Gates -- which makes his Oprah appearance and $100 million gift more notable. Zuckerberg will announce the donation alongside Newark Mayor Cory Booker and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, according to the New York Times' scoop. The money represents an eighth of the city's total education budget. Zuckerberg's net worth skyrocketed by 245 percent in the past year as Facebook's market valuation topped $23 billion.

[Status update: 7 surprising secrets about Zuckerberg]

Zuckerberg, described as a "wary and private" person in a recent New Yorker profile, has been forced to tear down some of the barriers between his life and the public. This new plunge into civic-minded activity seems designed in part to fend off bad publicity generated by the film and accusations that as a student, he hacked into private emails and stole the original idea for the site from fellow students. The movie is loosely based on an equally unflattering book by Ben Mezrich, who used a burned former Facebook investor (and former Harvard colleague of Zuckerberg) as his primary source.

[Photos: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg]

According to the movie, Zuckerberg created the site to get admitted to exclusive parties and to meet girls. (Rebecca O'Brien has a more nuanced take on Zuckerberg's college years here.)

[Is "The Social Network" a hatchet job?]

"I think a lot people will look at that stuff, you know, when I was 19, and say, 'Oh, well, he was like that. ... He must still be like that, right?" Zuckerberg told the New Yorker. He added that he does not plan to see the movie, though he was spotted by at least two people at a Seattle screening Wednesday.

Whatever the motive for the gift, the money will translate into big changes for Newark schools. Under the terms of Zuckerberg's donation, Christie will give the reform-minded mayor more control over schools. There's speculation he may hire hard-charging D.C. Chancellor Michelle Rhee to head up schools now that Rhee's prime supporter, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, has been voted out of office. Meanwhile, the nation's education reformers -- who emphasize teacher evaluations tied to student test scores and independent charter schools -- are sure to welcome another billionaire recruit to their cause.

Prostitution at Children’s Home

In his recent appearance before the 11-member Committee set up by the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare on the cases of abuse, neglect and deaths which he recently uncovered in the Osu Children’s Home, The New Crusading GUIDE’s ace investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas brought forth new revelations which were not captured in his 90-minute investigative television documentary that was aired publicly.

Anas, who appeared before the committee with his face covered (for security reasons), pointed out that a Guest House at the Home serves as a prostitution joint for members of the public who bring in prostitutes for sex, a situation which does not augur well for the upbringing of the children. “People openly bring prostitutes into the Guest house and in the morning after sleeping with them, they hold them in their skimpy dresses and pass in front of the children. As a result of this, the children have on many occasions found condoms around the Home, which normally come from the Guest House”, Anas stated. He mentioned other cases of staff apartments being rented out to members of the public; teenage girls of the Home being picked at night by their boyfriends on a regular basis. The undercover reporter went ahead to tell the Committee that he and his hidden cameras are still within the walls of the Osu Children’s Home and things have not changed in any significant way. “As I speak, I am still in the Osu Children’s Home, and I am sorry to say that things have not changed in any way. Akuamoah is still beating the children and the same caregivers caught abusing the children are still there, making frantic efforts to indoctrinate the children into not speaking the truth as revealed in the documentary. Some of the children are complying, but many others would be willing to talk provided it was done in an atmosphere of genuine love and trust”, he told the Committee. On the cases presented in the 90-minute documentary, Anas told the Chairman and members of the Committee that he had since been contacted by many volunteers who had worked within the Osu Children’s Home over the years as well as some individuals who had witnessed the reported cases firsthand and were willing to appear before the committee to share their experiences. “Most of them want to testify without any risk of being victimized or losing their connection with the children within the Home”, he said. Anas also promised to provide the Committee with the identities of some individuals who live within the Osu Children’s Home and are willing to testify before the committee provided they are assured of the needed confidentiality. Also, a group of volunteers who have served within the Osu Children’s Home over the years have created a platform on the social networking site, FACEBOOK to share their experiences at the Home and garner support towards improved conditions at the Home. Created under the name, “Help Change Barbaric Conditions at Osu Children’s Home”, this platform currently has some 432 members who have joined the cause to call for an improvement in the standard of living for children in the Osu Children’s Home. Among these volunteers, many people have shared harrowing experiences they witnessed at the Home and many more have expressed their willingness to help the committee when called upon. They have also posted videos and pictures on the website, which they took while volunteering in the Home. Currently, some of the volunteers residing in Ghana have expressed their readiness to appear before the committee. They have also called for the Committee’s intervention on the current situation where most volunteers are being victimized by authorities of the Home and being accused of leaking information of abuse at the Home to Anas Aremeyaw Anas. They have noted that as a result of this, all volunteers have been asked not to step foot at the Home again, denying them an opportunity to share their time and gifts with the children; the reason for which they came to Ghana. “It is a waste of time. If I knew I would pay my airfare to come and help children in the Home, only to be denied access, I would have gone to Kenya or to Ethiopia to serve the children there”, said one of the volunteers under anonymity. On his part, Antwi-Boasiako Sekyere, Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Welfare who doubles as chairman of the Committee, stated the Committee’s commitment to ensure that the whole process was conducted in a very fair and transparent manner. “I want to assure you that we would welcome anybody who has anything to add on this matter and promise them the needed confidentiality”. The chairman also called on the general public and stakeholders to submit recommendations aimed at assisting in caring and protecting children from harm at such orphanages to promote their normal growth and development into responsible adulthood. He said the Committee would hold two public hearings on Thursday, September 23 and Thursday, September 30 at the Media centre at the Accra Sports stadium. Meanwhile, The New Crusading GUIDE has filed a petition to the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) through its legal counsel, Ken Attafuah Law Place. The petition, filed on behalf of the newspaper and the scores of children in the Osu Children’s Home as well as the Remand Home, requested CHRAJ to “investigate its allegations of violations of the fundamental rights of children, abuse of power and corruption at the Osu Children’s Home and the Osu Remand Home, both in Accra”.

See Below For The Full Petition Sent On Behalf Of The New Crusading GUIDE By Ken Attafuah Law Place Legal Practitioners, Kesewaa Chambers
September 14, 2010
THE COMMISSIONER COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS & ADMINISTRATIVE JUSTICE (CHRAJ) CHRAJ HEADQUARTERS HIGH STREET ACCRA
Dear Sir,
COMPLAINT OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AT OSU CHILDREN’S HOME AND OSU REMAND HOME
We act as counsel for and on behalf of The New Crusading Guide Newspaper.
We hold the instructions of our client to formally complain to you about, and to request that you investigate its allegations of, violations of the fundamental human rights of children, abuse of power and corruption at the Osu Children’s Home and the Osu Remand Home, both in Accra.
Our client makes this complaint on its own behalf as a corporate citizen of Ghana with an enduring interest in the protection of children’s rights. Our client also makes the complaint on behalf of the scores of children in the two homes – children who are not in a position to file a complaint on their own behalf. It is our client’s instruction that the children in these homes constitute a captive population and/or detainees, and most of them are either illiterate or are simply incapable of filing a complaint as a result of mental incompetence and/or lack of awareness of their basic rights. Accordingly, this complaint is filed pursuant to Section 2(2) of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (Investigations Procedure) Regulations (2010), Constitutional Instrument No. 67.
A. Evidence of Violations
The evidentiary bases of our client’s allegations are derived from the results of a seven-month undercover investigation conducted by its ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, at the two homes for the care of children in distress or in conflict with the law. Some of the highlights of the results of the said investigation were captured in a 90-minute television documentary publicly aired on September 1, 2010. On behalf of our client, we hereby enclose for your kind attention and perusal a CD-Rom copy of the said documentary.
Osu Children’s Home
Our client specifically alleges the following violations by the under-listed respondents against children at the Osu Children’s Home: 1. Subjection of children to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, contrary to Article 28(3) of the Constitution of the Fourth Republic of Ghana (1992) and Section 13(1) of the Children’s Act (1998) (Act 560). This includes:
a. Undignified, abusive and discriminatory treatment of children with mental and physical disabilities, contrary to Article 15(1) of the 1992 Constitution and Section 10 of Act 560; and b. Subjection of some children to corporal punishment;
2. Physical, verbal and emotional abuse of some children;
3. Deprivation of food to some children as punishment;
4. Abuse of power contrary to Article 218(a) of the Constitution;
5. Deprivation of medical care to some sick children, leading to the death of one child;
6. Maintenance of inhuman and inhospitable living conditions that endanger the health and lives of inmates; and
7. Corruption, including the unlawful sharing and appropriation of food donations and other items meant for the upkeep of the children, contrary to Article 218(a) of the Constitution.
Osu Remand Home
Our client also alleges that the following human rights violations were perpetrated against children at the Boys’ Unit of the Osu Remand Home:
1. Physical abuse of inmates;
2. Solitary confinement of some children; and
3. Maintenance of inhuman and inhospitable living conditions that endanger the health and lives of inmates.
B. Respondents
The said homes are under the Department of Social Welfare – an agency of state under the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare. This complaint is made against the following specific persons as respondents:
1. The Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare; 2. Hon, E. T. Mensah, Minister, Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare; 3. The Department of Social Welfare 4. Mr. Stephen Adongo, Director, Department of Social Welfare; 5. Mrs. Sharon Abbey, Manageress, Osu Children’s Home; 6. Auntie Evelyn (full name unknown), Care Giver, Osu Children’s Home 7. Grace Ohene, Care Giver; Osu Children’s Home 8. Gladys Nartey; Care Giver, Osu Children’s Home 9. Florence Adams; Care Giver, Osu Children’s Home and 10. Mr. Akuamoah Boateng, 21-year old in-mate, Osu Children’s Home 11. Mr. Amankwah, Supervisor, Boys’ Unit, Osu Remand Home
C. Liability for Violations and Abuses
Evidently, responsibility for the violations outlined above and detailed on the CD-ROM varies among the above-named respondents as follows:
a. The Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, the Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, the Department of Social Welfare, and the Director of the Department of Social Welfare bear overall responsibility for policy development and implementation, as well as the resourcing of the homes for their safe and efficient care and maintenance, including the general duty to ensure the wellbeing of the inmates and staff. They were negligent in their duty to prevent the abuses and the existence of inhuman conditions at the homes. They jointly and severally bear vicarious liability for the impugned conduct and the maintenance of the inhuman conditions in the homes.
b. The Manageress of the Osu Children’s Home is responsible for the day-to-day running of the home, including supervision and monitoring of staff to ensure compliance with established standards of care, maintenance of a safe and congenial environment in the home, and provision of the basic necessities of life, including food, clothing and shelter in dignity and respect. She bears direct and vicarious liability for the violations.
c. Each member of staff – Grace Ohene, Gladys Nartey and Florence Adams – bears direct responsibility for the performance of their assigned duties and roles which includes, most fundamentally, the provision of care to the children in a manner that respects the rights of the children as human beings at all times and ensures that the best interests of the children remain paramount in all decisions and actions affecting them. They bear direct responsibility for the violations.
d. Mr. Akuamoah Boateng is a 21-year old man. He is an “overgrown inmate” who renders gratuitous assistance to the caregivers at the Osu Children’s Home in preparing the kids for school and supervising them generally. He physically and verbally abuses the kids at will. He is no longer a child, and must be sanctioned and removed from the home.
e. Mr. Amankwah personally subjected some of the boys at the Osu Remand Home to a regime of physical abuse and corporal punishment. He must be held personally liable for the human rights violations that occurred at the Unit.
D. Reliefs Sought
The following constitute the remedies our client seeks through the pursuit of this complaint:
1. An order compelling the respondents to cease and desist from the violations and abuses complained of, and to refrain from violating and abusing the rights of other children under their care;
2. An order for the discontinuation of any and all practices that infringe on the rights of children at the homes as described above;
3. An order to the appropriate authorities to sanction and remove from office the following persons for abusing or facilitating the abuse of the rights of children in the two homes:
a. Mr. Stephen Adongo, Director, Department of Social Welfare; b. Mrs. Sharon Abbey, Manageress, Osu Children’s Home; c. Mr. Amankwah, Supervisor, Boys’ Unit, Osu Remand Home; d. Ms. Auntie Evelyn, Care Giver, Osu Children’s Home; e. Ms. Grace Ohene, Care Giver; Osu Children’s Home; f. Ms. Gladys Nartey; Care Giver, Osu Children’s Home; g. Ms. Florence Adams; Care Giver, Osu Children’s Home; and h. Mr. Akuamoah Boateng, 21-year old in-mate, Osu Children’s Home
4. An order compelling the authorities at the Osu Children’s Home to account for all revenues and donations received over the past three years.
5. An order to the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare and the Department of Social Welfare to establish a rigorous regime of policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the relevant constitutional provisions on children’s rights and the applicable provisions of the Act 560;
6. An order compelling the Director of the Department of Social Welfare to publish and file with CHRAJ annually a report on its operations with special reference to the observance of fundamental human rights in the homes, including measures taken to ensure respect for the rights of children with physical and/or mental disabilities or other special needs;
7. An order to the Department of Social Welfare to cause to be included in the training programme at the School of Social Welfare a comprehensive examinable course of instruction in such areas as: (a) Principles of Human Rights, Justice and Democracy in Places of Detention; (b) Implementing Human Rights Principles in Special Homes and Detention Centers, (c) Caring for Children with Special Needs; and (d) Challenges in Contemporary Social Work Practice in Ghana.
We firmly assure you, Sir, of our readiness to fully assist you to undertake, in respect of this complaint, the kind of thorough investigations for which the CHRAJ is well known.
Yours truly,
Prof. Kenneth Agyeman Attafuah Managing Solicitor

Source:The New Crusading Guide

KOFI ANNAN CLOSING REMARKS

2010 AFRICAN GREEN REVOLUTION
Let me start by thanking the government of Ghana for the excellent support and generous hospitality they have accorded to this first-ever African Green Revolution Forum. Let me thank my dear friend, former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo for joining us. I also wish to express my deep appreciation to Prime Minister Peter Pinda of the Republic of Tanzania.

My gratitude to the ministers from several countries, as well as the many business leaders, farmers, and civil societies, for joining us for these past three days.

I take this opportunity to sincerely thank all the sponsors that made this unique Forum possible. I am honored that all of you accepted my invitation to this Forum.

When I took on the task of chair of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, I knew we had to get a green revolution on its way. I think we have started doing that.

However, for it to turn into a massive revolution that will impact many countries and millions of farmers – for that is the only scale that matters – we need a movement behind us. I cannot do this alone.

Therefore, as I stand before you this morning, I am thrilled to see that a genuine movement has emerged. It is a collective, all-inclusive movement. For present here for the past 3 days were farmers. The real foot soldiers. We demonstrated that we are not doing this for them; we are doing this with them.

This week I saw something I have never seen before. The bankers for Africa were in attendance. The CEOs of Africa were in attendance. And they stayed for three days! This is something you never hear of on this continent. Friends said this is the first time they have ever seen such a group of top bankers and CEOs at an agricultural event.

This is excellent news. We are finally getting the message across. Agriculture pays. Agriculture is a business. And we are ready to run it as one, for millions of smallholder farmers.

I saw African scientists this week who are at the forefront of developing Africa’s own solutions to unlock agricultural productivity.

I saw our women – from farmers to scientists, policymakers to owners of agric business – rallying behind the movement. This is encouraging, for only they know, better than anyone that the green revolution is first and foremost about them! Africa’s women will lead the charge.

I saw civil society organizations that are critical to the movement step up with renewed commitment.

I was particularly delighted to see the cream of Africa’s parliamentarians join us. They carried a unique message. “We represent our constituencies, the majority of whom are farmers.” They pledged to step up to the plate and make sure the green revolution happens, to transform their people’s lives.

Of course we had African political figures come out in force. The Prime Minister from Tanzania. The Vice President of Ghana. And the indefatigable presence of the former President of Nigeria, His Excellency Obasanjo. These gracious, impassioned leaders threw their political weight behind this shining moment of transformation for Africa.

So you can feel my heart beat, for I know that we have arrived at the tipping point. We have converted words to action. We have launched ourselves on a trajectory toward taking the green revolution to scale.

Let me reflect a little bit on the concrete actions going forward that have come out of this forum.

First: We are agreed to pool our efforts and resources to scale up breadbasket investment plans across many more African countries, consistent with the investment blueprints for the agricultural growth corridors, and the country compacts of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Program of the African Union-NEPAD.

Second: We have agreed to empower women throughout the agricultural value chain by accelerating the access to improved technology, finance, markets – and most importantly – strongly engage their participation in the policy formulation processes.

Third: We have agreed to implement the Impact Investment Fund for African Agriculture in order to scale up access to finance by farmers and agri-businesses.

Four: Increase investment in science, technology and research for food and nutrition security. But this has to be done on a sustained basis, and in cooperation with the farmers.

Five: We have agreed to accelerate access to improved seed by promoting the entire value chain, including support for plant breeding, seed companies and seed distribution systems.

Six: We have agreed to improve fertilizer supply systems and encourage more efficient fertilizer value chains, and to scale up agro dealers to improve access by farmers.

For all of the above to work, we also agreed to implement more inclusive business models that link agri-businesses, commercial farms and smallholder farmers. And we also agreed that this agri-business model must be firmly supported by investments in infrastructure, including irrigation, storage and food processing. All of this must ensure that smallholder farmers benefit.

We must exercise better water management – getting the most crop per drop of water and ensuring that our farmers can build an asset base that will improve their resilience.

We must recognize that the backbone of African agriculture is mixed crop livestock systems. Livestock will be integrated into the vitally important breadbasket initiatives and corridor models, to make them even more efficient and sustainable. It is key to food security in Africa.

President Obasanjo reminded us of the need to change the mindset. It is okay to be a farmer!

We all know that we cannot succeed unless governments play their role. We cannot get used to poverty. We will eradicate it. African governments must rise up and seize the moment. As I said in my opening remarks, if leaders don’t lead, the people will make them lead! But I am convinced that you, who hold the reins of power, will lead at this most crucial time as we realize our dream of achieving a green revolution for Africa.

As we go forward, the euphoria must be tempered by the sobering reality of climate change. We will put in place measures to adapt to this onslaught of nature. The African farmer did not cause climate change. But she must bear the brunt of it.

Let’s change our destiny. I call for the global community to honor their commitments for climate change adaptation in support of millions of African smallholder farmers.

Ladies and gentlemen – partners in hope – optimism can no longer be deferred. The time for action is now. For as you leave this forum, you are carrying upon your shoulders the vibrant hopes of a generation and a continent. We will not dash the dream of the African farmer.

Yesterday we celebrated the remarkable life and achievements of the architect of the green revolution.

Dr. Normal Borlaug saved more lives than anyone else in history. And yet in his final days, his very last words were, “Take it to the farmer!” Yes – take it to the farmer. It is our mandate that his words live on. And they shall, with Africa’s own and unique green revolution.

When we gathered here three days ago, we walked into this hall as individuals – isolated from one another and unsure of what the path forward might be.

Today we move forward, strongly united and passionately committed to the concrete actions that we have jointly developed.

With our hands on the plow, we will till this beautiful land’s soil together, and help Africa reap a bountiful harvest.

This is Africa’s moment. Together, as a movement, we will feed Africa. And we will not fail!

Thank you very much.

ZAYAA MOSQUE AT WULUGU

The Zayaa mosque as lots of people call it is located at Wulugu, 14km from Walewale in the West Mamprusi district. It is one of the 20^thC buildings in the country built from mud. It is peculiar in that it is an uncommon storeyed traditional design of historical and military interest.

Sheik Abdul-Karim, the man behind this historic building ,had a vision of the building in a dream when he was residing at Bawku in the Upper East Region.

He migrated to Bolgatanga in search of a place to put up the building but could not find any land available. So he decided moving through Pwalugu and then to Wulugu which finally became his home. When he first got to this area, he lived in a small home.

He had the same vision again in a dream but this time, it showed him clearly where to put the building and how it should look like.

When he got up the next morning, he saw a hand-dug well in the area where his vision directed him to put up the building and that simply implied that God had provided him with water to use for the building, since it was hard to find water for building by then.

So the next day he started putting up the building but realized that any time he built to some level and broke of for the next day, the building automatically increased to another level, meaning some unknown person continued building. He tried several times at night to see if he could find that person but all to no avail.

One night again, he got another vision from a dream and it said to him “The land I have shown to you is a place to be kept holy”. And this is why any person visiting the place is told to take off his / her shoes before entering the building.

The building is a combination of two structures. A mosque and a house. The Sheik lived in the house whiles his wives and children lived at a separate building but closer to it.

The Zayaa building has 45rooms with two floors. The well in the house can be accessed from any floor, either from the first or second floor. The wife of the Sheik, Hajia Fatima. lives with her children in this village. She is 115 years old.

It is allowed to take pictures with Hajia Fatima, as well as the building, if you wish to. For further information please call +233(0)207005091.

FEES

Foreigners GH¢ 2.00

Ghanaian s GH¢ 1.50p

J.H.S Students GH¢ 50p

S.H.S Students GH¢ 1.00

Primary Students GH¢ 20p

VISITORS WILL BE TAKEN ROUND IN ALL THE 45 ROOMS.

Shrines and groves

There are sacred groves that are traditional nature reserves created around shrines. Notable among them are the Jaagbo and Malshegu Sacred Graves. The Jaagbo Shrine, situated at 30 kilometres from Tamale, consists of about 25 acres of conserved and preserved vegetation of medicinal herbs and near extinct and mysterious plants around the Jaagbo fetish. Among the vegetation of the grove is the “mystery tree” with marks of the hooves of a horse. The Malshegu Sacred Grove is at Katalga, about 12 kilometres from Tamale.

Architecture, archaeology and culture

The region is well known for its peculiar architecture of round huts with conical thatched roofs, which provide a particular scenic view. Among the relics of the past, which throw considerable light on the history of the people of the region, are the archaeological sites at Yikpa Bonso, in the West Mamprusi District, with relics of the Komas dating back to the nineteenth century (19th C). Other relics of interest in the region are at Jentilkpe and Kpaesemkpe.

Ancient mosques

Ancient mosques are a particular aspect of the relic legacy of the region which under pin the long history of Islam in the region. The Larabaga Mosque, which is of Sundanese architectural origin, dates back to the 13thC but the Bole Mosque, also of a similar Sudanese architectural origin, was built later.

While the Banda Nkwahta and Malew Mosques were built in the 18thC, imitating older mosque designs,

The remains of an ancient defence wall are in Nalerigu, in the East Mamprusi District. What is interesting about this defence wall, which dates back to the 15thC, is not only that it was built by a powerful Mamprusi Chief but equally important, is that the wall was built with mortar of mud blood and honey.

Festivals

The most important traditional festival in the district is the Damba, a relic of Islam, which has lost its religious origin of the celebration of the birthday of Prophet Mohammed. The Damba celebration is also a mix of music, dance, excitement, horsemanship and regal pageantry, at the climax of Naa Damba. The district is the home of the Fugu textile, the centres of production being Tamale, Gushiegu and Yendi.The fire festival is another intersting thing one might like to see. It came as a reslut of the search for the Son's of one of the grate kind of mamprugu.

INAUGURATION MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGS) MONITORING COMMITTEE FOR WEST MAMPRUSI DISTRICT

On Friday the 16^th of July 2010 the MDG monitoring committee of west Mamprusi district was inaugurated at the Walewale lorry station under the auspices of the Northern Development Society (NORDESO), an NGO in Tamale and in partnership with Asiribisi Self Help Initiative also an NGO base in Walewale. Present at the occasion were representatives of various groups and organizations, local authority, the clergy and the general public. Also in attendance was a popular musician Abu Sadik who entertained the gathering from his new album. Adam “Maasa”, a popular comedian from Walewale could not be left out as he made everyone to almost laugh out their jaws with his news in Hawsa, English, Mampruli and French.

The project manager of Asiribisi Self help Initiative, Mr. Suleman Fatawu in his welcome address reminded political leaders about their promises and urge citizens to see themselves as stakeholders in the development of their districts. The Chairman of the occasion, Pastor Jonathan Banayiri encourage the clergy to preach about the millennium development goals at their congregations.

MDGs COMMITTEE MEMBERS – WEST MAMPRUSI DISTRICT

NAME	DEPARTMENT
JACOB S JABUNI MUSAH MAHAMA CHILALA SALIMA ISSIFU MOHAMMED IDDRISU JAMA MUTAWAKIL ALHASSAN ISSAKA ALIMA YAHAYA MU-AZU MOHAMMED AZABU YAMUSA MAHAMA SAWRA ABUKARI SULEMANA SAASI SAIBU J. D ADAMS SAIBU SURAKATU SAMPSON KOMBAT PASTOR JONATHAN BANAYIRI	LOCAL AUTHORITY YOUTH GROUP WOMEN GROUP PERSONS WITH DISABILITY STAFF (ASHI) STAFF ((ASHI) ASSEMBLY PERSON ASSEMBLY PERSON UNIT COMMITTEE DISTRICT ASSEMBLY G E S MINISTRY OF AGRIC MOSLEM COMMUNITY MINISTRY OF HEALTH ELIM - GHANA

For any enquirers contact:

Asiribisi Self Helf Initiative

P O Boxt65 Walewale

OR

Mutawakil Alhassan

(Project Co-coordinator)

Tel: 0208291571

Sulemana Fatawu

(Project Manager)

Tel: 024802011

INNOGRATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CLUBS IN WEST MAMPRUSI DISTRICT

E.P.A FORMS CLUBS IN WEST MAMPRUSI DISTRICT

For years now, environmental damage has always been the topic in our every day discussions. The environment is one of the most important thing that man must prevent from distraction. The burning of bushes, cutting down of trees, improper disposal of waste are some of the things we do to cause damage to the environment. The West Mamprusi district has been hit by flood and storm several times and this year was not exception. In view of this, the Environment Protection Agency decided to educate students by forming environmental clubs in some selected schools in the district to help send out the information to the local people.
Walewale Senior High, Wulugu Senior High and D/A Junior High School where chosen as schools in the district were this clubs are to be set up.

STUDENTS OF D/A J.H.S

Wungu, 8-9km village from Walewale was badly affected by storm and almost every home was affected, all as a result of deforestation. The local people thinks they will have to live by cutting down trees to sell for capital or burn charcoal from trees for sell.

This is the reason why the E.P.A decided to tackle schools and educate students on the dangers of destroying the environment and also to use them as agents for educating the local people and fight strongly against people destroying the environment.

THE INNOGRATION WAS DONE BY MR. WUMBEI ABUBAKARI AND MR. SALIFU WAHABU (E.P.A TAMALE)

the innogration took place at the D/A school premises, yesterday the 14th of July, 2010. 50 students were chosen as members of the club and Mr. Daniel A Bajaba as the patron. It was lovely to see members of the C.I.C I.C.T club being members of this club and all seven executives from the I.C.T Club. The elected executives were, Mohammed Dokurugu Mofin as the president a member of the I.C.T club, Dahamani Salimu the vice president (I.C.T Club), Mohammed Ma-aruf the secretary (I.C.T Club), Mohammed Ruhiya as organising secretary (I.C.T Club), Abu Rahinatu the treasure of the club as she is for the I.C.T Club, Issah Arimiyaw an eleced member (I.C.T Club) and Haruna Alimatu another elected member and also from the I.C.T Club.
The Patron, Mr. Daniel A Bajaba thanks Mr. Wumbei and Mr. Wahabu for taking their time in coming to form an interesting and educative club in the school. He added again that, each member chosen will work effectively in campainging against any form of environmental distruction and he will work with the club and the elected executive to promote a safe environment for all. Mr. Wumbei was glad and encouraged each elected member and executive to take this opportunity seriously, and further said it could end them into getting emplyment in the E.P.A in the coming future.
He said that as time goes on they will be coming several times to educate them on new issues and also linking the club with other clubs in other part of the country for debates and quize competions. The 50 member club togehter with the founders took a group picture to clamax it all.

GROUP PICTURE

Projects Node meeting.wmv

This meeting was held at Tamale and Mr.Mashood represented Walewale C.I.C.

A TOUR TO ZANGUM, 6KM FROM WALEWALE

Yesterday, I decided taking a trip to Zangum, a 6km village from the District capital Walewale. On arrival, I was warmly welcomed by the chief and his elders who had sat to discuss issues affecting the village.

The chief of the village Alhaji Musah Mumuni was so pleased for my coming and offered me cola nut as tradition demands.

He asked me to sit and join the discussion. Some of the issues raised were the lack of portable drinking water, no enough classrooms for students and lots of orphans who are not well care for.

When I questioned them about the situation, the chief explained that, the village has only two bore-holes, of which one produces water and the other not able to. He went further to add that, the two bore holes were constructed four years ago and is only one that operates effectively.

He however, said that he will be very grateful to any individual, organization or N.G.O that could come to the aid of his people.

The chief, an herbalist who treats all kinds of sickness, said it will be nice if a structure could be put up or a clinic where he could be taken treatment and also to serve as accommodation for people who travel from far and near to receive treatment, since most patients are always accommodated by him.

THE CHIEF ALHAJI MUSAH MUMUNI

AND HIS ELDERS

On my way from the chief’s palace, I met the women’s group, “Sunga-villa” meaning “good is best”. I had a word with the leader of the group. She explained that, they form this group in other to help one another in both financial and spiritual. She went on by adding that, each member of the group deals in Shea butter extraction as a business and so they meet every two weeks (Mondays) for their meetings. She again said that, every member of the group contributes 20p as dues for the group which is taken to the Bank for saving. When asked weather they have partners who work with them, she explained that one Mr. Salifu promise of linking them to an N.G.O and till now they have not heard anything good from him.

I encouraged the women to keep it up and promise to put their association up on a blog. She thanked me on behalf of her colleagues. The next place to visit was the D/A Primary and J.H.S, just at the extreme left entering to the village. On getting to the school, it was sad to see the class 1, 2 and 3, sitting under trees for lessons.

The headmaster of the school Mr. Sulley explained that two of their classrooms got ripped off by rain storm last two years and have not yet been roofed since then. My feet went cool when I heard this. He however said that, he has spoken to a lot of individuals and organizations about the situation, and therefore prays that they get help soon.

CLASS THREE STUDENTS TAKEN LESSONS

UNDER A TREE

When asked about the current introduction of I.C.T in the syllabus and how his school was dealing with it, he explained that at the moment the school has not gotten a master to handle the subject, but said he has raised the issue several times at G.E.S meetings and so very soon a master will be send to the school to handle the subject in question.

WALEWALE C.I.C ORGANIZES AN I.C.T FORUM

The Walewale Community Information Centre is organizing an I.C.T awareness forum tomorrow the 29th of June, 2010. The theme. SPEAR-HEADING I.C.T IN SCHOOLS WITHIN THE WEST MAMPRUSI DISTRICT.- THE WAY FORWARD.

The forum is expected to tackle the current situation of I.C.T in schools within the district and to find some possible solution to them. The Community Information Centre is the only I.C.T laboratory open to the general public and schools in the district.

Opened in 2006 and started effective operation in 2008, the centre has so far made a very impressive move on tackling I.C.T in the district. So far, it has trained 38 students from the L/A Junior High School to be I.C.T trainer in other to help in training their colleagues back at home and in school. It is also at the moment training the staff of the G.E.S in Walewale and hope to extend to teachers in the district.

This evening, the I.C.T club of L/A Junior High School embark on a clean up exercise as preparation towards tomorrows forum.

As the boys took active part in clearing the bushes, the girls played a role by collecting the bushes but Ruhiya, the president of Club 'A' made the girls proud by proving to the saying 'WHAT MEN CAN DO, WOMEN CAN EVEN DO IT BETTER', when she took a cutlass and joined the boys in action to clear the area.

The forum is coming off tomorrow the 29th of June at 9:am. The venue will be at the Community Information Centre.

After managing to clear the bush, it was then time to put up the canopies in other to ease up things tomorrow for the ceremony. The children reported on Ghana time and so we had to work till night to make sure everything was in other before tomorrow.

Guest speaker for the occasion is Alhaji Mohammed Haroon, the district director of education and also a supporting member of the Community Information Centre I.C.T team. The mother of the Club, Charlotte Cashman, will be doing the introduction as usual and later speaking on the progress the C.I.C have made so far in the training of I.C.T and the difficulties it has faced in the training, and she will be doing that with Mahama. I. Mashood, I.C.T trainer and website manager. Anna and Louisa will help getting all the discussion togehter. Mark Akansighe will be welcoming the guest with a powerful address. We also have Mr. Stephen C.I.C cordinator and Representative of IICD, who will be giving us briefing of what IICD does in promoting I.C.T. The event is sponsored by IICD / CTA.

The Master of Ceremony(MC) for the day will be Daniel Bajaba.

We wish to welcome any one who is interested to the forum.





I.C.T CLUB STUDENTS PUTTING UP THE CANOPIES.











I.C.T CLUB STUDENTS HELPING TO BRING DOWN CANOPY BARS FROM THE TRACK








The programme started 9:45am and Pastor Jonathan Banayire was called to lead the gathering into the hands of God for the commencement of the forum. Mr. Mark Akansighe manager of C.I.C welcomed the guests to the programme and Charlotte Cashman a T.S.O/V.S.O of the G.E.S in Walewale introduced Alhaji Mohammed Haroon the District Director of Education as chairman of the affair. Alhaji Mohammed Haroon was pleased and accepted to steer the affair to a successful end, and therefore called on every one to give him their maximun coorperation.

The Northern Region Coordinator for IICD, Mr. Agbenyo John Stephen briefed the gathering of the role IICD plays in the Community Information centres and stated that IICD will be donating some equipments to the Walewale C.I.C and mentioned the items as a photocopier machine, digital camera, projector etc. He stated again that he coordinating for 10 C.I.C's in the Northern Region and added that IICD works in partnership with C.T.A. Mr. Stephen also told the gathering that IICD extends its service into the agriculture sector and therefore challenged every one to take I.C.T seriously.




MR. STEPHEN AGBENYO IICD COORDINATOR






The Chairman and guest speaker Alhaji Mohammed Haroon in a speech gave an insight of the new educational reform which started in 2007 and stated that the philosophy that ' education should result in the formation of well-balanced individuals with the requisite knowledge, skills, values, attitudes to become functional and productive citizens'. And so for the products of the New Educational System to become functional and productive citizens, they need to be globally educated hence the need for I.C.T in their curriculum in order to make them global citizens of the global world.




ALHAJI MOHAMMED HAROON
DISTRICT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION FOR WEST MAMPRUSI




He further went on to give a breakdown of the New Reform structure as; 2:6:3:4. That is two(2) years of kindergarten education, six (6) years of primary schooling, three (3) years of Junior High and four (4) years of Senior High School which is being debated at the moment making basic education eleven (11) years to complete. Again, pre-university students will now be;

• S.H.S- 4 YEARS - Polytechnic 3 years
• Post Secondary Tr. Training (Diploma) -3
• Technical Schools - 4 years
• Vocational schools- 4 years
• Nursing Training College- 3 years and
• Agricultural Institutions- 4 years

He also gave the curriculum content of the New structure - subject areas. He mentioned the J.H.S, S.H.S level as follows;

J.H.S

• English
• Mathematics
• Social Studies
• Integrated Science including Agricultural Science, a Ghanaian Language,
  Technical, Vocational and Agric. Education and Training (Pre-technical· Vocational).
• Information and Communication Technology. (lCT) and French.
  

S.H.S

• English
• Mathematics
• Integrated Science
• Social Studies and Information and Communication Technology (I.C.T)

He added that in addition to the core subjects every candidate is to offer one of the following course programmes;

• Agriculture
• Business
• Technical
• Vocational (Home Economics or Visula Arts) or General Arts or General Science.

For the Technical, Vocational or Agricultural Education, Alhaji Mohammed Haroon mentioned six (6) broad elective subjects as;

• Building Trades
• Business Studies
• Electrical Engineering
• Hospital Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering and
• Agricture

He went further to add that government has recognized that, in the present global world, every educated citizen should be computer literate in order to access information and communicate well. It is also clear that the subjects and courses at the J.H.S and S.H.S demand computer literacy as well if candidates are to function well after completion. This is the first time government policy is including I.C.T in the content of education as a matter of national priority. Moreover, he went on, due to the importance of I.C.T in education, the Ministry of Education has been facilitating teaching and learning at all level of education.

He mentioned some successes we have made so far as a nation which are;

• Children have been introduced to it. Hitherto, they were ignorant.
• Children enthusiasm has been whipped up since they are now aware of its usefulness.
• Parents are also now excited that their children are doing I.C.T in order to become global citizens and are engaging people privately to teach their children.
• Teachers handing the subject also take prestige in doing so.
• Students now access website for textbooks and other educational information.
• An I.C.T policy has been developed by the Ministry of Education with the support of the Global e-schools and Communities (GeSCI). The National I.C.T in Education Co-ordinating Committee is in place.
  

He mentioned again that, there has also been I.C.T in Education Capacity Building for staff of the Ministry of Education. There have been established ICT e-schools Pilot Project. In the NEPAD e-Schools Initiatives, six schools are benefiting from this programme and these include St. Augustine's Senior High, Bogoso (W1R),Wa Senior Sec. School (UWR) and Walewale Sec. Technical School in Northern Region.
He mentioned syllabus children are expected to know in I.C.T as

a) Software

b) Hardware

He however mentioned some problems facing the learning of I.C.T as follows;

1. There are no ICt teachers trained yet by the Ministry of Education

- Employment of ICT teachers still in limbo. They are not yet on the employment or recruitment establishment.

2. Scarce textbooks in ICT

3. Computers not in schools

4. Most schools are not connected to electricity.

5. Expensive Broadband Internet charge which makes it unsustainable.

He also mentioned to the gathering the I.C.T policy of establishing I.C.T laboratory in all colleges of Education and added that the most important policy is the on one that includes ICT in the J.H.S curriculum, which makes it examinable. This means that all J.H.S candidates must learn ICT in order to pass and pursue Senior High School education.

He went on again by mentioning some of the chalenges as lack of electricity in the schools, lack of I.C.T teachers in the system, lack of computers in J.H.schools and lack of access to internet connectivity becuase of the cost involve.
He sumarised his speech by stating some possible solutions for a way forward as;

1. Teachers should be trained in ICT at College Level

2. Workshops or In Service Training to be organized for those handling it on

voluntary basis.

3. Computer Labs to be established in schools.

4. Computers to be supplied

5. Schools should be connected to electricity.

6. Solar panels should be supplied to rural schools

7. Increase budget allocation for ICT consumables and for repairs and servicing of computers and accessories.

8. ICT textbooks should be made abundant

9. Broadband internet connections in schools should be borne by the Ghana Education Service (Govt.)

10. Internet Services should block websites with pornographic scenes

In conclusion, the District Director advised every one to take I.C.T seriously, because it is a future skill which is in to stay and we can not do anything about it than to learn and said “Even though I.C.T is going to play a major role in this current educational system, a lot more things are yet to be put in place. The planning should have been done years ago before the policy pronouncement and implementation”

Mr. Mahama. I. Mashood I.C.T Trainer and Website Manager of the District took the microphone and with the support of Charlotte Cashman, the mother of the I.C.T Club. The two gave the Progress they have made so far in bringing I.C.T to light in the district. Mr. Mashood told the guest that the Community Information Centre which was opened in 2006 but started working effectively in 2008 is intented to serve as an information hub of the district and also to trained people in the district on I.C.T. He went further by saying that, in 2008 the management of the C.I.C gave free training to students in the district for two weeks and saw the interest in the students to learn I.C.T, and so the need to start clubs in the schools with the help of Charlotte Cashman and Mike Cashman.
Charlotte Cashman took the microphone from this point and continued by saying how they visited the C.I.C and met Mr. Mashood who explained to them how the C.I.C was set up with 10 computers and the need to trained people in I.C.T . The two couple with Mr.Mashood taught of forming I.C.T clubs in the schools, and so decided to start with L/A Junior High School since it was the closest school to the C.I.C. So two clubs were formed in L/A J.H.S, 20 members from each club making a total of 40 students. 10 girls/ 10 boys from each club. But some where a long the line we lost 7 members because they were not dedicated and that was one of the rules a club member should do. The students also wanted ownership of their clubs so they came out with the idea of electing a president and assistant from each club. She went on by adding that, the students also needed to have T-shirts for the club and so payed money to get the T-shirts printed, she also informed the gathering that, with the help of the District Director and the District Assembly, the club went on an excussion to Paga crocodile porn, the slave camp and the Navrongo irrigation dam by contributing. She continued by saying that the students did this to show how happy they feel to belong to an I.C.T club and also being the first members of an I.C.T club to be formed in the district.
Next on the agenda, was to have a discussion in groups. And the topics for discussions were;

Why is ICT important for you?

What are the main challenges in learning ICT in your school?

How will you address these challenges?