460 SCHOOLS RECEIVES CLASSROOM FURNITURE

The district director of Education Alhaji Mohammed Haroon has distributed one thousand classroom furniture to schools in the West Mamprusi district the schools will include 80 KG’s, 250 Primary schools and 130 Junior High Schools.

In a speech delivered to heads of schools at this year’s 54^th Anniversary, the director promise to provide more furniture if the new ones are properly care for. He however, added that, the exercise was to encourage teaching and learning in schools and therefore told teachers to be up and doing in other to raise the pass mark of students to a better standard.

The headmaster of R/C Junior High School Mr. Joseph Kwara thanked the Director on behalf of his colleagues for such a move and promised they will handle the furniture with good hands.

WALEWALE PEOPLE DEMONSTRATE AGAINST DCE - OTHER FACTS GHANAIANS SHOULD KNOW

I will be extremely glad if you could kindly offer some space in your widely circulated and a highly respected newspaper to voice out my views on this contemporary issue that has the potential of affecting the general development in my district.

It is very inspiring that 2011 has been declared an action year by his Excellency President Professor Atta Mills, to meet the developmental needs and aspirations of the good people of Ghana. Such a call demand leaders both political and non political manning the affairs in the country to be visionary, transformational and development oriented. It is against this background that the writer wants to do a critical analysis of the demonstration recently held on the 5^th January, 2011 at Walewale, the district capital for West Mamprusi District, calling for the removal of the DCE Honorable Lord Sulley Zakari from office.

During that poorly attended demonstration, a petition dated 28^th November, 2010 was presented to the District Coordinating Director calling for the immediate removal of the DCE from office. That petition was made up of 12 unsubstantiated allegations against the DCE and was signed by 12 people including some constituency executive members of the ruling party some of who competed against him for the post earlier on and lost to him. They therefore vow not to allow him succeed. Otherwise, among all the issues raised on their petition, non question the capacity of the man to deliver development projects to meet the needs and aspirations of the people in the district. Those championing that course knew very well that the primary responsibility of a DCE is to help initiate and implement development projects to meet the needs of his/her people. As for the person ability to offer sweet talks to people, award contracts to party members, having or not having management and mobilization skills, they are secondary matters.

However, checks at the West Mamprusi District Assembly as well as the official website of the assembly (www.west mamprusi.gov.gh) revealed that since the assumption of office of the DCE from 2009 to date, the district has witnessed very massive development of infrastructure in areas of education, health, roads, water and sanitation among others through the hard work of the DCE.

In the field of education, the following success has been chalked by the DCE. Namely, the establishment of Wulugu Orphanage, the construction of a new District Library at Walewale, the construction of six classroom block for Wulugu Zaami Primary School, the construction of six classroom block for Gbimsi R/C primary school, the construction of six classroom block for Manga primary school at Manga as well as the construction of three classroom blocks with offices to replace those school under threes at Taantala, Janga, Wuyima, Kubagna, Nabuligu, Kata-Banawa and Yirangu. The construction of food vendors Shops at Walewale and Wulugu Senior High Schools to mention but a few.

In health sector, two medical doctors are now in the district, one incharge of the district hospital at Walewale and the other incharge of the district health administration. Formerly, there use to be one doctor handling both schedules. Additional projects include the provision of solar lamp lighting system for all the CHPS Compounds throughout the district, supply of a standby generator for Walewale District Hospital as well as the construction of Nurses Quarters at Wulugu.

In terms of roads, the following feeder roads in the district have been re-graveled duribg the last two years under his (the DCE) watch; Namely, Wulugu – Kpasenkpe, Zangum – Nabari, Gbani – Kparigu, Walewale - Bug’ya – Guokudoo, Wungu – Zangu – Yakura, Kubore – Zangwara, Walewale Market – Fongni, Walewale – Zangum among others.

In the area of judiciary, the DCE championed the construction of a new District Court House at Walewale, which has been completed and is stocked with computers and their accessories to facilitate the work of that organ of government in the district.

I therefore challenge the organizers of that demonstration to dispute with evidence whether the above-mentioned projects have not been implemented by the DCE since his assumption of office. It is a fact that, these projects in the districts would meet the needs of not only the present generation, but also the future generations yet to come. I would therefore urge the constituency executives of the party in the district to do away with their parochial and selfish interests and rather help the DCE to implement the better Ghana agenda in the district. I would also plead with the president His Excellency, Prof JEA Mills to disregard those demonstrations organized by few people in the district and allow the DCE to continue with his Good works to move the West Mamprusi District to another height.

Signed by,

Yours faithfully,

Mr. Bariham Iddrisu,

0208926778.

54TH INDEPENDENCE PARADE HELD ON SUNDAY 6TH MARCH 2011 AT WALEWALE

SPEECH BY THE DISTRICT CHIEF EXECUTIVE, HON. SULLEY ABUDU ZAKARIA

Hon. Assembly Members Elect,District Director of Education, Heads of Departments, Heads of Security Agencies, Mba Wungnaba and Elders, Teachers and School Children, Civil Society Organisations, Political Parties, The Press, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Today marks yet another celebration of our independence Day from the British Colonial rule in 1957. Indeed, Ghana is 54 years old today as a sovereign and independent state. This is a remarkable or worthy achievement.

This year’s celebration is under the theme “DISCIPLINE AND HARD WORK, ESSENTIAL PREREQUISITE FOR A BETTER GHANA”. The ideals set forth by our founding fathers through the independence struggle was largely as a result of discipline and hard work. All nations of the world over have grown and developed in strength, influence and prosperity through hard work and sacrifice of their citizens. We as Ghanaian s must therefore abhor laziness and remain focused in our approach to national issues so that we will help Government achieve its vision of Better Ghana.

Ladies and Gentlemen, our nation needs disciplined, hardworking and talented people to remain competitive in this highly globalized and technological world. It takes tremendous discipline to control the influence and power that one has over other peoples lives. Often, we find ourselves in a bad situation and often, you feel like giving up. It is at such times that you need to energize yourself with inspirational thoughts. Harry E. Fosdick said “No horse gets anywhere until he is harnessed and no life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated and disciplined”.

I am delighted to state that today is a memorable moment and an ideal opportunity for us as Ghanaian s to take stock of the journey we have traveled over the last 54 years and to reflect on the road ahead.

We should not be content with our achievements so far but rather be concerned with what the future has for us. In today’s world, social, economic and political development relies heavily on discipline and hard work which can propel our people especially the youth to competitive careers.

Ladies and Gentlemen, on its part, Government is committed to ensuring that Ghanaian s, especially the youth have access to globally competitive quality education and training. The aim of the NDC Government is to give every young Ghanaian a fair chance of life by equipping them with knowledge and skills that will enable them secure decent livelihoods in an increasingly competitive global environment. As part of this commitment, Government continues to allocate the education sector the largest share of national budget. The large allocation is intended to allow for implementation of priority projects and programmes that will facilitate overall national development as well as enhance individual well being. These projects and programmes include the distribution of free exercise books and uniforms, increase in the capitation grant, continuation and expansion of the School Feeding Programme, eradication of schools under trees, rapid infrastructural development in Senior High Schools, and many others in the sector across the country. These efforts of the Government are not enough on their own. Success will only come out of discipline and hard work by Pupils, Students, Teachers, Supervisors, Board of Governors, Directors and indeed all and sundry. We all need to work closely in providing guidance to our young ones so that they grow up as a generation of educated and responsible people who are disciplined and hardworking. To you the future leaders, I appeal to you to avoid drugs, substance abuse, alcohol, promiscuity and other social evils.

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me touch on a subject of concern to Government which is the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS). Government has taken note of the difficulties that arose out of the implementation for Ghana Education Service staff. All efforts are being put in place to address these problems. Let me humbly use his platform especially in the context of the theme for the celebration to appeal to our dear and colleague teachers to exercise patience and avoid abandoning teaching. Together, we shall overcome through the hard work that you have displayed over the years.

Indeed, we just saw the presentation of prizes to teachers who worked hard and were awarded by the Best Teacher Awards Committee in the District. On behalf of the Chiefs and People of the District, I extend special commendation to them for their dedicated service and hard work. There is no doubt that it will have a positive impact on their work. I wish to urge those who did not win to also work hard so that they can also win awards in the future. The Assembly will continue to support this noble exercise.

Let me inform you especially our religious bodies that as part of the celebration, there will be national thanksgiving from the 11^th to 13^th March, 2011. On the 11^th March 2011, our Moslem Brothers and Sisters are to offer prayers for the nation. Saturday 12^th March and Sunday 13^th March, 2011 will be the turn of our Christian Brothers and Sisters to do same. I call on the leadership of these groups to support this exercise.

Whiles I wish you all a happy 54^th Independence Anniversary Celebration, I wish to state that there is no life without difficulties. We must appreciate these difficulties, sort out our differences in a transparent and cordial manner without rancor and acrimony so that we can build the Better Ghana that we all desire.

Thank you and God Bless you All.