All Journalists Must Be Like Anas– Dr. Oppong – STORY BY - Daniel Kwaku Bampoe

danielbampoe79@gmail.com
 
PRESIDENT of Distinguished Scholars of Africa (DISTINSA], Dr. Nana Oppong, has stated that, Anas Amerayaw Anas is credible undercover investigate reporter, therefore, he tasked all International Standard Journalists to put whatever they have learnt into practice to raise the standards of journalism in the country.

“You can be an Anas in your field of journalism, just make sure your reportage is accurate, reliable and credible,” he stated.

Dr. Nana Oppong, made these known, when his outfit through, the Distinguished Scholars of Africa (DISTINSA) in collaborations with Data Link Institute organized a free workshop; International Standard Certification Journalism Program (ISJ) for some selected journalists in Media at the Accra International Conference center over the weekend.

According to him, Journalism as a profession has become very competitive and that those who reach the top do so as a direct consequence of being learned in the field, adding that, in a world of increasing globalization, sufficient knowledge of ELIPS is key to productive engagement in journalism. 

 

Dr. Oppong, posited that, the best journalists tend to be those persons with significant knowledge in many fields including the Economics, Law, Intelligence, Politics and Society which is ELIPS in particular.

The program’s goal was to ensure effective capacity building of journalists in the sub-region towards greater professional competencies for continuous national and international competitiveness in journalism.

Journalists who attended the ISJ program were been recognized as International Standards Journalists certified. By also enjoy advantages such as, enhanced competence leading to national, international competitiveness and professionalism, prestige as well as employment and networking opportunities among others.

Journalists who graduated from the ISJ program are expected to be more enlightened, learned, smarter, professional and more competitive than the others.

The certification in international standards journalism is part of the learned heart programs of the Distinguished Scholars of Africa and Data Link Institute for strategic capacity-building of journalism and support for enhanced democracy in Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa.

 

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WOMEN ADVISED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR POPULATION TO VOTE FOR MORE FEMALES IN PARLIAMENT

The Eastern Regional Manager of Plan International Ghana a Non- Governmental Organization (NGO), Mr. Kofi Debrah has advised women to take advantage of their population and vote massively for their fellow women who would offer themselves for a political contest.

That, he said would help bridge the gender inequality gab between the men and women in the country’s democratic dispensation.

Mr. Kofi Debra made this statement to commemorate this year’s International Day of Girl Child as well as the launch of Plan Ghana’s “Because I Am A Girl” (BIAAG) campaign on the theme “the unfinished business of girls right” at Asesewa in the Upper Manya Krobo District of the Eastern Region.

Some selected schools from primary, basic and senior high schools were engaged in football games, sack race, lime and spoon, as well as debate to mark the week long celebration.

Addressing the durbar, Mr. Debra noted that the BIAAG campaign was world-wide initiative aimed to eliminate gender inequality and upholding the girls right.

He indicated that Plan Ghana has over the years collaborated with the Ghana Education Service to improve the girls’ assertiveness and self confidence as well as boost their frame of reference in life.

He therefore appealed to the government to put in an affirmative action of quota system of equal admission for male and females at the government universities which will impact positively in their participation in decision making.

For the Upper Manya Krobo District Director of Education, Ms. Esther Ama Bossman encouraged the young girls in school to take their education very serious in other to be able to compete their male counterparts in future.

She also advise parent to give equal attention to their female wards education by providing materials require to enhance their academic performance.

Health Risk: People Of Bukrum In Yilo-Krobo Drink Muddy Water

THE CHIEFS and people of Bukrum; a farming community in the Yilo-Krobo Municipality of the Eastern region have made a passionate appeal to government, NGO's, and philantropic individuals to come to their aid to provide good drinking sources of water to the community.

They said the two streams which serve as their sources of drinking water are very unhygeniec, unsafe, contaminated and are contributing to a number of water-borne diseases in the village.
 
The appeal was made on Sunday, when the Kloma Hengme association visited the village as part of its rural support project, and in the company of the chiefs and other opinion leaders, toured their two sources of drinking water of the village.

Making the appeal through the association, the Chief ("Dadematse") of Blukum–Maumi, Dadematse Kofi Osanyogmor on behalf of all his six colleague chiefs, said apart from the fact that the water sources are always muddy and contaminated, the situation become worse in the dry season when the two streams that provide water to the communiy dry up. 

He said when the two sources of drinking water dry up in that case, their situation become very pathetic and sorrowful. He also lamented that incessant appeals made to government to provide them with a safe drinking water fell on deaf ears.

"As you can see for yourselves, our two streams that supply us with water are too muddy and unsafe for drinking. Anytime we drink from them, we get stomach problems and fever, not forgetting the numerous eye problems we are having here. We always try to desilt them so we can always get water for our domestic chores. These two streams, because they are unable to flow easily have remained stagnant, and are always contaminated and are unhygenic. In the dry seasons, they both dry up and we have to climb up the mountains to search for water. We have been making several appeals to government to supply us with at least a well, but our appeals are not getting any attention from any one".

Statics
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 1.1 billion people rely on unsafe drinking water sources in developing countries, and that, the lowest drinking water coverage rates are in Sub-Saharan Africa (58 percent) Water-related health problems, according to the World Health Organization, kill more than 5 million people annually with infants the most affected.
 
In most cases, majority of the people living in the rural areas depend on sources which are contaminated and also susceptible to water-borne diseases.

There is the need to create the political will, patnerships and resources to manage water to help reduce to the barest minimum, water-borne diseases with the attendant consequences on socio-economic development.

The Krobo area is a "power house" for two water treatment plants– The Kpong and Bukunor Water Treatment Plants. However, water is a scarce commodity on Krobo soil. Even in the municipal capitals of Odumase, Somanya and Asesewa, water hardly flows in taps, sometimes continuosly for over 4 months.The water that are treated in Kpong and Bukunor are supplied to some parts of Accra, Koforidua, Nsawam and other areas.

Mr. Francis Nakotey, the Director of Operations of Kloma Hengme, who was also part of the tour to the two streams, said he backs the appeal made by the chiefs of Bukrum to be provided with a safe drinking water. He describes their two sources of drinking water as an "eye-sore" and "de-humanizing" and adds his voice to the appeals made by the chiefs.

"Frankly speaking, I felt so bad after seeing the kind of muddy water the people of Bukrum and its environs consume. Their two sources of drinking water is too dehumanizing and shameful. This is an eye-sore and something urgent needs to be done to save our people".

"I, on behalf of the Kloma Hengme association, is adding my voice to that of the chiefs to appeal to government, NGO's, agencies, and philanthropists to come to the aid of Bukrum to provide them with safe drinking water", he added.

Daasebre Awuah Kotoko II Marks 30th Anniversary

DAASEBRE Awuah Kotoko ll, the Chief of Akyem – Begoro in the Fanteakwa and the Benkumhene of the Okyemen Traditioal area  in the Eastern Region over the weekend marked his 30th anniversary of enstollement as Begorohene.

The event dubbed’’ Celebrating 30 years of Exemplary leadership and soliciting funds for the Palace Rebuilding’’ attracted people from all walks of life to the Begoro community to marked the ceremony in a colorful grand style.

Chief of Begoro, Daasebre Awuah Kotoko ll, when addressing the well attended gathering called on government to help repair the bad road networks within the area especially the main road to Osiem which is in deplorable state among other social amenities like portable water.

The Fantekwa Chief further called on Politicians to desist from insults and verbal attacked in the upcoming election which all political parties will embark on campaign to canvas for votes.

The Okyeman Benkumhene behalf of his people urged Ghanaians to also come and experience and learn their rich culture. 

Daasebre Awuah Kotoko II, known in private life as  Edward Agyarko Amfo, was born on 9^th December, 1936 at Begoro to the parentage of Opanin Daniel George Amfo and Odekye Yaa Atua Amfo, all of blessed memory.

Daasebre started his elementary education at Begoro Anglican Primary School to standard three and hence through common entrance examination continued at Begoro Presec in the year 1952.