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Bushfires destroy 158 wooden high tension poles in UWR
● Burnt high tension poles
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) in the Upper West Region is worried about the continuous burning of high-tension wooden electricity poles in the region due to accidental bushfires.
In the 2021/2022 Dry (Harmattan) season, the GNFS in the region recorded 158 fire incidents involving high-tension poles but personnel were able to salvage 96 of them from getting burnt.
The harmattan season under review normally begins from mid-November to mid-February.
The Regional Staff Officer of the Service, DOIII Alexis Kodi Suonyiri who made this known in a speech at the first session of the 12th parliament of the Upper West Regional Youth Parliament described the situation as worrying and called for attitudinal change in that regard.
He said that the poles were burnt when people indiscriminately set fire to the bushes around them, particularly those along highways.
He could not understand why people continued to set fire to the bush when they were fully aware of the consequences it posed to society and said that the GNFS recorded 32 of such incidents in the year under review.
He stated that the command was putting measures in place to ensure that bush fire would be a thing of the past and stated that aside stepping up education on the need to avoid bush fires, the GNFS had again established bush fire volunteers in many communities across the region to augment the effort of the service in helping to reduce the indiscriminate setting of bush fires to the barest minimum.
DOIII Suonyiri said aside the devastating effect of bush fire to climate change, it also denied the soil of its fertility and affected the livelihood of persons who lost their farms to bushfires which were not even started by them.
He lamented the poor enforcement of the bushfire laws in the region as well as the failure of the Municipal and District Assemblies across the region to constitute bush fire control sub-committees to support the work of the GNFS in checking the menace.
The Staff Officer recommended the clearing of bushes around high-tension poles in the dry season through communal labour to ensure that even if there was bush fire, the poles did not catch fire.
From Lydia Darlington Fordjour, Wa
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Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation –Pres.Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over the misuse of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) for personal financial gain by individuals in leadership positions.
Speaking during a meeting with Chief Executives of specified entities under the State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA) on Thursday, March 13, the President directly attributed the dire state of SOEs to their leadership, accusing chief executives, management teams, and governing boards of prioritising personal enrichment over organisational efficiency.
He pointed to bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures as factors draining public funds while SOEs continue to rely on government bailouts.
“Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation by appointees. The chief executives, management, and boards of these enterprises are responsible for this situation. Some SOEs have become perennial loss-makers, draining public funds with bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures while relying on government bailouts as if entitled to them. Many of these entities are at their lowest point in the entire history of the Fourth Republic,” he said.
President Mahama further noted that many SOEs have been plagued by inefficiencies, corruption, and mismanagement, leading to consistent financial losses. He cited the 2023 State Ownership Report by the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), which highlighted systemic inefficiencies and wasteful expenditures within these entities.
He therefore reaffirmed his commitment to reforming under-performing SOEs and ensuring they serve national interests.
He warned that loss-making SOEs will no longer be tolerated and will either be merged, privatised, or closed.
“I will assess you based on your performance. If you do not align with the pace of the reset agenda, you may be asked to step aside. If that adds to the horror movie, so be it,” he added.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
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Prophet Courage Heavens set to launch ‘Predestination’ book on March 23
Prophet Courage A. Heavens is set to launch the much-awaited book titled ‘Predestination’ on Sunday, March 23, 2025 at 5:00PM.
The launch, which is expected to impact lives, will take place at Crossgates Ministries, Flattop, off N1 Highway, opposite Angel Hauz.
The book is aimed at addressing the way people struggle to understand how free will and destiny align.
It is also aimed at providing clarity on God’s sovereignty and one’s place in His divine plan.
The various chapters of the book address various issues through scriptures and personal stories.
Committed to impacting society, part of the proceeds from the book will go into Courage Heavens Education Legacy (CHEL), an educational foundation transforming lives.
CHEL is dedicated to providing financial support and mentorship to brilliant but needy students, ensuring they have access to quality education and opportunities for a better future.
Prophet Courage Heavens is a prolific writer and previously authored Eli Eli Lama Sabachthani, a powerful book that encourages unwavering faith in times of trials.
In addition, he has written seven more prophetic and life-changing books that are yet to be published.
He is dedicated to raising the next generation for impactful ministry. As the leader of Crossgates Ministries, he nurtures believers in faith and purpose.
