News
Busia Institute donates books to Wesley College of Education
Mr Ameyaw Baah(inset)
The Busia Institute for Rural and Democratic Development (BIRDD) has donated 100 copies of books of the biography of the late Prime Minister of the Wesley College of Education.
The gesture was to appreciate the decision to name the Wesley College of Education library after Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia.
The book, written by Mr Anane Agyei, Executive Director of the Institute, was forwarded by former President, John Agyekum Kufuor, and titled, ‘Dr K.A Busia: A Symbol of Democracy – Exploration of His Life and Works’.
The Institute further donated a desktop computer and 50 packs of braille sheets to the visually impaired unit of the College to enhance learning.
It was part of activities to mark the memorial event of the late Dr Busia at the Wesley College of Education last Monday.
Under the theme “Knowledge, Service and The Future”, the event was graced by the clergy, traditional leaders, academia, politicians, including Members of Parliament (MP), and a cross-section of the public.
The Executive Director of the Institute noted that 45 years of a person’s demise was relatively long enough to forget such a person, “but Busia has survived by the great legacy he left behind, continually illuminating his memory”.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, in a speech read on his behalf by the Chief of Nkontomponiafere, Nana Apinkra Akwasi Awuah, commended the BIRDD for championing the remarkable contributions of the late Dr Busia.
According to the Asantehene, the initiative, undertaken by the Busia Institute in partnership with Wesley College in Kumasi, “resonates deeply as we pay tribute to the enduring impact of his principles and ideals.”
The Majority Leader of Parliament, Mr Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, who was the guest speaker, eulogised the late Prime Minister for his contributions to Ghana’s progress.
He observed it was sad that extreme partisanship and political polarisation had hampered the celebration of national heroes, as “attempts have been made to obliterate the contribution of many notable Ghanaians and to some extent the distortion of our history.”
To ensure Busia’s name lives on forever the MP urged the Institute to organise an academic award dubbed ‘BUSIA’, ‘Best University Student in Africa, as a way to honour the heroic feats of Dr Busia, who was a scholar.
Mr Kennedy Ameyaw Baah, Acting Principal of the College, on his part, also urged the Busia Institute to establish an endowment fund in the College in honour of him.
Dr Busia was the Prime Minister of Ghana from 1969 to 1972 and the first-ever African to hold professorship on the Ghanaian soil.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
News
‘Nipahiamoa’ residents cry for basic social amenities
Residents of a farming community in the Nkoranza North District of the Bono East Region are living under conditions that directly reflect or connote the name of the township, Nipahiamoa.
The name of the town, Nipahiamoa, when translated directly means ‘humans need help.’
Despite the contribution in ensuring there is sufficient food in not only the region but the country at large, Nipahiamoa lacks basic social amenities to make life enjoyable after their farming activities.
water for the people of Nipahiamoa
According to some of the members of the community that The Spectator spoke to during a visit to the area, they lacked basic needs such as potable water, health post, among others.
This, they claimed, was impacting negatively on their general wellbeing and appealed to authorities to come to their aid.
The Unit Committee chairman of Nipahiamoa, Mr James Najohnbo, told this paper on Thursday that successive governments have neglected the town over the years.
“It is the reason we are where we are today in this era of development. Some people poke fun that our condition is a reflection of the name of the town but I don’t believe that. We have been neglected by governments over the years. There are no government initiatives here,” he explained.
The community, inhabited by over one thousand people, mostly settlers, is located on the Techiman-Kintampo stretch of the Trans-ECOWAS highway which connect from Tema to Mali.
Mr Najohnbo, who conducted this reporter around, revealed that a borehole constructed for the community by the former Member of Parliament for Nkoranza North, Major Derrick Oduro, had since broke down, compelling the people to turn to the Bono manso waterfalls which they trek several kilometres for their source of water.
Mr Najohnbo stated that their children are not left out in this challenges as they had to trek to either Manso or Dweneho, about two kilometres to access healthcare and education.
He added that a wooden structure constructed in 1994 currently serves as the only primary school for the community.
“Our kids had to trek several kilometres to Manso to attend school which come at cost to most parents.”
A 30-year old hairdresser, Rebecca Dibenpong, also appealed to authorities to come up with income generating activities to boost economic lives of the people.
She alleged that politicians often claimed they don’t have enough numbers to attract development, hence such initiatives were directed to bigger communities.
Like the name suggest, Nipahiamoa, the community needs urgent attention to make life meaningful for the people who contribute to the national economy by way of their farming activities.
From Daniel Dzirasah, Nipahiamoa
News
Maternal mortality rate increases in Ashanti Region
The Ghana Health Service has revealed a staggering statistic of 1,000 women losing their lives during childbirth in the Ashanti Region between 2020 and 2024.
This alarming number, according to the Regional Health Director, Dr Frank Adomanko Boateng, highlights the persistent challenge of maternal mortality in Ghana, despite efforts to improve maternal healthcare.
Dr Adomanko Boateng, therefore emphasized on an urgent need for stronger interventions to curb the high rate of maternal deaths.
Speaking at the 2024 Regional Health Forum, he indicated that “Ghana is struggling to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing maternal mortality to 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.”
Dr Boateng stressed that time was of the essence, saying, “The clock is ticking, and we must double our efforts.”
He called for intensified measures over the next six years to bridge the gap and prevent further loss of lives.
Ghana’s maternal mortality ratio, he noted, has been declining from 760 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 310 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2017.
However, “the country still faces significant challenges in reducing maternal mortality, particularly in regions like Ashanti.”
To address the issue, he said, Ghana has been working to improve maternal healthcare through various initiatives, including the Network for Improving Quality of Care for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.
The country aims to reduce maternal mortality by strengthening healthcare systems, improving access to quality care, and enhancing community engagement
From Kingsley E. Hope,
Kumasi
