News
Visit children at school to inspire academic excellence
The Member of Parliament for the Sissala East Constituency in the Upper West Region, Mr Issahaku Amidu Chinnia has encouraged parents to take keen interest in the education of their wards.
He said that it was not enough to provide them (wards) with their school fees and stationery but it was also of more importance for the parents to visit their wards in school to acquaint themselves with their learning capacities, get to know their challenges and help solve them.
“The children are our future; The toil and struggle we go through each day are because we want to secure a better future for them so we must make sure that the care we give them is holistic and encompasses every aspect of their lives”, he stressed.
The MP stated this at Tumu last Friday at an event to inaugurate an office complex to facilitate interaction between himself and his constituents for consolidated development of the area.
The office complex which comprises a conference room, a radio station and other ancillary facilities would be manned by staff who would attend to people who visited the place in his absence and later forward their issues to him.
“Government will do its part with the provision of educational facilities, teachers will also do their best in the classroom but the rest of the work lies on the parents who have to ensure that the children put those resources to good use and I am speaking as a trained teacher”, he said.
Mr Chinnia said considering his priority for education, he sought to develop the educational sector of his constituency and hinted that since his assumption of office a year ago, he had outlined a number of interventions aimed at improving the lot of this key sector.
Mr Chinnia hinted that in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service in the constituency, he was starting an award scheme to reward dedicated and diligent teachers in order to encourage quality teaching and supervision of learners in the area.
The MP stated that in his quest to bridge the gap between himself and his constituents, he pledged to provide an office where residents and opinion leaders would visit to present issues and challenges of communal concern to him for redress.
“I am committed to participatory development of the constituency, and I know with this facility we can identify areas of prime concern and prescribe the right interventions for them”, he added.
Commissioning the edifice, the Regional Minister, Dr Hafiz Bin Salih called on other Members of Parliament in the region to emulate same to propel the development of the region.
From Lydia Darlington Fordjour, Wa
News
2,000 Blue Water Guards to be trained by the end of the year – Lands Minister
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emanuel Armah Kofi Buah has announced that government is on course to train 2,000 Blue Water Guards by the close of 2025 to help protect the country’s rivers and water bodies from the impact of illegal mining.
During his presentation at the Government Accountability Series held at the Jubilee House, the minister, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, explained that the Blue Water Initiative remains a key strategy in government’s fight against environmental destruction caused by galamsey.
The Government Accountability Series is an initiative by the Ministry of Information, in collaboration with civil society organisations, aimed at keeping public officials accountable to the people they serve.
Mr. Kofi Buah noted that over 450 Blue Water Guards had already completed training and were actively working in various parts of the country.
He revealed that a second group of 530 personnel is expected to graduate on Friday, July 25.
“These officers are not armed but are trained to act as environmental intelligence agents. Their job is to monitor activities, engage communities, and promote awareness about the dangers of illegal mining and the need to protect our natural resources” he stated.
He highlighted that the presence of the guards is already having a positive impact in some mining areas, with residents becoming more aware of the importance of clean water and sustainable practices.
The minister revealed that the second phase of the Blue Water Initiative will focus on restoring polluted rivers by removing harmful chemicals and returning water bodies to their natural state.
“Feasibility studies for this phase are currently underway,” he remarked.
Mr. Buah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding the environment and ensuring a more sustainable future for all Ghanaians.
By Jacob Aggrey
News
All 9 red “Galamsey” forest zones repossessed – Lands Minister
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has revealed that all nine forest reserves previously taken over by illegal miners have now been repossessed by the state.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series held at the Jubilee House, the minister explained that the red zone forests were once controlled by heavily armed groups, making it dangerous for forest guards and officials to enter.
Mr. Kofi Buah said that through strong collaboration with the security services, the Forestry Commission has been able to take back full control of the affected reserves.
“I’m happy to report that today, the Forestry Commission has successfully taken back all nine red zone forest reserves. Our guards can now move freely in and out of these forests and receive support when needed,” he stated.
He added that although the threat of illegal mining still exists, the repossession marks a major victory in the country’s fight to protect its forests and natural resources.
The minister also highlighted the challenge of deforestation, which he said continues to be driven by illegal mining, logging, wildfires, and unsafe farming practices.
He disclosed that over 5,500 hectares of forest lands, an area larger than 7,500 football fields had been destroyed in just one year.
Despite the challenges, Mr. Buah assured the public that government remains committed to restoring degraded forest areas and strengthening enforcement to prevent future destruction.
The Government Accountability Series is an initiative by the Ministry of Information, in partnership with civil society organisations, to keep public officials accountable to the people they serve.
