News
Jirapa gets new Paramount Chief
Justice Donglabong Dinaa
The Jirapa Traditional Council in the Upper West Region on Saturday enskinned and out-doored Mr Justice Donglabong Dinaa as its new Paramount Chief.
The ceremony which attracted indigenes, well-wishers and dignitaries witnessed beautiful display of culture through performances by the various cultural troupes amidst firing of musketry.
The 41-year-old educationist who is currently an Assistant Director at the Jirapa Municipal Education office comes as the fifth Paramount Chief of the area and the immediate replacement for the late chief, Naa Gbongbori Ansoleh Ganaa I.
Under the skin name, Naa Dinaa Donglabong Ganaa III, the chief who trumpeted his passion about education said he was going to work hard to improve the fortunes of learners especially at the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) in the municipality.
The Chief lamented in an interview with the media that over the years, performance of pupils at the BECE had been an issue of concern and said that he would work with respective stakeholders to see how best they could enhance quality teaching and learning in the municipality.
As an educationist, he was very particular about quality teaching which would translate into improved academic performance.
The chief said he would work closely with stakeholders such as head teachers and supervisors to understand that there was a paradigm shift in teaching and learning and would also motivate them in order to ignite passion for action.
He said the St Joseph hospital in the municipality used to be a referral facility in the region but had lost its relevance in recent times and said he would work with staff of the facility to ensure the hospital returns to its former glory.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Jirapa Constituency, Mr Cletus Seidu Dapilah said he had been interacting with the chief on how to develop the education, health and other sectors to develop the municipality.
“I will use this occasion to appeal to the chiefs that are here to resolve chieftaincy issues in their respective traditional councils to ensure that peace prevails in the municipality because we need peace for development and we can only get peace if we learn to forgive one another,” he said.
He advised the chief to remain neutral and not involve himself in partisan politics which could mar his reign.
The Chief of Ullo Tuopari, Naa Basignaa III encouraged the new chief to live beyond reproach and maintain a high standard of integrity so that he is able to administer the affairs of the traditional area in fairness.
“I will advise you to give everyone the same measure of attention so that you are able to gain their trust and stay away from arguments; particularly in public and from people who tend to flatter others for own parochial interest”, he added.
From Lydia Darlington Fordjour, Jirapa
News
Afenyo Markin criticises Police over handling of Abronye’s case
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo Markin has raised concerns about the handling of the arrest and detention of Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe, also known as Abronye.
According to him, the police invited Abronye on Monday, September 8, and he honoured the invitation with his lawyers.
He said Abronye submitted himself to interrogation but, within an hour, was taken into the custody of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).
The Minority Leader questioned why the police, who were investigating the case and had their own holding cells, decided to send someone being investigated for a misdemeanor to the NIB.
He intimated that checks confirmed that the NIB was not investigating or interrogating Abronye, but had only kept him because the police requested it.
He wondered whether the move was meant to punish Abronye, stressing that the police detained him the whole of Monday night and Tuesday morning, before presenting him to court on 9th September.
The Minority Leader added that in court, the police asked for Abronye to be remanded to allow further investigations, and the judge granted the request.
He however described it as unfortunate that the police handcuffed Abronye when he was leaving the court.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
Power Is like an ice block, it melts from day one – Afenyo-Markin warns
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has urged political leaders to learn from past mistakes and handle power with caution.
Speaking at the Accra Circuit Court for Abronye DC proceedings, Afenyo-Markin admitted that governments in the past, including his own side, had made mistakes and were not perfect.
He warned that if such mistakes were repeated, the country could be heading in the wrong direction.
He pointed to the removal of a former Chief Justice as an example, saying a report was prepared even before a committee hearing was completed.
According to him, such actions make it difficult to control extremists and hardliners in Ghana’s politics.
The Minority Leader stressed that power is temporary and must be exercised responsibly.
“Power is like an ice block, When it’s given to you, it starts to melt from the very day,” he noted.
By: Jacob Aggrey
