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
President John Dramani Mahama has held a high-level meeting with the Heads of Security Agencies, Minister for the Interior and Acting Minister for Defence on the ongoing security services recruitment process.
Following a briefing on the process, the President has directed that the number of men and women to be recruited to the various security agencies should be increased from twenty-thousand (20,000) to forty thousand (40,000) over a four year period.
The President has also directed the Heads of the Security Agencies to ensure transparency and fairness in the recruitment process.
Present at the meeting were the Chief of Staff, Secretary to the President, Senior Presidential Advisor on Governmental Affairs, National Security Coordinator, Inspector General of Police Director General Prisons, Director General Fire Service, Comptroller-General of the Ghana Immigration Service and the Director General of the Narcotics Control Commission
At the request of the minority leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, officials of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) met with members of the Parliamentary Minority Caucus today.
The engagement afforded the Caucus an opportunity to provide the Fund with feedback on recent economic developments in Ghana.
The discussions were mutually beneficial to both sides as stakeholders in Ghana’s governance.
The IMF delegation was led by Adrian Alter, Resident Representative, accompanied by Mr. Razafimahefa Ivohasina Fizara, Coordinator of AFRITAC West 2 and Mr. Osa Ahinakwah Economist at the IMF Country Office.
Members of the Caucus in attendance were, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, Second Deputy Minority Whip; Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, Ranking Member on Finance; Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Ranking Member on Economy and Development; Kweku Agyeman Kwarteng, Chairman on Budget; Abena Osei-Asare, Chairperson of Public Accounts; and Collins Adomako-Mensah, Deputy Ranking Member on Energy.
Dr. Antoinette Tsiboe-Darko, Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, also represented the Party.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
