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Below are the major news headlines captured on the front pages of the Ahenkan Newspaper today.
Ahenkan Newspaper Producers: Kwaku Anim Kusi Boadum / Adwenpa-Hene Kofi Mensah / #Ahenkan FM Online Team
Below are the full details of today’s stories.
We can’t stop galamsey; the youth have no other jobs – Chief tells Bawumia
The Chief of Akyem Wenchi and Oseawuohene in the Eastern Region, Daasebre Dr Asumadu Appiah, has openly stated that the youth in Wenchi and its surrounding areas are unlikely to cease engaging in illegal mining, commonly known as “galamsey,” despite efforts to curb the activity.
According to Daasebre Asumadu Appiah, galamsey is the only source of employment in the Wenchi area, making it difficult to eradicate the practice.
He suggested that stopping it without providing alternative livelihoods would be futile.
Instead, he recommended that the government introduce a more regulated community mining scheme.
This approach, he believes, would allow the state to benefit financially from the activity while preserving the environment.
Daasebre Asumadu Appiah also stressed the importance of involving traditional leaders [Nananom] in managing natural resources. As the custodians of the land, they should have a significant role in overseeing mining activities.
He criticized the current practice where the central government, from its seat in Accra, grants mining leases and permits to companies without consulting the chiefs.
The chief called for a change in this approach to ensure that traditional authorities are involved in decisions affecting their lands.
Daasebre Asumadu Appiah made these remarks during a visit by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, who paid a courtesy call on him at his palace in Akyem Wenchi as part of his campaign tour in the Eastern Region.
“We don’t have any job opportunities within our community; the only job here is galamsey. As for the galamsey, it is not something we can stop if you tell us to stop. So all we asking is that you give us good policies and guidelines to do it. That is all we are asking from you that bring us those policies. You guys have said we should do community mining so for instance, I have sent an application to the district to do it.”
Dr Bawumia emphasized the importance of protecting the environment and stated that his administration plans to focus on promoting community mining schemes, including the implementation of a more flexible licensing process for these activities.
The Vice President also assured that traditional authorities would play active roles in the management and allocation of mining concessions.
“I think we haven’t gotten it right. For me, I think we should help small-scale mining and if we can do it well, galamsey will also do well. We need a licensing regime to make it easy so that people can acquire the license to work,” Dr Bawumia said.
Comparing Mahama to Akufo-Addo is like comparing light and darkness – Manasseh Azure
&nbsRenowned investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, has expressed his disappointment in the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo-led government.
Speaking in an interview on GHOne TV’s StarrChat programme, on August 7, 2024, the journalist stated that he really had high hopes that an Akufo-Addo presidency would transform Ghana.
But, to his dismay, things have actually become worse when comparing Akufo-Addo’s reign to that of former President John Dramani Mahama.
“The last time I had so much hope that politics could change Ghana was in 2016, when Akufo-Addo was campaigning to be president.
“After almost eight years under Akufo-Addo, I’m sad to say that, I don’t have hope or trust in this. I don’t have hope in the NPP and the NDC,” he said.
Asked by the host of StarrChat, Bola Ray, who he would compare the Akufo-Addo government to that of Mahama, Manasseh Azure retorted, “Day and night.”
Further pressed on which government was the day and which was the night, he said, “Your guess is as good as mine.”
He pointed out that a lot of bad things happened under Mahama, but things are far worse now.
“John Mahama, I thought, was bad. Not that I thought; that was it. His indicator of corruption was high; there was dumsor and all of that.
“And then Akufo-Addo comes, and John Mahama is beginning to look like an angel. Not that the wrongs that happened under Mahama’s era did not occur – GYEEDA happened, SADA happened, all the scandals happened. There was a time when the government didn’t even appear to care, the dead goat syndrome. But another regime is in place.”
The people who live in Akyem Oda Roman have requested that the authorities step in and fix their broken pipe systems so they can receive water.
Speaking with Ahenkan News on Friday, August 9, 2024, they stated that roughly a month ago, the major pipelines were accidentally damaged by the contractor (Joe-Mit Construction) while constructing gutters on the Roman to Old Education path.
The Highways Authority awarded a contract to Joe-Mit to construct the Akyem Oda Roman to Old Education route, which is funded by the Government of Ghana (GoG).
Shop owners and residents reported that ever since the incident, they have had trouble getting water for cooking, cleaning, bathing, and other uses.
They begged the contractor and others to address the water problem right away so they could live comfortably.
Acute water shortage hits parts of Akyem Oda
Acute water shortage has hit parts of Akyem Oda, including Roma and Jamaica in the Towobotom electoral Area, as residents travel to far places in search of water for their homes.
According to residents, the situation has taken a toll on their livelihoods, as they are forced to buy water from tankers at high prices.
They are paying between GH¢70 and GH¢90 water which is a significant financial burden.
Despite this, they continue to receive huge water bills.
Speaking with Ahenkan News on Friday, August 9, 2024, they stated that roughly a month ago, the major pipelines were accidentally damaged by the contractor (Joe-Mit Construction) while constructing gutters on the Roman to Old Education path.
The Highways Authority awarded a contract to Joe-Mit to construct the Akyem Oda Roman to Old Education route, which is funded by the Government of Ghana (GoG).
Shop owners and residents reported that ever since the incident, they have had trouble getting water for cooking, cleaning, bathing, and other uses.
They begged the contractor and others to address the water problem right away so they could live comfortably.
Meanwhile, Assembly Member for the Electoral Area, Isaac Antwi, wants the Ghana Water Company Limited to immediately fix the problem.
But in response to the development, the Akyem Oda Manager for the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Moses Adai, said they have been dealing with the contractor to fix the challenge hopefully by this week
AKYEM ABOABO NDC ORGANISES CLEAN-UP EXERCISE IN THE COMMUNITY
The Akyem Aboabo ward of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Akyem Oda constituency, has organised a clean-up exercise in the area to help rid the communities of filth.
Participants weeded the area, and desilted gutters in the areas noted for indiscriminate dumping of waste.
Speaking to Ahenkan News today, Friday, August 9, 2024, Gideon Amo, the Akyem Aboabo NDC Ward Coordinator, stated that the exercise began at the durbar grounds and will end in the palace’s forecourt.
He said the exercise was aimed at keeping the environment clean and also advocating cleanliness among residents for a healthy environment.
He clarified that the exercise is part of their electoral preparation.
He reiterated that the clean-up exercise was also to create awareness of sanitation-related issues for the resident to practise personal hygiene by cleaning their surroundings.
Some of the Akyem Aboabo NDC members who participated in the exercise revealed the main motive behind the clean-up exercise.
Akyem Oda Constituency NDC Treasure, Hon. Yaa Ampomaah, said they will repeat the clean-up exercise monthly.
