A GH 35,000.00 Rural Enterprises Project was last Friday 13th November 2009, commissioned for the people of Bibiani, in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District of the Western Region.
The facility is equipped with Agro- processing machines including, Palm fruit processing, Cereal and grain processing, Cassava processing, Soap cutting, Honey press and many others at a total cost of GH 130,000.
It was funded by Government of Ghana with support from the African Development Bank (ADB) and the International Fund for Agric Development. (IFAD)
The contribution of the District Assembly included a quarter of the building cost, provision of electricity to the project site as well as the operational cost in the workshop.
The rural enterprise project seeks to reduce poverty by promoting competitive micro and small scale sector, supported by easily accessible and sustainable business support services at the community and district level.
The facility also aimed at training local master craft men to improve their technical skills and they would in turn train the many apprentices and unemployment youth in viable artisanal trade.
The Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon. John Gyetuah, who performed the commissioned said, the Ministry of Trade and Industries recognizes the importance of the Rural Enterprise Project and its role, in furtherance of the goals of growth and poverty reduction strategy of the government.
The minister reiterated that the government was using the Rural Enterprise Project phase П to help improve the economic well being of our rural families. He therefore challenged the people to own the facility and use its services for their farming and business operations to generate wealth for themselves.
The minister finally charged the ten-member board for the RTF which was also inaugurated that same day, to be proactive and provide strategy directives that would ensure development and growth of the industries in district to support business creation and employment generation.
The project coordinator, Mr. Kwasi Attah Antwi, emphasized the main objective of the RTF as being poverty alleviation, though increase in income and productivity.
Mr. Attah-Antwi said, a lot of employments were being created though the Rural Enterprise Project in a form of provision of basic tools and equipments to graduate apprentices to enable them detach themselves from their masters-craft- persons and establish their own business.
He hinted that in addition to the office equipments, the facility would sooner or later be connected with internet to enable the staff access relevant information and keep pace with global technology growth and development.
On his part, the District Chief Executive for Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai, Hon. Moses Kofi Armeh reiterated the assembly’s commitment to create an industrial site around the Rural Technology Facility premise and relocate all artisans in the community to settle and operate at the site.
The vision of the DCE was that in the medium term, the facility would help empower the youth and reduce unemployment and poverty in the district.
He was also hopeful that the facility would help increase the income levels of the local farmers and give them better life.
STORY& PICTURE BY:
FRANCI A GHANSAH
ISD
BIBIANI.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
BIBIANI POLICE FIRE GUN SHOTS IN A MIDST OF CHIEFTAINCY DISPUTE
Last Sunday, 19th July, 2009, could have been a bloody day for the people of Lineso in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District of the western region if not by divine intervention. What started as an out-dooring ceremony actually resulted in mayhem, throwing the town into a state of confusion.
The incident is believed to be linked with a protracted chieftaincy dispute between the Omanhene of Sefwi-Anhwiaso Traditional area, Nana Ogyeahahohoo Yaw Gyebi II and the Kotihene, Nana Nkoah Okundom , who is believed to have been distooled by the former.
The story had it that, Nana Nkoah Kundom was said to have nominated someone to be the Chief of Lineso but owing to the protracted dispute, the said chief could not be sent to the Omanhene for confirmation as tradition demands.
A cross section of the royal family who believe that the absence of a substantive chief was slowing down the development of the town subsequently nominated a new chief who was confirmed by the Omanhene on Friday 17th July, 2009.
It was thus during the outdooring ceremony of the new chief on Sunday July 19 2009 that the unfortunate incident happened.
There was a reported gun shot by the Bibiani Police for reasons yet to be explained. The District Police Commander, ASP Anane Appiah, explained that the gun shot by the police were not under his command, but he was not ready to disclose who issued the command.
Observers believed that, the incident has the tendency of rejuvenating an old chieftaincy dispute which had hanged on in the district for over fifteen years. Perhaps, the authorities would have to move in quickly to save the situation before things get out of hand.
The incident is believed to be linked with a protracted chieftaincy dispute between the Omanhene of Sefwi-Anhwiaso Traditional area, Nana Ogyeahahohoo Yaw Gyebi II and the Kotihene, Nana Nkoah Okundom , who is believed to have been distooled by the former.
The story had it that, Nana Nkoah Kundom was said to have nominated someone to be the Chief of Lineso but owing to the protracted dispute, the said chief could not be sent to the Omanhene for confirmation as tradition demands.
A cross section of the royal family who believe that the absence of a substantive chief was slowing down the development of the town subsequently nominated a new chief who was confirmed by the Omanhene on Friday 17th July, 2009.
It was thus during the outdooring ceremony of the new chief on Sunday July 19 2009 that the unfortunate incident happened.
There was a reported gun shot by the Bibiani Police for reasons yet to be explained. The District Police Commander, ASP Anane Appiah, explained that the gun shot by the police were not under his command, but he was not ready to disclose who issued the command.
Observers believed that, the incident has the tendency of rejuvenating an old chieftaincy dispute which had hanged on in the district for over fifteen years. Perhaps, the authorities would have to move in quickly to save the situation before things get out of hand.
NGO DONATES TO BIBIANI GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL
Sets of medical equipment worth about $65,000 have been donated to the Bibiani Government hospital by the Medical Bridges through Richmond Foundations, USA with financial support by Mr & Mrs Reed Donas also of USA.
Presenting the items to the hospital, the founder and Operations Coordinator of the Richmond Foundation, John K. Kingsford who also happens to be a native of the district said the donation was the third of its kind. “I was motivated to make this donation because I lost my niece in this hospital who was in labour. She died with the baby because of lack of essential equipments in the hospital”, he noted.
Mr. Kingsford admonished the hospital authorities to use the equipments to better the lots of the people in the district. He mentioned that, the Richmond Foundation which aims at assisting, caring and supporting needy children intends to establish children’s hospital in the district to augment the existing ones.
Receiving the items on behalf of the hospital, the District Chief Executive of the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District, Hon. Kofi Moses Armah reiterated that the district Assembly was ready to welcome any move that aims at promoting good quality health care in the district. The items he noted will help to reduce the demand of the hospital. He entreated other benevolent people to emulate the good gesture exhibited by John K. Kingsford.
The medical supretendant of the Bibiani Government Hospital, Dr. Kennedy Azantilow thanked John K. Kingsford and his compatriots for their kind gesture. He promised that the equipments will be put to good use.
Among the equipments presented were: wheelchairs, incubators, scanner, stringers and needles, gauze, baby diapers among others.
Presenting the items to the hospital, the founder and Operations Coordinator of the Richmond Foundation, John K. Kingsford who also happens to be a native of the district said the donation was the third of its kind. “I was motivated to make this donation because I lost my niece in this hospital who was in labour. She died with the baby because of lack of essential equipments in the hospital”, he noted.
Mr. Kingsford admonished the hospital authorities to use the equipments to better the lots of the people in the district. He mentioned that, the Richmond Foundation which aims at assisting, caring and supporting needy children intends to establish children’s hospital in the district to augment the existing ones.
Receiving the items on behalf of the hospital, the District Chief Executive of the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District, Hon. Kofi Moses Armah reiterated that the district Assembly was ready to welcome any move that aims at promoting good quality health care in the district. The items he noted will help to reduce the demand of the hospital. He entreated other benevolent people to emulate the good gesture exhibited by John K. Kingsford.
The medical supretendant of the Bibiani Government Hospital, Dr. Kennedy Azantilow thanked John K. Kingsford and his compatriots for their kind gesture. He promised that the equipments will be put to good use.
Among the equipments presented were: wheelchairs, incubators, scanner, stringers and needles, gauze, baby diapers among others.
Friday, July 17, 2009
GRUESOME MURDER AT BASSENGELE
James K. Mensah alias Quarcoo, a 32 year old farmer at Bassengele in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District is in the grips of the Bibiani Police for allegedly murdering his 1½ year old son, Nana Atieku.
Kweku was arrested upon a tip-off and after a thorough investigation conducted by the Bibiani Police. This comes just about a year after four people were arrested in Bibiani for allegedly murdering a hunch-back.
Briefing our reporter, the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District Police Commander, DSP Anane Appiah explained that there was a misunderstanding between Kweku and his wife, Comfort Abukari of which the latter went to stay with her parents in the same village.
On Saturday, July 11 2009, Comfort left Nana Atieku under the care of his 10 year old elder brother to go to the farm. On her way to the farm, she met Kweku who warned her to take very good care of their son, Nana Atieku.
Upon her return from the farm, Comfort looked for Nana Atieku to breast feed him but could not find him. She subsequently informed the chief and committee chairman of the village. A search team was quickly instituted to find the boy but to no avail and as such, a report was made to the Bibiani Police.
The police on Sunday 12 July, 2009 stormed the village and found to their dismay the dead body of the boy in a bush with mucus in his nostrils. Blood was also found in his hears. The body also had a loose neck which suggests strangulation.
During interrogation, Quarcoo's younger brother, Eric Acheampong alias Kanga said that the last time he saw Nana Atieku, he was with his father Quarcoo. He also told the Police that his brother had earlier on issued death threats to Comfort and the children, if she does not rescind her decision to end the marriage.
Armed with this piece of information, the Police went to search Quarcco’s house and behold blood stains as well as mucus found in the nostrils of the dead body, were located in his compound.
Quarcoo was subsequently arrested together with his brother to assist the police in their investigation.
Meanwhile, the body of Nana Atieku has been deposited at the Bibiani Government hospital for autopsy. Quarcoo and his brother are to be arraigned to appear at the Sekondi High Court on Wednesday 22 July, 2009.
BY: FRANCIS A. GHANSAH
INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, BIBIANI
Kweku was arrested upon a tip-off and after a thorough investigation conducted by the Bibiani Police. This comes just about a year after four people were arrested in Bibiani for allegedly murdering a hunch-back.
Briefing our reporter, the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District Police Commander, DSP Anane Appiah explained that there was a misunderstanding between Kweku and his wife, Comfort Abukari of which the latter went to stay with her parents in the same village.
On Saturday, July 11 2009, Comfort left Nana Atieku under the care of his 10 year old elder brother to go to the farm. On her way to the farm, she met Kweku who warned her to take very good care of their son, Nana Atieku.
Upon her return from the farm, Comfort looked for Nana Atieku to breast feed him but could not find him. She subsequently informed the chief and committee chairman of the village. A search team was quickly instituted to find the boy but to no avail and as such, a report was made to the Bibiani Police.
The police on Sunday 12 July, 2009 stormed the village and found to their dismay the dead body of the boy in a bush with mucus in his nostrils. Blood was also found in his hears. The body also had a loose neck which suggests strangulation.
During interrogation, Quarcoo's younger brother, Eric Acheampong alias Kanga said that the last time he saw Nana Atieku, he was with his father Quarcoo. He also told the Police that his brother had earlier on issued death threats to Comfort and the children, if she does not rescind her decision to end the marriage.
Armed with this piece of information, the Police went to search Quarcco’s house and behold blood stains as well as mucus found in the nostrils of the dead body, were located in his compound.
Quarcoo was subsequently arrested together with his brother to assist the police in their investigation.
Meanwhile, the body of Nana Atieku has been deposited at the Bibiani Government hospital for autopsy. Quarcoo and his brother are to be arraigned to appear at the Sekondi High Court on Wednesday 22 July, 2009.
BY: FRANCIS A. GHANSAH
INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, BIBIANI
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